Letters & Journals

Mail Call

2012-01-28T19:23:00.000-06:00

In recent days I've had the joy of getting some fun and original mail. There is no doubt that receiving mail- both expected and unexpected- is one of life's simple pleasures. If you're up for a challenge this February, you may want to consider The Month of Letters Challenge.

I love books and reading and bookstores A LOT! So imagine my delight when I received the above postcard from Rift Vegan. I even joined my first book club (online) and for January we read "The Sense of an
Ending" by Julian Barnes. Next up is "Bento's Sketchbook" by John Berger.

This Edward Gorey postcard came from Emilie from Winnie's Girl blog. She had been a recipient when I mailed my Gorey postcards last year and wanted to return the favor.

Finally, this lovely "J" collage comes from Limner. It arrived in a clear package that was also nicely decorated, but I didn't take a photo. On the back of the J is a beautifully handwritten letter. What a wonderful idea and keepsake. The photo doesn't do it justice, but even the quarter inch sides of the J block has writing and quotes on it. Unfortunately, the scanner couldn't capture that and the camera is acting up (granted, this could be ignorance of a changed setting on my part.)

Letter Links Jan 15

2012-01-15T21:47:00.000-06:00

This is the first Letter Links of 2012! Lots of fun and interesting places to check out.

Share Your Canceled Stamps by 365 Letters
Equation for Fun (re-purposing junk mail) by Just Letter Rip
To Do List in Wall Street Journal by To Do List
Welcome to 2012 by Julie at Whatever
The Language of Stamps by the Benevolent Postcard Society
Review: Levenger Bomber Jacket Unifier (Desk Organizer) by Note Booker, Esquire
Cool Libraries from Around the World by Weekly Roundup

Enjoy!

Lovely Mail to Brighten My Day

2012-01-08T19:49:00.000-06:00

I have been fortunate to receive some unique and unexpected mail in the last few weeks. Back in December I received this lovely piece of mail from Pamela at Cappuccino & Art Journal. Pamela is such a talented and dedicated mail artist and I just love looking at her blog and seeing all of the mail eye candy that she posts. I will save for another post just what was in this artfully created envelope.

This unique Christmas card came in an envelope made of vellum. I received this in early December and plan to reuse the front of the holiday card next year as a holiday postcard.

Last, but not least, the most unique mail item of all. This letter has a unique postmark from St. George's School and was sent by Ilona, aka, the Missive Maven. Ilona explained that the school had one day to use this commemorative postmark which was created in honor of the school's 100 anniversary.

And there you have it. Some recent highlights of my mail box. Naturally each of these senders should be on the look out for something in return.

Happy New Year Wishes

2011-12-31T13:47:00.000-06:00

Letters & Journals would like to send you wishes for a Happy New Year! If you would like this on a postcard, just contact me with your name and address. You can do this via email, twitter or the old fashioned way- a letter or postcard request sent to:

Happy New Year, c/o Letters & Journals, PO Box 120052, St. Paul, MN 55112

Not sure what you want to see in the next 12 months? Here are some blog posts that may help. Get out a notebook and a favorite pen and enjoy this time.

The Edge of the Year or More of This, Please by Amy Oscar
17 Ways to be Happier in 2012 by Marelisa
Choose a Word to Guide Your Year or How to Choose a Word of the Year
Magic Reflections on My One Little Word by Elise Joy
Create a 2012 Memory Jar from Crafty Tuesday (this is more for reflecting than planning)

May all your wishes come true for a fabulous and life enhancing new year in 2012. Here's to health and friends, peace and joy in your life.

Letters & Journals Update 2012

2011-12-30T20:11:00.000-06:00

As 2012 approaches I wanted to give you an update on the status of Letters & Journals, the print edition. I am still working on bringing this to life in a print format. Some people have recommended to do it as a zine or a digital edition, and although both options have merit, I see something different for the magazine (100 pages, perfect bound, matte cover, etc) so will continue to follow my dream even though it means 'not now.'

I'm taking a break from doing the monthly giveaway and the e-newsletter as I concentrate on my new business. When time allows, I will return to them.

My new job is the publisher of a Natural Awakenings magazine. This is a free monthly publication that is all about healthy lifestyles and a healthy planet. There are 85 of these in the country and starting in March, I will be publishing the Twin Cities (Mpls/St. Paul) edition. Here's a link to the Milwaukee digital edition to give you an idea of the magazine and its content.

Milwaukee January 2012 Edition

My website launched last month and currently I'm in the process of finding 300 locations to carry the free magazine as well as people to advertise in it. Exciting times, but super busy.

I had come across Natural Awakenings last spring when I was looking into print options for Letters & Journals. I was working at an office job (5 yrs) for a wonderful small company in St. Paul, but my job was unexciting and there were no opportunities to grow. I had planned to be working at L&J full time within 1-2 yrs, but time kept going by with nothing happening to get me closer to that goal.

When I came across the Natural Awakenings franchise I started looking into it and I liked what I saw. The free monthly magazine, the support structure, the training, the templates, the best practices of other publishers, the freedom to pick and choose my own topics and covers, etc.

In August I went to training in Naples, FL and then I quit my full time job to devote all of my time to making Natural Awakenings Twin Cities a success. Unlike the 9-5 hours at my office job, I am now working 60-80 hours a week which isn't a problem except that it leaves so little time for L&J fun stuff.

Dolphin mailbox in Naples, FL

But I still want to keep the site going and the plans for the magazine progressing. I just won't be able to put as much time and effort into it as I did previously.

Some people have offered to submit stories to the newsletter so I may do an occasional newsletter as I can get new material and put one together. And I have a few items to give away that donors such as Haley and Richard had donated previously so I will have giveaways here and there.

In the meantime, I am still planning to pursue the print edition of L&J and am keeping my options open and am continuing to add to my growing list of names for those interested in such a product.

Edward Gorey #26

2011-12-22T16:45:00.000-06:00

Here is the final entry in the Edward Gorey postcard collection from the 2011 postcard calendar book. I've enjoyed sharing these cards and sending them to unsuspecting recipients.

"A future unremembered poet of the seventeenth century accepts a Christmas cookie from the Great Veiled Bear."

I like the winter theme of this card. And who doesn't love the image of a polar bear wearing ice skates?

"Floating Worlds: Never-Before-Seen Letters and Envelopes" is a wonderful collection of some of Gorey's letters, envelopes and postcards.

This has been fun and I will probably do it again someday. I'm just not sure when.

Postcard Giveaway from Chewy Tulip

2011-12-16T21:31:00.001-06:00

Chewy Tulip donated a set of 5 Evergreen postcards to the recent giveaway, but somebody (me) neglected to add them to the monthly giveaway. So this package of cards will have its own giveaway. I will even include five $.29 stamps. Woo-Hoo!

Contest is open to all and will end at midnight on 12/23/11. Just send an email to Jackie (at) LettersandJournals (dot) com with the word EVERGREEN in the subject line.

12/26 Update: The winner is Jane from Champaign, IL who has already been notified of her good fortune. Congratulations, Jane! And thanks to Chewy Tulip for donating the prize!

Edward Gorey #24

2011-12-10T08:11:00.000-06:00

The 24th Edward Gorey postcard is a scene from The Doubtful Guest. There's a short rhyme on the card that says:

"It came seventeen years ago- and to this day it has shown no intention of going away."

The 'it' in question looks like a lonely malformed seal wearing tennis shoes or ice skates.

And there we have it - the second to the last Gorey postcard from the 2011 postcard calendar.

Letter Links Dec. 7

2011-12-07T18:39:00.000-06:00

It's a busy time of year for many, but there's always time to check out some posts on a few of my favorite blogs.

Writing Letters is not just for fun, it's good for you by 365 Letters
Sketchbooks, Gluebooks and Art Journals by A Penchant for Paper
Beginning to look a lot like you-know-what by Cappuccino and Art Journal
Tis the Season to Simplify by Inkophile
Etsy Letterpress Love by Missive Maven

December Stationery Giveaway

2011-12-04T21:57:00.001-06:00

The winner for this month is Julie B. from Florida. Congratulations, Julie!
Here is the final monthly giveaway of 2011! I've decided to take a break from the monthly giveaways for 2012. It's just too much work now that I'm putting in extra time at my new job and trying to be successful and do a good job with that. I may do an occasional giveaway, but it won't be a regular affair.

Haley's Handmades is now known as Poodle & Cat. Love that new name! This month Haley has sent in 6 cards, a bookmark and magnet and a button.

Sakura of America donated this 6-pen set of brush pens in six different colors. Get your groove on with these fun colors!

This recycled book has new pages for your journal writing. Donated by Journals + Paper, this spiral bound book is a blank slate for your inspired and wondrous thoughts.

The Bonnie Marcus collection donated this notepad for all of your list-making tendencies. Shopping lists, guest lists, to-do lists. The world is waiting for your list masterpiece!

Crane and Company sent in this small blank book called 'Short Stories' because we all have a story to tell. Write your short story in this lined journal.

Next we have a set of Tree Greetings cards from Eraser Carver. If you like trees, you will love this set of three tree cards.

Tilia Press has been a long time donor and this month we are featuring a set of bee-themed Thank You cards from them. Lovely.

In My Book has three greeting cards/bookmarks in this month's basket. They come with a red envelope too so you can send and share.

The Verge De France stationery and envelopes were sent in by Karen at Exaclair. Who wouldn't want to write a letter using this combination? I know I would!

Finally, we have the Ecojot claendar for 2012. This beautifully illustrated calendar will set the tone for a harmonious and wonderful New Year!

The contest is open to everyone everywhere. Just leave a comment here. The December winner will be selected on January 1. The winner will be contacted by email and have 3 days to respond. I number each comment on this the website, the blog and the few I receive via email. I then use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number each month. Good Luck!

Pencil Box Photo

2011-12-03T09:41:00.000-06:00

I took pictures of the four prize packages for the Mailbox contest that was held last month, however, only one of the pictures turned out. I guess I should have checked the photographs before I mailed the packages.

This felt-lined pencil box was filled with pens and pencils and was won by Pamela in San Francisco. The prizes going to Kelly, Phyllis and Barbara will just have to be a surprise.

November Stationery Winner

2011-12-01T17:12:00.000-06:00

We have a winner for the November Stationery Giveaway and her name is... (drum roll) ... Emma P from Pennsylvania!

This pen set from Sakura of America is just one of the dozen prizes in the giveaway. Stay tuned for the December Stationery Giveaway to be posted soon!

Edward Gorey #23

2011-11-29T16:51:00.000-06:00

The Edward Gorey postcard collection draws closer to the end with postcard #23 in the 2011 postcard book. Somewhere I must have missed a week as I only have two more after this one.

R is for Raccoon Coat

I'm in the process of mailing postcards to the people who kindly entered the mailbox contests in the Sept/Oct newsletter so I expect that one or two recipients will get one of the Gorey postcards. Others will receive postal museum cards, Minnesota cards, L&J cards or Antarctica postcards.

I've enjoyed having a theme and I'm considering what kind of regular blog updates I can do in 2012. Thoughts?

