FAQs..

Perhaps I should have created this page a while ago but as they say hindsight's a wonderful thing. Below you will find the answers to the things I am reqularly asked about the project:

Why? 

Honestly people usually just say 'why..?' and leave it hanging like that for a while but I guess what they mean is 'Why am i doing the project' or 'Why did I start it?' The answers to both are one in the same really. There are multiple reasons for Why I began the project, I suppose the main one was to do with Uni', for those who do not know I am in my Honors year at Uni' and I began this particular project half way through this year. In essence the project was started because of Uni' but that is not why it was started.

All I have ever wanted to do with my art was to help people and make people happy, so at the end of 2011, after pursuing a different project that was about the postal service I sent out around 15 handmade postcards to randomly selected neighbours on my street in an effort to brighten up they're day. I learned three things from this effort:
1) Never rush something you would like done well.
2) Make sure your address's are correct.
3) Be careful how you document your progress.
From this MakeMyNeighbourSmile was born. I set out with the sole intent of reaching out to my neighbours who were/are strangers in a positive way, in the hope of making them smile and perhaps getting to know them. This brings me to the other main reason why I started this project: In the place where I grew up I was fortunate enough to know all my neighbours and indeed literally grew up with some of them. This had a profound effect on my opinion of what home is to me and what good neighbours are. Unsurprisingly I am a firm believer of being friends with your neighbours, not just because it is a useful thing to do but because having friends next door is an amazing thing and turns the place you stay into a home.

A wee story from before this project started:
After a random late night shopping trip my flatmate and I had a single coconut that had taken up residence in the fridge. Subsequently some new neighbours moved in to the flat below us, the decision was then made to give them the coconut in a gift bag with a wee note welcoming them to the block. (I believe I still have our draft of the note somewhere, I shall try and find it and upload it here.) A few weeks passed and we figured they didn't like our gesture of a coconut that much after all but then a card came through the door...it read something along the lines of: 'feel free to come round for a cup of tea and a coconut'...
The reason I added this story is probably obvious..it shows that even though I started this project because of uni, it is by no means the sole reason why i am doing it.


How do you pick the neighbours the envelopes go to?

This one has a quick answer: I don't. None of the places have been specifically selected. The closest I get to that is choosing a flat number or letter in a block of flats and as I travel the street everyday, I simply glance at the flats or houses on my way past and write some numbers down.

What is it all about?

I think the answer to this one has been covered in the why section and on the home page...but if your still not sure please feel free to leave a comment and I'll add more to this one.


UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO MY RUBBISH BLOGGER SKILLS I DIDN'T HAVE IT SET TO 'ANYONE CAN COMMENT' ,  I HAVE NOW CHANGED  THAT, APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO TRIED TO COMMENT BUT COULD NOT. IF YOU TRIED BEFORE PLEASE TRY AGAIN NOW.


I feel a may have missed out a question or two but that's all i can think of for the moment, if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment or alternatively email me at: neighbours.smile@gmail.com. Hope this helps.