Letter Parade

300 Facebook Likes Giveaway Winners

2011-10-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

Earlier today at 12 noon, I drew the winners for the 300 Facebook Likes Giveaway from the names of all those who participated through facebook and here on my blog.

CONGRATULATIONS to:
Lisa from Bath, England for winning Set #1;
Wendy from Zuidbroek, Netherlands for winning Set #2; and
Kristin from Rosedale, West Virginia for winning Set #3.

Lisa and Wendy, if you're reading this, please email me your address at letterparade@gmail.com so I can put your prizes in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks for joining the contest! Until next time... say, 400?

300 Facebook Likes Giveaway

2011-10-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

To celebrate reaching 300 likes/fans of Letter Parade page on facebook (and yes, that's a big deal for me!) I am giving away three sets of writing stuff to three Letter Parade followers! If you're not on facebook, but are subscribed to this blog, no problem! You can join, too. You can get up to three chances of winning if you follow all four of these steps:

STEP 1) Subscribe to this blog.
STEP 2) Write on the comments bar below your:
               FIRST NAME, AGE, CITY/COUNTRY,
               PREFERRED GIVEAWAY SET (example: Set #1)
               COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS FOR LETTER PARADE - 1 point
STEP 3) Like Letter Parade on facebook and type in above info on comments bar when you see this   giveaway posting - 2 points
STEP 4) Go to my Etsy page and hit the icon LIKE - 3 points

I'll be drawing three winners next Sunday, October 16, 2011 12:00 noon PST
This contest is open worldwide! Shipping is on me! Allow 7 days to two weeks for delivery from announcement of winners.

Remember, you don't have to do all FOUR steps, but if you can, great!

Good luck!

Personalized Note Cards

2011-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

All over Los Angeles, the wind and sun are not showing any signs of slowing down in lieu of fall. "What fall?" asks the locals. And here I thought I bought my bike way too late for summer, but nope! Having all this heat deceives me into thinking we're still in June but my massive wall calendar tells me otherwise. SEPTEMBER! Time to think about presents, cookies, Christmas trees, and personalized note cards! I always enjoy designing our own note cards (you can view our 2009 and 2010 cards here) and this time around, I am opening up my doors and graphic designing skills to anyone who wants their own special note cards, too!

A couple of months after New Year 2011, good friend, Lynn Kwan approached me for a surprise she wanted to give to her Beatles fanatic boyfriend, Chad Porter for V-day. She let me have the creative freedom which for me is the only way an artist should be able to work (ideally)! I ran the whole nine yards hyper ecstatic and it was incredibly rewarding to have very satisfied customers at the end of the line.

Meet Lynn Kwan and Chad Porter.

I'm a major Beatles fan myself (and saw my favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney at Coachella '09!) so it was a bit challenging where or how to start; which song to pick, which album, which image, etc. Finally, Lynn suggested I use the 'All You Need Is Love' song which is appropriate for Valentine's.

The animated version of the fab four from the famous "Yellow Submarine" film was too irresistible for me not to use, and how fun would it be to make Lynn and Chad like Heinz Edelmann's characters?

Lynn's Valentine's card for Chad has definitely up my inclination in designing personalized note cards especially after she posted this testimonial on my Etsy shop.

I am now excitedly working on wedding invitations for a wonderful pen pal in France! Stay tuned for that! And if you want your very own personalized note cards, email me at letterparade@gmail.com and quit sending massed produced cards that are no more special than the paper and envelope they come with!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Framed & Lovely

2011-08-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

My blog entry "Free Stuff Monday" last month had subscriber Marinette suggesting that I should post the free stuff here instead of posting on my face book page where I've shared ten stationery designs that are free to be downloaded and printed for personal correspondence. Though I only have 32 followers here and 272 (and counting!) on face book, I know it's wrong and unfair to neglect sharing with my faithful subscribers here. So, to Marinette and you my faithful reader, I am making up for it starting with these three new stationery designs I call 'Framed & Lovely.'

Design No.1 - "Black Flowers"
I was looking into my old designs and dug up one of the Paris-inspired note cards I did way back at the urging of my mother-in-law, Donna. The pink frame accent struck a creative chord that lead to the creation of all three in this series. I may want to create more in the same style, or create a completely different design.

Design No. 2 - "Sea Creatures"
So far, all the ten stationery designs I've shared through my face book page had nothing on summer, and it's terrible because it's my favorite season! So, here's to summer and the countless fun memories I've had at the beach growing up as an island girl.

Design No. 3 - "Tribal"
This one uses elements that I've previously used on an earlier stationery design. I love these characters so you'll definitely be seeing more of them here!

I am seriously considering getting these printed and sell as notepads on my shop only if they're worth putting on the shelf. What do you think?

29 Ways to Stay Creative

2011-08-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

"Being Creative" and "Staying Creative" are two very different things. The former at times I can force myself to be, but staying creative would be ideal and whenever I'm stuck in a rut I always beat myself up. When I found this list I am reminded that I am reminded by my younger days when just being spontaneous and having fun actually helps me become more creative for longer periods of time.

A few weeks after I found this list, a video by Japanese motion graphics agency Tofu Design was passed around by design blogs, and just like the list, the video was well done and not one less inspiring.

Renegade Craft Fair 2011

2011-07-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

We had a blast today at the Renegade Craft Fair by Chinatown, well, my husband would beg to differ but I’m glad he came along! I can fairly say I took more time (than last year’s) to see a good amount of merch up-close and though I did spend for a few paper goods, a terrarium and two Uppercase magazines, I’m proud to say I didn’t go too crazy with my debit card.

I’d have to say, because of the 405 freeway closure (carmageddon!) it is noticeably less crowded. I spoke to some vendors and they confirmed that compare to last year, it’s been slow! I wonder what the people behind RCF will do next year when the City of Los Angeles will close the 405 once again! I sure do hope it won’t fall on the same weekend, but I don’t think that’ll stop me from going! After all, we made it there today!

So here are some photos from the fair:

Dan sampling the preserves.

You can view the entire album here.

I couldn't resist trying the FREE photo booth provided by Magbooth. What a fun way to cap a wonderful craft-ful day!

Thanks to the people behind Renegade Craft Fair! See you all next year!

Blog Giveaway

2011-07-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

Crystal of The House of Hearts is giving away this awesome camera and postcards from her Etsy shop to celebrate her 100 followers. Of course, from when this was posterd, the number of her followers has gone up! If you'd like to win these for yourself, read the full entry now! There are numerous ways you can improve your chance to win so good luck to us!

A Confession

2011-07-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I have a confession to make.......................

I'm.......

a..........

SNACKER!!!!

A certified, chronic, obsessive, interminable, eternal snacker. The idea of skipping proper meal for bars (yes, BARS) of chocolate or a bag of chips to me is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, I could live solely on snacks and won't have a problem with it. Heck, that is my idea of diet!

It doesn't help that I was born out of snacker parents, one was into sweets and the other into the salty stuff. So much so that the one into sweets now has diabetes and the other into salty snacks lost a kidney (around the time I was born) due to so much salt consumption! I know, those two facts should serve as my double, persistently-waved red flags. I would, in more than one occasion joke that I should be fine since I'm a good mix of both. For now, it's too early to tell how this would all boil down to.

Substituting chocolates with fruits and chips with peanuts just don't cut it! And the loves of my life indulge me, so you see, I really am in no position to complain (not that I would care to anyway!).

My Mah sends me and my husband boxful of treats several times a year, while my mother-in-law whips up yummy bars and cookies on special occasions. Whenever she travels to France (the other love of her life) and other parts of Europe, she always brings us (or mostly me, my husband doesn't want to have anything to do with the chocolates save for a couple of bites) these chocolates that make you feel like a billionaire with every bite!

I've always loved European chocolates, they put all other chocolates to shame! Here's what my mother-in-law, Donna recently brought back.

I also have a soft spot for nice boxes and packaging, so this one is definitely a keeper long after the chocolates are gone, and they are long gone!

Here are other chocolates and other snacks with cool packaging (waiting to be sampled and blogged about some time in the future):

Ardeche - Chocolate covered chestnut

Askinosie

Mast Brothers

Olive & Sinclair

Taza Chocolate

Moonstruck

The Frenchy Bee

Is a wonderful source of French products from cooking and baking ingredients, cakes, candies, beauty supplies, etc. Here are some of the snacks they carry that I've got my eyes on:

Microwaveable Fondue Dark Chocolate with 70% REAL Cocoa.

La Mere Poulard Galettes au Caramel au Beurre Salé - Salted Butter Caramel Galettes in Collector's Tin

La Mere Poulard Palets de Bretagne - Collector Tin

This is supposedly more crumbly rather than crisp and more buttery, too, than the Galettes above.

Both have irresistibly awesome tin packaging though!

Le Petit Saunier French Salted Butter Caramels - Caramel au BeurreSalé

The packaging reminds me of a beauty soap bar you can find at luxury hotels!

Paris Caramels - 9% Charentes-Poitou Pure French Butter - Vanilla French Caramels

Also available in Fig & Walnut, Hazelnut, Chocolate and the packaging just as elegant.

Amazon also carries a good selection of imported goods.

French Dark Chocolate Truffles.
There are lots of it but this is probably the only one that comes in a wooden box. Now, how chic is that?

Chocolat Bonnat Trinite 75% Dark Chocolate Bar.

There are nine classifications available on Amazon, this one is trinite just one of the nine places they sourced the cocoa from. Makes you want to sample all to find out which has the best!

30 pcs. 100% Natural Basswood Chocolate.

It comes in a thick wooden crate and is handmade by Pascal Caffet, World Chamion French Chocolatier. It doesn't get any richer than this!

Primo Pan Noccioli Hazelnut Cookies with Chocolate from Italy.

Beats any premium biscotti out there just by the packaging alone!

Bellagio Cocoa (French Vanilla, Chocolate Truffle, Caramel Praline) Gift Set This is perhaps the most classy hot chocolate packaging I've ever seen. I wonder how each tastes like!

French Broad is another online source for premium chocolates and they offer a service they call "chocolate subscription," how awesome is that? I've yet to try their services but I can surely vouch for Foodzie, a San Francisco based company that hand-packs handpicked artisan products in single-serving sizes cleverly called, The Tasting Box. My first subscription came in the mail yesterday and I am hooked! Can't wait for next month's harvest!

Foodzie July Tasting Box
I am in love with their Black Truffle + Aged White Cheddar gourmet popcorn by 479° Popcorn and Botanical Bakery's Fennel Pollen shortbread cookies.

And in the subject of snacks, See's Candies is having a National Lollipop Day Sweepstakes until July 23, 2011. You could win a trip for two to San Francisco for the VIP See's Factory tour or $50 worth gift cards!

My go-to chocolates for my pen-pals are the minis from Ghirardelli. They are small enough like tea-bags to fit in letters and have very exciting seasonal flavors, too like Eggnog for Christmas.

So, what kind of a snacker are you?

SandBook Interview

2011-07-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Recently, my new friends at SandBook asked to feature Letter Parade for their July ezine, and was I ever thrilled? Raia, the Editor-in-Chief and awesome person with her team of two did a fantastic job with the magazine layout! I was surprised to see the logo on the front cover!! So I thought I MUST share this with you.

Download and read the full story!

To Raia and the rest of SandBook.net from the bottom of my heart thank you so very much for featuring me in this month's issue! Thanks for all that you do for the world of letter-writing! Keep up the awesome work!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

P.S. As part of this successful collaboration, I am offering FREE SHIPPING for all orders placed from now until August 31, 2011 11:59 PST just use code SANDBOOKSUMMER2011 at Letter Parade!

Paper Art : Charles Clary AKA Paper Extravaganza

2011-07-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

How are you all doing? I hope your week is starting out great! If not maybe I can help make it better with my FREE print-at-home stationery designs that you can find on my Letter Parade page, (there's a reason why I picked to share them on Mondays!) or you can marvel at the genius of Charles Clary.

The precision, the concept, the patience, the colors, the dept of work, the brilliance.... I can't praise this artist and his work enough. Simply amazing and definitely worth raving about!

As you scroll down to see photos of some of his previous work, please keep in mind that these are all done with paper and colored with Acrylic. Just paper, and that's why it's so awesome!

Flameobic Opulation

(detail)

Flamungle Gestation

Flamungle Gestation (detail)

Codastic Diddlation

See more of Charles Clary's work and follow his blog if you love his art. I know I do!

Lists and Scribbles

2011-07-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

How is your weekend going? Mine is just starting and the day will be filled with running around LA to see Best Coast at the Getty, then Alien Ant Farm at the Universal CityWalk. We have seen them live for free last May, some old favorites stay as good as the new ones.

Really quickly now, as the smell of laundry detergent awaits, are awesome lists I stumbled upon via Imprint Magazine which covers a broad range of topics focus on design and the people behind it. Imprint's blog today featured current exhibition of the Morgan Library & Museum which includes 80 lists titled Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists’ Enumerations from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art.

I thought Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen's list about his second wife, Aline Bernstein's positive attributes is simply touching.

Designer Harry Bertoia's school assignment uncovered a chart he put together titled “My-Self Rating Chart.”

Picasso, a renowned list maker himself wrote this one for Walt Kuhn, the organizer of the 1913 Armory Show when asked for the artists he recommends which includes Léger, Gris, “Ducham”

Very rarely have I seen visual lists out there, so I was amazed when I saw this one: Painter Adolf Konrad’s packing list that it inspired me to create my own.

The exhibit is ongoing, and not to be sad if there's no way you can possibly make it, like myself. There's a book out of the same title that makes a great addition to the coffee table or any artist's library.

More about lists and scribbles, I found Ms. Leah Dieterich's website and concept heart-warming. She writes daily something to be thankful about and has published a book of her compilation. Really, who will run out of such? If you look closely, you will find lots to be grateful about, and if you wrote it down and read back through all those years of blessings documented, it's almost guaranteed you'll triple the positivity in your life!

Here's one about surprises:

I couldn't agree more!

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

Paper Art : Jayme McGowan

2011-07-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I hope you are all having a great day, or night! I'm currently working on a new postcard idea, will tell you more about it soon! Meanwhile, I thought I should share a very inspiring body of work using paper(!) by artist Jayme McGowan. Looking at her works remind me time and again how versatile paper is as an art medium. There are endless possibilities on what you can do! Truly when one is creative, even the simplest of material can be transformed into something so brilliant. What I love even more about McGowan is her ability to not just make shapes but also tell a story. See for yourself.

"Aerial Adventurers"

"James & the Giant Peach"

"Oscar's Accidental Adventure"

"The Best Album Ever"

"Cloud Climbing"

Now I don't have to tell you why this one is my favorite, it's pretty obvious isn't it?

"Earl's Good Tuesday"

You can see more of Jayme McGowan's work here. She is also an Etsy seller like myself and you can purchase prints and shadow box kit under her Roadside Projects shop. If you love her work, drop her a note and let her know how much you appreciate her art. We need people to keep making beautiful things! Lastly, don't forget to write to your pals about this.

