I am a constant collector of cards - any type of cards - gift cards, post cards, birthday cards, museum cards, all and every type of card. I am always on the lookout for cards and when I find them I put them in a special drawer for that time when I need to say, thank you, congratulations or thinking of you. I have cards that I found more than ten, fifteen years ago that I haven't used yet...I must be saving them for that perfect occasion. The flip side of being a card collector is that I save every one ever given to me.
the rose shoe - i have never quite been able to part with this card bought in paris in 1995
The best kind of card to give and receive is the one for no reason and equally there is something so exciting about receiving mail and especially when it includes a pretty card. The mail delivery at our farm is always an occasion. The mail is hand delivered by a very cute 'mailman' in her bright yellow La Poste vehicle right to the front door. As she turns into the driveway she sounds her horn and toots all the way to the house to signal her arrival. Like many things in rural France the mail delivery involves a good deal of chat; there is no such thing as drop and run. It is an old fashioned and personal service; I love it.
If the mail includes a beautiful card then somehow the weight of bills, publicity and administrative letters is lifted. The mind whips past the tedium to concentrate on the thoughtfulness and generosity of the person behind the card. Last week I was the recipient of the most enchanting postcard from Judith and it most certainly brightened my day. It made me realize that the art of letter writing or card sending is vanishing; there is too much tapping on the keyboard and not enough pen to paper. I mean to make amends and I am going to start writing on and sending those cards that are languishing in my drawer....xv
72 comments:
I have an antique tin full of cards for all occasions too!
Your right, it is a dying art, letter writing, and yet we all love to receive them.
A beautiful post. I love collecting cards and old postcards as well. I agree that the art of letter writing is vanishing which is very sad. I myself am guilty of this as I have long overdue letters I should send to friends. That is the down side of our technology! xx
Oh, it was such a beautiful morning read for me! x
I loved hearing about the way your mail is delivered - it sounds delightful.
Thank you for sharing images of your garden where you had your daughter's party - they are too beautiful for words!
What a treat to have such a personal delivery of mail. It's the little unexpected things that makes life beautiful. Ax
I can just imagine your little post lady arriving at your farm. What delightful picture you've painted.
I'm so glad you've brought up the art of letter writing. I grew up in the south (a long time ago) and little ladies of my time were taught the art of writing letters. I was given a copy of Emily Post Etiquette and in that book it gave examples of thank you letters, letters of condolence, birthdays, etc. My sister and I were required to write thank you notes to our grandmother as a learning tool of good manners.
Today good manners seem to be out the window when it comes to proper letter writing. I'm still a letter writer and look forward to letters and cards as you do. They do make the day special.
Thank you for the idea of collecting cards - it's a great one.
A bientot.
Sam
That is true Vicki,
Sadly, the art of letter writing is vanishing. I am also a paper connoiseur, I think that you are a lover of paper or not. But when I get something or find some graphic or card, my heart races and a smile comes to my face. I am a sucker for a beautiful image.
Leslie
Love love LOVE the shoe card!
I too am a collection of cards, notes and anything letterpress. I always have a card for a special occasion. I can't always part with favorites-and some I've had a long, long time as well. You have inspired me to send the love along.
I know what you mean about cards, I have a brown bag full of cards that I have collected on my travels around the world - I am sure that one day I will find a use for them all!
I would be lost without the yellow post van as I can almost set my clock by ours and I love the way that they just do not drop the parcel and run but rather stay to chat about any and everything :-)
Leeann x
I love cards as well! So beautiful and always such a wonderful thing to give and receive, no matter the time of year, season or fete. I do not have a drawer but I do have a collection for all occasions and you have just inspired me to shop around for more while here in Paris!
I'm a total horder of cards and letters from people.
It has been said so many times but it's true, it's special to receive a letter.
I just wish I got round to writing them more- it's always on the to do list but never quite gets done.
how charming. that rose shoe is delightful. and gotta say it...i know i say it every time i comment on your blog but...with the addition of the 'mailman' story and all manner of poste delivery to your house..i yet again am laughing at the insane jealousy i harbor for your space in this world.
:)
xoj
Hi Vicki,what a great collection of cards in your drawer. You are sure to have something for every occasion in there. What fun to have the mail delivered like that and plenty of time for a chat.
Alison
Hi Vicki,
I too have several "card" drawers and thankfully still have a few friends who write the most wonderful handwritten notes and letters. I keep every one I have ever received in a box......to look at when I about 90 and in the old-age home I quess! Send me your address and I will send you a lovely letter.XO
PS-that shoe card is fabulous!
Beautiful cards, an ink pen and calligraphy ...that's what we need. But that shoe - that's "suitable for framing".
I too have a card drawer -- and I too rely on email too much. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Vicki,
As a seller of cards, I love people like you! But we, too, have a card 'box' at home, with all sorts ... just in case. But I must admit that it's not possible to keep the ones we receive! Happy writing.
