![Unpick to open](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/5752662379_288ce81e86.jpg)
I warn you this is going to be a photo-heavy post - quite possibly my most photo-heavy post ever, but I must share all the details with you, as this is quite possibly the most amazing piece of mail I've ever received.
![Amazing hand-sewn mail art!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/5753208472_b5113e28c8.jpg)
This came from a woman who is clearly a talented seamstress, as the entire envelope was hand-sewn. I picture it being hand-delivered gingerly and with reverence from one postman to the next, because it arrived in absolutely pristine condition; had I packed this in my luggage in an international flight, it would not have arrived any more perfectly. (In fact, it probably would have been considerably more smooshed!)
![Air mail & stamp fabric](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5753205946_dc99b2e82f.jpg)
I have to zoom in on all these little details, because they just blow me away. Embroidered air mail! Multiple different kinds of stamp fabric! Meta mail to make me swoon!
![Vintage stamps from England](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/5753205532_f15d7bd886.jpg)
Check out those vintage stamps! Shillings, people! (I am one of those Anglophile Americans who can get a thrill just by whispering "shilling" to myself. Don't ask.)
![By air mail with postbox stamps](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/5753204290_4b777ae626.jpg)
And postbox stamps! Glorious red postbox stamps! Does it get any better than this? I don't think so.
![Embroidered address](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/5753206308_de86ef1f50.jpg)
I don't sew myself, not anything, not ever, not even a button - so I am even more impressed by this. Does this sort of hand-embroidering of every single letter not take a ridiculous amount of time? It seems to me it must.
![Unpicked, opened](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5753207682_7092993fc5.jpg)
Now, on to the back. It had that "Unpick to open" embroidery with which I started this post, plus a hand-embroidered return address. And opened - there's even DIFFERENT liner fabric! You can see a bit of the letter peeking out here.
![Fabric of old letters](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/5752663177_e1254e85b3.jpg)
Now check out the fabric of the envelope lining: old letters and postcards! Gaaaa! (Clearly I am at a loss for words now, just making sounds and happy mail drool.)
![Embroidered air mail](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5753206816_dec96f50c2.jpg)
Also, because two is better than one - another hand-embroidered air mail label, this one complete with hearts.
![Very well made in England](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/5753204878_d22db2898f.jpg)
Lest you think it couldn't get any better - as I did, after I'd unpicked the stitching on this envelope (which I did very, very carefully, having no idea of the proper unpicking technique) - here's what was inside the envelope. This is like the "stationery," the fabric with all the vintage-esque cursive writing on it.
![The amazing embroidered letter](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/5752660113_ac054d7248_z.jpg)
And last but certainly not least, the entire embroidered letter! What handiwork! I seriously cannot even imagine the hours this took her. I suggested to her that people would pay big bucks for this sort of thing if she sold it on etsy or the like, so if she opens a shop, I will refresh this post and link it here for sure.
Aside from all this kvelling, I must say this letter really touched my heart. It is now hanging over my writing desk, where I look at it every single day and smile. I don't even think I deserve a gift this wonderful, but I knew I had to share it with you all, my mail-loving readers, who could share my joy in such an incredible creation.