Tuesday 19 March 2019

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 19 March 2019 - T for a mail bear, a mail box and a pocket letter

Hello, Good Morning! It's Tuesday again and time for the T-Party hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard at Altered Book Lover. Please join us and bring a beverage.

As most of you know, one of my hobbies is Postcrossing, a worldwide postcard swap. I like to show you the lovely cards that I receive, sometimes with their stamps because they can be very interesting.
This card comes from Germany but has a quote in Dutch from Anne Frank.

A young Jewish girl named Anne Frank (1929-1945), her parents and older sister moved to the Netherlands from Germany after Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power there in 1933 and made life increasingly difficult for Jews. In 1942, Frank and her family went into hiding in a secret apartment behind her father’s business in German-occupied Amsterdam. The Franks were discovered in 1944 and sent to concentration camps; only Anne’s father survived. Anne Frank’s diary of her family’s time in hiding, first published in 1947, has been translated into almost 70 languages and is one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust.
Translation:
The Westertoren church tower as Anne Frank saw it 
It is a great miracle that I have not given up all my expectations, because they seem absurd and impractical. Yet I hold on to them, despite everything, because I still believe in the inner goodness of mankind.                                                                                                                                                        I grew up with accounts about the occupation in the Netherlands during WW2. My auntie survived Theresienstadt concentration camp (she was only 12 when she was separated from her parents and sent there, but she survived and lived to write a book. She only died recently).
My maternal grandmother hid two Jewish lads in the attic and my mum, who was engaged but still unmarried then, had to walk them (one at a time) at night after curfew so that they could get some fresh air. If they met anyone in the dark streets, they would hide in a doorway and pretend to be a courting couple. Both young men survived, as did my family. 

The stamps are quite pretty too. The one on the left is a water lily and on the right you see  Dessau-Wörlitz.

The second postcard comes from Russia and features a Russian mailbox. Sent by Lena who lives in Samara on the banks of the Volga river.
The stamp is clearly about the World Championship soccer in 2018.
I've made (and sent) another pocket letter. Here it is without the transparent 'pocket'. The theme was 'Rainbow' and we had to use different colours. 
Then we all got assigned a partner. I had requested a partner in Europe as I didn't know how much the postage would be. My partner was Kat from Florida who lives in Malaga (Spain). This is what she sent me:
At the back she had also put some little thingies (as I did too) including a teabag of white tea, washi tape and some fun paper clips.
It all came in a large envelope in which she had added a load of other goodies. 

It felt like Christmas! She has received my pocket letter and was very happy. Phew, it was my first one, and I think I 'passed the grade' so to speak.
The best thing of all though was a hand written letter introducing herself. I was delighted with that personal touch and I will definitely hand write my letters in future.

I have been spending (wasting) time on Pinterest looking at mail art. I found a cute bear image which was down loadable and I printed it on Kraft paper. 

Here is the link to the website of Naomi who creates this lovely mail art. 
 https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=41eab41f2f99f1fd0a634154b&id=295d037a2e

One of my Postcrossing partners wanted their card in an envelope, so I printed one on kraft paper, cut it out and hey presto, a fun item of mail. The address is a post box, not a real address, so it doesn't matter that I publish it.


Lastly I have bought two new 'teas' at our local supermarket (called Lidl). They are called infusions as there is no tea in them.
The purple one has apple, hibiscus and orange peel, natural aromas, cinnamon stick.
And the red one: hibiscus flowers, dehydrated grapes, elderflower, and sour cherries
We are drinking them and they are very nice.

Lastly, just to put a smile on your face...
Have a great week,
Greetings from sunny Spain,
Lisca

16 comments:

  1. Haha, your mug made me laugh! I love it!! I love that your postcard tells the story of Anne Frank. It is so important to tell what really happened and not let our future generations forget the atrocities that have been committed. I am sickened when I read comments on social media of people denying that the holocaust ever took place. Thank you for sharing the story about your aunt and grandmother. Those must have been very fearful times to live in.
    Your fruit teas look delicious and Both sound so good!
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  2. What a nice swap and envelope full of goodies! I had never heard of that kind of swap. Love the mug! Happy T Day!

