Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Another Postcrossing meet-up, another wonderful card from my Finnish friend Sini. I am lucky! When this card arrived I had just finished reading this book, the timing was amazing. The book itself was OK, my favourite parts being the communication amongst the characters using flowers and plants. Sini followed up with an email providing a translation of the various definitions. Another beautiful Finnish stamp and a very nice cancellation as well.

Kukkaiskieli - language of flowers

Kielo - Lily of the Valley

Olen jo kauvan sinua rakastanut - I have loved you for a long time.

Red Rose - My love is making me wretched.

White rose -I can't.

Thistle - I am dying of jealousy.

Bellis - I favour you.

Nettle - In vain

Pansy - Courage

Thorn - No

Hops - humulus lupulus - I wish I could embrace you

Gentian - Thank you

Jasmin - I don't love, but respect you

Platanthera - I miss being with you

Leave of a rose - Share

Juniper - Wait

Write your name under the plant, which correspond the feeling of the sender. 

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

Another fun sheep card and pictorial cancellation from Alida. So glad there is no more snow!

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

My dear Alida is sending me more wonderful pictorial cancellations! And more sheep! I have called around to a few post offices within a half hour drive and none of them have anything like these. Thank you my friend!

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Right around Easter time these lovely little sheep found their way into my mailbox courtesy of Sini. Once again she was lucky to be attending a Postcrossing meet up. As she writes "this time" in Jarvenpaa (my computer won't let me make the accents over the "a's"). Have you ever attended a Postcrossing meet-up?

Random Act of Smiliness - Seychelles from Iain

Iain and I belong to another equally as fun Postcrossing group on Facebook that is more than just Canadians. He lives in Scotland and was planning a trip to Seychelles, offering cards to the group. This was the card he chose for me. Love the views, especially the sunset. He said it was super hot and humid - I could handle that for a week I think! Great stamps too. Thanks Iain!

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

A few members of the Canadian Postcrossing group (the cool one that is) I belong to are collecting pictorial stamp cancellations from across Canada. By far, my friend Alida seems to have access to the most. She sent me another super sheep card, the colours are so funky! This time the cancellation celebrates Watermelon Fest - love it!

Random Act of Smiliness - Barbados from Tracey

Tracey and her husband are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary this year. They splurged and went to Barbados for a week. Here, my hubby and I who are also celebrating 15 years are talking about going to dinner. Much rather beat the cool winter down south but I'll take what I can get. So very nice of Tracey to think of me and so happy for her - congratulations!

Random Act of Smiliness - Liz from Canada

Liz and I first met last summer at the Toronto meet-up and then again in the Fall. We have swapped a few times too. A few weeks ago she sent me this great "S" card just because. She felt like she had lost some writing mojo (my words not hers) and was sending a few RAS cards looking to find it. Lucky for me I was one of those she sent to. Love the message, the extras and that she was thinking of me. Thanks Liz!

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Imagine my surprise to receive a second card from Sini within a few days of each other. This card she sent from a Postcrossing meet-up she went to in Helsinki. Love the card and the stamp - very cool!

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Sini and I have swapped a few times in the past. Last October she was in Canada visiting her penfriend of 35 years (wowza!) and she connected with me to see if  I was able to meet one weekend. We spent a lovely afternoon together with two other Toronto based PC'ers and in a few hours a "random" postcard turns into a nice friendship. This card arrived a few weeks ago from her. The text translates to say "Flowers wither but friendship is eternal" - beautiful! She wrote to update me on her day to day adventures and to say hello. I must say it is kind of neat to receive mail now that we have met. When I read her words to me I can now do it in her voice instead of mine - know what I mean?

Random of Act of Smiliness - Lisa from Canada

This week has certainly had a Canadian feel to it! So far, two official cards, two RAS and a swap. Fun to connect with so many other Canadian Postcrossers. I belong to a few different Facebook groups too which are nice, some are very loose, fun and all about swapping and others a bit more disciplined. Either way it is nice to see more of my country and meet people who share the hobby - and the thought of cheap postage! Lisa was one of those who sent me a card. Here is a bit of background on our relationship - neat huh? She chose this painting by Henri Matisse for me. Her message was sweet - wishing me a Happy New Year. How kind! Funny thing that Lisa would never had known. I had a goldfish for a few years in my mid-twenties. I kept him in the biggest trifle bowl I could find. This painting reminds me of that bowl and my really loved fish, Silver.

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

Alida is known for surprising me from time to time with sending me a random postcard from one of her fabulous day trips. When this envelope arrived last week, I will admit I was intrigued - we have never done envelopes! She was also driving for the day in a Mustang GT! Not too sure if this is the one but either way fun, fun and more fun! She sent me some super washi tape as she knew I was looking for some with a Valentine's theme. So thoughtful! A wonderful lighthouse picture from Long Point, Ontario. Alida helped me get a card from here last year to help out a fellow swapper. And another super cancellation from Southwestern Ontario! They just seem to have so many. Many thanks Alida!!!

