rite while u can

Letters to Amelia Earhart actually. Yes, that Amelia Earhart. The first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean. And who was lost at sea amidst much mystery. Lindsay Zier-Vogel, a Toronto author, and I share a mutual love of all things snail mails. We know some of the same (amazing) people in the […]

Do you have a summer memory of candy floss and carousels? These vintage carousel stamps from Canada Post feature five vintage carousels from different locations across Canada. One of which is at Heritage Park Historical Park in my city of Calgary. Of course I had to go. I won’t admit whether candy floss was consumed […]

The pages were falling out, the cover ragged and beaten up, and the paper wearing thin from making multiple changes to addresses over the years. If you own a hard copy address book you might relate. Paperblanks came to my rescue. They heard of the dire state of my address book and swooped in with […]

A tea and letter writing workshop? I mean, come on, what could be better together?! You are invited to join Taniya from @yogateapoetry and myself, virtually, as we mark International Women’s Day. While sipping tea you will write to a woman that has made an impact on your life. A handwritten note is the perfect […]

Dear readers, Only four sleeps until Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I am very ready for some time off from obligations and timelines. I also can’t wait for the smell of Christmas dinner cooking and opening the Christmas stockings with my family. A special thanks for following along here and sharing my love […]

Jolene’s Tea House is located in Banff National Park in Canada, on Bear Street no less. The log cabin, better known as the Old Crag Cabin, is one of the oldest buildings in Banff. Built between 1888-1890, this building has been many things. A residence, a local newspaper (if you look close enough when inside, […]

Holly Jolly Christmas. Holly Loves Paper that is. This adorable Letter to Santa kit is designed by Holly herself. How perfect is that!? In fact, I’m giving away a kit to one lucky person. Keep reading to find out how to enter. wax seal – stickers – candy cane pen Holly first started designing stationery […]

Have sending Christmas cards crossed your mind yet? November is right around the corner and I always feel that the earlier you start the more enjoyable the experience is. Agree? On November 12, I am hosting a virtual holiday event with Calgary Library. Might be just the thing you need to kick start your holiday […]

When I think of the word ‘farmer’ I don’t think about letter writing. Do you? Once I sit with it for a bit, I can see the connection. As the TheLetterFarmerCo travels around she is definitely planting seeds and introducing people to letter writing, and that with a little care and intention, something wonderful will […]

Launched on June 24th the Snail Mail edition of The Happiest Collection made the best Birthday gift ever. Seriously. I mean, the queen of snail mail – one of many – gets her own Snail Mail clothing line? BEST THING EVER! Enter the GIVEAWAY Head over to my Instagram for your chance to win a […]

Any LEGO ® fans out there? You better mark July 1, 2021 on the calendar as this is the day when LEGO® is releasing it’s typewriter set. For $269.99 CDN…gulp…this typewriter that you can build out of lego bricks (recommended for 18+) has a moveable carriage and keys. The font is already on the keys […]

Over 100 people signed up to participate in the latest BookLoverPostcardSwap. Countries represented included Canada, UK, Spain, USA, Italy, Ireland to name a few. I thought you might like to see a sampling of some of the amazing postcards and book recommendations that got swapped. Above, Kelly @thehappiestbookclub received this postcard, custom made just for […]

It’s been a minute since Jessica of Paper Trail Diary and I have done a Book Lover Postcard Swap. The fun started way back in 2016 and brings people together through a postcard and love of books. Why not celebrate National Letter Writing Month by joining in on the Book Lover Postcard Swap! Signups are […]

April is National Letter Writing Month! You ready for it? Second only to Christmas, this is my favourite time of the year. I invite you to join in the fun, give letter writing a try and see what all the fuss is about. Off the top, you can join this event, above, hosted by Berks […]

I just received my free, prepaid postage postcard yesterday! I’ve been so excited about this snail mail campaign by Canada Post. Have you received yours yet? Keep reading for some insider tips on these postcards. postcards are arriving daily across Canada The postcards are gradually finding their way into the mailboxes of all Canadians. If […]

“Be My Valentine” position has been filled. Meet my new crush, Sugarbakers Cookies Co. They are just my type and their cookies are to swoon over. snail mail cookies You would think I custom ordered these cookies, but Michelle and her mom (both owners of this Calgary cookie company) were way ahead of me. I […]

