Messages

1

Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Local Culture exchange scrapbook!

« on: June 01, 2015, 12:49:44 PM »

Will do! I shall make one to send to you

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Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Inspiring Quote Exchange 2015 Lists have been mailed!

« on: May 12, 2015, 06:34:06 AM »

I got leslie's letter today! YAY! (the first one for this exchange hehe)

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Exchanges - General Info & Questions (Start here.) / Re: How to mail to and from your country

« on: May 08, 2015, 01:38:13 AM »

Tips for writing TO the philippines (based on experience)

• For the philippines the format that I was told by the post office to follow is
  
  Name
  Unit Number, House/Building/Street Number + Street Name
  Barangay, City/Municipality
  Postal Code + Metro Manila
  Country
  
  A "Barangay" (which can be abbreviated as Brgy.) is the smallest country subdivision in the philippines. I guess it's like a neighborhood (correct me if i'm wrong) and initially when I started giving my address so I can exchange mail I didn't include the Barangay Name and found that I received mail pretty late. I guess they find it easier to send the mail if the barangay name is there because it really narrows down where exactly in the city the mail goes.
  
  
  
• The easier it is for them to read the address the faster it gets sent out whether the address is written in print or script. What I normally do is write the name in calligraphy and the address in print but i've tried sending letters with addresses written in script and they've all gotten to the people I was sending them to.
  
  
  
• It takes anywhere from 2 weeks to a little over a month for international letters to get to me (I'm not sure if that applies to everyone in my country though)
  
  
  

Tips for writing FROM the philippines (based on experience)

• If you want to use postage stamps you have to ask them for it before you hand them your letters. The protocol for them is to use the machine stamp.
  
  
  
• If you want to use pretty/unique stamps you also have to specifically ask the post office you're sending your mail what the other designs are. Some post office don't have too much of a variance because it depends on how often the main branch of philpost delivers the new stamp designs to the smaller branches.
  
  If you really want to use pretty stamps, you can go to the head office in manila to buy a sheet of the design you want. (If i'm not mistaken they come up with new designs fairly frequently (you can check here for the stamp designs http://www.philippinestamps.net/)
  
  
  
• As much as possible paste the stamps on yourself. I find they don't really do it properly  . Sometimes if you leave your mail for them to do, the stamps will hang out of the envelope, the stamps wont be aligned etc.
  
  
  
• As much as possible try to send international letters 3-4 weeks before the estimated date you want the recipient to get your mail. Though I find this depends on which branch you mail your letters... Some branches take longer to mail your letters compared to others.
  
  
  
• International mail costs about P30.00-P40.00 pesos depending on the country (based on the Inspirational quote exchange asian countries range from P30.00 -P35.00, letters to the USA and Europe are normally P40.00) and local mail is about P10.00
  
  
  

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Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Local Culture, Landmark, History Exchange Sign Ups Now Open!

« on: May 07, 2015, 08:44:15 AM »

Ever since I saw the list of exchanges I have been most excited so far for this one TEEHEE <3

(i've already designed it and everything HAHAHA!!)

Filled up the application form as well

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Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Inspiring Quote Exchange 2015 Lists have been mailed!

« on: May 07, 2015, 08:41:25 AM »

Hello list 5 friends!
It JUST occurred to me that I may have forgotten to write the return address )   I mailed the letters on the last day so if you guys have not received your letters in a month please tell me so I can send another copy

6

Kind Critique / Re: Advice for a Newbie (progress photos)

« on: April 24, 2015, 01:03:15 AM »

Hello! Here is my latest work for practice

I wanted to try incorporating a few capital letters XD

Great progress!
I like the flourish on the lowercase y and g, very nice.  (Don't mind if I borrow it )

And is that light pink ink or just bleedproof white?   (I was just working with a pink drawing ink mix of mine yesterday, I find that color so enticing!)

Thank you

The pink ink is a mixture of Bombay India Ink and Rose Drawing ink which I got fairly recently . I realized that Drawing ink has so many different uses

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Kind Critique / Re: Advice for a Newbie (progress photos)

« on: April 13, 2015, 12:40:05 AM »

Hello! Here is my latest work for practice

I wanted to try incorporating a few capital letters XD

Do you guys have any comments?

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Kind Critique / Re: Advice for a Newbie (progress photos)

« on: April 05, 2015, 04:26:12 AM »

Hello! I've decided to start practicing capitals... and I have to say I find it a bit more difficult >_> So i'd love your advice and critique on my letters A through I 

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Where to get pretty postage stamps in the philippines?

« on: March 25, 2015, 11:38:26 AM »

Any branch of the local post office would carry stamps. In order  to get the pretty ones, you have to be patient and ask for the varieties available. If you don't, they'll give you the generic fish stamps that are available throughout the year.

OOHH those are the ones they always give me XD I shall ask if they have any other designs available  Thank you

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Where to get pretty postage stamps in the philippines?

« on: March 22, 2015, 01:28:06 AM »

I usually buy my stamps at the Manila Central Post Office.

You can also inquire at the post office nearest you and ask about stamps.

OOH! I shall go visit the Manila Central Post office then It's just one jeepney ride away from my school teehee

Thanks Ysa

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Tools & Supplies / Where to get pretty postage stamps in the philippines?

« on: March 19, 2015, 12:10:20 PM »

I can't help but notice that people use pretty postage stamps when they send letters. I just wanted to know where I can buy pretty postage stamps for my letters (sorry if it is a newbie question hehe) because at the place where I send my letters they only have a few designs.

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Guidelines / Re: Guidelines and Slants

« on: February 28, 2015, 05:29:28 PM »

OOH! Thank you Prasad! Wil give these a try after I use up the practice sheets I printed the other day

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Tools & Supplies / Re: 3D Pen for Calligraphy?!

« on: February 28, 2015, 05:24:42 PM »

OOHHH!! I saw these on Buzzfeed :-O They seem super cool

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Newbie questions: Metalic Ink, Gum Arabic and mixing ink

« on: February 28, 2015, 05:22:25 PM »

(1) I have only used Finetec, and I am completely in love.

(3) I just looked it up in my recipe book for another threat! Powdered arabic gum is used for many things, even in food! The general ratio is 1 part of powder and 2 parts of water. I only use my own liquid gum which I make from powder using that ratio and it works perfectly. I recommend using warm distilled water and let it dissolve 24-48 h before bottling. I keep mine in a blue glass container with an eyedropper. Sometimes I've seen people recommend adding a drop or two of clove oil as a preservative, but I never did that. Mine is ok since last june!

Looks like I will need to invest in Finetec

Also! Thank you for that info on the gum arabic powder! I shall keep that in mind when I mix my own

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Newbie questions: Metalic Ink, Gum Arabic and mixing ink

« on: February 28, 2015, 05:20:54 PM »

4)  1 gram of Vandyke crystals to 15ml of water makes a nice rich walnut ink.  Incidentally, the crystals are made from husks, so it's not an imitation.  That said, having been lucky enough to use Debbie's home made ink, I think it would be well worth making from scratch if you have access to the ingredients.

I shall try to find the ingredients for walnut ink here in my country Thank you for the advice