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Postcrossing Spotlight: minnasusanne

Minna (aka minnasusanne) lives in the Finnish countryside. She loves stones, the Rasmus, and Stephen King's books! Here is what she had to say to our interview questions:

How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?

I heard about Postcrossing for the first time when I picked up our mail in the end of year 2006. There were great cards from different countries around the world, sent to my oldest daughter who had joined Postcrossing. In a few weeks I joined too! First I liked the idea of getting cards from foreign countries, then the opportunity to improve my language skills. But the best thing I think are the wonderful friends I soon found here.

Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
Minna's mailbox

This is our mailbox, done by me and my husband. Finnish postal service delivers mail to 1 km from your home if you live in the countryside like we do. So our mailbox is in middle of the forest along our road to home. It is pretty obvious that I like stones!

Sometimes, I use the postcards I receive to decorate parts of my home:

Minna's table
Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

I like to read and listen to music but I must confess that I'm a serious card addict. I don't spend much time with anything else. This means that postcards have evolved from a hobby to a profession for me this autumn. Last two years I have been interested in taking photographs and after plenty of dreaming and planning I decided to publish some photos as postcards. That's how my small-scale postcard web shop Minor Postcards was born.

Lately I enjoy planning different cards with my daughter and searching good motifs from other photographers works - I know I'm a beginner and can't take photos of the Northern lights or polar bears, for example.

Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.

It is impossible to pick just one card. Here are some special cards:

Minna's cards

A Sandman postcard and John Bauer's illustration because I like dreamlike drawings and the idea to have a matching stamp to a card is great. (But I don't like the "Postmonster" which damages cards and hope to get my cards in envelopes so stamps don't actually matter to me).

The paper doll Robin Hood cat card and Sheepworld card because I like "cut out do it yourself" cards.

The Rasmus is my favorite band and you can't buy cards about them. This Touchnote card was an official RU-1122544 and I appreciate it very much, because the sender really made an effort.

I also love black & white cards and stones and got these from friends. The broken stone heart was my avatar for a while.

And the Help! card is there because I like funny ideas and would love to have that key in my laptop!!

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

I like the most about picking the right card for the receiver. I look at their wishlist and try to find something which might be something they would like. It is nice to read Hoorays afterwards and hear how well I managed.

Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?

This is not actually an answer to this question... but it was a fine surprise to receive the first page from my favorite author Stephen King's book Carrie as an official BR-153331. It arrived a long way from Brazil and got here in good shape, despite the long journey.

Carrie's first page
Have you met any other members in real life?

Yes, my daughter was the first! I have been to some meetings in Finland and met Finnish members there. I don't usually go to big meet-ups, I prefer small meetings. I have met some foreign members too, two of them visited my home, and I have visited one Swiss member. And once I made a surprise visit to a German member for her birthday when I was in Germany for other reason. It was soooo fun!! I can say that with some members I don't only share postcards, I share my life and we really are friends. And that's amazing!


Posted by on 12 Feb, 2013
Tags: ,




43 comments so far

idus, Germany
Another really interesting article!
I like the postbox in the woods...
Posted by idus on 12 Feb, 2013


Balenciaga, Croatia
Thank you, Minna, for inspiring ideas on how to decorate one's home with postcards!
Posted by Balenciaga on 12 Feb, 2013


volvomom, United States of America
It's so great to see one of my favorite postcrossers here! Minna is so wonderful! Lots of hugs from across the sea! :)
Posted by volvomom on 12 Feb, 2013


TheBusyLibrarian, Netherlands
Our Library team very much likes the card from Brazil. What a good idea to use a copy of the first page of the book as a card.
Posted by TheBusyLibrarian on 12 Feb, 2013


DorotheeB, Germany
Thank you so much for the great article. I love to read those interviews with other Postcrossers and see photos!
Posted by DorotheeB on 12 Feb, 2013


katephilipa, Portugal
Amazing article. Postcrossing is a life style for some of us. (:
Posted by katephilipa on 12 Feb, 2013


Nordbaer, Germany
You really deserve not only a spotlight, but a flashlight!
:-)
Posted by Nordbaer on 12 Feb, 2013


Luxi, Luxembourg
Minna!!! so happy to see you here ;-) You are one of my dearest postcrossers! Sending you a big big hug from here
Diane
Posted by Luxi on 12 Feb, 2013


carolreader, United States of America
Nice to see you featured, Minna. Well deserved!
Posted by carolreader on 12 Feb, 2013


MissMaple, Netherlands
Wonderful spotlight! :-)
Posted by MissMaple on 12 Feb, 2013


PostMuse, United States of America
Your mailbox is beautiful! So nice to meet you here in the Spotlight, Minna :)
Posted by PostMuse on 12 Feb, 2013


Jamie1972, Switzerland
Minna, how lovely to hear from you once again :-) And you have a lovely mailbox!
Posted by Jamie1972 on 12 Feb, 2013


shazza1532, United States of America
Your mailbox is beautiful! Lovely article about you as well:)
Posted by shazza1532 on 12 Feb, 2013


rosenbusch, Germany
a wonderful spotlight, dear Minna...
Posted by rosenbusch on 12 Feb, 2013


droopy_kat, Belgium
i really enjoyed reading your 'spotlight' and i looked at your nice postcard store and was amased by the beautiful cards you have. ;-)

Just a bit too expensive for my purse for the moment but i'll be back one day, when i have some more cash... :-(
Thx for sharing all this beauty with us!!♥
Posted by droopy_kat on 12 Feb, 2013


Duplevista, United Kingdom
Minna what a delight to see one of my favourite postcrossers and dear friend in the spotlight - hugs to you and the girls :)
Posted by Duplevista on 12 Feb, 2013


gruselkatze, Germany
Very nice interview! I totally agree that the best part about Postcrossing is finding the perfect card for the perfect person. :) I'm always disappointed when I read that people just want a regular tourist card... I like a challenge!! :)
Posted by gruselkatze on 12 Feb, 2013


minnasusanne, Finland
Wow, thank you all for your very kind comments! Big hugs to you back!

