Ugly Shell Collection

**warning: If you are not one for tacky/ugly things it's probably best you skip this post**

I mentioned having a collection of ugly shell art a little while ago and a few people asked that I post it, so here goes. 

As per usual, its not a fantastic collection as I limit myself to things that are less than a few dollars (with the exception of the shell chandelier, which was just too good to pass up). They all sit on this old shelf, straight as you walk into my room so that everyone gets to appreciate my hideous taste :-P 

thermometres

a trinket box, random shell thingo and a planter

birds

possibly dogs?

and my beloved chandelier

sorry for the hideousness of this post. I will be back to snail mail and prettiness now :-)

Snail mail + Able and Game

 Able and Game are an awesome couple in Melbourne who make brilliant cards for all occasions. I am a massive fan and have their art scattered throughout my room. I thought I would send them thank you card because they always add in little extras when you buy from them and because, as you know, I love sending mail and any excuse will do ;-)  

I found these 'Thanks' cards at an oppy. They are pink and shiny with lightning bolts, I love them!

 My boyfriend sent all these cards in the mail and they are now hanging in my room :-)

You can't really see it but the top frame is an able and game card :-)

Incoming Mail

A lovely letter from Marisa of omiyage. She painted the envelope to match the squirrel card and included some heart stickers and washi tape!! It made me awfully happy :-)

Vintage Cactus Postcards

Recently I bought a whole bunch of vintage cactus postcards off eBay and they arrived!! I am completely in love with them and can't wait to send some out! So if you would like a cactus postcard for free just email me at em.odonnell94@gmail.com and I will send you one :-)

Aren't they simply divine? Some of them are used and the postmarks show that they range from the 1940s to the 1970s. I love that some of them are used, it makes them so special. Below is one of my favourite used ones. I just find it so strange and funny that they asked for a rug catalogue on a cactus postcard- so random. And I love that it's typewritten.

I also bought some vintage Los Vegas postcards - mainly because of that divine pink hotel in the bottom left, oh how I would love to stay there!

New Goodies

It doesn't get better than a giant gold flamingo and a new cactus. 

 My wonderful boyfriend brought this all the way back from New Zealand because he knew I would absolutely love it. 

A lovely surprise gift from my sister :-)

Oppy Finds

Before I went to Canberra did a quick oppy shop and found some christmas decorations that they had put out for christmas in July. It made me so excited for christmas! I go crazy at the op shops during christmas time - I filled a whole suitcase with vintage christmas decorations last year alone!

Snail Mail

Hello again! Ok I'm back to posting for good now :-) Camping was a blast! It's winter here so it was pretty darn cold but we had a campfire to keep us warm and to toast marshmellows on :-D

I got back from Canberra to a heap of pretty mail, I was ever so excited! The pile below consists of various postcards (that horse one on top is holographic!), some lovely long letters and a parcel with a new ink ribbon for my typewriter!

I spent all of today catching up on the blogs I haven't read in the past week and replying to mail. It was delightful :-)

I received an absolutely amazing letter filled with vintage goodies from Sara who always posts beautiful pictures on her blog 'random places/familiar faces'. 

She also sent me two lovely photos which are now on my wall above my new cactus :-D

Camping

I'm back :-) Alas, I do not have any posts as I am going camping tomorrow. I know, crazy right. I am so ready to sit and relax and do something crafty, but adventure calls. Uni holidays will be over at the end of the month, and then I will be back to post about all the amazing snail mail I received whilst I was gone :-D

I love this photo. My camping spot will be nowhere near as scenic, but we are on the beach so it will still be lovely :-)

(vintage national geographic. source: http://wizvrd.tumblr.com/)

Goodbye for now

It's uni holidays here so tomorrow I will be leaving to work for a few weeks in Canberra at a cat and dog kennels :-) My little blog will be neglected whilst I am hanging out with all the adorable cats and dogs. So I will leave you with this great photo and be back in a couple of weeks. taa-taa!

A Hollywood audition for a black cat, 1961. 

(source: constantbuzz)