Hello!

I hope that you’re having a really lovely bank holiday weekend! This is my very first update about my brand new project to create a mail club - which will be like an “in-person newsletter”!

I’ve been very frustrated with the media for a while now - it feels like whenever we open a magazine, we’re bombarded with adverts, or content about celebrities who just want to sell us their latest book or film. Magazine content has become boring and repetitive. And it’s obviously convenient to receive our info online - but who wants to be staring at a screen all day?

I couldn’t help wondering whether it would be possible to create something different, building a way for people to switch off when they receive something in the post. Something which is different every time, both surprising and interesting. So… I’ve decided to take the plunge and build a mail club!

The plan is to create a “real-life newsletter” focusing on culture, travel, food and more, which I’ll post to my readers. I’m hoping that it’ll be the perfect way to unwind while having a cup of coffee, or sitting on a train, or taking some time to yourself wherever that feels relaxing!

I’m really excited about this and it’s on my mind constantly, and I’ve already started work. I need to find high quality materials and figure out the logistics before I can launch properly, so that everything runs smoothly from the very first batch! I’m looking at beautiful papers, the best way to print images, and curating topics which I hope you’ll find inspiring and thought-provoking.

I’m setting myself one task every single day so I can get this off the ground as soon as possible. Yesterday I designed my logo and settled on a title, “In Real Life” (and here it is!)…

… and today’s job is to order an ink stamp of my logo, which I’ll hand print on every single one.

This project isn’t about mass production or going viral. It’s about connection, small community and conversations that matter. I want the work to feel individual and heartfelt- because we’re missing that in our media right now, and I bet I’m not the only person yearning for something new.

Could I possibly ask a favour from you? If you know you’ll definitely sign up for the first month when I launch, could you possibly drop me an email on drjujuliagracepatterson@gmail.com? I’d like to start a little list, so I can contact you first as soon as the spots become live! It’s difficult for me to say the exact monthly price for the newsletter and monthly artwork, but I’ll do my best to keep it below £10!

I’ll be back in touch soon to show you how things are going, and in the meantime please take care!

Ju x