National Stationery Show 2012

This week in New York begins the National Stationery Show (May 20-23) and I'll be missing it! This is the first time in a few years that I have not been there. So I've found some other blogs to follow who are sharing their experience:

Simple Song

Poppy Talk

Banquet Atelier & Workshop

Dear Hancock Paper Goods

Rifle Paper Company

Twitter & the National Stationery Show

For those of you on Twitter, you can find and follow the tweets by searching for #stationeryshow or #nss or following @stationeryshow. For specific events like the National Stationery Show, spending time on Twitter will open up a world of people out there who share your interest. If you're new to Twitter, here is all you need to do. Even without an account, you can:
1. Go to Twitter.com
2. Put #NSS or #Stationeryshow in the SEARCH box
3. Read posts by those who show up in the timeline
4. Click on websites of the people or companies that interest you

If you like what you see then I recommend that you set up a Twitter account so that you can follow all of the people you're finding on Twitter who interest you. Once you set up an account, you can start following people.

 1. Find someone like @stationeryshow and click on their name to be taken to their Twitter page
2. Click on their followers
3. Start reading descriptions and tweets and click on FOLLOW for any people/companies you like
4. Soon you'll have a list of people you're following and the great thing is as you find really interesting people, you can follow who they follow or who follows them. Warning: this is a rabbit hole, much like Pinterest, and can take you hours to resurface
5. Some of them will start following you back so I recommend for you to add a description to yourself mentioning the topics you like or the traits about yourself you want people to know (chocolate lover, mom to 4, hockey enthusiast - you get the picture).

This is a great way to find people who share your interest. To search for any topic, just add the hash tag # before a word or a combination of words all linked together. #stationery or #stationeryshow #penpals, #letters, #mail. Just pick a topic and off you go!

Letter Writing Social in Washington, DC

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Noon-3pm

If you're a letter writer and are lucky enough to be in the Washington, DC area on this date then you may want to consider attending this letter writing event at the National Postal Museum.

Melissa at Craftgasm is one of the organizers and she would love to see a good turnout. So help out your missive writing brethren and attend this letter writing social.

Spread the word and share the joy!

Stack of Letters

Having a stack of letters to respond to is kind of a comfort to me. On the other hand, having too large of a stack of letters can be overwhelming.  For letter writers, it's helpful to have a system and some balance to their process. Here is some of what I do.

Currently, I use this wooden caddy for letters. I will grab one, two or a handful when I have some letter writing time to dedicate to them.

I'll select the card or stationery from my box of stationery supplies and then I'll select the pen based on the paper that I've chosen.

Next, I'll reread the letter I'm about to respond to so that my memory is refreshed of what is recent in the lives of my letter writing friend. I love the variety and creativity of the missives I receive. Many inspire me to be more creative in what I send out.

Sitting down at my desk (rarely this clean), I will begin my return correspondence. Usually it's quiet, but sometimes I'll have music in the background. Currently I'm listening to I Like You from Minneapolis.

If I'm traveling or going to the local coffee shop to write my letters, then I will use this lovely handmade carry-all for my letter writing supplies.

This was sent to me by my pen pal Cecelia who is talented in design and sewing. Also, she is kind and thoughtful. I love using this and think of her every time I do.

On March 31 I wrote by candlelight since it was 8:30pm and I was honoring Earth Hour by shutting off all lights, computers, electrical appliances, etc. This happens once a year and is pretty amazing when you see all the people involved and the difference that our combined efforts make.

Before sending off my correspondence, I select the appropriate stamp and return address label. Most letter writers I know have a selection of both of these from which to choose. It's half the fun and much of the charm. I will admit that I'm bit of a stamp snob and always prefer to see themed stamps rather than the generic flag ones, or worse yet, the metered postage.

Then it's off to the post office to send my letter on its way!

Who are you writing to today?

Winner Announced

Lucky #11 won the Pen, Poodles and Ink giveaway. Congratulations, Marji, who left her comment on 3/8/12. Please email me your mailing address by Sunday, March 25 and I will get your package off to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered, tweeted and did facebook updates! I surely do appreciate your interest and taking the time to promote this contest. If you're one of the 18 people who left a comment and you'd like a postcard, just email me your address and tell me which card you'd like.

L&J Postcard

 

A Minnesota Postcard (not necessarily this one)

Choice A) L&Jpostcard
Choice B) Minnesota postcard

Poodles, Pen and Ink

Letters & Journals is having a giveaway! One lucky winner will win this bottle of ink (blue black), Tsunami pen (and refill) from Richard at My Ink Pen and a set of 8 poodle cards and stickers from Poodle & Cat (formerly Haley's Handmades).

One winner will be selected on Sun. March 18. Here are the rules:

1. Contest is open to all and ends at midnight on Sat. March 17.

2. Leave a comment. Be sure to include your name or email so I can identify you/announce you in the blog post. The winner will have one week to notify me of their mailing address. If you want to be proactive, you can email me your mailing address here and be done with it.

3. You can have one comment (entry) for each mention in your blog, Tweet, Facebook or other social networking promotion you do. Just include the link to each update with your comment. Remember that each comment should be separate, so if you do a Twitter mention and a facebook mention they would be two comments = two entries.

4. Thank you!

Letter from Warren Buffett

I've made a goal in 2012 to send thank-you cards and notes of appreciation to people and businesses I admire. Writing these is my way of spreading kindness and joy.

Sometimes they write back. Just ask Pen Pal from Northeastern Colorado who wrote a blog last Oct about receiving a response from the author Clive Cussler.

Like Warren Buffett. For many years I have admired Mr. Buffett for his practicality, his business sense and his money savvy as well as his down-to-earth personality (from what I've read). I also happen to agree with many of his political opinions. So I wrote a brief thank you note, googled his business address and sent the note to him. A month or so later, I received this response.

"Jackie- Thanks for your note. It made my day. Best wishes, Warren E. Buffett."

Who have you written to recently?

Letter Links Feb. 11

It's amazing how much time can be spent going from one awesome blog to the next reading and sharing what's going on in various little corners of the world! In my most recent wanderings, I found these fun, creative and inspiring blog posts.

Inaugural Rhodia Journal Swap by Julie at Whatever
Seeing Red by Pamela at Cappuccino and Art Journal
Writing on the Wall by Cheryl at Cheryl's Excellent Adventures
Week 4 of Weekly Doodles by Mark at Diary Doodle Books
Lost Crates February 2012 by Diane at Pocket Blonde
(Most of) My Notebook Collection by Economy Pens

Like many, I need to monitor my time online so that I don't spend hours at a time living vicariously through others. Because what is the point of that?