My dear friends,
A month or so ago, my amazing neighborhood art supply store, ARCH, tweeted, “If our recent sales are any indication, stationery, envelopes, etc. are becoming a thing of the past.” What’s that you say? Hogwash. My response: ” ARCH should host some letter-writing events like the ones the @_LWA ladies do in Chicago. Write! Type! Socialize!”
Nothing makes me feel more contrary* than when I hear “people don’t write letters anymore,” because I always, always want to prove them wrong. What a silly thing to say, when IT’S JUST NOT TRUE.
Well, that was all it took. Annie got involved and we had an event. All we need now are some willing correspondents, because Annie had the genius idea of providing a list of seasoned, tried-and-true pen friends for the people who might arrive and say, “but who can I write to?” Are you willing to be on that list? Please comment below! And include a short list of things you like, so that we can attempt a happy match!
Find the event on Facebook!
ETA: if you’d rather not put your address here, e-mail it to carolee at superdilettante dot com… Thank you!
*FETA (further edited to add): Now that the social is over, I’ve closed the comments–but I’ll be sure to let you know if ARCH invites us back for another social!
*I lied. The ongoing fiscal sinkhole that is the USPS, and its endangered status, makes me much more contrary indeed.


27 comments
September 17, 2011 at 1:42 am
Pamela
Ok, I’m in — and it makes me very contrary as well.
September 17, 2011 at 2:43 am
Charity
Hmmmm. Will you have a live webcast? Living in Alaska makes it rather difficult to attend in person. I would sure as heck create mail art in my studio while tuned in to the party. Keep us posted
September 17, 2011 at 2:55 am
Charity
Oh! And yes, add me to the correspondents list
September 17, 2011 at 4:02 pm
goodmailday
Hi Charity! Thanks! e-mail your info to carolee at superdilettante dot com
September 17, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Zura
Would love to participate. I do a lot of art and crafts such as painting and art journaling. I like self exploration and all people fascinate me. I really like getting to know people. I like decorating, I love Christmas, traveling and music. I enjoy fishing and shopping at thrift stores. Hope this helps.
September 17, 2011 at 4:02 pm
goodmailday
Hi Zura! Thanks! e-mail your info to carolee at superdilettante dot com
September 17, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Jessi
I’d love to be on the list! Where do I send my info to?
September 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm
goodmailday
Jessi, thanks! e-mail it to carolee at superdilettante dot com
September 17, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Coleen Wilkinson
I’ll be on the list….
September 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm
goodmailday
coleen, thank you! e-mail your information to carolee at superdilettante dot com
September 17, 2011 at 1:25 pm
PostMuse
I would love to attend the event, but I live too far away, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, if an attendee needs a willing correspondent, they may write to me and expect a response. I love to write.
You ask us to list interests, but instead, I’ll just say that a lovely day for me would be sitting outside, with my many birdfeeders loud with the sound of tweets, a stack of incoming mail, a selection of stationery, vintage postage, fountain pens inked with all the colors of the rainbow, and a lovely glass of red wine.
My address is:
PostMuse
PO Box 22042
Pittsburgh PA 15222
Thank you!
September 17, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Snap
I would be delighted to be a pen pal. I have some lovely stationery that is just begging to be used. Would be happy to share more with you in an email. I’m a crafter and will be very happy when Fall arrives … at the rate things are going in this area … sometime in November!!!!!
September 17, 2011 at 4:03 pm
goodmailday
Oh Snap!
Thanks! e-mail your info to carolee at superdilettante dot com
September 17, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Jackie Flaherty
Love this idea! My interests are reading, browsing in bookstores, collecting cool stamps and postcards, writing and receiving mail, dreaming of England (planning trip #3).
Jackie Flaherty
Letters & Journals
5140 Red Oak Dr
Mounds View, MN 55112
Thanks!
Jackie
September 17, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Emily B
I’d love to be a correspondent! Things I like: learning languages, cooking, gardening, reading, sending and receiving mail (of course!), going off on various walking adventures, occasionally singing…
Do you have an email I can send my snail mail address to? (I’d rather not put it on the internet.)
September 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm
goodmailday
Emily, thanks! e-mail it to carolee at superdilettante dot com.
September 17, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Jan
What a great idea. I’d love to participate (& will email my info). We’re trying to do our part by starting a letter writing group here in our neck-of-the-woods so may soon have several more people looking for correspondents. And IF we’re able to make it in to San Francisco on the 8th we just might try to stop by & say hello (as long as drop-ins are okay that is). =D
Jan
September 18, 2011 at 1:47 am
Sally Wassink
yes. I’m in too!
September 18, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Ray Blake
I’m happy to participate, although only in plain writing; I don’t do any of the decorative stuff.
Ray Blake
UK
September 18, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Ashley Rose Ford
I was waiting for the address to snail mail our addresses in! In any event, I’ll be e-mailing mine in as the next best option. This is so cool! Looking to start a similar event in the Cleveland area. There has to be more letter writers out this way!
September 19, 2011 at 4:29 am
Michaela
I just discovered this blog and imagine my delight when this post came up! I would be willing to email my address to you and would love to become a pen pal to someone. I’m interested in China, history, reading, cats, and of course mail, especially stationery. Can’t wait to receive the first letter!
September 19, 2011 at 8:02 am
Rachel
If anyone is keen to write to someone in Australia, I’d love to hear from them! How about a ‘List 10 Things’ challenge… they could write about anything… 10 reasons they love their city, 10 things they do each day, 10 items they always buy at a grocery store and what do they make with them, 10 of their best vacations and why, 10 movies they love and why… etc etc!
Sometimes a list is easy for people to write, so this could be a great way to get someone started!
Rachel
PO Box 8039
Tumbi Umbi
NSW 2261
Australia
I look forward to any correspondence that may come my way
September 19, 2011 at 8:03 am
Rachel
oh and I’ll be sure to write back with a list of my own
September 19, 2011 at 9:10 am
Clare Gollner
Would love to be a correspondent! Email to Carolee on it’s way.
I’m a happily married sahm to 2 kids(8 & 4 years), love reading human interest books like Jodi Picoult through to horror & romance,cooking/baking,tv/movies,trips,postcards & photo frames,perfumes & their bottles, various soaps/bubbles/oils/lotions,gardening and life in general. A good laugh & learning about other people and culture. Scrapbooking & of course pretty paper & envelopes.
Clare
Australia
September 19, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Cecelia
Ooh sounds like fun! Thanks!
September 20, 2011 at 1:31 am
Gini Cooper
I will email my snail mail address and promise to reply to anyone who writes. I am a cat person, love all animals and nature, love to read (especially sci-fi), write letters and journals with fountain pens, love all things mail related. I live in the country, work with kids, and my passion is art. Other interests include aromatherapy, gardening, beading, bird watching, and sitting on my porch swing. Long live the postal service!!
September 24, 2011 at 1:19 am
fazzer1
I, too, live to far away but am willing to join the list….opening email now to contact Carolee!
Been working on your other list of willing participants on your site…Sent out 18 letters, cards, postcards today!
Thanks for the post!