Tuesday 9 August 2011

Going Postal

"That," said Uncle Dave, "was the weekend I ended up doing karaoke in the police station basement. I was holding the microphone and trying to read the screen. Which was hard because it was in Chinese.."

Butterfly garland from a kit by Midnight Rooster
He has a collection of stories like this about his time in Taiwan. Sometimes we hear a lot and sometimes just a little snatch. But if I want more I can always go to my tin box full of all the letters he sent while he was there. If you are a regular here, you might remember me writing about this before. I've been meaning to make a page with this photo ever since; but it has taken a push from the excellent Julie and her inspirational Going Postal series to get me there.


Take a look! She has a positive plethora of postal projects to share and she pinning them

28 comments:

scrappyjacky said...

I think it's wonderful that you've got them all to look back at....and a great page to go with them.

Lizzie said...

Ooh, what a fun and fabby page, Sian! I love the idea of scrapping about letters and scrapping stories.
It's interesting to see pages that don't have photos of people on them. "People" tend to be the central focus for all our pages, but sometimes it's nice to go off at a bit of a tangent and write about things and places that are linked to "our people" and their lives/adventures.
I love the layers of blue, white and red on your page, with the beige sunburst (?) background just to give it a "frame" and the little splash of yellow scallops. The airmail envelope is a good idea too.
Letters eh.... I remember those... e-mails are great, because of their immediacy, but somehow there is something very special about a letter, handwritten, just for me, from a friend or relative. I still have a box of letters from friends and a bundle from an old BF, who was miles away for a while and wrote to me often. I also treasure several from my aunt, who died early this year.
We should write letters. They are special.

Julie Kirk said...

Ach, *blushing*. Thanks so very much for joining in ... and in such style. Beautiful, beautiful work.

All safely pinned now: http://pinterest.com/notesonpaper/going-postal/

Thank you.x

Cheryl said...

lovin the mail art colour scheme! x

Amanda said...

I just love how you have used one of the airmail envelopes as part of your layout. The little lucky dip sticker is perfect too and I love the thought of you dipping into your tin and seeing what story you come out with.

Jennifer Grace said...

Beautiful page, I love the distressing around the edge, and the butterflies. I really really need a butterfly punch! x

laurie said...

oh my, it sounds like he has some great stories! your page reflects the excitement in getting "real mail" and all the entertainment it can bring.

Michelle Hernandez said...

Landed on this page from Cheryl and Julie K's blogs- wonderful page! LOve the photo and your design. The pleated ribbon is a great touch.

Susanne said...

Fab layout - great details on it. I've been enjoying Julie's Going Postal series too. Just have not joined in, yet?

Jennifer Shaw said...

What a terrific LO and a great subject too! So great that you have kept letters sent to you. I wish I had done that but seemed less sentimental in my younger days. :( Uncle Dave sounds like he has a life filled with adventure! Love the palette in this LO and that garland is amazing!!

Nathalie said...

I love airmail envelopes and therefore a page with them and about them has to be fabulous!!! I LOVE the way you incorporated that garland, have to remember that!

Ifa said...

Fabulous LO, I so love airmail envelopes. I should dig out some love letters aerogramme that A &I used to send to each other.

Lisa said...

what a gorgeous layout and such a fun idea. I have piles and piles of letters I sent and received during the time I lived abroad in the time before email and what a lovely layout that would make! Thanks for the link and for the inspiration. Your work is so fab!

Missus Wookie said...

Gorgeous page.

Wonder if I can find the ONE letter my brother wrote in the ahem years he was in the Navy? It was to congratulate us on Ewok's birth and started with the stern warning not to faint... yes it was him writing. :)

Denise said...

I love the way you have done this - you always make your layouts so interesting-great stuff !

Lou said...

great photo and love how you've used an airmail envelope too. I've enjoyed julie's going postal but not found any time to settle down and join in xx

Scrappi Sandi said...

Another fabulous LO...I used to love getting Air Mail envelopes in the post...& writing letters on oh-so-thin airmail paper!!

Great karaoke story from Uncle Dave!!

Jimjams said...

Gorgeous page - I've just found two letters I wrote to my father that he kept for years and years - a dying art thanks to e-mails, tweets and texts!

Amy said...

Your post today has me in two thought processes ... one, I am determined, more than ever to capture all those little things we hear that make up the personalities within our families and two .... I have so many of these sorts of moments I am just not quite sure where to find the time to get them all down!

Alison said...

Love the LO Sian...I used to love writing and receiving letters- how the world has changed!
Alison xx

Sandra said...

I just knew if you joined in with this is was going to be some special you came up with, and you sure haven't disappointed. It's a fabulous layout, and based on a great story

Peachy Stream said...

I love this page and do indeed remember this post. Postal ephemera is some of my favourite, along with travel ephemera! I sent you an e-mail, hope you got it! :)

Melissa said...

Fantastic layout Sian - I like that you used an envelope on it & all the little bits & pieces.

Sandie said...

I love that page, Sian. The colours are perfect, so wish I'd done it! :)
I've bought some mail themed stamps recently. Can't wait to try them out.
I've a friend who moved to Australia many moons ago. She's a great letter writer so I love hearing from her regularly. We email now, it's so much more immediate, but it's not the same as seeing that red and blue edged letter land on the doormat.
Perhaps I'll send her a proper letter soon.

Ginger said...

This is beautiful Sian! I just checked out all the links and what a great project and all the pins look great too!

Wanda said...

Uncle Dave seems like quite the character and sounds like he be the source for lots of scrapbook pages. And who would be better than you to capture them all?

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

How wonderful to have all those letters from your brother and what a great page they inspired. So many little details to look at:)I love that butterfly garland.

Curlywiggles said...

Julie's series has been wonderful, hasn't it! Love that you managed to get one of the envelopes on the page.

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