Dear Everyone ~
We hope you are feeling very Valentinear… and perhaps even in the pink. Herewith some additional inspiration & supplies, starting with a layer-by-layer look at the first valentine I’ve received this season.
I’m thrilled to report that after a fortnight in the mail stream, my ARK x 2 Valentine arrived this past Monday! My postal muse (a.k.a. ARK I) & I like to think it had been detoured for display in our imaginary Envelope Museum for a time, hence its delay. Fortunately, even fortuitously, it arrived in perfect shape, and Alyson & Audrey LOVE that I’ve asked to share all its parts here.
The Rivoli Rose outer envelope (6¼ x 9, a large envelope by USPS standards) was franked with a quartet of Mary Faulconer’s 20¢ LOVE stamps from 1982 and Jeanne Greco’s courtly stamps from 2009. Ms. Greco used images from eighteenth-century French playing cards as a reference, per a lovely press release from the National Postal Museum that also noted, The issuance of the King and Queen of Hearts, the latest stamps in the Love series, pays tribute to the world's favorite “game.” Touché! Reverting to Rivoli Rose, we are now stocking these perfectly pale pink envelopes in five sizes, from Presentation (9 x 12½) to Enclosure (2½ x 3¼). Think pink!
The inner envelope was hand-folded by Alyson with paper provided by Audrey. I love the idea of using a slightly larger presentation envelope to enclose another envelope, in this case a gorgeous hand-folded one. It’s like a gift inside a gift.
Note that Alyson’s envelope flap performed a feat of seamless serendipity. This is one of the delights of hand-folding patterned papers, the moment when you have folded two parts of your envelope to meet each other… and discover that the back of your envelope is its own thing of beauty! Hand-folding without a template allows you to finesse & finagle these felicities. Our MORE Art of the Hand-folded Envelope kit provides inspirations, instructions—16 pages worth—and charming illustrations by our in-house watercolourist Janet Bouldin. And if you’d like a luscious sampler in seasonal hues, may we suggest Ruby & Rosy assorted sheets for folding & beholding?
Audrey’s note was particularly heartfelt. She wrote that Valentines is one of her favourite occasions to send mail because it reminds her of her mom. My mother also loved making Valentines. By the time my nieces arrived (so to speak), my mom’s Valentines had become works of art. My sister in-law has them stored safely away & Audrey’s note has reminded me to ask my sister-in-law for an audience with them so I may photo-document. And the heart sticker the ARKs used to seal their outer envelope flap was reminiscent of heart stickers my mom gifted me back in the day. Palm on my heart, ARKs!
Alyson & Audrey also enclosed a Valentine acronym they had collaborated on: Valentinear Accessories Luxe little Enclosures, Neatly Tucked In. Now it’s your turn! Embellish away! Spread the (heart sticker). They invite you to use their acronym in your valentines, to inspire your correspondents! Seen above is my version.
Last week, I received an in-shop visit from Denise, proprietress of the Letters Mingle Souls postcard sending service that I mentioned in my Amplitude of Gratitude blog post last autumn. She presented me with a bouquet of hyacinths and a charming handwritten note. I love the opportunity to [insert adjective of your choice]! Whilst she was visiting, Will—our beloved mail carrier—happened to stop by to deliver mail & pick up parcels. Denise recognized him and exclaimed, “You’re the mailman from the blog posts!” Will’s face lit up and he said, “That's me!”… and Denise told him that she had been in a previous BZS blog post as well. Heartwarming all ’round.
Until February 14, Ruby is including a little love with every online and in-shop pick-up order, by attaching a petite Cambridge Imprint origami heart to the BZS postcard she writes.
Rivoli Rose Envelopes
S.W.A.K, Bari
PS:
Last week, the Bird Valentine by PasteSF flew out of the shop in formation. More are flying in and we expect them to land early next week. The online shop is updated for pre-sales and we will ship them post haste.
