#happymailhappyhour, a paper lover's dream
It all started with Instagram. Before we were @ofnotestationers we were @isabelandkate and the lovely world of social media connected us with @blogger_bp. Our lives criss-crossed the inter webs and finally collided in person when Bobbie, @blogger_bp, posted a gram of our favorite card shop in Boston, Black Ink. We decided to meet up for a coffee date while she was in town, just planning to get to know each other, and then the collaboration ideas started flowing. Who would have thought that in three weeks time we would have had the pleasure of sponsoring Bobbie and Andrea's #happymailhop and collaborating with Bobbie to host a #happymailhappyhour???
The #happymailhappyhour is Bobbie's brainchild. An event made for paper lovers -- particularly the ones who hoard their paper goods because they think they are too pretty to use -- to join forces, craft together, and write letters together. As snail mail enthusiasts we jumped at the opportunity to co-host.
As we said we had three weeks to put the event together so we reached out to local vendors for support and they did not disappoint. George Fifield of the Boston Cyberarts Gallery kindly lent us his gallery space. Artifact Cider, a micro-cider brewery in Springfield, MA shared their 3 hard ciders with us including their newest cider, Buzzworthy. We had rosé from Blanchards Wines and Spirits in Jamaica Plain and Harpoon Summer Packs from The Wine Press in Brookline. Our friend Vanessa of The Busy Bostonian provided appetizers. Of course the night could not be complete without stationery!! We teamed up with Bessie Anderson of B.IMPRESSED to provide the greeting cards for the event, Kawaii Goodies provided stickers and washi tape, and Black Ink contributed our luxurious gold and silver gel pens.
Despite the summer heat, what a lovely night it was! We had the absolute pleasure of meeting fellow creatives in Boston and snail mail enthusiasts. We chit chatted, learned about each others' independent ventures, decided who we were going to send our mail to and got down to business. No one shied away from writing or decorating. Each note was written thoughtfully and warmly and then adorned with washi tape, stickers, perhaps illustrations and some hand-lettering. The night ended with a display of the decorated mail on the wall. We offered our definition cards as rewards to three individuals whose mail art really shown. And as luck would have it (the Boston Cyberarts Gallery is right next to the Green Street T stop on the Orange line) we had a Saxophonist come in and join us as we said our goodbyes.
Now here we are three days later reflecting on the new friends made and moments shared. To all those who came out, if you were new to us, we are so glad to have met you and hope to stay in touch, to old friends, thank you for coming and supporting us, and to Bobbie, thank you for being our partner in crime. We couldn't have done it without you. To hear more about this event head on over to Bobbie's blog.
We really look forward to doing something like this again soon. Perhaps next time it will be intimate, b.y.o.b., a potluck, and a variety of crafts, or perhaps as a crafting/letter writing pop up at a farmer's market. We'd love to hear from you! What kind of event would you like to see hosted??
All images here are care of John Correa.