Sunday, January 27, 2019

Emails are being sent out!


Dear Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Members,
I am sorry for the delay in getting out the emails.  Everyone is happily matched and the emails are going out.  I should be finished by this evening, so please check your emails and make contact with your new Winter 2019 Pen Friend!

Yours,
Lady Pamela

Friday, December 28, 2018

A Few Changes for the Winter 2019 Pen Friend Exchange




 Thank You For Your Patience!


Hello fellow Austenites!  Are you ready to chase the winter blues away with a new Pen Friend?  One who "gets you"?  And one who,...randomly quotes Jane Austen...who routinely has Jane Austen movie marathons...who has that wistful look on her face when finishing the book Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time?  Well then, lets do this! Thank you for your patience as I have been "getting my life in order" over the last year.

I must ask a huge favor of you.  If you have sent me an email  since the last pen friend exchange--last January-- I really need you to resubmit a NEW Pen Friend Application.  I have recently updated the form to include a place for  prior JALWS members to list previous pen friends.  This will help me tremendously  in updating my records and so you will not be matched with a previous member.  If you have sent me an email over the last year, I will do  my best to reply to you and direct you to the new form.



Applications accepted:  Now (12/28) through  (1/11/2019)
Pen Friend match ups should be completed approximately :  01/19/19  Emails will start going out to participants by that date.

Basic Requirements:  
1. Basic command of the English language.
2. You must have read at least one of Jane Austen's novels.  This is a Literary Society and a Letter Writing Society.
3. You must be at least 18 years of age.  

  • Important:  if you have been a member of the Society in the past, you must still sign up each exchange you want to be a participant.  

Directions:  1. Fill out  the application form (at the top of the page, menu bar) by cutting and pasting it into an email, 2.Send the completed email form to :  JALWSociety@gmail.com  The deadline for applications are:  Friday, 01/11/19.

I will be checking my email box: JALWsociety@gmail.com  and begin processing your applications.    You might not get a response from me immediately, but you will be notified of your pen friend  by email after the deadline, sometime around Friday, 01/19/19.  It usually takes me about 4-5  days to get it all worked out.  :-)

I would ask that you only join the pen friend exchange if you truly will follow through on your commitment .  This means that you will write your pen friend, and usually this involves several letters over the course of  2-3 months.  Try to aim for at least one letter every 4 weeks.

One final note.  I want you to know that the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society's mission is to promote thoughtful, meaningful communication through the handwritten letter .  Although I enjoy and admire the elegant aspect of letter writing,it is never my intention to discourage people who do not have access to stationery or other writing implements.  The emphasis should always be on the content of the letter.  So, if you possess the ability to write a good letter, you are more than welcome!  And if you feel like you are a bit rusty with your letter writing skills, by all means consider joining the society to help improve your skills!

Any questions?  Please leave your comments below or email me directly at JALWSociety@gmail.com.

I look forward to a new Pen Friend Exchange!

Write Letters,
Write Often!

Lady Pamela










Thursday, January 11, 2018








Winter/Spring 2018 Pen Friend Exchange: 

Applications accepted:  Now (1/11/18) through Thursday, 1/25/18.  
Pen Friend match ups should be completed:1/31 or 2/1/18  Emails will start going out to participants by that date.

Basic Requirements:  
1. Basic command of the English language.
2. You must have read at least one of Jane Austen's novels.  This is a Literary Society and a Letter Writing Society.
3. You must be at least 18 years of age.  Contact me per email for exceptions to this rule.

  • Important:  if you have been a member of the Society in the past, you must still sign up each exchange you want to be a participant.  


It is time for a new Winter/Spring Pen Friend Exchange.  This is where I personally select a pen friend for you based on your completed application.  The application (see the menu bar at the top of this page to access the form) allows me to  match you  according to your preferences.  This is not a perfect system, but I do try my best.

Directions:  1. Fill out application form (at the top of the page, menu bar) by cutting  and pasting  it into an email, 2. and then sent to me at :  JALWSociety@gmail.com  The deadline for applications is:  Thursday, 01/25/18.

I will be monitoring my email box :  JALWsociety@gmail.com  and begin processing the applications.    You might not get a response from me immediately, but I hope to start working on them this weekend.   If you have sent in an application since the last exchange, I will be notifying you  and double checking that you still want to participate. Also, due to my late husband's illness, all those that were on the waiting list after the fall/Winter exchange, you will also be notified, as I just never got to that list.   You will be notified of your pen friend  by email after the deadline, sometime around 02/01/18. It usally takes me about 2-3 days to get it all worked out.  :-)


I would ask that you only join the pen friend exchange if you truly will follow through on your commitment .  This means that you will write your pen friend, and usually this involves several letters over the course of  2-3 months.  To avoid "flakers", yes, JALWS is not immune to this,  I have had to start invoking a 4 letter minimum over the 4 month exchange time.  I believe this is reasonable and amounts to 1 letter a month.   It is very disappointing to those fulfilling their commitments  when their partner does not respond in kind.  