Two questions for you. A) When was the last time you received a note of thanks? B) Have you recently sent anyone a note of thanks? These cards showed up in my mailbox over the holidays and they couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally. More than just a polite gesture Sending […]

The world has been turned upside down in 2020 and our Christmas will be very different this year. Extended families will not be together and there are no holiday parties. We can’t attend church in person to celebrate Christmas and there will be no counting down New Year’s Eve with friends. But guess what? The […]

What would you write to Santy Claus this year? Or maybe you would prefer to chat with the Mrs? It’s not too late. Here is everything you need to know about writing to Santa in 2020. Mail your letter by Dec 12 Get your letter in the mail by December 12, 2020 if you want […]

The short answer? Mail it now. Normally Canada Post has deadlines for sending holiday mail internationally or to the USA, and if mailed by these dates Canada Post guarantees delivery before Christmas. Not this year. Stamps by Nova Scotia artist Maude Lewis That being said, the absolutely amazing thing for your Christmas mail this year […]

It’s happening! The Toronto Stationery Show will go on. Albeit virtually, this years event is definitely a must-do for stationery addicts everywhere. All the fun begins October 18th and runs until November 7. Follow along on TSS’s Facebook Event Page or on any of their social channels* for exclusive show specials. There are SO many […]

Fall themed stationery has never looked so fine. Found at Scriptoria Regalia you will be falling hard for this stationery collection. walnut pattern Created with utmost attention to design and with high quality Italian paper this Walnuts Letter Writing Set has all the Fall vibes. And that envelope liner….I’m swooning over here! Candycorn sweet on […]

Do you remember the movie “Cast Away?” You know, with Tom Hanks stranded on an island with a volleyball named Wilson as his only friend? Well imagine if instead of a volley ball it had been a typewriter that survived the plane crash along with Tom Hank’s character. A whole new plot line would have […]

Letters mingle souls. Indeed, poet John Donne captured the charm of snail mail perfectly. And so too has my friend Micaela with her gorgeous mailslot themed stationery. vintage stamp sets These postcards are based on a vintage French mailslot design. You can purchase individually or in a set of five. Plus, a percentage of profits […]

A 6 ft piece of paper is longer than I thought. It is the distance we now keep between each other in the name of social distancing. It can feel far, can’t it? No standing close, no handshakes, and certainly no hugs. This is why the concept of using a 6 ft piece of paper […]

Letter writing is most often a solitary experience. Pen, paper, a cup of tea perhaps, and time to get lost in one’s own thoughts as the conversation between writer and recipient unfolds on paper. However, the advent of virtual Letter Writing Socials has illustrated the importance of community, whether we write letters or not. If […]

P.S. Write Soon. One of the best signature lines ever. This envelope with all the stamps was in my mailbox recently. Instead of ripping it open on my walk home, I waited until I had a glass of ice tea, and time to sit and read it. Letters are to be savored, no?! As entry […]

Just follow the chorus of the tap, tap, zzzzzzzip, ding and you could easily find the typing class at your local highschool. Admittedly this ages those of us who actually participated in an ‘Introduction to Typing’ class back in the day, but honestly, I’m pretty jazzed that I can actually type. Typewriter lending library In […]

Writing letters bring friends and family closer. They help alleviate loneliness and certainly spread joy. The Dear Loneliness project started by Jessica and fellow students at Harvard University, is about loneliness in general but also specifically during Covid. have you been lonely? Write a letter about loneliness as a topic; perhaps a personal experience of […]

These seniors have blown up the internet this week. Love when this kinda idea resonates with so many people. Covid is especially difficult for seniors in homes who are not able to see family or friends who live outside the home. Victorian Senior Care, an organization in the USA that manages several assisted care facilities […]

I had a tour of soulPAPER shop last week. The hardwood floors, the racks of beautiful paper and shelves with all sorts of stationery goodness left me swooning. And this was a virtual visit, imagine if I had actually been there in person! Susan, owner of this delightful space, was the special guest on my […]

It only makes sense that National Typewriter Day is one day before my Birthday 😛 How can we not celebrate?! After you’ve danced a bit to The Boston Typewriter Orchestra-quarantine version, head on over to my Instagram page for a fun contest (will be posted Monday, June 22nd). You are invited! Birthday Virtual Letter Writing […]

Helping people thrive and discover their creative side was the inspiration behind the opening of sweet paper shop, The Seasonal Pages, in early 2020. A lover of stationery (kindred spirit over here) and stickers for some time, Isaly decided to make some of her own. The first product I discovered by Seasonal Pages was this […]

My heart is heavy. What has been happening to black people for far too long has been horrifically magnified this week. As a white woman I am acutely aware that I can’t speak to the systematic racism and the subsequent ramifications; I haven’t walked in those shoes. What I can do though is listen, learn […]

Have you written a letter during these Covid days? If you have, I bet that the topic of the pandemic has come up. Maybe you have shared how you are baking bread from scratch these days or how Covid has impacted your life in other ways. Our letters have become the quarantine diaries and years […]

Covid life wears thin if we don’t take a break from it all. I don’t know about you, but I need to take a conscious break from all the media and focus on something that is positive, beautiful and creative. This is when I turn to one of my favorite stationery shops, RECESS, based in […]

After a long hiatus the Book Lover Postcard Swap is back! Teaming up again with Jessica of Paper Trail Diary, we thought it was the perfect time to talk books on a postcard. I mean, what with COVID across the land, we need to swap what titles are bringing us comfort these days. For more […]

Have you watched the 2016 documentary California Typewriter? It features Tom Hanks and John Mayer. Shockingly I have not. Instead… I went to the actual store. A visit to the actual store This film has eluded me for some time. I missed the Canadian screenings for a variety of reasons and it’s not on Netflix.* […]

Do you have cabin fever? I think we all do. My friends at The Regional Assembly of Text have picked up on this global feeling and have put together this most clever package of letter writing supplies to help us ward off cabin fever. Stay Stationary Send Stationery Brandy, one of the co-founders of this […]

World Stationery Day is coming up on April 29th. Isn’t it great that there is a day set aside to celebrate stationery? Like I need an excuse. I want to celebrate with you by sharing the debut line of washi tape by my friend Paula AND a 25% off discount code to use this weekend. […]

“A person with defiant joy refuses to be squelched by negative voices or intimidated by overwhelming odds.” A letter that arrived recently had a quote in it that I’ve been thinking on ever since. It is profoundly perfect for our times. I also love it when people use my letter press stationery to write to […]

Are you wondering if you can still send mail or how to get postage stamps? Or maybe you are curious about whether the Covid-19 virus can be transmitted through the mail? Perhaps you want to know if all countries are still accepting international mail? Thank you to all the postal workers! Some of these questions […]

I would never have imagined writing letters virtually via Instagram live video, but that is exactly what 33 of us did last week. Our current reality of self-isolation has made us think differently, to be creative in how we find community when we are physically removed from one another. community in letter writing virtually I […]

Famous for protests, liberal politics, civil rights and the free speech movements, Berkeley, California was a place I had to visit. As I wandered the streets to find the University campus I randomly stumbled upon Berkeley’s historic Post Office. Architecture and Art My rambling detour was rewarded with the sight of this Post Office and […]

Now is the time for snail mail. With the current events being what they are across the globe, might I suggest this is the perfect time to write someone a letter. A note of kindness, a thoughtful ‘thinking of you’ card is just what the times call for. Letter writing kits sell out April is […]

Does anyone else send themselves mail? I definitely do when there is a unique postmark on the line. I recently stayed at Emerald Lake Lodge and the closest Post Office is in Lake Louise. Lake Louise Postmark On my way back home from Emerald Lake I stopped in at Lake Louise. I made friends with […]

The sound of the typewriters were heard throughout the Lougheed House on launch night of their latest exhibit ‘Early Calgary Through the Eyes of Writers.’ Typewriters and authors a perfect match How perfect for the typewriters to make an appearance at an event celebrating and showcasing the work of authors in early Calgary. There were […]

When I travel I love to look for and capture mailboxes of that place. Not exactly your typical tourist pass time, but I this is how I roll. In addition to the Tango and great steak, Argentina did not disappoint in the mailbox department. Here are a smattering of my favorites. ‘cartas’ Literally translated to […]

