Ideas for InCoWriMo this February

Are you making plans to participate in this year's International Correspondence Writing Month, more commonly known as InCoWriMo? If you visit the official website, you'll find a list of hundreds of names and addresses from all over the world, as well as ideas on how to make the most of InCoWriMo.

If you're on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, you can search for #InCoWriMo and see who is talking about what they'll be doing for this annual, month-long, self-designed adventure. It's great to get some new ideas and find others just as interested as you in sending and receiving mail.

I came up with a list of 28 ideas of possible recipients for the writing challenge. Of course, the easiest way would be to pick a different name from the address book on the InCoWriMo website. You can state in your card, letter, postcard if you're looking for long-term correspondence, or just a one-time "How do you do".

1.  Movie Star
2. Sport Figure
3. Newscaster
4. Television star
5. Author
6. Politician (local or national)
7. Penpal (current or previous)
8. Someone from incowrimo
9. Someone from sendsomething,net
10. Valentine to someone
11. Someone you admire
12. Family member
13. Old friend or co-worker
14. Musician/band
15. Someone from armed services
16. Someone who lost a spouse/child
17. Someone you've never met
18. Nursing home resident
19. Stationery enthusiast
20. Public figure you admire
21. TV show writer or producer
22. Favorite product/company
23. Local animal shelter or cause
24. Letter to south pole
25. Someone in another country
26. Sympathy card
27. New homeowner
28. Someone pursuing a dream

Of course, you can always write to Yours Truly! I'll be glad to write back.

What are your plans for InCoWriMo? In my next blog post, I'll show how I've begun my special preparations so that I'm ready to roll on February 1.

Postage Increase on January 21, 2018

The cost to mail a 1 oz letter increases from .49 to .50 on Sunday, January 21, 2018. The postcard rate will increase from .34 to .35. There's something soothing/correct to have the stamps at rounded numbers and not at odd/unusual numbers like it seems they have been for a long time. I have always missed seeing the denominations on the stamps. Ah, the good old days.

An additional ounce stamp remains at .21 and the cost to mail an overseas letter or postcard (1 oz or less) also remains unchanged at $1.15.

With the introduction of the Forever stamps (2007), it does make it convenient when the stamp prices increases to not have to go out and purchase more stamps or additional postage. Still, I miss having the amounts on the stamps. How about you?

A Visit to the Paper Patisserie

Welcome to the Paper Patisserie store in the Cathedral Hill area of St Paul, Minnesota. It's a beautiful area of the capitol city with tree lined streets, wide sidewalks and wonderful coffee shops such as Nina's Coffee Cafe which is just a few steps from Paper Patisserie.

 

The welcoming front door to the building greets you with old, well-worn brass and wood. Once you're in the building, you will still need to enter the store which is immediately to your right.

Welcome! Isn't this quaint?

The first thing that caught my eye was this book lamp. Don't you love it?!

I'm drawn to the desk with it's small drawers and inviting space.

How about this massive collection of Clairefontaine notebooks? Small, medium, large- they've got them all!

So this owl was there and tried to talk me into taking him home. Maybe next time!

Who doesn't love a collection of waxes and seals? I have some of each but just do not use them enough to go through them very quickly, so they last a long time.

Pens, pens and more pens.

This lovely typewriter pencil holder was one of my favorite finds

The wall of gifts and, more importantly, paper!

New file folders, anyone? Yes, please.

This aisle is bordered by the large glass windows that let in the Minnesota sunshine.

Here's a view of the front door from the inside.

Looking back before I leave, purchases in hand, ready to go outside and brave the Minnesota winter.

Goodbye, Paper Patiserie, until we meet again!

Stationery Stores in the Twin Cities - First Stop: Ampersand

Recently I visited the Ampersand Shop in Edina (suburb of Minneapolis). My goal is to visit all of the stationery stores in the Twin Cities' area between now and the end of next year. I didn't get a picture of the outside of the store (which is located in an upscale strip mall not far from another favorite place of mine, The Container Store). I found this image on their website.

Some of the stores are mostly all stationery and some of the stores have just a little bit of stationery with a lot of other types of gift items. Such is the case with Ampersand Shops.

Don't you love this Letters plate? Me too!

 

I took the photo above because I liked how their name was decorated with plates. Very original.

Here we have some postcards. Aren't they great? I love unique and unusual postcards

A wonderful selection of boxed note cards.I maybe should have taken some close-ups of some of the designs.

This is my favorite - a giant LOVE ball. They have a variety of sizes and colors. This one is a 5' ball that sells for $99.

Stay tuned next week for another stationery store visit. What's your favorite stationery store?

Dot Journaling - The Book

When I first heard the term 'dot journaling', I wasn't sure what that was. Then I was sent a free review copy of this book, Dot Journaling―A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That’ll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together by Rachel Wilkerson Miller,  and the book explained everything. Every thing. I loved it and am inspired to finally try (again) my own dot journal, also known as a bullet journal.

Dot Journaling is authored by Rachel Wilkerson Miller, who's a lifestyle editor at BuzzFeed. Think of Dot Journaling as a combination of diary, planner and to-do list. She published her book this summer.

The book has wonderful (and plentiful) illustrations, ideas and examples. I was particularly impressed with the variety of spreads and all the ways you can customize the journal to what fits your needs.

I was familiar with bullet journaling and had tried this for a few months in 2016 - a very basic attempt. Although it is extremely flexible and customizable, there is still a learning curve and a commitment to the process.

The author addresses concerns (commitment, learning curve, dissatisfaction with penmanship) and offers ideas on how to overcome them.

I am inspired by her work and her words and look forward to creating my own 2017 (what remains) bullet journal.

Bullet Journal was created by Ryder Carrol. For a wonderful selection of informative articles, podcasts, etc., please visit BulletJournal.com.

Cute Post Office Alert

I have driven by this cute little Post Office in Bayport, MN, many times. If I had more time on this visit I would have stepped inside to see if the inside is as quaint as the outside. Maybe next time.

My pictures do not seem to capture the cuteness of the building. It was hard to snap pictures in between the blur of cars going from I-94 to the south, into historic downtown Stillwater, MN, a few miles to the north. Both towns sit on the Minnesota side of the St Croix River across from Wisconsin.

If I got too close, you couldn't read all of the words, and if I stayed too far away, the building seemed to lose its quaintness.

Just up the road (and across the street) is the Bayport Library, which was new to me so I stopped there too and took some pictures. I absolutely love the rounded window room as shown below.

Doesn't the sitting area look inviting? You can sit and admire the beautiful garden area.

What's a library garden without a statue of a girl (or boy) reading a book?

The tree-lined sidewalk offers a lovely venue to go for a stroll (Hint: Go to the left.)

My Visit to the PaperSource Store at Mall of America

A couple weeks ago I visited the PaperSource Store at the Mall of America. I was lucky enough to get a fellow pen enthusiast as my cashier and we spent about thirty minutes sharing information on our fountain pen favorites and preferences.

She introduced me to one of her favorites, a TWSBI, which she had attached to her shirt behind her name badge. She was even kind enough to let me try it.

I purchased a couple Pilot G-tecs, a sheet of decorative paper for bookmaking, a rubber stamp of the #4 (about 2" tall) and some stickers.

I sent my PaperSource helper, a postcard of Letters & Journals later that week.