The art of handcrafted mail (and giveaway!)

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I am a huge enthusiast of handwritten/crafted mail. Let's face it: in this modern day and age, getting a letter or a package in the mailbox is a lot more exciting than receiving an electronic equivalent of it. Plus, something that is crafted by hand always conveys a deeper meaning. Not only does sending someone a handcrafted mail show how much you care for them; it also allows you to move a breadth away from the wired world, where you can sit and think about what you want to create. The best part about all of this is that you can literally personalize your mail in any way you want. I have friends whose parents send them handmade care packages, and these truly are some of the most adorable things I've ever seen. Here is a real piece of advice: if you know a person who is away for college or just living somewhere else on their own, sending them a letter, a postcard, or even a homemade care package could absolutely make their day. 



Having spent almost three years away from home now, I understand this all too well. During my first year at boarding school, I would gaze in envy while my peers picked up handwritten mail and postcards from the mail room, whereas the only packages I usually received were online orders. I've never blamed my parents for this though. I understood that we came from a completely different culture, and since we Skyped almost everyday, it was only natural that they'd deem the gesture as something unnecessary. It was at that point I started sending postcards and handwritten letters to other people. And unsurprisingly enough, I ended up loving every minute I spent preparing them.

                                           Photo: Postcards I bought from Jatra

I went all out: I used my hobby as an excuse to spend money on stamps, postcards, colored pens...you name it. While there have been times when things did get lost in the mail, it never discouraged me. The idea of sending physical mail was too beautiful a tradition for me to give up.

For people based in Bangladesh: if you want to start sending snail mail with postcards, there are plenty of places to find them in Dhaka city: you just need to know where to look. I had gotten a BEAUTIFUL collection from Jatra when I was back in the city for winter break. You can also find them in Aarong,Ideal Products and (possibly) Aranya, both of which are known for selling local souvenirs. While doing my research for this post, I found out that there is also an outlet inside Lalbagh Fort which sells books and postcards printed from the Archaeological department of Bangladesh. So perhaps that could be a place to visit if you're feeling a bit more adventurous. If postcards really aren't your thing, you can always scour the stationary shops at Nilkhet and find your own middle ground for composing the ideal handcrafted mail.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

As I've already mentioned (or maybe not), I hoard postcards and stamps like crazy. And I want to give away some of them to random people who could possibly spread more love in this world. I have a lot to give away so I haven't counted anything but I have photos below if that helps! Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. None of these entries are mandatory but the more entries you do, the greater chances of winning! The giveaway is international.

From top photo: I'm giving away Vintage New York City Postcards (it's in the metal case). I believe that there are 18 of those. I also have a lot of the Four Seasons In New York City note cards to give out (the ones on the top right). They're signature prints of an actual painter's work and are an absolute delight to the eyes. The stickers on the bottom left are stamps. :)

From the bottom photo: Nope, I am not giving out Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology. But I am giving out the bookish postcards on the right. They're really cute: I promise!

a Rafflecopter giveaway