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

Old Musings

2011-07-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Have you ever been in exile? Believe it or not, I was, for over a year around 2003. Don't worry, I wasn't in jail but the wardens were my parents. To this day, I look back and think of that phase in my life as the "dark age" spiraling downwards into a black hole.

Ironically, it was also a time when I found my creative potential despite having gone to art school years prior. It must be all those idle times that made me think what a solitary creature I really am!

Here are a few documented reminders that make looking back during those times less disheartening.

Enjoy!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

----

I'm pulling my head back

The wound on my neck to show

The many times you made me think

I could be greater

Than God.

---

I serve you my spoilt heart

On a silver platter

With a silver fork

But I'm still not worth your gold.

---

It felt like closing your eyes from the strobes of light

While the beating of your heart rocks your whole weight

But it's only a moment of another miracle as we fall into slumber.

---

Oh, a tender loving heart

Is a tender hand climbing up front

The second helping

Is always reminiscent

Of the first intrusion.

----

Happy 6th Birthday, Postcrossing!

2011-07-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Having a three-full days weekend is really nice, but it makes my Tuesday feel like Monday! Alas, that is great news knowing I only have to work four short days this week. Nevertheless, time seems to be flying! Don't you think?

This morning, I checked in on one my Postcrossing accounts (because I have two! Yikes!) and read about their approaching 6th birthday, how fun! The site administrator, Paulo Magalhaes is inviting the members to submit photos of themselves holding postcards they are about to mail out which they will use and compile in a video montage like they have done before that I regretfully missed. Well here's my chance and to all of you who are part of this wonderful project, we just might be featured in the video if not win these goodies as well:

The World's Smallest Post Service by Lea Redmond of Leaf Cutter Designs.

Two Christmases ago I got my cousin, Mary Kris, two of my pen pals and my husband, Dan one each of this awesome mail product from Ms. Redmond. Her customer service was awesome (still is, I'm sure!) and all her products unique. I am happy to see her products gracing Amazon now as well as other online gift shops. It's a lovely surprise enough to see something special in the mailbox and having the letters and packages come in miniature sizes is even more amazing! So this kit would make a wonderful addition to any letter-writer's desk!

Included in the kit:
1 0.2mm fine-tipped micron writing pen
40 mini writing sheets
40 mini envelopes
60 envelope seals
4 mini gift boxes
4 sheets Kraft wrapping paper
4 sheets miniature "newspaper" packing paper
44 inches twine
40 postage stamps
32 special delivery stickers
Instruction sheet

Mail Carriers Set by Playmobil.

These Mail Carriers are well loved by Postcrossers across the globe including myself. We have come to know them on first name basis, Paulo and Ana. Honestly, I am envious of the two, they have gone to more places that I wished I've traveled to! You can read more about their fun trips here.

So here's me with my Sad Queen postcards and behind me are my wall of cards that are mostly available on Letter Parade the shop. I'm crossing my fingers I'll be part of the video, at least :0)

And in the subject of postcards, I am embarrassed to admit that I have been so out of the loop! Reading Missive Maven's blog, I came across Walltype, SendSomething.net and Swap-bot, let me explore these awesome recommendations more then maybe I can blog about each in the near future!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

Free Stuff Monday

2011-07-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

I hope you all had a fun July 4th celebration! The long weekend for me was filled with pounds of meat and grilled veggies, thanks to the company of good friends! Now, easing back to work isn't at all that bad.

Now let's talk about 'print-at-home' stationery. Have you purchased a downloadable file or two from Etsy or any other online source? There are lots of them and some have really amazing designs! For a few $, you can store many images ready to print at your disposal the next time you write someone a letter. What a wonderful idea! Alas, instead of selling my own, I decided to give it away! I've recently uploaded two designs that you can find via Letter Parade face book page delivered fresh every Monday. So if you are tired of the same boring lined paper, add a stylish touch by printing my designs over! It's that easy!

Here are the two previously shared designs:
"Peacock Stationery" and "Pink Roses and Butterflies" by Letter Parade.
Download high resolution here.

Once downloaded and you are ready to print, open file and hit CTRL + P to view print options, make sure to adjust printer settings to "FIT TO SCREEN / PAGE" and select NORMAL for print quality. You may print front and back and as many copies as you like! Works with any letter paper (8.5" x 11"). Now remember, the print will not completely bleed, or cover the entire paper as is common for at home printers. You will find a few centimeters of gap on the edges of the paper not printed. If you want a "full bleed" look, simply cut the sides as shown on the guide below.

More designs to follow! You are free to print unlimited number of copies for personal use only. All I ask in return is please DO NOT RESELL OR SHARE this file regardless of format (electronic or printed). If you like these copyrighted designs and know someone who will, too, just have them visit this blog or my face book page where they can download these files and enjoy more designs delivered every Monday!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

Letter Parade -UPDATE

2011-07-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Happy 4th of July to all you Americans and to my husband who has yet to wake up and decide what to do today to celebrate his freedom and love for his country. To those of you who are wondering why I'm going to have to sit this one out or be a wallflower, that's because I am not American. I do love America, don't get me wrong. And very soon I, too will be American citizen, until then I will pour damn good wine and give a toast to you America!

I know it's been a while since my last post, this seems to be the norm with me nowadays! I am currently juggling several projects here and there but I'm happy to say, letter-writing and postcard-sending have not been put on hold. Nobody can possibly deny me the joy of this hobby!

I must admit, I have been tempted many times to close my Etsy shop, but alas, the SAD QUEEN rescued me and though struggling with time, I pressed on. To those who have no clue what my Sad Queen project is all about, read my previous entry here. It's a fun monthly design commitment for me and have gotten lots of wonderful feedback from my friends at Postcard Exchange and the folks at Postcrossing!

Here are some of the new products you can find on my shop:

The Pin-up Floral Envelope Sealers.
I love the pin-up girls, they are one of the wonderful reminders of how fun my last creative job was despite how brief the contract ended. These girls are forever embedded on my creative genes and you will see them in a lot of my works and paper goods at Letter Parade.

The Sad Queen postcard - JUNE

This has been posted late, for which I had not found the time to blog about.

Sober - a love quote postcard.

From my 'Old Musings' archive way back that I finally was able to recreate with a new design for a postcard. Again, I think postcard is such a versatile medium in sharing art. It makes me happy thinking this little darling is gracing somebody's mailbox and greeted with a smile. What a heart-warming transaction!

Missing - a love quote postcard

Another one from my 'Old Musings' archive. Writing short quotes is a fun skill I've gotten from my grandma 'Vencia who was exceptionally talented and an amazing music teacher who then passed it on to my Dad. It was fun to tell their writings apart growing up as they both had very different styles.

So these are what's new and up about Letter Parade. I hope you like the new stuff! If you have more time to kill today, and are in the mood for reading more about paper products, I suggest you head over to Missive Maven's blog who did a wonderful stationery compilation yesterday.

Have an amazing JULY everybody!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales - Kujat

The Sad Queen Postcard Series

2011-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!

Whoa! I got sidetracked there for a while. But yes, oh yes my 2011 is going great, thank you! I hope the same goes for you!

Much apologies for the long absence. What? Three months it's been. Let's see, my day job well, I can't complain and music continues to play, louder it seems... my Etsy shop, however, I would quote a good friend and fellow Etsyian Jessica of A Cup of Green Ginger that "you get out of it what you put into it." Though it hasn't been too much effort put in for mine, recently, I've added a new series of Postcards called 'The Sad Queen' and have circulated a handful of the February and March series to newfound friends via this awesome facebook group Postcard Exchange, and of course via Postcrossing. I am happy to report I've had several requests for swaps (postcards) along with "favorite" clicks and have sold some, too.