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  3. Love your Anne frank postcard the most. It's such a heartbreaking story but one that should never be forgotten. Wonderful art exchanges all around! Your new teas sound delicious. And your mug- love it!!! Happy T day!

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  4. I was very impressed by the Anne Frank postcard. I knew a guy who claimed the Holocaust was a fake. I couldn't believe it. You can't argue with people like that, because they are set in their ways and no words will change their thinking.

    Great nine pocket cards, Lisca. Your are wonderful. Your swap partner sent you some great goodies, too. Most of the ones I have seen are decorated on both sides, so I was surprised the backs were mostly plain from your swap partner. However, I remember a swap I almost joined and some of the pocket pages are decorated on both sides, while others are not:

    http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/p/pocket-letters.html

    LOVED the mug. It was perfect for T, too. Thanks for sharing your postcards and pocket letters with us for T this Tuesday.

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  5. I forgot to thank you for stopping by while I was offline. It meant the world to me.

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  6. Great quote about the ships! Love the postcards. Anne Frank was a fantastic person. Enjoy your new teas, Lidl always has good things. Love the pocket cards, glad you enjoyed the swap and got some great goodies. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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  7. Your postcards look lovely. Anne Frank was an amazing young women. Thank you for sharing the story of your family during those terrible times.
    The teas look delicious and seem good blends to enjoy drinking.
    Your pocket pages are fantastic and the swap you received looks great as well.
    Happy T day wishes. Lisca
    Yvonne xx

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  8. Wonderful postcards again. Your artwork is lovely. The mug made me smile. I'm sorry to hear what your family went through during World War II. Those were dark times.

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  9. What a wonderful post, Lisca.

    Your family members were very courageous during WWII. What horrific times. Never forget. Never again!

    You've introduced me to another art form - pocket letters. They're delightful. What a a fun way to meet new artists/crafters over vast distances.

    Thank you for the link to the darling bear envelope template. I subscribed to Naomi's newsletter :D.

    Happy T-day! Eileen xx

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  10. Lovely postcards and I always enjoy seeing the pretty postage stamp too! The pocket letters are amazing, I love the rainbow theme and how amazing to receive all those crafting goodies too, so kind 😁. Both teas sounds delicious and the words on the mugs made me smile ...lol 😉. Wishing you a happy T Day! J 😊 x

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  11. I've never heard of "pocket letters". It looks like a fun activity :) Your family story is inspiring, and it's a time in history that we need to remember so we can keep it from ever happening again. The quote on the mug made me laugh lol Happy T Tuesday

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  12. ha, big smile about the saying on the mug... the colorful atc swap really looks great!
    btw, i envy you for having travelled to bagdad in times when it was still possible. what an incredible cultural loss in this region...
    happy t-day, xox

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  13. LOL! Love that mug!! and those post cards are fabulous, but the pocket exchange had me drooling. Yours we beautiful, and the ones you received were just a s pretty. Exchanges are so much fun (pssst. I still have all the things you sent me years ago)
    Happy T-day

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  14. Woowwwww, I love this so funny mug Lisca !! Gorgeous quote, and I love too the so beautiful pocket letter you have created, they are all so beautiful and different. Great also those you have received, the stamps are lovely. So interesting the story of your family, never to forget, thanks so much for sharing it with us.
    Happy T-day, and very happy Wednesday too
    Big hugs, Caty

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  15. What interesting family history you have. So very daring and brave. It's mail art and stamps are a good way to travel the world from the comfort of your own favorite chair. The ATCs you made are wonderful. I think you passed with flying colors. And all the lovely things you received. How lucky! And that mug really made me laugh. Thanks for starting my day with a smile. Happy T Day

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  16. Great postcards and the postage stamps are so pretty too! The pocket letters are simply gorgeous and how amazing to receive all those crafting goodies toolucky Lisca. Both teas sounds delicious - I will have a look out at Lidl as they sell the Lord Nelson brand here in Austria and the words on the mug is soemthing to think of!

    Happy belated T-Day and have a happy rest of the week!
    Susi

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