Leather Journals

I saw these awesome handmade journals at a local home show in Minneapolis a couple weeks ago. Don't you love how they're displayed in old and worn crates?

Handmade by Nicole Aufderhar, these journals come in a variety of sizes and colors.

One of my favorites is the use of an old photograph to create even more character. Don't you just want to head to the antique store and find a photograph to use in creating your own journal or notebook?

How can anyone resist these minis? Although I love the idea of them, I can't imagine writing in something so small.

 You can see more and order your favorite journal at her etsy site, WayfaringArt.

Letter Links for October 15

Now that the cooler weather has arrived in Minnesota, it's easier to find time to spend reading blogs and magazines. So much of my time these days is spent on Natural Awakenings. As there's just a few of us to do all the work, there ends up being a lot to do- find local articles, sells ads, update the website, do social networking, write articles, etc. I sure do miss my Letters & Journals!

We finally got some rain after months with very little.I took this picture on Sunday to try to capture some of the autumn colors before the leaves all fall from the trees.

The view from our front door (Oct. 14, 2012)

Here are some highlights from my recent web reading:

365 Letters- Matching Your Letter Topics to Your Stamps
Penchant for Paper- Pages from the Travel Journal
Cappuccino & Art Journal- Travelin' but not Light
Leaving a Paper Trail - More Mail

Enjoy! And if you have time, tell me what you've been up to this beautiful October.

For the Sender

Songwriter and musician, Alex Woodard was dealing with the loss of his dog, while questioning where he was going with his life. During this time, Alex received a letter from Emily.

"He didn’t know it yet, but Emily’s letter had started Alex down his own path of moving through loss and reconciling broken dreams, culminating one cold December night on a small stage in suburban Atlanta. And he found out for himself that a song is like a letter, and a letter is like a prayer."

Reading an excerpt from "For the Sender", you can feel the sadness in Alex's life even as he pursues his dream of being a musician.

"For the Sender" book, CD and website was born out of time. Partnering with other musicians, Alex found a way to turn four letters, including Emily's, into 12 songs. They made a CD and a book called "For the Sender" and are continuing to receive more letters as their new business expands and gains even more momentum.

It's inspiring to see how letters continue to connect and direct people's lives. If you’d like to have your own “handwritten letter” considered for a song by Alex and the For the Sender musicians, please mail it to:

For The Sender
c/o Hay House
P.O. Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018

New Planner Joy

I wasn't looking for a 2013 planner when I wandered into Subtext Bookstore in St. Paul this week. But I just had to have this one that has, of all things, a place for "Correspondence" in its weekly pages.

Even though it's a weekly calendar, it has a monthly page for each month. Opposite the monthly page is a place for "Goals & Objectives" "To Do This Month" and "New Project/Ideas". Joy and possibilities!

The planner is made by Polestar, a name and company not familiar to me. It's printed in vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper that's been processed chlorine-free.

 The Polestar Business Planner retails for $19.95.

Now I just have to wait until Monday, Dec. 17 so I can start using it. So excited!

Letter Links

I have not been able to spend as much time reading correspondence blogs like I used to. I kind of miss it. There is so much good stuff out there!

I recently discovered Creative Correspondence. I think you'll like it too.

Do You Use a Bulletin Board? by A Penchant for Paper

What to Write About by 365 Letters

4th of July was a Good Mail Day by Missive Maven

The Rumpus is launching Letters for Kids, where your child can receive a letter from an author such as Lemoney Snickett, among others for a small monthly fee.

Magazine Insert Creativity Contest

People are so creative. We find new ways to use old things every day - pop bottles, books, envelopes, clipboards.

Pop bottle becomes backyard sprinkler

Book spines made into bookmarks

 

Turn junk mail envelopes into handmade book

New life for clipboards

Inspired by the Index Card a Day (ICAD) found on Daisy Yellow's blog, I think we can do the same with the magazine inserts. We just have to be more creative since we're not starting with a blank slate, so to speak.

 

What are some ways you've used these super-lightweight postcards?

Well, put your thinking cap on and get out your creativity toolbox for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Jet Pens!

Start with a magazine insert card and create a piece of art. No cards, you say? Easy enough- just visit your local library or bookstore and shake a few magazines. Soon you will have plenty!

There are two options for entry: Blog Post or Mail. There will only be one winner.

BLOG POST

Blog Post with Photos- If you have a blog, you can post photos of your creation with a link back to this original post. If your entry is complicated, please include instructions for those of us who may want to try your idea on our own. Email me at Jackie at lettersandjournals dot com with a link to your blog.

MAIL 

Mail your entry to Jackie Flaherty, Letters & Journals, PO Box 120052, St. Paul, MN 55112. Be sure to include your contact information as well as any instructions.

Rules

1. Contest is open to everyone

2. Deadline is Sept. 1, 2012 (must be received or posted by this date)

3. Multiple entries are acceptable

4. Winner will be selected by me and notified by email

Ephemera For Sale

I'm cleaning out my boxes and boxes of ephemera and have decided to pack it up and ship it out for the price of shipping plus $1.65 processing.

The assortment of items includes stamps, stickers, photos, maps, advertisements, notepaper, strings, envelopes, ribbons, ticket stubs, bookmarks, stencils, calendar pages, old book pages, scrapbooking supplies, a few odd pens/markers, rubber stamps, business cards and more!

Misc ephemera

I have 5 boxes filled to the brim with all of the stuff I've been saving and collecting for years. As much as I love the ephemera I gather, I just don't take the time to utilize making things like I used to- scrapbook pages, artist trading cards, handmade cards, collages, postcards.

Misc ephemera

I've put these paper treasures in medium flat rate boxes and will mail each one for $13 to the first 5 people who email me at Jackie at LettersandJournals dot com. (Flat rate fee $11.35 + 1.65 processing).

Misc ephemera

There may be more as I get to my stuffed that's packed away in the garage, but for now I'm working on cleaning out my closets, desks and one spare bedroom.

Paypal and Checks accepted. US only.