Let me explain the concept behind the Sad Queen postcard series. I have to admit, I am all over postcards now, I used to be just crazy about letters but little did I know then that these two come hand-in-hand. Well, throw in stamps, too, but I'm still getting there. And of course, I've slowly been exposed to different types of postcards, and to my surprise, there are hundreds and hundreds! No wonder they bring so much joy to postcard enthusiasts and collectors alike. So, I was particularly fond of postcard books, literally, a book a size of a postcard that contains pages and pages of postcards that you can tear and mail out. What a wonderful idea! I married that to an excuse to create something at the start of the year, and what products would spring up to mind but calendars? Though too late to come up with one now, I decided to produce one postcard every month until I have a full twelve enough to compile into a postcard book that will also serve as a calendar. So this is my task at hand.

The story of the Sad Queen herself is an ongoing one. I progress into the story as I go from month to month and what better way to start but the month of Love, February, when the sad Queen hits her all-time low.

Well, with all that being said, I present to you The Sad Queen February, March and April.

These, along with lots of new stuff since my last blog entry can be found at my Etsy shop. And the 10% discount offer exclusive for you still stands just use this code upon checkout LPARADEFRNDS10!

Thanks for reading and happy writing!!!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

First Sale on Etsy!

2010-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

What an exciting week for Letter Parade etsy shop which I opened with just three 'thank you' cards last Monday, December 13th. As a certified Etsyholic, it is not a surprise that a new seller would not make a sale in months as I've read in a lot of Etsy featured stories so I didn't think I'd make mine right away! And there I go pouring more time into adding more stuff to my shop, the printing, the packaging, the styling and product shots plus editing.... there is always something to do and learn or read about other sellers' mistakes to avoid. It can get overwhelming. The rewarding part was being featured in a treasury on my first day of opening! Then I got invited in a BNR circle that I can't even properly explain what the whole deal is about. Basically, it's a large circle of Etsy sellers who come together online for a set time, like last night we did a three to five hour BNR. A couple of newbies who never had a sale (like me) were included and we took a spot with one product on the board. One seller has to buy one item from our shop to kick me out of the board/spot so she can have a product featured there instead allowing her to promote her products and shop more until another seller takes her spot. I don't know who thought of this but it's pretty darn clever! I was invited by the curator of that BNR herself, seller MyWaterColorDReams. It was there that I made my first sale, a set of two of these to seller FlirtySanchezProject:

Being in a BNR like all teams and circles has its own perks, like learning new stuff from other members I would've never discovered on my own. Maybe if I read a ton of Etsy blogs but still, inside tips and tricks are something you can only get from the streets. The downside to a BNR is having to spend and buy off another seller's item just to get a spot. Of course, for my first I never got to do this because I got my hands tied up with excitement for my first sale and opening accounts to payment tools that sellers preferred to use that I only heard about last night. But of course, you pay for good advertising, right? So if you pay to be advertised and still get something awesome and handmade out of it, I think that's a pretty damn good deal! So starts my BNR addiction and there's one in just a few hours today, yay!

Oh, and another exciting thing when I woke up this morning, my pink roses 'thank you' card got featured in another treasury again! This time the treasury is called 'Innocence' put together by seller WaterlilyJewels.

So really quick, here are the newly added products at the shop:

Etched Flower Series note cards

Bon Voyage French Note Card

La Vie Est Belle Note Cards

Paris Thank You Card

Bonjour French Note Card

Mime Valentine's Card

These are now available at my shop. And as an exclusive treat to you my friends here at blogspot, I offer a 10% code "LParadeFRNDS10" (apply during check out) until December 31st, 2010, Friday 6:00 PM PST. Thank you for another wonderful year!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Letter Parade Opens Shop on Etsy!!

2010-12-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!

I'm happy to announce that the Letter Parade online shop is finally open! You can visit it here. After unsuccessfully running GKkards with poor product shots that didn't do justice and just wasted posting fees, I vowed to do things differently with Letter Parade. It seems like with the coming new year, it's just a perfect timing to get this thing up and running!

So today, with a borrowed pro camera, I tried my hand on product styling using my "flower series" thank you cards and came up with these:

I must be doing things right that in just a few hours after uploading these and more photos to my online shop, another member featured one of my 'thank you' cards in her treasury! Thank you DoodleBugFramesEtc !

So come check out the shop! I will be filling it with more products and yes it's going to be all about letters, stationery, paper goods, postcards, etc. to get you corresponding in style!

And maybe you have some ideas on designs that you'd like me to create for you? I can do that, too!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LetterParade

Happy writing and browsing/shopping!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-11T23:10:00.000-08:00

Oh wow! 2010 felt like it took only a month and now we're gearing up for 2011! I hope your year has been better than the last and that next year will top it all off in terms of life, health, career, friendships... all the goodness that everyone deserves!

I will remember 2010 as the year that made me grow a stronger and better person whom I hoped to become some years back. Hooray for continuous growth! And the biggest highlight of the year is no doubt Dan's accident resulting to severe head trauma last October 9, it seems such a long time ago now and I'm happy that he's back to his old outgoing, funny, talented, active self. Read more about his accident here and check out the website, too! With caring and loving families, amazing friends and thoughtful, generous strangers coming forward and helping us in such a trying time of our lives, we have never felt more blessed! And these are all part of the many reasons why this Holiday season will be celebrated with much gusto!

Letter-wise, I also found many awesome pen friends around the world along with the (albeit late) discovery of http://www.postcrossing.com/ adding more colors to my 2010!

Not too sound too fruity, I definitely had some low times this year, too but why look back to this year and count the bad apples when you have the good ones that should be carried over to the new year? Besides, it can't hurt to be optimistic, right?

Of course, another exciting thing that I always look forward to with glee is designing our own Christmas greeting card. This time, to save on postage, postcard version will also be sent out to everyone on our list who have stayed and/or managed to touch our hearts in surprising ways!

Lastly, for 2011, write more letters! Listen to music twice as much as you ever did your entire life! Make more time for somebody dear to you! Be more creative and do what you do passionately and I guarantee it will make you sleep better at night!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Mail News Scoop

2010-12-11T12:56:00.001-08:00

As if current USPS problems aren't enough, it only seems to be getting worse. I mean, seriously, USPS has had 640 health and safety violations in the past five years and have recently been fined $220,000 for unsafe conditions specifically at the Los Angeles area. No wonder their plea to increase postage fee for January 2011 was denied!

Again and again, USPS scream for new management and total overhaul of its system is getting louder by the year. I would love to hear something positive for once.

Just thought it would be appropriate to rant about it here.

Going Sock Monkey Crazy

2010-11-26T23:06:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with bountiful food shared with loved ones! Don't you all wish it could be Thanksgiving every day? And our waistlines never grow no matter how much turkey or pumpkin pie slices we'll ever have! Wishful thinking! There's a reason why we only do this once a year!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you these letters going out to three of my pen pals that I jazzed up with 'sock monkeys.' Aren't they just adorable???

I hope each will bring a smile to the recipient, or even the mail man!

How do you jazz up yours?

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

The Wallflowers

2010-11-16T01:19:00.000-08:00

Exciting stuff for all you fellow wallflowers out there! And if you just so happen to be really talented in the writing and/or creative department you might want to check out what Sassy and Jane magazines founder, Jane Pratt who is brewing together with infamous 14-year old fashion blogger (http://www.thestylerookie.com), Tavi Gevinson (amazing kid!) a new kind of magazine for the "wallflowery teenage girls." Not a lot of emphasis over the content of this so-called magazine in the works but Tavi is hinting that it'll be very similar to Sassy. She adds "Something that will use Sassy as a point of reference for the whole teen-magazine-that-doesn't-suck thing."

Most importantly, they are looking for creative people and you have until this Friday to strip off your mask and Seventeen magazine influences and get back to your dorky self! Read more about it here and pull your creative forces together!

I'm crossing my fingers this project sees publication hopefully by 2011! Judging from Tavi's writing style and overall character and charm, I'm already a sworn subscriber.

Stay creative, friends!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Hanging By A Thread

2010-11-10T23:37:00.000-08:00

My friends,

It has been a while since I wept a bucket and had a good scare (this will be an emotional one!). Every day I wake up to combat and scratch out list of things to do. Days seem to consist of routines and mundane accomplishments such as bills paid and car washed... It is often so easy to forget that today could be that date on the tombstone. Forgive me for being so blunt, but at 28 I thought I'd be a widow.

Last October 9th, Saturday after my graphic design class, my husband, Dan who usually comes to pick me up didn't show up. The last thing on my mind was him in an accident. Excuses were "traffic," "just running late...", etc. So that fine sunny Saturday outside the school campus I waited and called him on his cellphone. No answer. Thirty minutes passed and I tried calling again, still no answer. It is unlike my husband not to answer! Then I got that one call everybody dreads getting.

"Hi, I'm a nurse from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Dan is here at the ER......" at that moment I was surprised that my heart could beat at such a rate. Naturally, I panicked. I invite you to read more about it here.

It has been a month and a day ago, not too long from the nightmare that we survived. Very much like waking up from a long sleep yet waking up with a new perspective in life. I hate to admit that it would take something this tragic to shake one up to reconsider how fragile we truly are. That our loved ones could be taken from us as abruptly as the hand of time shifting a mere second. That putting off every chance to spend time with somebody we love because of things we "have to do" could turn out to be one of the greatest regrets of this lifetime.

Before the accident happened, I was writing to a friend in The Netherlands about how magical it was meeting my husband and migrating to the US to be with him. I wrote to her how life truly is so full of surprises and how yet again demonstrated it to be true.

The best lesson I learned looking back at all those nights spent at the ICU, hoping and praying that he comes out of it well with his spirits unscathed, was "give all the love that you can give." In the end, the best gift you can ever give to someone is not a new phone, a cute puppy, a diamond ring, a shopping spree...... so often we misinterpret love to be something tangible, perishable, perhaps even edible... but no, it is as simple as you. Love is the gift of you.

Please be warned, these photos are very graphic. Not for the faint hearted!

DAY 1

DAY3

DAY 4

DAY 5

DAY 14

So, my dear friends, let us not wait to be reminded about the value of life; the difference our time can mean to someone and how love is still the greatest gift you can give.

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Around the World: Aerial Photos of Yann Arthus-Bertrand

2010-09-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

We often forget how beautiful the world we live in in the rush of the daily grind. We hardly ever take a moment to sit still with our heads up to enjoy the blue skies, birds chirping and leaves on trees swooshing as the gentle breeze of the air discreetly pass us by. We take all these things for granted and yet from time to time we bump into something that reminds us on how beautiful the world truly is. Sometimes, slowing down to open your eyes is all that it takes for the world to enthrall you with its beauty.

For aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, however, it's just part of his five-year airborne odyssey documenting through his lens the world as we rarely see it. So, if you need a reminder to make you appreciate Earth more, here are some of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's amazing works.

Amazon River, Brazil

Bazaar of Istanbul, Turkey

Boats stranded on the dry Aral Sea, Kazakhstan

Coal mine, South Africa

Easter Island, Chile

Elephants on the Savannah, Botswana

Epicenter of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan

Fraser Island Dune, Australia

Freeways in Los Angeles, USA

Gullholmen, Sweden

Hashima Island, Japan

Louver and Ile De La Cite in Paris, France

Machu Picchu, Peru

Military Cemetery, Verdun, France

Pigeon Houses Mit Gahmr Delta, Egypt

Ruins of the Medieval City of Shali, Egypt

Solar Plant in Andalusia, Spain

Stockholm, Sweden

Tasmania, Australia

The Changping District in Beijing, China

Varanasi, India

Walled City of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand

To see more of his wonderful works, click here.

Definitely another beautiful topic to write about, don't you think?

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

LA Printers Fair 2010

2010-09-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here in LA, you can be sure there's always something happening somewhere between Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles whether you are into theatre, sports, literature, art, music, dancing, etcetera... this Saturday is extra busy for Dan and I with the Glow Festival, a bi-annual music and art festival at the Santa Monica Pier, Epicenter (another amazing music festival - this year's headliners Eminiem, Kiss, Buss and Blink-182), and Nocturnal Festival 2010 (which we've got free passes for thanks to Brad Athens of Insomniac Events). But there's one major event that I'm so heartborken to miss! It's the:

The museum itself - The International Printing Museum at any given day is a printing and paper addict's paradise which houses Ernest A. Lindner "Collection of Antique Printing Machinery considered by many authorities to be one of the largest, most comprehensive collections of historic graphic arts equpment in the world." It has the first iron printing press built in the 1800 by Lord Standhope; the second one built in 1813 by John Clymer; the Albion press in 1820; the Washington hand press of Samuel Rust in 1821........ and there's so much more!

14x19 Albion

24x35 Washington

Columbian Press

6x9 Platen Jobber

This Saturday's fair will include over 100 vendors selling tasteful paper products and some will even sell classic printing presses. Click here for the vendor highlights. If you do make it you MUST blog about it! It's times like these I wish half of my Gemini self could materialize and be in two amazing events at once! That's double dose on happiness!

Well, wherever you will be this weekend, be safe, have fun with good company, good food and a ton of laughter!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

In My Mailbox : Vintage Stamp Dispenser

2010-09-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

The life of my mailbox is at an all time high now with lots of friends from around the globe and all those postcards from Postcrossing.com! It's never seen better days! Especially when I shop around for unique vintage or handmade Etsy finds.

Not really a self-professed collector myself, things just seem to find me (yeah yeah) and soon enough found fallen bird feathers on the streets are piling up on my growing collection of vintage tin cans that spurred from hours and hours of looking over the vintage category on Etsy!

So when this little darling found me (it's fate), the letter-writing, letter-mailing, vintage loving me, how could I say "No"? There's no stopping my epistolary from growing now, from the modest start with letters, postcards, stationery to this little baby, my mailbox is as curious as I am as to what will find its way to me next.

Stay tuned!

According to seller Sassydoggs, this vintage stamp dispenser is.........

"from the 1960s because the stamp pictured on the side appears to be a 1965 4 cent Lincoln stamp."

Visit her shops:

http://www.sassycatts.etsy.com/
http://www.peppermintpixies.etsy.com/

Happy writing! (And collecting!)

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Paper (and flower) Art : Kari Herer

2010-09-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

A repost from my Facebook Notes 10/09/2009.

"BOTANICAL ART IN THE NEW"

This morning, I tried to understand the last images I have left engraved in my thoughts from the sleep I just woke up from...dream residue. I only caught one scene in a shabby house with a makeshift bed in the center. The main focus shifted to a baby, my baby lying next to me his body warm and safe. I'm not sure if in my dream when I was still in it, if it was a real human baby, because my mind now argues that it was a polar bear cub! My heart cringed at the memory, I so love polar bears and I grieve over their increasingly desperate fight for survival. It must explain why I scoured the web pages for flowers mix with whatever comes close to my vision of a rotten corpse. My search turned up these beautiful works by photographer Kari Herer. Each piece reminds me of those flowers in the graveyard set adrift in a sea of melancholia.

Check out more of Kari Herer's work here and shop her Etsy shop for these lovely, one-of-a-kind prints.

Another exquisite work of art to write about!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Subscription Freebies!!!

2010-08-31T00:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Blog update!

I've decided to make this a full-on offer to new subscribers of Letter Parade blog, and not limited to the apothecary-style address labels found below. The contents of the letter/package to new subscribers will be a surprise! Each letter/package will contain different stuff all letter-related or something to support your hobby (like assorted stationery, postcards, stickers, etc)!

To get yours in the mail, just subscribe to this blog by clicking the FOLLOW button found at the left hand side, follow the simple instructions how then drop me a short, sweet email with your address so I can send the goodies to your way! It's that easy! Get all your pen pals to subscribe, too! My letter love extends beyond the USA :0)

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

PS If you blog and would like to use the subscribe banner (above) feel free to do so! It's created by yours truly. Just link Letter Parade for credit.

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

As my way of saying thank you for following my newborn blog, Letter Parade, I'm giving away a set of five apothecary-style labels I designed under my GKkards to each follower. So 'Ria Cabral', 'The Missive Maven', 'Angie Seffker Cope', and 'Jan. F' please email me your mailing address so I can send one set on your way, postage is on me!

Spread the love to your pen pals and have them follow this blog so I can send them a set, too!

Again, thanks for the support.

Thanks for keeping the art of letter-writing alive; for building long lasting friendships through this medium; for spreading love, peace and happiness as effortless as writing letters :)

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

PS This limited design label is printed on thick cardstock with matte finish and is not yet sold anywhere.
Sticker version will be available soon here!

USPS Goes Retro?

2010-08-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Lately, I'd been reading about the issues USPS has been having, like closing on Saturdays and increasing postage from $0.44 to $0.46 by January 2011. It's inevitable! While a lot of people claim that USPS will soon close down its services to the public as more and more people choose to pay bills online with the urging of most billing companies adding a certain percentage of fine for not going paperless - the number of letter writers and postcard collectors are rapidly growing each day! I would think so. Ask any letter writers you know who go past sending greeting cards on holidays and they'll tell you we are on a letter-writing revival! It's certainly not primarily to save USPS, but personally, I think because people just miss the feeling of getting actual letters that are not bills you needed to pay, or coupons and catalogs you only browse once. It's true, there's nothing quite like it, and the joy of every process in writing, sending, receiving and reading one is unmatched. It especially excites me that younger generations are getting into this old trend. I've noticed more names in the 14-20 year-old bracket at the penpal section of this one pen pal finder site I found some of my new friends at.

Which brings me to this new argument re: USPS rebranding, will redesigning it appeal to the masses or help solve the ongoing budget crisis?

Designer Matt Chase created these gorgeous body of work for USPS taking in a more retro appeal. I love it and support implementation of this project, why should USPS be a stark white space like every other boring government office? While the eagle head logo is famous, I sure won't miss it if they changed it to Matt Chase's proposed one. In fact, I think the current eagle head logo would be more appropriate for, say, a new military or air force department if they don't have enough eagles in their logos already.

But this argument should also be taken into consideration: Shouldn't USPS focus more on finding strategies to become more competitive with FedEx, UPS, and perhaps partner with larger companies to develop some sort of mailing campaign? To make USPS the primary carrier if that is at all still possible? This article by Max Fisher (The Future of Mail) packs some very feasible solutions, including one that I don't approve of: shutting down USPS.

While the nostalgia route of the proposed designs appeal to people like me, if it's only going to generate appreciation instead of more supporters, then I think it's time to look the other way. But seriously, how can these not work? If our government couldn't rescue USPS, maybe a designer/creative agency could?

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Paper Art : Brian Dettmer

2010-08-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

If I could write to my pen pals pages and pages about art, I would. Oh wait, I think I already do! But if you saw these works of Brian Dettmer in one of your online excursions, wouldn't you at least spare a few lines of your beautiful stationery sheet to share about his amazing work?

I've seen his works a few years back and blogged about it in my Multiply account (since then he's added so much more to his collection!), and after recently discovering Su Blackwell's work I can't help but dig up Brian Dettmer whose works are also in the same medium, books. Who knew there's so much more you can do with one aside from reading or helping you doze off? A few years ago, there was a wave on altered book art and the trend is going strong. But I'll save that for another day.

In the topic of books, I am currently reading David Linden's 'Accidental Mind: How the Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams and God'. I have always been fascinated on how the brain works and its mysteries that leave most neurologists still puzzled. But we are slowly learning more about its intricacies and functions. And these discoveries never cease to amaze me. This book sheds light to new studies, correcting misconceptions and explaining in great detail the little cells in a way no other science books do - it packs humor and keeps the praising of the brain to a minimum.

Check out Brian Dettmer's works here and don't forget to write about it in your next letter out to your pen pal/s. Should you want to blog about Mr Dettmer's work, don't forget to cite credit and drop him a compliment :)

Happy wiriting!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

5 000 000 Postcards!!!

2010-08-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

I'd like to congratulate Postcrossing and its wonderful team led by Paulo Magalhaes for reaching the 5 million mark of postcards sent through members of Postcrossing since they started this wonderful project in 2005.

A couple of days ago I tried my luck at guessing the countries (or combination of) the 5 millionth postcard will be sent from/to. My guess was USA to PHILIPPINES and there were 871 guesses! The winner of the right guess wins a surprise from Postcrossing team and guess what? Nobody guessed the right combo. So what about this 5 millionth postcard?

Here it is, sent by member Elefantus (who's been a member for 3 years and has sent over 2,116 postcards around the world!) in Italy to Ployploy (is a newbie like me and member for 29 days and this 5 millionth postcard is only his 4th received!) in Thailand. Elefantus and Ployploy will get the prize instead since nobody guessed it right!

Congratulations Postcrossing!!! Congratulations to Elefantus and Ployploy!

And here is the previous 4 millionth postcard:

Happy postcrossing!!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Bad Postcards

2010-08-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

If you haven't joined Postcrossing yet, it would probably be best if you skipped this entry so as not to inspire you to send out the worst postcard! On the bright side, if you do get one, instead of thinking "what a waste of stamp," have a laugh and share some! Because there is a blogsite dedicated to bad postcards you can upload. And yes, it is literally called Bad Postcards. So next time you need a chuckle, you know where to go online.

http://bad-postcards.tumblr.com/

Here are some of the postcards you will find at the site:

Paper Art : Sue Blackwell

2010-08-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Obsessing about paper is almost automatically innate when one is into writing letters. Beautiful stationery is among our best friends. So when I stumbled upon Ms Blackwell's work, I knew I had to share her talent with you. Remember the pop-up books we used to have as kids? She has taken that very same concept and turned it into a more intricate and complex work of art which she calls 'book sculpture' using outdated and otherwise boring textbooks into something of a museum quality piece. Take a look for yourself:

So next time a society feels the need to go back to our old book-burning days, we might want to consider a more creative way of disposal and take it from artist Su Blackwell.

Visit her website and view more of her book-sculptures in her portfolio as well as other commercial and non-commercial projects.

Work of art as unconventional yet familiar as Ms Blackwell's is worth writing about, so share it to your pen pal.

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Around the World: National Costume Show

2010-08-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

At the Miss Universe 2010 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, the contestants don their national costumes and I thought, although totally unrelated to letters or postal, could be a good topic to write about in your next letter to your pen friends across the globe.

I love how some designers of these costumes added a modern-twist to traditional clothing, like Japan's for one. Instead of the covered up kimono, her shoulders are bare and the fabric trails on the back like it's suspended mid-air.

I also admire the clean and graceful costumes of Miss Greece, Miss Israel, Miss France and Miss Canada. It's hard to find a favorite, but close to my heart of course is Philippines. The gown's design is not a far departure from our traditional Maria Clara, the color combination is a fresh take though and I like how the bright yellow and black play out together.

Miss Venezuela's costume gears toward a more structural approach with the use of mirrors and weaving while Haiti and USA have all the dramatic touch. Miss Australia's costume captures the outback adventure of which Australia is most famous for. Also worth mentioning is Miss Thailand's, it's like a more sophisticated take to its exotic origin.

So which is your favorite? What do you think of your own country's costume? Were you happy with how the costume portrayed your country or did you think they could have done something different or even better?

The coronation is on the 23rd of August, that's next week! I don't really follow beauty pageants, but national costumes are something that interests me (as anything about cultures do), so I'll be keeping an eye out for the winner and my best bet? It's hard to decide! Ask your pen friends who they think will win, send them a link to this page. For the complete photos of all the Miss Universe 2010 candidates in their national costume (plus backstage photos) go here.

Photos sourced from MSN and http://www.seattlepi.com/

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Shopping for Some (unique) Writing Stuff

2010-08-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I like to surprise my pen friends across the globe or at the next state over little stuff like odd postcards, cute stationery, or envelopes made out of torn magazine pages (yes, fashion pages make wonderful sturdy envelopes!). Opting for a colored paper can do so much to add pizazz to an already interesting letter. Every letter writer knows this!

The neighborhood Michael's offers cheap and cute stationery, they have a section where you can dig up colorful and beautifully designed writing pads for under a buck! Or sign-up for their newsletter and get discount coupons as often as once a week. Jo-Ann is also another arts and crafts store that supposedly offers more for a lot less than Michael's, but we'll leave that to whoever runs the 'smart shopping' blog.

But today, I'm going to let you in on an amazing online store that I have been buying cool items from, not just for this hobby, it's also my go-to site for buying unique gifts. It's called Uncommongoods.com and it stands by its name! Here are the items I've been eye-ing lately that I'm sure my pen friends would love to see in their mailbox:

1) Memo Postcard (ceramic $15)
Like a dry-erase board only a lot chic-er

2) Postcardens (available in 'City', 'City' "Greetings" packaging, 'Botanical Garden', and 'Botanical Garden' packaging "Thinking of You" $12.50)
A postcard for the gardener or Architectural enthusiast in you or a pal

3) Stitching Postcard (set of two $10)
Now this is just ingenious! You can actually map out your routes using the thread and needle included in the kit. If you find yourself backpacking throughout Europe, what a great way to send this one out instead of having multiple postcards! You can choose between USA, Europe or the world.

4) Blackmail Cards (set of two postcards $8)
Uncommongoods.com has endless list of very unique and quirky stuff like this one. The postcards come in blank so you can stick the lettered fonts to make it look like a ransom note. Imagine how much fun this would be for you and whoever you're sending it to!

5) Postcard Mug (one cup comes with a special Pebeo marker with ink especially made for ceramic - $40)
Unlike those other mugs that you can write on, this one you can seal it permanently so the ink won't rub off when you wash it, simply bake it in the oven for 35 mins at 300F!

6) Saw Letter Opener ($15)
I have always been opening my letters the only way I know how, by trailing my fingers through the folded edges and I personally love the look of a ruggedly opened letter, but I suppose you can also find joy in using this saw if you're used to doing things right and clean.

7) Shoe Letter Opener ($15)
A more feminie version.

8) Elephant Poo Paper Journal and Note Box (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
Just recently, my pal from NM sent me this clever note cards made entirely out of Elephant Poo! I am all out for recycling and upcycling and making use of an otherwise wasteful matter just blows my mind! It reminds me of this one fashion designer who made use of discarded salmon scales on her accessories collection like how we use snakeskin. Amazing!

9) Panda Poo Paper (notepad, greeting cards and journal - sold in sets or individually - $8 - $24)

I don't know where all this poo-recycling could lead to, hopefully we can stick to just poo's of our grass-consuming friends. On the bright side, these products are highly recyclable and DO NOT STINK at all.

10) Horse Poo Paper: Note Box and Journal (choose between the 20-paged journal or the note box with 70 slips of paper - $14)
For your pen pal who has a ranch, a few lean horses and is horse-crazy and looks like she has everything. She probably doesn't have this. Well, she has the real thing I'm sure.

11) Bacon Flavored Envelopes - Set of 25 ($7)
Yes we're done with Poo.
I remember the time when scented pens and stationery were all the craze between my girlfriends and I in high school, but the scents were always on the fruity and floral side. Never in our youth would we imagine to ever come across a bacon-flavored envelope!!! But here it is! And it can only mean the beginning of more bacon-flavored stuff!

12) Plantable Wish Cards (12 wish cards plus three pencils - $10)
Another wonderful idea! You can send out a prayer, greetings and well wishes by writing it all down on the circular cards, plant it and voila! You get a variety of flowers sprouting out in a few weeks.

So for your next Christmas party, you need not panic but visit http://www.uncommongoods.com/. They have a large selection on gifts under $50 or $25 for the kids, coworkers, neighbors - they have just about everything for everyone!

Keep checking back on their website because they are constantly adding unique items.

Snag any of the items above and have a blast writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Preview: Letter Parade Correspondence Kit #1

2010-08-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

It's almost time to launch the first Letter Parade Correspondence Kit and already I'm preparing for the next one. As much as I would like to offer you a preview of what's included in the kit, I'm going to have to hold back until I have them ready to ship out. But, I'm especially happy with how the envelope sealers came out and I think I can get away posting these ahead. Here you go!

These will be available in separate sets as well, if you wish to just purchase these minus the letter set. Just shoot me an email: gkkards@gmail.com

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Mail Art by Darren Di Lieto {a book review}

2010-08-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

For the more creative letter writers (and there are a lot of you out there!), Mail Art existed, or as is also the case, brought the letter writer out of the artist inviting hundreds of illustrators to submit their works at http://www.mailmeart.com/ that became a book with an upcoming follow-up. It's a letter writer's dream coffee book - a compilation of the best submitted, highly creative letters (or to be more precise - envelopes). Just by browsing page to page, I am more aware by how plain my white envelopes are and without the nice touch of the tiny stamps, my increasingly dull handwriting comes into full view. So why don't we dive into the canvas and add some flair to the letter that will travel for miles and maybe even invite silent appreciation between Post Office staff?

The book is packed with hundreds of the submitted illustrated mails and are usually on large sized envelopes, some in boxes! Also included are interviews with 17 of the artists whose works are highlighted in the book. Born online, the participants are not exclusively from the UK where Mail Me Art is based, there are submissions from as far as the Philippines, Australia and Mexico.

Here are some works you can find in the book or online:

Watch out for the next call for submissions, your work might just be featured and be part of the Mail Me Art exhibit to even earn cash for your work! To further fuel an inspiration to becoming more creative with the next letter you'll send to the world, also grab a copy of the second offering, Mail Me Art: Medium Without a Message.

Available at all major bookstores, Amazon.com, but I got mine from MyDesignShop for much less!

