Dear Penpal is your guide to the world of letter writing and penpal connections. Hosted by Judit and Parker, each episode brings you practical tips, listener stories, and conversations with penpal enthusiasts. From finding your first penpal to creating tracking systems and building lasting friendships through the mail, we cover it all. Whether you're brand new to penpalling or a seasoned correspondent, this podcast is for you. Join our community of letter lovers and discover the joy of snail mail.
Episode 35: Martina Calvi, the Queen of Junk Journaling 💌✂️
Episode 35: Martina Calvi, the Queen of Junk Journaling 💌✂️
This week we somehow got Martina Calvi on Dear Penpal (!!), and this one is for every junk journal, stationery and snail mail girlie.
Martina takes us all the way back to the journal she started at eight years old, through sharing her pages online and realizing people actually cared about this wonderfully scrappy way of saving memories. We also finally ask whether she knows people call her the queen of junk journaling. Spoiler: she does. 😂
We talk about the viral post that led to a DM from her future editor and eventually her first book deal, what publishing is actually like, building Martina’s Tiny Store from one sticker sheet, why her first sticker book wildly exceeded expectations, and the reality behind creative collaborations, including a little collaboration tea.
And obviously we get into The Art of Snail Mail, Martina’s lifelong penpal history, why slower communication can sometimes be better communication, and the crafty community that has now become much bigger than she ever imagined.
Basically: junk journals, penpals, publishing secrets, Tiny Store, collabs, tiny scraps of paper, and the woman responsible for a lot of us becoming sentimental little raccoons. 💌
FIND MARTINA 🎀
Instagram: @martinamartian
Martina Calvi’s links, books & socials (https://linktr.ee/martinacalvi?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Shop Martina’s Tiny Store (https://tiny-store.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Linktree (https://linktr.ee/martinacalvi?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
FIND DEAR PENPAL 💌
Instagram: @dearpenpalpodcast
Email: dearpenpalpodcast@gmail.com (mailto:dearpenpalpodcast@gmail.com)
SEND US MAIL 📮
Dear Penpal
PO Box 411061
San Francisco, CA 94141
Happy penpalling!
28 Sept 2026
Episode 34: Building a Colorful Empire with Alex Mason
This week Parker is joined by Australian artist Alex Mason, whose bright, textured florals have made their way onto everything from surfboards and bedding to phone cases, stationery and swimwear. 🌸🎨
Alex takes us behind the scenes of art licensing, how it works, what artists actually get paid, and why she’s now turning down licensing deals to build her own products instead. She also shares the messy side of that world, including discovering a new range using her artwork in stores that she hadn’t approved or been paid for.
We also get into manufacturing samples gone horribly wrong, her upcoming clothing line, the floral surfboards that unexpectedly went viral, Bindi Irwin casually buying one of her paintings, celebrities sliding into the DMs, and the truly mysterious phenomenon of brides asking small businesses for free stuff. 😂
Basically: color, flowers, business chaos, big creative risks, and Alex’s plan to build her own very pink, very recognizable empire.
FIND ALEX 🌸
Instagram: @artbyalexmason
Shop + artwork: artbyalexmason.com
Links: linktr.ee/artbyalexmason
FIND DEAR PENPAL 💌
Instagram: @dearpenpalpodcast
Email: dearpenpalpodcast@gmail.com (mailto:dearpenpalpodcast@gmail.com)
SEND US MAIL 💌
Dear Penpal
PO Box 411061
San Francisco, CA 94141
Happy penpalling!
It’s our last Parker + Judit duo episode of the year, so naturally we have a LOT to catch up on.
Judit is back with a belated birthday stationery haul, a fancy new fountain pen, red shimmer ink on the way, and a casual little pile of eight penpal letters waiting for replies. Parker finally got her Martina Calvi sticker book in the mail, and we’re already plotting a Paper Source trip for the Martina Calvi freebies because obviously.
We also revisit the pen show and admit that we were somehow too intimidated to actually touch the fancy pens, got tired way too fast, and didn’t even make it through the whole show.
Judit shows off her three Hobonichi journals, gives her thoughts on the episode she missed, and we get into listener mail, the possibility of doing a live show, and all the little stationery things currently taking over our lives.
Plus, a tiny reminder from us to actually take a little time for yourself during the day, even when there are eight letters staring at you from the desk.
Basically: birthday goodies, penpal guilt, pretty paper, tired girl behavior, and a whole lot of catching up. 💌✨
want to write Judit a birthday note?! or just send us cute snail mail? write to us at:
PO Box 411061, San Francisco, CA 94141
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
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