Mailbox Contest Winners

2011-11-27T20:49:00.000-06:00

Announcing the mailbox contest winners from the Sept/Oct newsletter. There were four prizes given away and each recipient selected the prize package they wanted to win when they mailed their entry. There were about 5 entries for each prize selection so I sorted the mail into A, B, C and D piles and selected one winner from each. Also, as I mentioned in the newsletter, if entries contained a photo or drawing of a post office box, then that person received an extra entry for the added effort.

Package A (ephemera) was won by Phyllis from CA. Here is the envelope Phyllis used and below is a photo of Phyllis's mailbox which happens to be

a mailbox slot in her garage door. She explains in her letter her experience of getting wet mail when it rains as well as having to get out of her car in the driveway to retrieve the mail each day so as not to run over it, which she has done.

Prize Package B (Pencil box with pens/pencils) was won by Pamela in CA with this decorated postcard. Pamela excels in mail art as many of you might recognize from her website, Cappuccino and Art Journal.

Here is the front of Pamela's card. Love all of that mailbox goodness!

Prize package C (Surprise goodies include journal, note cards, stamps, stationery, etc) goes to Kelly in IL. Love her telegram postcard!

Finally, Package D (set of cat rubberstamps) goes to Barbara, aka, CatBookMom. Creatively, Barbara used rubberstamps in the postcard she sent in. Aren't the snail and cats adorable? Nicely done!

I'll post photos of the prizes later this week when I prepare them to be mailed.

In the meantime, here is a sampling of some of the other mail themed entries that were submitted. Oh what fun my mailbox had in Oct and Nov!

Letter Links Nov 25

2011-11-25T09:13:00.000-06:00

For those of you enjoying a lazy day after Thanksgiving- sitting at your computer- might I suggest the following links?

Hosting Your Own Letter Writing Social by Letter Writer's Alliance
Writing Letters...it's not just fun...it's good for you by 365 Letters
12 Days of Letter Writing by The World Needs More Love Letters
Need a Gift Idea for the Holidays? by Julie at Whatever

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:47:00.000-06:00

For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, I'd like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. It's easy at this time of year to be reminded that it's all about GRATITUDE.

I have this gratitude book that I started on 6/2/10, but have not written in since 8/10/11 and it's only about 1/5 completed. Not that I have to write things down to be able to give thanks, but it helps to find things everyday in our everyday lives to appreciate. It's time for me to get back into the habit.

Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. ~Kak Sri

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Writing Personal Notes & Letters

2011-11-20T15:01:00.000-06:00

I have been reading Writing Personal Notes & Letters by Jennifer Williams and the editors of Victoria magazine on and off for a few months now. Although much of what I've read so far is often in other books on letter writing, it's still enjoyable to be drawn into the world of the letter writer. Indeed, it is.

The smooth white pages of the book are filled with lovely illustrations of postcards, stamps and writing images, much like Alexandra's Stoddard's classic, Gift of a Letter.

From Chapter 2:

Any good writing- writing that communicates something real and true, including letters to friends- derives its power from our experiences of life, whether it's a plain old "day-to-day life" or one fraught with extraordinary events. It doesn't matter. If you tap directly into your own life and allow it to speak for itself, your letters will never fail to be vivid and true.

What I've found with books on letter writing is that I like to read a little bit at a time, otherwise it becomes like eating too much pie at one sitting- uncomfortably filling.

Here are the chapter headings if you're curious.

Chapter 1: The Pleasures of Staying in Touch: A Meditation on Letter Writing

Chapter 2: Pictures of the Heart: Letters to Friends

Chapter 3:Transports of the Heart: Love Letters, Valentines, and Billets-Doux

Chapter 4: Please Join Us: Invitations and Announcements

Chapter 5: The Words to Say It: Thank You Notes and Letters of Congratulation

Chapter 6: The Comfort of Connection: Condolence and Sympathy Letters

Chapter 7: Staying in Touch with the World: Letters of Admiration, Letters of Complaint, Letters to Magazines, Alumnae Newsletters and More

Mail Contest #1

2011-11-13T18:39:00.000-06:00

The Sept/Oct newsletter had a mailbox contest where the entrants were asked to send in a piece of mail with a number selected that was between 1-100. The winner wins this handcrafted pencil box filled with a collection of pens from Nvizio. And the winner is..... (drum roll)

Jennifer from CA! This package will be on its way to you this week! Below is Jennifer's winning entry.

The winning number was #18 and Jennifer guessed #13. There was also a person who guessed #23 and since both of these numbers are 5 away from 18. I put both names in a hat and drew Jennifer's name.

The pencil box was handcrafted by Harvey Christiansen. Here's a close-up of the inside which is covered in brown felt.

Misty's Mailbox Sketch

2011-11-11T21:09:00.000-06:00

Imagine my delight to find this wonderful black & white illustration in my mailbox last week! Signed by the illustrator (and blogger) Miss Misty Davis from Confessions of a Pen Thief, this piece of art measures 8.5 x 11. Here you can read her post where she blogged about her talented mailbox sketch!

How lucky am I to be the recipient of such lovely postal image? I'm on the hunt now for the perfect frame so that I can hang this on my office wall.

I must admit that it's been a joy to find all of the mail in my new PO Box since I did two (that's right- TWO) promotional contests in the Sept/Oct newsletter. One has ended and I'll be announcing that winner this weekend. The Mailbox Contest goes until Nov. 23, 2011. Hurry! There's still time.

Thanks, Misty! You've definitely earned an extra ticket in this drawing. Good Luck!

Letter Links November 8

2011-11-08T15:29:00.002-06:00

I thought some of you might enjoy these blog posts that talk about mail, post office, desks, writing space, lists, journals, collage and typewriters (among other things). Enjoy!

10 ways to get more mail by 365 Letters
Travel, Snow and Some Mail Art by Cappuccino Art Journal
A Clean Desk Encourages Letter Writing by Missive Maven
Happy Thoughts by To Do List
Renaissance Art's Creative Genius Patch Design Journal by Whatever

Collage with Magazine Papers by Collage Journeys

Leaving a Typewriter Behind by Strikethru

November Stationery Giveaway

2011-11-06T07:16:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the November Stationery Giveaway where one lucky winner will win ALL of these prizes.

The Texas Pen Company kindly donated a box calligraphy set containing 2 Scheaffer Fountain Pens, 3 calligraphy nibs, 14 ink cartridges, a practice pad and calligraphy booklet with step-by-step instructions.

First time contributor, Cindy at Letters from Midlife sent in a selection of lovely photo note cards. There is a combination of flower note cards and tea cup note cards. No two are alike in this packet. Enjoy!

In My Book sent in 3 of their combination note cards/bookmarks. Love the book-themed illustrations on these cards. If you have a favorite bookstore, library or gift store that carries bookmarks, please ask them if they'd like to carry the In My Book line.

Tilia Press continues to delight us with their beautifully illustrated note cards. This set of Thank You cards comes with purple envelopes. Have fun with these!

Eraser Carver contributed a set of historical greetings note cards that are uniquely designed and illustrated. I'm amazed by all of the creative and dedicated artists following their dreams and sharing their passion and art.

This Keith Haring lined notebook is made by Quo Vadis and comes from Karen at Exaclair who regularly supports the pen/ink/paper community with contests and donations.

The variety at Ex Libris Anonymous is amazing! This Pineapple Story blank book is larger than most of their journals and has many pages of black and white illustrations from the original book interspersed with the clean white pages of their quality paper stock.

If you're on the internet, odds are excellent you have multiple passwords for all of the sites you access. The Personal Internet Address and Password Logbook is published and donated by Peter Pauper Press. Here's a hint for creating passwords: Use three words in a short sentence. Add a number or capitalization for those sites that require it. Examples: BabySleeps2Night, catclimbstrees4, birdsaystweet.

They don't have to make sense, they just have to be memorable by you.

This assortment from Haley's Handmades includes a box set of invitations, a selection of note cards, 2 pins and a set of stickers.Who wouldn't have fun with this?

Chewy Tulip sent in this selection of five owl postcards. These colorful whimsical cards are all unique and beautifully illustrated.

There are 6 assorted flat note cards in this package from Wimzie Prints including the bird you see here, a ladybug, dragonfly, butterfly and more. Some say "Thanks" and some say "Hi" or "Just a Note".

Everyone loves new pens! This set of medium gels from GellyRollers from Sakura of America comes in a package of 10. Exciting times for one lucky winner!

Ecojot continues to support us by sending in cards and journals from their awesome selection on their site. This colorful journal has a quote by Edmund Hilary, "It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." How true. For those of you who may not know, Ecojot has a Give Program where they donate a journal for each journal purchased on their site. Thanks, Ecojot!

Leave a comment to be entered into this giveaway.

I contact the winner by email, so be sure to include your email address with your comment or you can send me your email address: Jackie (at) lettersandjournals (dot) com. I number each comment on this the website, the blog and the few I receive via email. I then use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number. Good Luck!

Edward Gorey Postcards #21 and #22

2011-11-05T12:24:00.000-05:00

I love the night sky eyes in this Edward Gorey postcard #21.

Dracula and Lucy

And since I am just a bit behind, below you will see postcard #22 for the weeks of 10/31 and 11/7. The three characters here are from the collection called The Black Doll. Admittedly, this illustration is not one of my favorites.

There was a comment recently that the person will be glad when this series of postcards is done as they are not enjoying them at all. I would feel the same way if I liked a blog, but not a series of posts or illustrations they were featuring. I was glad that the person spoke up as it's nice to hear what people are thinking when they read your blog. Usually we just hear from the people who like it, so it's refreshing to get other input. Thank you. (We're almost done.)

Winner of the October Stationery Giveaway

2011-11-01T22:35:00.000-05:00

The October Stationery Giveaway goes to one lucky winner in Montana! Congratulations, Toyia! The random number generator selected #11 today out of the 103 comments that were left in Oct.

Already at work putting the finishing touches on the November Stationery Giveaway. I'll have that posted in the next few days. Stay tuned and never give up!

New Stationery Purchase

2011-10-29T20:33:00.000-05:00

What joy to find a new gift store that carries a wonderful selection of paper goodness. Last week I visited Truly... in White Bear Lake, MN and bought these few items.

This autumnal themed notecard was created by Becca Stadtlander and will be hard to part with as I'm so drawn to the image and the colors, especially in Minnesota at this time of year. But life is too short to hang onto these things, so send it on I must.

Most of you probably know that I'm of the notion that you absolutely cannot have too many notebooks, so I purchased this Moleskin which was decorated with 'Discover' and the three flowers you see illustrated. This cover inspires me to do my own artwork on some of my other plain notebooks. We'll see.

These are the lined pages inside the Discover notebook. Still blank, but not for long.

The next item came tucked inside the 'Discover' notebook- a simply designed, whimsical bookmark. I love it!

The final item is a craft book published by Hello Lucky called Handmade Hellos. This inspiring book is filled with ideas, illustrations and templates to make my own greeting cards or other fun mail.

I think it's time for me to go and get busy making some original fun mail.

Christmas Stamps

2011-10-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

Introducing the 2011 Holiday postage stamp set, Holiday Baubles! For you traditionalists who send holiday cards, this year's stamp set is bright and colorful.