I try to buy cards whenever I travel to a foreign city. I get happy when I send one because it reminds me of when I visited that city and I'm sure it makes the recipient happy to receive a card that's in a foreign language (simple to understand - like "Thank you" or "Get Well")
I love buying thank you cards from the foreign cities that I visit. It's so much fun to send later on because it makes me remember the good memories from that trip and I'm sure the recipient thinks it's fun to get a thank-you in a different language.
Dear Vicki,
Such beauty you share with us!
I am such the card collector too! I save every one from everybody! I love your shoe card from Paris. It inspired me to have Noel make an all white flower covered paper shoe! You are always inspirational to me.
Thank you my dear friend for beautiful thoughts today!
xx's
Wonderful surprizes in that drawer. I love a nice piece of mail as well. Writing to another is becoming a lost art. Love the rose shoe card, does it come in size 8? :)
Yes, there is nothing quite like a hand-written note or card. I, too, am a collector. I get postively giddy in the V&A gift shop because of their glorious cards! I bring back armloads!
i absolutely agree that the art of letter writing is dwindling and it makes me very sad. i adore giving and receiving cards and this is a good reminder that i owe some people thank you cards.
I'd love to rummage around other peoples card stashes!!! I have loads too xx
I used to collect all sorts of cards, and of course saved them too. Every now and then I look at my boxes of cards and recall when I bought them and ...
Yes, too bad that some of this fun is lost. Love your mailman...so very different. Nothing like loving what you do, right?
Lovely post and you DO HAVE MANY CARDS!!!
xo
Vicki, that is excellent advice. I needed a card for an impromptu birthday greeting and had none and it was too late to go out to get one........besides the thought and effort that goes into a card cannot be replicated with an email (as much as I love them). And now to handwriting.....beautiful penmanship cannot be transmitted via email!!!!
I love the shoe card. I wish I had the room to collect cards. I do keep all the ones from my significant other though.
That's so funny - I just came from Catherine's blog Simply Natural, and she did a post about displaying cards. Here's the link:
http://simplynaturaldecor.blogspot.com/2009/07/displaying-photos-and-postcards.html
Finding the right card for the right person at the right occasion is not easy - there are just too many beautiful cards around.
So true Vicki, I will join you in putting things right, but can I bear to part with my gorgeous note cards?. That rose shoe is gorgeous. Our mailman is lovely and often stops for a chat. happy Wednesday, Kathy.
I once found a huge box of cards that a card sales rep must have thrown out. I felt like I won the lottery. I had cards for every occasion. It took me eight years to use them up.
I keep cars then have a big clear out and throw them out. I have to say I WOULD NOT throw that shoe out though.
I love to receive cards, much nicer than an email greeting.
I LOVE collecting cards! I go through periods where I acquire a whole bunch, then send a whole bunch and deplete my supply. It's an ebb and flow. Though I hate when a card is gorgeous on the outside and says something stupid on the inside--the blank ones are the best!
Your words strike such a chord with me! I am a big proponent of letter writing, and I still write a letter a week to my grandmother, best friend and others. I also have a card 'box' that I keep filled with my favorites just waiting to be sent on their journey.
Let's hope this great art of writing (with a pen) returns in full force!
I couldn't agree with you more about the special nature of an unanticipated card! I too have the card collecting disease...
I've never heard the term 'card collector' but it makes perfect sense! I have a card drawer, but nothing like yours- yours looks fun and interesting!
I completely understand your need of collecting cards. I'm like that with leather bound journals. I have more than I can ever fill, but the joy of possessing them gives me such great pleasure.
Another art that's vanishing? Beautiful penmanship.
i just got a pretty card in the mail yesterday...from the dearest of dear friends..
so nice to hold a message in your hands!
I so sgree..the excitment of getting a hand addressed envelope is so rare now...we should all be saving these envelopes as the antique curios of the future!!..I also have so many cards that I can't bear to bin...and my mother is even worse than me..she has boxes of them!!!
oh vicki, this is so inspiring and of course, lovely....might I also add that long row of monochromatic books with those beautiful shells is such a compelling photograph! your pile of cards made me want to take every card I have and pile them into one lovely old drawer, so that I might open it up to simply enjoy them! I am sure they would inspire me to write more and I do so agree with you....perhaps we should start a mailing list from around the world just to send each other cards! how lovely is that....
xo
You are one of the few people who still write real cards. I wonder when it will occurr to people that some words on a email have no sentimental stay power.
Hello Vicki, thanks for your visit.
I also have card drawers for those sent to me that I just cannot throw away and a huge old wooden box full of new to send.
Je t'adore that rose shoe - I couldn't part with it either.
Wouldn't it be fun to cover a real high heal in silk flowers as a piece of art?
I feel an invention coming on....
I love shopping for cards, and try to keep a good selection on hand for birthdays, anniversaries. It looks like you have a lovely collection!
I, too, love giving and receiving cards.
Lucky you for such a personal mail delivery. Ours is delivered to a locked mail box 1/2 mile from our house.
I do so relate to your card, can I say , 'fetish ' as I have one.I buy cards wherever I go. Birthday , wedding , new home , thank you , often I see a lovely one from afar and find that it is a sympatthy card....I can't buy that unless I have to. I also love visiting cards , buisness cards and cards for restaurants....I think that I could do a post on mine, as I have lots of them out on my notice boards. Often , I go to get a birthday card and then decide that I can't give that particular one to that person as they won't appreciate it . Does that sound awful ? I just don't think that they are discerning enough to receive it. !!!!
Me too with the card drawer Vicki. MOTH always speaks disdainfully of all the treasures that lie within mine, but those contents have saved him on more than one occasion when he needed a card in an emergency (aka My Birthday, Our Anniversary, etc!). Loving those water-skiing witches - I'm thinking you'd have to be pretty sure the person you send this to has the same quirky sense of humour, or you'd be done for!
Millie ^_^
Love the image of your "mailman" tooting the horn all the way up your drive ... .
that's such a delightfully human
touch!
Thanks so very much for your sweet
mention .. .
JJjjj
The shoe card is awesome!!!!!
I'm like you, I have TONS of cards. I pick them up everywhere from the car wash to museum stores to beautiful card shops :-)
I agree there's nothing like a handwritten card in your mailbox. It instantly brightens the day.
I have a card box but more cards go in it than come out of it. Must start writing some cards!
What a beautiful rose shoe card! And the other cards glimpsed through your half open drawer. I love paper, the smell of paper, how the writing looks on a page. I write letters all the time but rarely receive them anymore. You are so right, it is a dying art.
I loved to colled cards , antique and new ones but I stopped , by reading you I think I'm going to keep on. Love this red shoe one
I love cards too but what to do with them?? I ahve every one myh husband ever sent in box under the bed!
xx-Gina
Love your card drawer, Vicki. I also have a big collection of cards, for many different occasions.
Love the shoe card, so cute!
C'est tres, tres chic.
Vicki- It's such a wise idea to collect cards... I always find myself needing one at the last minute and wishing I had that very drawer filled with them! xo
Bonjour! Vicki Archer,
This is a very reflective post...because it do make one wonder what will become of the fine art of writing personal letters by hand.
By the way, I too! think that the shoe card is very unique, very beautiful.
Merci! for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D
It's funny I've never been a good letter writer or card sender. Though when i do send cards I like to write something meaningful inside...not just sign my name.
I think though now that we do so much emailing cards and letters now seem even more special then they once were.
Everything you said in this post I loved! I too collect cards, saving them to send for any possible occasion, as well as save ones I've receive. A handwritten note or card most certainly is a bright spot among bills and junk mail, and I would love to experience mail delivery as you described it at your farm. xo
I have a collection too, such a nice post today - love hearing how the mail arrives!
Sarah
...just as in old movies...how lovely. There is something special about letters and postcards...
and to chat with the postman,I remember when my granmother did that, I love that too.
Have a very nice weekend.
hugs
Magdalena
Vicki, your story of the post delivery brought a flood of memories about my life back. Thank you. My next door neighbour was a postman and my mother drove him on the post run, as children we often went for the drive too. Fantastic and incredible memories of people, places, the post car, postman's uniform..an almost forgotten time..Thank you so much. Hugs Margie.
I have a card drawer too! Actually its a little old desk that belonged to my Grandparents. The top drops down as a writing surface with cubby holes in the back and there are three drawers below. I keep all my stationary and writing things in there, just like my Grandma did. Your post is so inspiring! Makes me wanna get off the computer and get those cards off I've been meaning to send. :)
I love cards both sending them and receiving them and hand written letters........May the tradition never end of the magic of lovely mail...............
Love Jeanne♥
Hopefully, we'll all keep writing our cards as its lovely to give them & receive, they can enlighten your day. Your mail service sounds so quaint & very French.
Dear Vicki .... I have just spent the most enjoyable time reading all about the big party. I can only imagine how truly special this weekend was for everyone lucky enough to have been there!
I also have that drawer full of cards for that next perfect occasion. Sadly, I just recycled two that were meant for someone in the throes of love ~ I may be beyond that. If not, there are always more cards out there ... oui?
Wow I thought mine was full...I need to go shopping to catch up. Actually I always find the best when I'm not looking & yes cards for no reason are always the best!!!
Collecting cards is such a fabulous hobby! My Mom has done it for years! Love the images of yours!
I loved being able to see inside your card drawer!! You remind me a little of myself...I love cards and small pieces of art that can be carried away or given away. A card for no occasion is always the best!! And the rosa shoe card is much too lovely to part with!
I agree, but it is the time taken to write a letter that is the gift as much as the contents.
If you have an Alice in Wonderland themed card, feel free to... :)
I wouldn't want to part with that beautiful shoe card either!
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