One final note.  I want you to know that the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society's mission is to promote thoughtful, meaningful communication through the handwritten letter .  Although I promote the elegant aspect of letter writing (I love vintage items connected to letter writing) , it is to by no means eliminate people who do not have access to stationery or other writing implements.  The emphasis should always be on the content of the letter.  So, if you possess the ability to write a good letter, you are more than welcome!  And if you feel like you are a bit rusty with your letter writing skills, then still consider  joining the society, to help improve your skills!

Any questions?  Please leave your comments below or email me directly at JALWSociety@gmail.com.

I look forward to a new Pen Friend Exchange!

Write Letters,
Write Often!

Lady Pamela




*Available In Shop*

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

To Stamp Or Not To Stamp


My new Jane Austen wax seal!




I purchased this wax seal  from the website: Stamptitude.



Mine was a custom order, but the process was relatively simple.



With my seal being a custom order, and that fact that this company is based in Hong Kong, it did take a few weeks to receive.  I was pleased with the packaging when it arrived...so elegant!  I got to work on making my Jane Austen Silhouette seal right away.  This seal takes a bit more wax than others, so my first attempts were rather poor.  But practice is definitely the key to success!


I am very pleased with the results!  Thank you Stamptitude!  I am sure that this wax seal will quickly become one of my favorites!

Write Letters,
Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Available in the shop...















Thursday, September 14, 2017

Waiting List For Fall/Winter Pen Friend Exchange!





Just a quick note to let you know that I have started a waiting list for the Fall/Winter Pen Friend Exchange...I will be ending the waiting list on September 30th.  If you need to know more about the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society, please see this Sign Ups Blog Post

I will wait to make sure all of the current members are able to reach their matched partners,  then I will turn to my waiting list.   I will respond to all emails.

Thank you for the huge participation in this current exchange!

Your humble servant,

Lady Pamela




*Currently Available in the Shop*


I Did A Little Shopping In London The Other Day...

Inspiration from Lady Sarah...



I have been remiss in posting this lovely incoming mail I received many months ago from Lady Sarah.  If you are in the Society, you may already know of Lady Sarah!  She is a delightful correspondent and runs the Victorian Letter Writing Guild!  I am sorry to say that I brought her unopened letter to an evening cotillion...and so these are unfortunate pictures taken with no natural lighting.   Apologies aside, her lovely letter was just so charming.  The letter was daintily wrapped in an elegant napkin!  I had never thought of using napkins in this manner.  This was completely new...but I thought it was absolutely fetching!  Not only was her letter such a gift in itself, but she sent along a pretty little napkin set for me  in which to try my hand.



Her pretty wax seal matched the roses in the napkin...so pretty!


I recently found time to use the napkin she sent on an outgoing letter.





See?  It makes such a pretty picture...I do declare!



I was not in possession of any dainty  napkins so this necessitated a trip to London to shop for epistolary napkins!  Thankfully I was able to "go" to London without leaving my home...Amazon is such a friend in need.



I think these shall make some pretty mail!  And do not let yourself become uneasy.  I have plenty to share!


Keep the inspiration coming!  And for those of you who follow me on Instagram:(JaneAustenLetterWritingSociety) please tag me with any incoming or outgoing mail, and I will try to include them in future posts!

Write Letters,
Write Often!

Lady Pamela


New in the shop!




Large format Book Cover postcards from Jane Austen Novel Covers







Monday, September 11, 2017

Roll Call,Hurricanes, Jane Austen, and A Waiting List...

Waiting List and Roll Call!




Well, its time for a little chit chat now that I am FINALLY done with all the lovely match making I have been doing with the Fall Pen Friend Exchange!  Unfortunately it took me nearly twice as long as expected  because of the total number...70.  That means inputting 70 applications,  and many more emails.  By the time I am finished, I have usually sent you anywhere from  3-4 emails.  Another reason for the delay was the holiday weekend  which put me behind yet another 2 days.  But It is now done, so please check your email and make contact with your partner, and thank you one and all for your amazing patience!
Roll Call
Here is some information about WHO has participated this exchange.  We had the following countries represented.  Isn't it lovely to see that the world over appreciates the wit and humor of Jane Austen?  I find her canny insights into human nature transcends cultural barriers.  People are people, no matter your geographical situation, or station in life, and I think that this diversity of participation proves this line of thinking.

Canada
USA
Germany
Ireland
Northern Ireland
India
Japan
Portugal
Australia
United Kingdom
Italy
The Netherlands
Spain
FLORIDA PARTICIPANTS...
As I was sending out the emails the last couple of days, I noticed that we had quite a representation from Florida--5 to be exact.  I am praying that you are all safe.  And for those of you with a pen friend from Florida, please be patient as they may not have electricity  and possibly have lost much more because of   hurricane Irma.  Hopefully it won't be too long before Texas AND  Florida are restored to normalcy.

Waiting List!
I know that I have already announced the waiting list on Instagram, but I want anyone who stumbles onto this page for the first time to know that it is not too late.  I have started a waiting list which will probably be open until the end of the month.   Please refer to a previous Blog Post for all the information about how to apply to the Society.

I think that this will do for now.  I hope that everyone is doing well, and enjoying this day.

Write Letters
Write Often!

Lady Pamela

*New In The Shop!*





Beautifully  crafted wax seals, rose design!