Love and Postage

If you're sending out invitations to your wedding or other special event, here is something you should know. On January 22, 2012 the price for a one-ounce First-Class Mail stamp increased from 44¢ to 45¢. A penny might not sound like a big deal, but it is when it comes to stamping your RSVP envelope. Using the wrong postage could make receiving each guest's response a real nuptial nightmare.

This year's Love Ribbons stamp features swirling satin ribbons that spell out the word "Love". It's the perfect depiction of the beauty of love itself, and a fitting accompaniment to those little envelopes.

Another lovely option is the Garden of Love stamp, featuring a colorful mosaic of flora and fauna. Both LOVE stamps were issued as Forever Stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

Whether you are sending out your own invitations or letting us do the mailing for you, Petalos di Pauli has your back.
Source: shop.usps.com

Fat and Sassy vs. Skinny

Written communication is one of the best ways to capture someone's attention, especially when it arrives by way of a unique greeting or note card. Petalos di Pauli creations feature unexpected botanical embellishments like chunky gerbera daisies that speak "Happy Birthday" and blank note cards bearing Swarovski crystal-studded miniature blooms.

In the studio, we refer to designs that have fluffy flowers or require protective padding as "fat and sassy" due to the extra girth of the resulting mailing envelope. For best results with mailing cards with delicate embellishments, you'll need to protect the design by inserting the padding that comes with the card between its front and the envelope.

Fat and sassy cards may require additional first class postage if the envelope thickness is greater than ¼ inch. When in doubt, we recommend having it measured at the post office to assure a successful delivery.

Some fat and sassy designs have "skinny" versions that are still eye catching but omit design elements, like pearls or crystals, that would require special handling and surcharge (extra postage). If you see something in our On-line Boutique that you'd like to have skinnied, we are always happy to take custom orders.

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Cheerfully Yours,

Paula Estes
Botanical Artist
Petalos di Pauli

Love the LOVE Stamp

Postage stamps are an everyday necessity.  We need them to mail bills and such.  Buying stamps is not something that many of us give much thought to, but it could be!

A beautiful postage stamp can be a wonderful and thoughtful addition to a letter or card that you are mailing to a loved one. It is interesting how your eye gravitates towards a stamp that is not the "Forever Stamp." We are so accustom to seeing it, that when it is something different, we are immediately drawn to it.

Use a postage stamp as an opportunity to show the recipient that you were thinking of them, even as you put the stamp on the envelope. The right stamp can add a special touch. At Petalos di Pauli we love the new "Pansies in a Basket" LOVE stamp. Why? Just take a look:

We think the USPS will be selling quite a lot of these just in time for Mother's Day.

Pansies in a Basket stamp features the image of a white woven cart filled with deep and light purple pansies and green foliage. The floral design is a detail from a watercolor created by the late Dorothy Maienschein, an employee of Hallmark Cards, Inc. Introduced as a Mother’s Day card in 1939, Hallmark reissued the design as a friendship card in 1941. Since Hallmark began tracking sales in 1942, almost 30 million cards with this pansy cart design have been purchased; more than any card in history. The word “LOVE” adorns the left side of the stamp.
Source: shop.usps.com

Letters and Kisses

What do a handwritten letter and a kiss have in common? Perhaps more than one might imagine. I’ve always felt that a kiss actually begins the moment you think about kissing someone, and that the prelude and wonderment of the gesture serves the purpose of extending that pleasure.

Likewise, the enjoyment of a card or letter starts with the wrapper, displaying my name in the unique handwriting of my correspondent.  And, like a kiss, I find the anticipation leading to the experience exciting and thought provoking. A mini mystery, if you will: a sealed envelope, delivered by a government agent, intended for my eyes only! Sometimes the color or texture of an envelope evokes a mood and can elevate my level of enthusiasm, with the stamp and postmark adding interest, depending on their point origin.

Clearly, I savor the experience of receiving old fashioned snail mail. With so many options for social communication, handwritten expression strikes me as a truly personal exchange. You might know people who have taken the task to the nth degree with, for example, a perfumed envelope and a lipstick kissed flap. For me, that person is Oma who used to send me cards whose envelopes were almost entirely covered with stickers! Although she died last year, I will always think of her with a smile, remembering the special way she brightened my days.

Of course, I also love being on the sending end of beautiful stationery, which in part lead to the creation of Petalos di Pauli. Over the past 7 years it has been a pleasure serving those who, like me, relish the experience of an almost forgotten art.

In closing, I'll offer a reminder: "Life is short" and encourage everyone to write often and kiss passionately. And may both expressions of sentiment leave lasting impressions on the people you love.

Paula Estes

Botanical Artist and

Promoter of Sentiments

Pay Me Now Or Pay Me Later

When purchasing postage for my client’s Reply Card Envelopes, a well meaning government agent suggested the forty-two cent LOVE stamps. I expressed to him that with the postage rate increase taking effect May 11th and the client’s reply date set for May 13th, using a Forever Stamp would be the prudent choice. It’s doubtful that every guest reply would be postmarked before the forthcoming rate change or that all lagers would think to make up the difference. Spare yourself the nuisance of having to make good on dozens of “additional postage due” demands by being smart on the front end.

On May 11, 2009 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Forever Stamps — regardless of when purchased — can always be used to mail 1-ounce letters.