May 2022 Newsletter.

Hello Letter Lovers...

Summertime Snail Mail Smiles 💌

Happy May, my electronic pen friend! As we enter the summer months you may find yourself drawn to shiny towers of postcards at souvenir stands. Don't resist! If you're in the mood to write letters but don't have somewhere in mind to send them, no worries! You can check out great resources like the charity 'From Me to You' or the worldwide phenomena 'Postcrossing' for ways to keep the post office busy!

Special shoutout and thanks to two great ambassadors for the handwritten letter: the lovely Liz and Holly who met up in Boston, MA this month!  Liz is rocking her Flea Market Love Letters  'Write More Letters' Project tee. Would you like your own? Learn more about the fundraiser here.

June Letter Workshop

Here at Flea Market Love Letters we're big supporters of the charity, From Me to You, which helps match donated letters with folks experiencing Cancer. Want to write letters with other letter lovers? Join us at the From Me to You June Letter workshop on June 16th, 7pm BST. You can book your place here. 

"The next event[...]will inspire your summer letters as we explore the fun of postcards, share our love of outdoors, whilst all the time nibbling on thought-provoking biscuits. We are also lucky enough to be joined by biscuit sensation The Kitsch Hen providing us with edible inspiration (and a biscuit in every stationery box)."

Positive Postcards

Recently over on Twitter I held a little "giveaway" for a series of these most unique postcards! These cards feature quoted moments from the book "The Year I Stopped to Notice" by Miranda Keeling. 

Miranda very generously spoke to the From Me To You letter writing workshop in the Spring about how to capture little moments all around us. Perfect inspiration for letter writing!

History Today

In England this June they'll be marking the Queen's "Jubilee". In 2023 they'll celebrate the anniversary of her Coronation, which longtime readers of the archive may recall was actually a main talking point in the first letter series we ever shared! 

In the Harry & Sandy letters we meet a young "War Bride" named Sandy in the 1940s and read about her ultimate move to the U.S.A. Then we are treated to an unusual additional series of letters from her return trip to England -- in the summer of 1953 during Queen Elizabeth's Coronation! 

A Book About Letters

This month for our "Books About Letters" series we're taking a look at "The Book of Last Letters" by Kerry Barrett. 

In this novel we jump between London in the modern-day and the 1940s. Contemporary artist turned down-on-her-luck protagonist Stevie meets historian Finn at her grandmother's retirement home and he introduces her to Elsie, a young nurse on a mission to preserve the last letters of patients in her hospital during the Blitz. Perfect for WW2 historical fiction fans!

"Collector Corner"

This is where I like to share articles, videos, interviews etc. Basically, all things letters from around the Internet! Do you know of an interesting letter story? Reply to this email and I will feature it in an upcoming newsletter. 

G.I. Letter on Hitler's Stationery

In this clip from the Antiques Roadshow we hear the story behind a letter written by a G.I. to his sweetheart, from Hitler's desk. Favorite line? "...what a jerk he was." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjPDtR2cjCk

Talking Flea Market 

We were very excited to hear that Flea Market Love Letters was included in this month's "Psychologies" Magazine! Thanks to writer Mary Fenwick for the mention.