It's probably no surprise that I love to send and receive holiday mail. The annual tradition of selecting the stationery, the stamps and the cards is something that I look forward to each year. And receiving cards from friends and family is a meaningful ritual as well.

In the past I have purchased stamps from Errol Murphy who sells unused vintage stamps (holiday and regular) at face value. Murph offers a wide selection of stamps in many different categories. If you're interested in purchasing some holiday stamps, you'll want to get those soon.

If you decide on some older Christmas stamps (my favorite are the Santas), you can email Murph at emurphy(at)cot.net and ask for more information. Many of you may know Murph from the Missive Maven's blog as she has recommended him in the past. Missive Maven is also offering some of her holiday themed stamps for sale on Etsy.

Edward Gorey #20

2011-10-18T21:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Edward Gorey #20. Only four cards remain from this postcard collection book for 2011.

This card is from the Blue Aspic about Ortenzia Caviglia, an unknown opera understudy who gets a lucky break when the opera diva goes missing.

Since I've recently received some unexpected and fun mail from the Call for Correspondents at the Good Mail Day blog, I will send this card to someone from there.

Random Letter in the Mail

2011-10-13T21:13:00.000-05:00

Every once in awhile a letter arrives completely out of the blue from someone I've never met before. I love when this happens! Today I received a letter from Alison which made my day.

As if the decorated envelope wasn't enough, the letter was typed and quite engaging as she talked about things that interest me (books, travel, England) that I had put in the comments with my address on the Call for Correspondents at the Good Mail Day blog.

Thanks, Allison. Now it's my turn to return the favor.

Letter Links Oct. 9

2011-10-09T21:25:00.000-05:00

You know how I love to share fun and relevant links on writing, letter writing and whatnot. Enjoy!

365 Things To Write About Giveaway from Julie at Whatever
Two Calls for Entries - Fun in the Mail by Cappuccino and Art Journal
Stationery in the Bookstores by Strikethru
Save the Postal Service Postcard by Missive Maven
You Never Write Anymore by Wall Street Journal

Edward Gorey #19

2011-10-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

This Edward Gorey postcard looks like it is taking place next to a body of water or at the bottom of the sea. I can't decide. It's from 'The Tuning Fork'.

"The simple creature was taken aghast

at hearing of her cruel past."

It appears as if the woman is telling a tale- apparently of her cruel past. The card says the creature looks aghast, but to me, he just looks mildly amused.

I will send this to one of you who has not received one yet. Just send your address to Jackie (at) LettersAndJournals (dot) com.

October Stationery Giveaway

2011-10-01T18:35:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the October Stationery Giveaway! Lots of wonderful stationery items for some lucky winner thanks to our generous sponsors!

Lovers of fine stationery will be delighted with this hand engraved stationery from Crane & Co. There are 25 sheets/envelopes for your writing pleasure.

Note cards (4), notepads (2), buttons and bookmarks make this selection from Haley's Handmades a wonderful assortment of poodle cornucopia.

This set of 10 lobster thank you cards from Tilia Press will enchant and delight both the sender and the receiver of these ocean themed cards.

These four uniquely designed cards from Wimzie Prints will make a statement with their charm and style.

Product Superior also has four uniquely designed and colorful cards for your note sending and writing pleasure.

For your journaling needs, Peter Pauper Press has offered this Sparkly Garden lined journal. Make sure you have your favorite pen handy to write on these smooth white pages.

Need a pen, you say? Well, it just so happens that Sakura of America sent in this 4 piece set of Sepia colored pens.

Looking ahead to the holidays, Ecojot sent in this lovely set of holiday cards.

If you're looking to write a letter, then you may want to get out this writing paper from Journals + Paper and write away!

It's never too soon to start planning ahead. Karen at Exaclair sent in this Quo Vadis 2012 planner so that you can get started now.

These old books/new journals from Ex Libris Anonymous bring a lot of character with their used book charm. If you're not familiar with these books turned into journals, you should know that they are filled with quality blank pages and rebound with the spiral binding, while keeping the book covers and some of the pages intact.

Finally, we have a set of postcards with post and telephone box themes by Eraser Carver. Who doesn't like to send a handsomely designed and unique postcard?

There you have it - all the fun and goodies for October 2011! You know the drill, but if you don't, here you go.

Leave a comment to be entered into this giveaway.

The contest is open to everyone everywhere. The October winner will be selected on November 1. I contact the winner by email, so be sure to include your email address with your comment or you can send me your email address: Jackie (at) lettersandjournals (dot) com. You still need to leave a comment as I number them and use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number each month.

Letter Links for Oct 1

2011-10-01T07:37:00.000-05:00

Finding joy by surfing the internet and encountering interesting blog posts on endearing subjects.

Handwritten Letters are Nostalgic Yet Rare by Amy Abbot at Courier Press
Snail Mail Social by Annie at Curbside Treasure
Stacks by Cappucino and Art Journal
What Five Living People Should be on the New Postage Stamps by the New York Times
Send the Love: Show Support for Postal Workers by Missive Maven

Monthly Newsletter Update

2011-09-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

The monthly e-newsletter will now be a bi-monthly newsletter. I've always managed Letters & Journals on the side while I work a full-time day job. I've recently switched jobs, which I'm totally excited about, however, my new job is taking a lot more of my time than my previous one. Everything else will continue as before - weekly blog updates, the monthly stationery giveaway and the miscellaneous contests.

Letters & Journals E-Newsletter Logo

I have some super contest ideas that I'm excited to implement. One of them involves me getting mail...from you. Hopefully, you'll want to participate. More info to follow in the Sept/Oct newsletter that will be out in mid-October. Here's one of the prizes.

If you're already signed up for the newsletter- Thank you! If you're not signed up, but would like to, you can click here. Thanks for visiting!

Winner of the World Gratitude Day Giveaway

2011-09-25T19:04:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Riftvegan! You are the winner of the Ecojot orange journal. I have sent an email to get your mailing address and get this package on its way to you!

There were 11 comments at the Letters & Journals' website and 12 comments on the Letters & Journals' blog, plus 4 who left comments on the facebook page for this blog post and one who sent an email for whom the comments were not working. Total = 28

World Gratitude Day Giveaway

2011-09-21T16:29:00.000-05:00

Today is World Gratitude Day. At Letters & Journals we're grateful for all of you! What are you grateful for? Leave a comment and one of you will win this Ecojot Jot & Share Notebook.

"Orange is the happiest color." Frank Sinatra

Contest ends midnight Saturday, September 24 and is open to all. The winner will be announced Sunday, Sept. 25 and they will have 48 hours to email me their mailing information. If you're not sure you can respond that quickly you are more than welcome to email me your address now...just in case. Or you can leave your email and/or mailing address in the comment. We just try to avoid having to chase and wait for people to see that they've won. Thanks and Good Luck!

Edward Gorey #19

2011-09-18T16:27:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe that there are only 7 more Gorey postcards for the remainder of 2011. In #19 we have "E is for Ernest who choked on a peach." Too bad for Ernest. I guess he'll be joining Prue from card #17.

Both Prue and Ernest are part of The Gashlycrumb Tinies which one reader informed me is part of the 'abecedarian book' where Gorey told 26 tales of children's untimely demise in the form of an alphabet book.

As I reviewed this information on wikipedia, I also found this image:

That is surely one of my favorite Gorey illustrations. I can't explain it.

Letter Links Sept. 17

2011-09-17T14:21:00.002-05:00

Here are a few postal themed links as well one on list making and the September Carnival of Paper which links to even more paper/pen themed blogs. Enjoy!

Airmail Envelopes at Penpal of the Week
Postal Themed Rubber Stamps at Missive Maven
Secret Wisdom of Listmakers by To Do List
September Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper hosted by Penchant for Paper
Let's Recycle! Mail Art for Less by Leaving a Paper Trail
One Idea to Save the Post Office by Viva Snail Mail

(Note: the Key Pen in the photo is one of Jac Zagoory's designs)

Winners

2011-09-12T20:50:00.000-05:00

I'd like to post some recent winners we've had with various contests that Letters & Journals has done so far this month. First of all, we have John M from CA who won the "13 Pens" contest that was promoted in the August newsletter. Congratulations, John! Have fun with your new pens!

In addition to the newsletter contest, we had two contests on Facebook. The first was for a set of Haley's Poodle cards and a journal that's been sitting on my shelf for months (I don't recall where I purchased it). This was won by Beverly Brown who happened to be celebrating her birthday! Woo-Hoo, Beverly!

Finally, we have the Owls in the Treetops journal from Chronicle Books that was won by JoAnne Roberts-Davis.

Edward Gorey #18

2011-09-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

The Edward Gorey postcard mail-a-thon continues with card #18 from the 2011 postcard collection book. This addition to the Edward Gorey postcard collection doesn't say anything about the image on the card, only that it was a drawing by Edward Gorey.

To me, it looks like a cat is wearing a mask and walking dangerously close to a well or a pool. Possibly the cat is dancing or drunk. What does it mean? I have no idea. Do you?

Letter Links Sept. 4

2011-09-04T16:14:00.000-05:00

Greetings, fellow stationery enthusiasts! This week I'd like to share the following links. Enjoy!

Stationery's New Followers as published in the Wall Street Journal
Crane & Co. Wants Pen Pals by Missive Maven
Incoming/Outgoing Mail by Curbside Treasure
A Week in Mail by CappuccinoAndArtJournal
New Storage for Letters & Postcards by Julie at Whatever

August Stationery Winner Announced

2011-09-01T15:41:00.000-05:00

The winner of the August Stationery Giveaway was Janice K from MN. Congratulations, Janice, who was lucky #44 as selected by the True Random Number Generator earlier today.

The September Stationery Giveaway has begun and that winner will be selected on October 1, 2011. To be eligible to win you must leave a comment on the September Stationery Giveaway blog post and you must leave an email or be registered at the website, www.lettersandjournals.com, so that I have a way to contact you. If I have no way to contact you, I will select another entry. There is also an option to send me your email telling me that you want to put your entry in for the giveaway. Jackie (at) lettersandjournals dot com.

September Stationery Giveaway

2011-08-31T08:30:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the September Stationery Giveaway!

First up this month, we have a bottle of Private Reserve donated by Richard at My Ink Pen. This plum colored ink will be a welcome addition by any fountain pen enthusiast!

Amy Sue Crafts sent in two writing themed art magnets. These little gems should help place you in the writing frame of mind.

Donating for the first time, Missive Maven has donated a set of 5 writing themed postcards. Missive Maven was one of the first people to greet Letters & Journals when it launched in 2009 and she has been continuing to support us with links and mentions throughout the year. So I'm especially pleased to have her be part of our monthly stationery giveaway.

This spiral mini notebook is from our friends at Ecojot. This unlined journal is perfect to put in your purse or pocket.

Tilia Press sent these letterpress 'Hello' note cards that are perfect for sending short notes of greeting or thanks. Any excuse to send a letter will do!

Donated by Peter Pauper Press, this package of Sparkly Garden Thank You cards is exquisite! Described as having a linen finish, glitter accents, scalloped edges and embossing, these cards are the perfect thank you for any occasion to give thanks.

The Rifle Paper Company sent in this set of 12 Recipe cards. The floral design and smooth writing surface will have you looking for new recipes to add to your collection.

Patricia from Journals + Papers sent in this vintage lined journal that is sure to get the creative juices flowing. Stories, thoughts, plans, lists, doodles, collages... all await you in here.

The Hymns of Praise #2 journal was donated by Ex Libris Anonymous. I'm intrigued by this well-worn cover which has a copyright date of 1925. If you click on this link, you will be taken to the home page of Ex Libris Anonymous and immediately see colorful old children's books which are sure to spark a memory of some phase of your growing up years.

The Texas Pen Company once again has sent in a box Scheaffer Calligraphy set containing 2 Scheaffer Fountain Pens, 3 calligraphy nibs, 14 ink cartridges, a practice pad and calligraphy booklet with step-by-step instructions. Awesomeness. And if you don't want to learn calligraphy, why then you can just practice your doodles with these new writing tools.

Haley loves poodles! Maybe you do too! This month Haley's Handmades generously sent in a box set of note cards, 4 individual note cards, a poodle magnet and one small card with its own envelope.

Chewy Tulip sent in a set of squirrel themed postcards. If you love postcards or squirrels, you're going to love this set of cards!

Sean McMahon has once again contributed a 6 piece assortment of his musical greeting cards. Sean has written, designed and scored hundreds of cards for all occasions. Check out his musical site for a better glimpse into the world of Sean McMahon.

Leave a comment to be entered into this giveaway.

The September winner will be selected on October 1. I contact the winner by email, so be sure to include that with your comment or you can send me your email address: Jackie (at) lettersandjournals (dot) com. You still need to leave a comment as I number them and use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number each month.

Winner: Jan F from California who has confirmed she won and sent me her mailing address. (10/1/11)

The Note Project

2011-08-30T19:11:00.000-05:00

The Note Project wants to encourage you to send one note (more if you want) of appreciation to someone. This is a free global project to get a million people to pledge to send a note to someone who made a difference in your life. Their goal? To make the world a million times better by sharing appreciation.

There are free videos, audios, a $1 letter writing kit, e-cards, a blog and much more.

Won't you take a moment to make a pledge and then send a note?
You can also follow the Note Project on Facebook and Twitter.

Edward Gorey #17

2011-08-28T07:56:00.000-05:00

The description on the back of card #17 says, "P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl." - from The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey. I'm not familiar with The Gashlycrumb Tinies but I assume this is P.

This cannot bode well for young P as she reaches for the saloon doorknob to go beyond the foreboding brick wall. Or maybe it's worse to stay outside?

What story would you imagine for this scenario? I will send this postcard to one of you who leaves a comment. Just be sure to leave a way to reach you if you're not registered or I don't know who you are. Winner selected on Sept. 1, 2011.

Store Contest Winner

2011-08-23T11:29:00.001-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the winner of the store database contest from the July newsletter - Melissa K from WI.

I'm trying to build my database of stores so I asked for people to comment with their favorite stationery store.

Melissa listed her favorite store, As You Wish located in Fon du Lac, WI.

The prizes listed here include 5 postcards from my collection, 5 different .44 stamps, 1 gel pen, 1 notebook and a set of note cards from Tilia Press.

Enjoy your winning package, Mel K!

Letter Links

2011-08-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

Since there was such a positive response to the first blog with Letter Links, I've decided to do this regularly. It keeps me on my toes looking for links to share. Enjoy!

Paper Party in Lincoln, NE at Porridge Papers
Futurebird's Notebook Collection
CappuccinoandArt Journal You Want Mail?
Julie at Whatever reviews her blank book from Book Journals
Lost Art of Postcard Writing by the Benevolent Postcard Society
Journal Addict's Journaling Challenge: A Week in Your Life (starts 8/22)
Missive Maven tells us about the Stamp a Day Program which highlights the 2012 stamps

I call this Letter Links even though they are not all about letters. Seems to have a nice ring to it. Maybe I will think of something better later. Or you will.

Print Edition Update

2011-08-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

Due to lack of advertiser interest the premiere print edition of Letters & Journals will be delayed for one year. Before I go any further, I do want to assure the subscribers that their money will be refunded within the next few days. It's a bittersweet moment to come so far only to be stopped by the lack of advertiser interest.

Cindy (my assistant) and I sent out over 200 emails and letters to potential advertisers in the last 6 weeks as well as appeal to a few niche publishers who we thought might be interested. We did have a couple companies show some interest, but in the end, most of the responses fell into one of the following categories:

We don't advertise
We've already used our budget for 2011
Send us a copy of your magazine when it's published
Come back again when you have a larger audience
No thanks
No response

And there you have it..the unfortunate state of affairs for the print edition of our fine magazine at this time. The plan for now is to continue to grow our audience like we've been doing and then revisit this again next year to see the viability at that time.

Believe me, no one is more disappointed than I, not be preparing the print issue for publication this fall.

Ephemera Winner Announced

2011-08-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

Sheila S from NC was the winner of the July E-newsletter Ephemera contest. Odds of winning were 1 in 82.

Some of the items include:

used stamps
old postcards
new postcards
old envelopes
library cards
stickers
copies of old photos
map
dictionary page

I'm amazed at how easily ephemera accumulates in my home.This contest is a great way to spread some of the ephemera love.

Edward Gorey #16

2011-08-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

Apparently Donald imagines things. He seems to have imagined a friendly reptilian creature in his bedroom. At least he looks friendly- like he wants to have a discussion. This is from the 16th Edward Gorey postcard in the 2011 calendar book.