@TheBusyLibrarian, it was really the first page of the book, not a copy of it...
:-)))))
Posted by minnasusanne on 12 Feb, 2013


Bluma, United States of America
Minna- Nice to read more about you and see you spotlighted - The Stephen King page was great. LOVE your stone mailbox.
Posted by Bluma on 12 Feb, 2013


darkestperu, United States of America
Minna, your mailbox in the woods is just delicious! It must be like some forest fairy comes and leaves gifts for you when you check your mail. I looked in your postcard shop and your postcards are fantastic! I especially like the bicycle one :) If it isn't already, you should make a card of your mailbox!
Posted by darkestperu on 12 Feb, 2013


Milkshakeheadache, Finland
I checked out your Minor Postcards. Thank you for this card: "In the end it will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not the end." I really needed these words right now. Thank you! Greetings from Turku. :)
Posted by Milkshakeheadache on 12 Feb, 2013


spotty, Germany
now i do understand who's behind these wonderful postcards, I have looked at them serveral times and always wondered, what kind of dear person is standing behind such thoughtful pictures! I always search for special postcards! Yes I do sent tourist ones as well, but as so many others it is always a joy to make someone happy with a special card! Well done for it, and yes now I am more than sure, I am going to order some postcards and enjoy them ;-)
To read your spotlight has been a very big joy to me
Posted by spotty on 12 Feb, 2013


if0815, Germany
Hi Minna, what a lovely surprise to see you on Spotlight. I had a look at Minor Postcards. Your cards are pretty.
Posted by if0815 on 12 Feb, 2013


isagv, Germany
Hi Minna, great to read about you here and great to see where my cards are going. :)
Thank you for being my Postcrossingfriend and for the great cards you always send. :)
Posted by isagv on 12 Feb, 2013


linku, Italy
very very cool person and wonderful postcards, thank you!!
Posted by linku on 12 Feb, 2013


sapic12, Portugal
awsome. A big hug from Portugal!
Posted by sapic12 on 12 Feb, 2013


Jettelisi, Netherlands
Hello Dear Minna,

Great to see the mailbox :) I do think my cards love this mailbox :)
Posted by Jettelisi on 12 Feb, 2013


bornokyo, Philippines
Thanks for sharing your story. Love the pictures!
Posted by bornokyo on 13 Feb, 2013


nediam_nori, Finland
so lovely to see you in the spotlight, Minna :)
Posted by nediam_nori on 13 Feb, 2013


moonlessnite, Canada
Wishiing you a happy St Valentines day, minna! i need to keep an eye out for RASMUS cards...and until this article i didnt realize that the heart-shaped stone was a broken heart, therefore tied with string to hold it togther.
Posted by moonlessnite on 13 Feb, 2013


lucymonty, United Kingdom
I love how you display some postcards under glass on a table! Your postbox looks very scenic :-)
Posted by lucymonty on 13 Feb, 2013


Goyesca, Germany
Minna, my dear friend, so great to see you here in the spotlight! Lovely interview! Big hugs and lots of love!!!
Posted by Goyesca on 13 Feb, 2013


Anyanka, Germany
Wonderful spotlight for the most amazing mailbox ;o)))
Sooooo nice to see you here!
Big Hug to my "stone-sister"
Posted by Anyanka on 13 Feb, 2013


Sophie54, Netherlands
A well deserved spotlight, love the mailbox;-)
Posted by Sophie54 on 14 Feb, 2013


ebreah, Malaysia
Greetings from JPC Group!
Posted by ebreah on 14 Feb, 2013


miarhi, Finland
Wow, you've taken amazing photos. What a great idea to turn them into postcards. I'll definitely buy some - as soon as I can decide which.
Posted by miarhi on 14 Feb, 2013


Rivallien, Czech Republic
I looove your mailbox!
Posted by Rivallien on 14 Feb, 2013


MichelleW, United States of America
My sweet friend - much love, many hugs and hope that your springtime arrives early! You are special to so many of us!
Posted by MichelleW on 14 Feb, 2013


Riutsi, Finland
Congratulations, Minna! How wonderful to see a familiar face in the spotlight! I love the Minor postcards!!! And this spotlight is great!
Posted by Riutsi on 14 Feb, 2013


minnasusanne, Finland
Hello all and thank you for your kind comments.
You all wonderful friends are the best here, with postcards of course!
:-)
Posted by minnasusanne on 16 Feb, 2013


Euniceyu, Taiwan
Dear Minna
so wonderful your mailbox is :)
and thank you for sharing your story ❤
I love it !
Posted by Euniceyu on 22 Feb, 2013


Crizle, Australia
Dear Minna, you have been a wonderful friend and postcrosser with me since 2007, thanks so much.
Posted by Crizle on 23 Feb, 2013


ipuenktchen, Iran
hi, dear minna, only now I find you as a spotlight, congrats!!! and thank you for sharing your story!!
bye, ipue..
Posted by ipuenktchen on 5 Apr, 2013



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