stationery

The Why Behind Wild Things Mail Club

Wildlife Stickers by Terri Wilhelm
| terriaw

Wild Things Mail Club was created for people who still find themselves peering into hollow logs, pressing leaves into books, and carrying home little treasures from walks in the woods.

 

Wild things sketchbook page

Do you love stationery, letters, and mail?

Receiving mail from Wild Things Mail Club will be like receiving a letter from a fellow explorer.

Each envelope is filled with illustrated paper treasures inspired by the natural world—stickers, postcards, bookmarks, story cards, and small discoveries designed to be collected and kept.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a collector of small wonders, or someone who still believes there is magic in opening the mailbox, I hope you’ll feel right at home here.

More sneak peeks are coming soon, including a look at the story cards, paper ephemera, and a special membership certificate for our founding members.

Click here to join the waitlist and receive more information leading up to opening day August 1.

Until then, keep your eyes open for wonder.

— Terri

Monthly Subscription of Paper Goods

| terriaw

I am happy to report that I’m still loving my monthly subscription to the Olive Box, which comes chock–full of stationery and paper goods.

Here are goodies from the May box, which had a breakfast theme, and included a bagel notecard from Fish and Cake Design, a pancake notepad from Pen and Deli, and coffee magnets from Badge Bomb. I adore those coffee magnets, which look great on the magnetic white board in my home office.

May box from Olive Goods

Here are the goodies from my April box, which had a “sweet as honey” theme, and included a beehive notecard from Rifle Paper Co., a beehive decomposition book/notebook from Michael Roger, a set of beehive notecards from Wit and Whistle, a bee balm tin from Worker B, and a coupon for a free art print from Bonnie Christine. Such a great theme, especially with the increased awareness of the fragility of the bee population these days.

April Olive box

I just received notice that my June box is on the way, so I’m excited to see what theme of stationery and paper goodies they put together for this next box.

Do any of you subscribe to a monthly subscription that delivers stationery or beauty supplies or fabrics to your door step? I’d love to hear about it.

Terri

Previous posts:

In my March box which had a watercolor theme.

In my February box which had a love letters theme.

In my December box which had a sparkle theme and January boxes which had an office theme.

Snail Mail Treasures

| terriaw

Receiving any snail mail is a good thing. I’ve added some great treasures to my collection lately.

I received another letter from my Paris Letters subscription, which talked about the flowers starting to bloom in spring in Paris. I always feel like I’m right there seeing, hearing and smelling the sights alongside Janice as she writes and illustrates her letters.

Paris Letters February March April

I also have this beautiful collection of watercolor postcards from my friend Cindy, with whom I started exchanging postcards this year. She realized how difficult it is to find postcards these days, so she prints her own using photos and the Waterlogue app. Watercolor postcards from Cindy

For my monthly subscription of paper goods from OliveBox, I received this box of treasures in March, which included Samantha Hahn‘s new book of watercolor illustrations of women characters in fiction, one of her prints and a lovely watercolor notecard from Monica Lee. (Click here to see what I got for January and December, and here to see the February box.)

Olive Box for March

 

I was especially thrilled to receive anything done by THE Samantha Hahn, a famous illustrator and designer, whom we studied in design school. Each portrait is painted so beautifully, and the quote is hand written to match the mood of the character and her scene.

Samantha Hahn's illustrated book

Samantha Hahn's illustrated book

Samantha Hahn's illustrated book

Samantha Hahn's illustrated book

So wonderful to receive a variety of fabulous art in the snail mail to add to my growing collection. Happy letter writing!

Terri

Monthly Paper Goods Subscription – February

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You may recall that I’m trying out a subscription to a monthly box of paper goods from OliveBox. Click here to see what I got for January and December.

For February, I received this box of goodies, which included a message in a bottle, a mechanical pencil that looks like a giant wooden pencil, an envelope of vintage stamps, and a letterpressed letterquette.

February SubscriptionThe message in the bottle actually has a message. It says “You Are Loved.” How sweet and comforting is that. And the letterquette is an actual glue-bound pad of letterpressed notecards with bright green edge painting and a glue-bound pad of envelopes. Such a clever set!February subscription goodies

Each month keeps getting better and better!

Terri

Postcard Collecting

| terriaw

You may know that I collect postcards. I love to send them and receive them.

The first postcard I bought to start my collection was a postcard of the Hollywood sign. I was in Los Angeles back in 1991, and I really wanted to take a close–up picture of the giant letters, but I couldn’t get close enough. So I figured postcard photographers probably got a better shot that I could ever hope to get.

Hollywood postcardThen I started telling everyone I knew that I was collecting postcards, in hopes they would send me one on their travels. And here’s my current collection:

postcard collection

I have so many wonderful postcards from all over the world!postcard collection

postcard collection

Here’s my newest collection, all postcards from my sister over the past two years, which don’t fit in this cigar box anymore.

IMG_3173

postcards from my sister

IMG_3174I don’t typically collect anything because I don’t like clutter or having too much stuff, but I really cherish these collections.

I’m hoping to turn some of my own photographs into postcards, which is great incentive to spend more time experimenting and improving my photography.

Do you collect anything?

Terri

Weekly Snail Mail

| terriaw

It’s such a thrill to open up the door on our mailbox and find a letter or postcard! Someone actually took the time to find a pen and paper and write a note. As you can see, one of the postcards I received is handmade and beautiful.

Outgoing this week: postcards to my sister, brother, mom and a friend in the UK.

Outgoing snail mail

Did you send any hand–written letters this week?

Incoming this week: postcards from my sister and a friend in the UK.incoming snail mail Did you receive any hand–written letters this week?

In this day and age when people are busy and life can be centered around technology, it’s a treat to send and receive snail mail.

Terri

Letter Writing

| terriaw

Do you remember when was the last time you hand wrote a letter? I try to write a few letters a week, whether it’s a note thanking someone or a letter to a friend, catching up on my past week.

I have been collecting some great articles on the theme of writing letters, so I thought it would be fun to share them with you:

  • This post talked about how today’s technology is cramping letter writers’ style. “Years of relying on mechanical devices, first the typewriter and then the computer, had eroded my handwriting skills,” writes author Dick Hirsch. The handwritten letter can be more effective and memorable. Someone cared enough to write a message and address an envelope.
  • Check out this post which discussed how technology is making the business pen obsolete. (How many of you are like me and love to try new pens?!)
  • This post (link broken!) focused on the importance of handwritten letters. The feel of the paper, the thought that goes into choosing the stationery, the way the letters were formed by the hand, all invoke emotion; and that’s before you even get to the message that was written.
  • I loved this article about a Cursive Club in New Jersey that is trying to keep cursive handwriting alive by teaching elementary school kids in an after-school program. (Did you learn how to write cursive in school? I still write cursive all the time.)
  • I recently found a blog that has great etiquette advice on sending notes and letters, addressing the best style and method for the occasion.

My sister and I have continued to send each other a postcard every week for the past TWO years. How fun is that! Since I’m always on the hunt for postcards, which are getting harder and harder to find, I decided to go to Etsy to find some unique postcards. Check out these great treasures:

illustrated postcards

postcards from Courtney O Quist

illustrated postcards

postcards from Danielle V. Green Illustrations

from Paris Print Shop

postcards from The Paris Print Shop

Sending postcards is a fun way to stay connected because we are handwriting our messages rather than texting each other, which we do almost every day anyway. We share a thought on a project we’re working on, an event we attended, or an adventure we went on. I’m excited to write letters on these fun postcards! Thanks for stopping by.

Terri

Congratulations to Katy – you are the winner of my set of thank you notecards! Send me an email with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone who entered, and shared your thoughts on sending thank you cards.