Merry Christmas from Annemieke

Can you believe it has been less than a month since Christmas! It seems when there is less than 4 weeks to the date there is all the excitement and merriment in the air, after, nothing. It is just back to cold and gray with no lights or tinsel to try and make you forget you are in winter. Annemieke and I had swapped a few times through 2014 and I loved this sweet greeting card she sent me. Marjolein Bastin is an artist I really like, kind of different than what I might hang on the walls of my home but for cards and stationary over the years she has been one of my go to lines. I can't believe I never knew she was Dutch until now! The text translates to say "Merry Christmas" and on the inside lovely wishes from Annemieke. I just love the little birdies - thank you and all the best for 2015!

Random Act of Smiliness - Tunisia from Anne

I am lucky! Anne was vacationing over Christmas in Tunisia and completely surprised me with this card. Love the silhouettes of the camels against the sunset! The one and only swap I ever had that went sour was with a fellow from Tunisia, somehow having Anne send me this helps to erase that little bit of negativity that I experienced with this hobby.

Merry Christmas - Canadian Edition!

I have been very lucky to meet some wonderful people so close to home via Postcrossing Meet-ups. It is nice to be able to share this hobby with others and even nicer when you realize you share things outside the hobby too! I may not see them often however email and Facebook helps to keep us all up to date for the times in between. I was able to exchange some great Christmas cards with a few of them this year.

Lynda sent this sweet card -

Tracey sent this super glittery one. I love when every time you touch a glittered card you can manage to get it all over you, and the table, and, and, and! And it happens every time too! 

Alida found a wonderful wooden card to send me with another sheep. I think she has singlehandedly built most of my sheep collection - thank you! And Alida used another great and new to me cancellation.

Willa and I met in Toronto last year and we have done a few trades. This round card is so cute! Thank you!

Merry Christmas International Edition!

These cards were all sent to me from on-line friends I have made via swapping in certain Facebook groups. I was truly happy to know they each thought of me when they sat down to send out their Christmas cards for the year.

From Mauritis, Samuel and his sister Visha, sent this card they designed and sell here.

Heather in Australia sent this bright and fun maxi-card. The date of issue is my birthday - what's not to love!

Last card is from Sara in Switzerland. She recently had a baby so I was impressed that she even sent cards! A sweet little bird.

Thank you again my friends! Looking forward to sharing postcards with you all again in 2015.

Merry Christmas - Anne from Luxembourg

Anne and I are participating in a Christmas stamp travelling card at the moment. When her card arrived I must say I instantly fell in love with one of the stamps she used. It was a supercute owl on felted/flocked paper. The following week or so, I was delighted to find that Anne sent me this beautiful, glittered card with wishes for me and my family. Lucky me, she used the other stamp in the issue. I don't think any scan or picture would truly be able to capture the slight fuzzy feeling of this stamp. Trust me it is adorable! The text translates to read "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". Thank you Anne! Wishing you and your family all the best too!

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida and Lynda

One thing I must say about the friends I have made through this hobby is they are always there to help me out, regardless of what it might be for. I recently signed up to do another travelling card to feature Christmas stamps, just to realize I really don't have any Christmas stamps from previous years - oops! Lynda and Alida came to the rescue sending me some stamps from their own stash and included these sweet cards in their mailings. Thanks ladies, you saved me big time!!!

Random Act of Smiliness - Montreal Meet-up from Elaine

Every once in awhile it seems my Postcrossing account gets out of sync. Mine has been like that for close to a month now. Somehow my received cards is greater than my sent cards. When this happens your name is not given out until it is equal again. There are several different reason why this happens which I won't bore you with right now. All I know is it can be annoying! This time I had received 8 more than sent. It can take a long time to catch up when there is a difference like that, especially when I send only three officials a week. Frustrating! In the meantime to make my mailbox happy I have the swaps I've completed to post or a few RAS like this one.

Elaine and I swapped some blank cards a little while ago. She recently attended a meet-up in Montreal and very kindly sent me a signed card from there. To say I was surprised is an understatement! I was thrilled that she thought of me. The card is not only a great design but loved seeing all the signatures. Thank you Elaine!

Random Act of Smiliness - Genek from Denmark

Genek and I have never swapped. I have asked him for his address and so far he has successfully avoided sharing it with me. This is the second card he has sent me, the first one you can see here. He too attended the big Bielefeld meet-up in Germany last month. So many signatures are the same and so many new ones, that place is crazy busy! The card is great - vintage black and white bird photo, the caption on the back is hilarious - "The reward for feeding great Tits". Certainly gave me a good laugh!!! Thank you Genek, my goal is to track you down for Christmas.