So keep writing and be more creative!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Underwater Post Office

2010-08-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is such a thing! I could not believe it either but here it is:

http://www.vanuatupost.vu/underwaterPost.html

Vanuatu is doing it differently and taking it all under water. This unique gig was started in 2003 and since then, they have had over 100,000 visitors donning scuba gears and snorkle masks hand carrying their waterproof mails and postcards under water to a sunken "post office" with a scuba-geared post man awaits to give service!

The hours, however depend largely on the weather, naturally. But in the tropics that Vanuatu enjoys year-round, you can almost be sure you can find this post office operational every day! More so on days when vacation season peaks. Check their website for more info! They also have waterproof postcards and stamps available!

If you're ever in Vanuatu and got to try this out, let us know!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Renegade Crafts Los Angeles 2010

2010-08-09T23:35:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, through some random article from Etsy, I found out about an annual crafts fair with stops in: Austin, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. Not having attended any big crafts fair before, I looked up http://www.renegadecrafts.com/ and marked my calendar. The event promised over 200 vendors, live music and workshops - a two day event.

So on a fine, hot Saturday, Dan and I cramped a couple of hours in our busy weekend to check out the fair. Though I came out of it (unbelievably) with not a single purchase, I walked away with a handful of business cards from several vendors. There were adorable terrarium's, fine jewelry, screen-printed t-shirts, fabrics, wool, aprons, pillowcases, but most sold paper goods like cute note cards, journals, stationery sets, art prints and posters. Of course, paper being a natural obsession of mine I found myself assembling what is now called Letter Parade, something I should have done a long time ago! Anyway, I left the venue inspired and exhilarated hoping silently that I could make time the next day to check out the second half because I must've only briskly checked out about 100 vendors or less.

Here are some of the photos from the fair. I am now a devotee and will not miss next year's for sure!

Upcoming crafts fair here in the LA area is the LACE EVENT. Happening on August 14 and 28, 2010 at the Chinatown.

You've Got Mail! Sweepstakes via www.readymade.com

2010-08-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

In preparation for launching the first Letter Parade sampler kit, I am surprise how I still manage to find extra time visiting some of my favorite websites like ReadyMade - on top of my day job! Part of my daily routine is to enter their sweepstakes, the prizes at stake are huge! Last month was a trip for two to France as tribute to Marcel Duchamp for coining the term “Ready Made.” This month, they’re giving away an $800 Etsy shopping spree! Some days, I’d be browsing Etsy and marking my favorite shops and items that if I won I already picked out the items I want!

Anyway, there are other contests to join at www.readymade.com. The other one that caught my eye that’s still ongoing is the “You’ve Got Mail! Sweepstakes.” The prize at stake is the Primele Home Office Wooden Stamp Set which any snail mail writer would love to have! Winner will get one number stamp set, one custom address stamp and a box of stamp pad. What make it so adorable are the mid-century inspired wooden handles and the calligraphic font style to the custom address stamp. They’re simple like apothecary bottles come but with their distinctively worn out feel to it.

Here’s another best part, you only have to comment about the best snail mail you’ve ever received. If you’ve been writing letters for the longest time this could either be easy or difficult since you get to pick just one! Any snail mail is already so special with the effort put into it. I had to go through the letters I’ve kept to see which one would up my chance of winning the stamp set. I chose between my husband’s letters from when we got engaged and the birthday and anniversary cards. Then, there were a lot from my mother-in-law whose kind heart matches her sweet endearing words. But in the end, I had to pick out the recent one from my mom for my 28th birthday; it was so touching it made me sob! Here’s my entry to the “You’ve Got Mail! Sweepstakes”:

August 04, 2010
I've written and gotten so many letters and each of them are so special. The ones from my husband and mother-in-law were filled with warm notes that made me all warm and fuzzy inside. But I have to say, the recent one from my mother for my birthday is the best because it made me sob so hard! We have just been reunited after eight long years and growing up with her away has been tough. This is what she wrote: "My dearest daughter, I didn't realize that you're already older, to me you're still my little girl. I love you so much! Mah" (and she threw in a necklace with one big and one small heart pendant).

Just reading from other people’s comments is already heart-warming enough. It’s made apparent that letters have such big impact on people, even the simplest ones! To read the entries yourself, go here and share your best snail mail received, too! The sweepstakes end on August 5, 2010 and winner/s will be announced the following week on the 13th. So good luck to us all!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

PS If you'd rather just purchase this beautiful stamp set and have yours custom-made, go to Primele's etsy page and website.

Enter the World of Postcard Cycling

2010-08-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

This is such an exciting time for us who are into writing letters and are also into sharing/sending postcards, I think they go together! I find myself ending my travels at a souvenir shop securing a good number of postcards to send out to my penpals and they in turn send me some from the beautiful places they've gone to, or from their own beautiful country. I myself have not really caught on collecting postcards but I do know some people who do, I had no idea how this trend has picked up on 211 countries until I came across Postcrossing.com. This might just start my own postcard collection!

The current stat when I joined is:

198,328 members
211 countries
241 postcards/hour

4,846,190 postcards received

168,549 postcards traveling

26,584,227,484 km traveled

663,361 laps around the world

Amazing!

Signing up is free, so of course, I jumped in on what this is all about and discovered that it's another great way to expand your list of pen friends. Initially, you'd be given five random addresses from around the world to send your first five postcards to. After which your turn to receive five more will come. You can prolong the communication if you wished to as information about the receiver is also provided, that way you know if you have similar interests and can keep writing.

Their blog is fun to read as well, it features some of the "postcrossers" and I've just read about this one woman who has over 13,000 postcards in her collection even before she joined www.postcrossing.com!
Whew!

Postcrossing is somewhat a postal version of Facebook, with all your privacy intact. This is a wonderful way to bring people from all over the world closer. Heck, if I knew (or, exchanged postcards and letters with) five people in The Netherlands or ten in France, I'd go and book my flight already! This might be looking at it the extreme way, but somehow, if there is such personal communication between citizens of every country to the next, we can almost be absolutely sure we are generating our own share of peace to the world, though one postcard or letter at a time. :)

Join Postcrossing now!

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat

Welcome!

2010-08-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Welcome to Letter Parade! It’s everything about the old-fashion way of corresponding in the simplest pen and paper form, an art. I’ll feature great new finds on stationery sets, websites to find pen pal listings, friendship books, stickers, mail art, and other letter-related topics on top of the monthly Letter Parade Correspondence Kit offered by subscription.

A year ago, I rediscovered my love for writing and sending long letters when I signed up on www.maartens.tripod.com. It’s a wonderful site full of listings from people around the globe seeking pen friends. I found three of my wonderful pals from Maarten’s. It’s amazing how this art form flourished more than ever despite how we’ve become so socially engaged electronically, so much so that thousands and thousands of paper goods are created every day including the comeback of the Letterpress machine and its unparalleled beauty.

As a freelance designer specializing in print, I myself have opened up my own line of specially designed note cards under GKkards last September 2008 and Letter Parade is an expansion of my collection merging my passion for letter-writing. I hope to foster a community of my fellow letter writers where we can share the joy it has brought us and continues to bring – something an email can never live up to.

Letter Parade is a monthly subscription of personalized stationery sets with new designs created every month! Letter Parade also observes special occasions like Christmas, 4^th of July, Halloween, Valentine’s and more. So instead of being stuck with one design, impress your correspondent with new styles every month! Visit our website www.letterparade.com to start your subscription now!

So, if you remember how good it felt to write and receive letters, it’s time to once again rediscover the passion that millions have already enjoyed. And if you’ve been doing this all this time, then you know what the fuzz is all about.

Happy writing!

Cindy Gonzales-Kujat