My friendship with Elliot (who just happens to be a super talented illustrator) started entirely via correspondence—over the Internet but still we were basically pen pals for years! It seemed only fitting that he be my next Happy Mail pen pal. This month’s theme was “Love.”

Here’s Elliot’s Happy Mail to me:

Elliot writes: “Lately, I’ve been crushing on playing cards: from the simple design of the numbered ones to the more intricate imagery on the face cards. For Lucy’s mail, I picked out and drew the cards of red hearts! ”

Mine is inspired by my love for breakfast featuring heart-shaped pancakes with maple syrup: