An Ode to ArtBox

I have decided to dedicate an ENTIRE blog entry to Korean stationary because I LOVE IT SO MUCH and I CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH HOW CUTE IT ALL IS!!!! I have always been a fan of handwritten letters, but once my friend showed me this place, it was game over.

ArtBox is a magical place from heaven.

It's a four-storey paradise that contains so much sweet and cute and adorable and lovely that my heart is filled with joy when I'm there. It isn't puke-cute, it's happy-cute. It focuses on celebrating love and friendship. Although they have tons and tons and tons of great stuff (home decor/art supplies/office supplies/toys/bath supplies/gifts/trinkets etc), I have completely fallen in love with the writing paper. I usually don't even like shopping, but I could spend hours and hours at ArtBox.

Here are some snaps from inside this creative paradise.

First, let's talk about the stationary itself. OMGGGGGGG! So precious and lovely and hilarious.
Each letter set contains heartfelt messages such as:

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

Love is something eternal. The aspect may change but not the essence.

On this day I want you to know that you are a very special person.

You are the rainbow of my life. Being with you makes me feel so happy.

and 

Please know that I love you more than anything else in the world.

There are insanely cute cards that you can color. Duck envelopes with bow tie stickers. Little bunnies you can write on. And tons and tons and tons of love-themed things.

I also discovered that ArtBox has these hilaaaaarious and random stickers and I WANT TO PUT THEM ON EVERY SURFACE. The Korean translations are hilarious. The little sticker folks are saying things like "Tiger Power!", "I'm already doing nothing but I still don't want to do anything" and "Laser vision! Must buy!"

Obviously we're excited to go here.

Now that I've essentially opened Shila's Korean Stationary Workshop (I feel like Santa's little elf or something), I often wander into Moseulpo, the closest town nearby, and sit in this cozy cafe to write. On my way back to campus I swing into the post office. The guy there knows me now and even though he has zero English, he says "Canada?" when I hand him my stash.

It's a really lovely way to spend my time (and the lattes are to die for). Sometimes I also just set up camp in my room and write.

And even though the international snail mail takes ages and ages (upwards of 3-4 weeks sometimes), I think it's worth it. It makes me happy to have so many pals to write to and I think it makes them happy too!

 

And to those of you who have taken the time to write- THANK YOU!!!! I have gotten mail from both expected and unexpected places which is super fun.

A special shout out to my love Rory for being amazing and sending me a couple care packages, especially when my hunger level was getting dire. Rory is very great because he sent both the delish things I was missing as well as some very practical snack choices like beef jerky (protein, thank god), and cliff bars.

Chengcheng also gets endless gold stars for being the bestest friend and sending me exactly what I needed most: fuzzy peaches and my fave chocolate. The description of this parcel is THE BEST!

As you may recall (because it's just SO easy to memorize), here is my current address:

Shila LeBlanc

Korea International School (L214) 34 Global Edu-ro 260beon-gil, 

Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, 63644

(my postal code has been updated but the old one will totally work)

If you weren't previously sold about writing me a letter, I hope that this post inspires you to join the train because your response from me will be hella cute.

In conclusion: