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

Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Kit

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*

The Making Of Jane Austen Mail!

Some Recent Outgoing 

Jane Austen Mail

I've been enjoying making envelopes and sealing them with my new Jane Austen silhouette brass seal!   It takes quite  a bit of wax for this rather large seal.  But definitely worth it!

What ideas  do you have  for including in your Austen mail to make it "Austen Happy Mail"?  Here are a few I ideas I use: 

1.  a package of flower seeds

2.  a card with your mail tag questions

3.  stickers

4.  Die cuts, tags, fun things! 

5.  Tea, chocolate

Envelopes can be made using paper bought at any craft store, I use 12 X 12 paper and an envelope template.  But here pictured, the envelope is made from a damask kraft bag, tied with a bit of twine.  

These can be purchased here!

Here are some lovely letters that have been circulating around the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society on social media (Instagram).  So many charming letters!   If you would like to have your mail featured ,post them on  IG:   #Janeaustenletterwritingsociety .  I will post as many as possible!

Several of you may have corresponded with Lady Heather...she sends lovely mail!  And look at her Jane Austen postage!!!  I definitely needed  some of this in my life, so I put an order in for my own customized stamps!  You can get yours here   Thanks Lady Heather!

Several new posts are in the works, so check back soon!

Write Letters

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

New Etsy Store For All Your Jane Austen Stationery Needs!

Hurry on over to my Instagram to enter!

Announcing the Grand Opening of my new ETSY store:  JaneAustenMissives!!  I am having a nice give away on my intstagram account: Janeaustenletterwritingsociety

I am offering a Jane Austen Mini Kit, and a 4 sticker set of  Jane Austen Stickers.   Just go to my instagram account and follow the directions from yesterday's post.   

I want to also give a huge shout out to Miss Anne at Heart Sealed Art and Design for her amazing logo design and artistic  touch to my beautiful Etsy store.  Please go to Anne if you need any log or custom art design work!

So, hurry on over to my Instagram...and win some lovely stationery items for your Jane Austen Needs!

Write Letters

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Etsy:  JaneAustenMissives

Fall Pen Friend Signups Now!

Customized Pen Friend...just the way you like it!

It is time for the FALL  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  the "application form" (at the top of the page, menu bar) --don't forget to take the "Which Jane Austen Heroine  Are You?" Quiz which is located in the side bar of this blog. This will help you fill out the application form, question #9.  2.Then by copy the completed application and paste it into an email. Send the completed application form to me at :  JALWSociety@gmail.com  The deadline for applications is:  September 4th, 2016.  

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 week.    You will be notified of your pen friend after the September 4th deadline.  It usually takes me close to a week to get it all worked out.  :-).  I do this the old fashioned way...some day I'll have to do a blog post on this process, as I really amaze myself that it all works out so well.  Try to be as specific about yourself as possible in the application...this allows me to better match you, but also remember that we all must be flexible too.  Many of you want international pen friends, but sometimes I run short of those applicants.  If I run into a real problem, I will usually notify you per email.

IMPORTANT!!!!

I would ask that you only join the pen friend exchange if you 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 3 months.  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!  If you feel like you are a bit rusty with your letter writing skills,  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.

Visit my Etsy Store for  my Jane Austen themed letter Writing kits, and other Jane Austen themed snail mail supplies!

I look forward to a new Pen Friend Exchange!

Write Letters,

Write Often!

Lady Pamela