Why postcards? My story...

Hello! My name is Jana Garner and I have been a postcard enthusiast for many years. My collection is small in comparison to true collectors. But I have a connection with each of my postcards and a passion for finding new ways to share, display, and create with them.  

I stumbled into postcarding when I was 12 years old while tagging along with my mother and her friend as they shopped at an antiques market. I was drawn to a booth with a display of vintage postcards. I thought the cards were beautiful and artsy - not to mention old and cool. I couldn't believe they cost less than a dollar. I could actually buy a couple of these and take them home. And so began my fascination with postcards!

Over the years, my postcard collecting has been very sporadic. With family, career, and life activities, I didn't have the time or desire to develop a serious postcard collection. Rather, it has been a fun curiosity that pops up when I am out and about. My postcards come from a variety of sources - antique malls, gift shops, tourist attractions, postcard shows, etc. I have even received them as gifts. My husband surprised me on my birthday with vintage postcards he found online depicting the university I attended.

The best part of postcarding is the never-ending journey. There is always something new and interesting to discover through postcards. It is amazing what you can learn from one postcard. A vintage or "used" postcard has a story. I love to do a little detective work about the geographic locations (where has this card been?), the people (who sent this? what did they have to say?), history (what was going on in that time period?), and language (what type of dialect is this?). 

Old and new postcards are fun to display. A large 1940's beach postcard added a retro look to a guest bedroom. Three beautiful contempory postcards I purchased on a trip to New Orleans look bright and decorative in a frame near the kitchen. You can find a postcard to match just about any decor or subject. I also used postcards in my career as a school administrator. When I was an assistant principal, I shared the history and curiosity of postcards with a group of elementary students. I asked them to create a postcard that reflected their personal interests and send it to me. Their work was amazing and I still have each card!

Through the years, each new phase of life, and each new friend brings an opportunity to look at postcards in a different way. I always enjoy a new postcard twist. I received my all time favorite postcard in the mail this month. Our daughter used an app to create a postcard with a photo of us and our grandson. This Happy Grandparents Day message was printed on traditional postcard stock and arrived by snail mail. Vintage meets technology! There are many other fabulous innovations that take postcards to a whole new level. 

Join me in Postcard Hangout and discover what's out there.  Let's Postcard!