72_Marvelous Mail
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Dearest friend,
Our visits with one another in this space have grown fewer in recent weeks, but you've remained present in my thoughts and prayers, especially as I consider the best ways to brighten your days with beauty that glorifies our Creator.
Shorter updates, featuring my photography and other creations, are meant to serve as regular reminders to look for the blessings God places in your path each day.
I deeply appreciate the opportunity to share life and learning with you digitally. Yet, every time I click “Post” on another note, I sense a growing desire to create beautiful items that you can hold in your hands.
The word post itself reminds me constantly of my lifelong love for writing and sending letters. I wrote more about this in a recent update:
In high school and college, I wrote 9+ page letters to my friends who were studying abroad.
Every time I was in public with my piles of pens and stationery, someone was sure to remark, “Letter writing is a lost art.”
So, I started referring to myself as the Keeper of the Lost Art.
I've stayed true to that title through the years, but my consistency has dwindled with the all-consuming calling of early motherhood.
This year, I set up “snail mail stations” around my home to better use the margins of motherhood to write notes of encouragement to loved ones.
Lately, whenever I pray for my readers, I've noticed the nudge to use my gifts of beautiful handwriting and creativity to serve you in more tangible ways, as well.
As I wrote those words, a distant dream suddenly seemed possible, so I continued:
After dwelling on and praying over the idea for some time, I have decided to create a Keepers of the Lost Art Club for my annual paid subscribers. This is a quarterly snail mail club, through which I hope to bless my subscribers with handwritten notes and handcrafted gifts.
I really would like to send physical pieces of my work to every reader, but I know it isn’t financially or logistically feasible. That is why the snail mail club is currently for annual paid subscribers only.
I will continue to send you digital versions of most of my work through these newsletters, but I am delighted that God given me an additional way to share His gift of creativity.
During our recent trip to a lake in Brandenburg, all the pieces for my first snail mail collection started coming together.
It started with a visit to a historic windmill and continued with Bible verses that the Holy Spirit brought to mind as I surveyed the serene scenery. I found pretty postcards on which to handwrite notes, and God granted a sudden rush of creative ideas for gifts to include in the envelopes: stickers, bookmarks, coloring pages, crocheted decor, and more…
I knew I couldn't create them all right then, but it was definitely time to apply my love of learning. I decided to start with the stickers. After many failed attempts, I finally had a set worthy of my subscribers.
With one or two more surprise pieces, I thought I had enough for the first lake-inspired set, but the idea of adding a mini coloring page wouldn't let me go.
When I couldn't find the right images on Canva to create the coloring page I wanted, I decided it was time to learn how to draw my own. Using one of my lake photos for inspiration, I muddled my way through several versions before sketching this one, which I also want to share digitally with you. There are definitely still wobbly lines and imperfect angles, but it is a handmade gift from the heart:
The first collection is now officially complete and will soon be showing up in recipients’ mailboxes (“soon” being relative, as it takes a few weeks for delivery overseas).
Ideas for the August/September collection are already swirling around in my brain, and I can’t wait to see what other inspiration God grants through His beautiful creation and mighty word.
I rejoice that He has placed you alongside me on this journey of learning and living for His glory, and I look forward to our next correspondence, which will likely be in a few days, as the end of May is rapidly approaching!
Thank you for being my guest. In God’s word you will find rest; Seek Him, be bountifully blessed. 💚
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.