Do you love Japanese paper products? What about when almost everything is at a price point of $3? I thought so. You are going to want to get yourself to an Oomomo store. Japanese department store With 10 stores across Canada this Vancouver based brand opened a Calgary location in December of 2019. Described as […]

This year is a Leap Year and February is when we pick up that extra day. An extra day to write a letter. How fabulous is that?! LetterMo.com kicks off a fun letter writing campaign starting February 1st. If you’ve always wanted a pen pal or more people to write to, this is your chance. […]

January is a time to refresh. Whether it be organzing that new daytimer or setting some goals, the new year is a blank slate. My friends over at Pretty Postal have put together just the thing we need to kick start our 2020 letter writing game. At the beginning of every month they will announce […]

2020 is here, a brand new decade. This year the western calendar New Year and the Chinese New Year both fall in the same month. January 25th marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat and these Canada Post stamps, to be released on January 13, are absolutely beautiful. I got a sneak peek […]

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ by Dr. Seuss is on my ‘must-watch’ list of Christmas movies every year — the original 1966 version that is. As we all finish the Christmas bustle over the next few days, I want to remind myself, and perhaps you can relate, to delight in the little things this holiday […]

It’s time to write a letter to the big guy in the jolly red suit. Here are seven tips on writing a letter to Santa: All letters need to be sent by December 12. This way, Santa’s elves will have time to respond to your letter. Those funny little creatures. Postage is free. No stamps […]

A name is everything. Wrinkle and Crease is a perfect name for a stationery shop, don’t you think? Local to Calgary I’ve loved all the paper goodness from Wrinkle and Crease from day one including these fa la la la gift tags. Until midnight December 2nd everything is on sale! Keep reading for details and […]

Do you send Christmas cards? Not the e-card, the Christmas gif over text or the latest tik tok video. I mean the real deal paper, requires-a-postage-stamp kind of Christmas card. Do you send those? According to the Canada Post Christmas mail schedule, it is time to send Christmas cards. The USPS schedule is similar. Starting […]

Aunt Shirley loved postage stamps. Especially the Christmas ones. Every year she would gift her nieces and nephews a collection of holiday stamps. She meticulously searched for and collected the stamps, chronicling which ones she still needed to get and how many she had already aquired. curated stamps with care It was an unexpected surprise […]

Recently I received a letter from a man who was perturbed with me. He suggested that I depict letter writing to be a female pass time. Stopped me in my tracks he did. Once I got over my emotional response, which was not pretty, I sent him back a letter. I wish I kept a […]

What people use to mark their place in a book varies as much as the titles on a bookshelf. This collection of things left behind in books is on display at one of my favorite book shops. Things used as bookmarks don’t get thrown out Cafe Books in Canmore is a must visit when you […]

Stationery is hard to come by. Cards are plentiful, postcards too, but stationery – actual sheets of paper to write letters on – is tricky to find. I’m beyond thrilled to introduce you to the brand new stationery line by ritewhileucan. In partnership with local Feast Letterpress I’ve designed a ‘mix and match’ line of […]

Stumped for what to do for your office Christmas party? Or perhaps you are wanting a unique holiday event for your book club. A Letter Writing Social is just what Santa would recommend. Why settle for the normal? This past week I hosted my second LWS with Westjet and it was a ton of fun. […]

The rumor is true. Ritewhileucan is now on YouTube, hanging with all the cool kids. Topics you will find me sharing on the ‘tube include all things related to letter writing, typewriters, my adventures, my passion for safe skin care products and the like. What content would you like to see on my YouTube channel? […]

Fall kicks off the perfect letter writing season in my mind. The air feels a bit crisp, the leaves are starting to turn colour and the need for a sweater makes me want to write all the letters. You are invited to the first letter writing social of the season To that end, I start […]

Back-to-school fever is upon us. Even though I’m way past my (formal) student days, I will forever love this time of year. The pens, the crisp pages of a notebook full of so much potential, pencil cases, erasers, all of it. Back-to-school sale at Recess shop in Calgary A favorite shop of mine in Calgary […]