At first glance I thought he was a boy, but Donald appears to be a diminutive man as he sits on his bed and talks to his imaginary creature. The back of the card says this image is from "Donald and the ..."

I am sure enjoying really looking at these cards and sending them out to suspecting and unsuspecting persons.

August Stationery Giveaway

2011-08-01T18:24:00.000-05:00

The August Stationery Giveaway has a little bit for everyone- a pen, journals, note cards, day planners. Just leave a comment with a way to contact you should you be the lucky winner who takes this all home!

Peter Pauper Press has a lovely collection of stationery and this month they have donated a rollerball pen from their Butterfly collection. This picture does not do the pen justice, so check out the better photos at the PPP website. But be warned as you'll probably find some stationery that you can't live without!

This 6 piece note card set from Botanical Paperworks has a triple bonus- they're adorable, they're plantable and they each have a yummy recipe including one for iced mint green tea. That sounds like the perfect summer drink. Cheers!

Tilia Press has done it again with these adorable lobster themed thank you cards! This 10 piece card set is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. These colorful creatures seem to have a character and charm of their own.

This Cavallini & Co notebook was donated by Journals + Paper, a Canadian online website with fine paper and journals for sale. The compact, lined notebook has a lot of ephemeral imagery that appeals to me- the old time map, the stamps and postmark, the travel sticker at the bottom. I think it's time for an exotic trip.

Next we have these beautiful note cards from Crane & Company. These dandelion colored, hand bordered cards are the perfect stationery to write your best friend a note.

Journaling Arts sent in this Ciak brand journal that comes with a pen and a pullout map of Europe. The pocket sized notebook was handmade in Italy. The lined journal is the perfect size for your pocket or purse.

Product Superior donated this 8 piece note card set for the car enthusiast on your list. There are 2 each : Bent Chevelle, Crushed Charger, Exploding Pantera, and a Burnt Mustang. The set is called the Busted Muscle car set.

Haley's Handmades offers the cutest poodle cards! Haley has now expanded into also offering notepads, magnets, stickers, bookmarks and pins. A couple of these items will also be included along with the note cards.

Papaya! sent in this lovely hardcover journal with foil lining. This journal has a combination of lined and unlined pages for your writing, drawing and other creative talents to be displayed.

Ex Libris Anonymous continues to have a wonderful selection of old books that they recycle into journals. They add quality blank paper and a spiral binding while keeping the old covers and some of the book's original pages to add a unique touch to their product. You'll find Disney, Dr. Seuss, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and many other classic books, text books, music books, etc. to appeal to a wide variety of audience.

The August winner will be selected on Sept. 1. I contact the winner by email, so be sure to include that with your comment or you can send me your email address: Jackie (at) lettersandjournals (dot) com. You still need to leave a comment as I number them and use the Random Number Generator to select the winning number each month.

Paper Links

2011-07-29T08:27:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest benefits I get from managing this blog is reading related articles that talk about all kinds of things I enjoy: letters, notebooks, postcards, stamps, journals, pens, planners, etc.

Although I enjoy seeing this type of thing on other blogs, I've been reluctant to include one. My thinking was that a lot of people who read my blog already follow many of the same blogs I do. But maybe they don't. I know I'm always finding new bloggers in this pen and papery sphere of interest.

Craft Recycled: Junk Mail Stationery by Green Upgrader
Inspiration Books by Cappuccino and Art Journal
Renegade Craft Fair (Part 1) by Curbside Treasure
The Post that Was by Dante's Wardrobe
Save the B. Free Franklin Post Office by Letter Writer
A Stamp a Day Beyond the Perf (USA Philatelic)
Index-Card-A-Day (ICAD) Prompts by Daisy Yellow
What is this thing called a "zine"? by Everyday Should Be a Red Letter Day
"S'Mother: The Story of a Man, His Mom, and the Thousands of Altogether Insane Letters She's Mailed Him." Book by Adam Chester
"Stieglitz and O'Keeffe: Their Love and Life in Letters" by NPR

Typewriter Heaven

2011-07-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

I sat down to write this blog and decided to type a little bit of it on my wonderful green Voss typewriter that I first blogged about last year.

I haven't had the typewriter out for quite awhile and it's just been sitting quietly on a shelf in my office. I did use it to type a note to Missive Maven as well as the daughter of a friend last year when I first purchased it.

So I dusted it off and loaded it with paper and typed a quick note.

Part of the reason I'm doing this now is to show off these couple pictures I had taken last May at the National Stationery Show. This company buys and sells typewriters as well as supplies them for photo shoots and movie sets.

You can visit the kasbahMod website to see pictures of their current inventory. They also sold typewriter ribbon for $15, so I picked up one for my old Voss, but haven't had the heart to change it yet. Looking at these couple pictures makes me wish I had taken more. Why oh why did I not?

I also love the business card they handed out at the stationery show. Very cool! They do actually have a name and email on the card, but I have it neatly hidden behind my handmade "Your name here" sign.

Edward Gorey #15

2011-07-19T21:07:00.000-05:00

Postcard #15 in the Edward Gorey Postcard Collection is from his collection "The Tuning Fork". In this illustration we see a woman riding some kind of sea monster. Her expression seems resigned and I'm not sure if she is wearing a long string of beads, or perhaps it's a string of popcorn. Anybody?

"The natives, afterwards, took fright

When she was seen, off the shore, at night."

I had some lovely emails and responses to my previous postings on the Edward Gorey postcards so I'll choose one of those and surprise one of those fans with this card.

Postmarks

2011-07-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

I've recently begun saving postmarks from letters and giving them their own page in my stamp album. There's a certain thrill for us postal geeks when we find a perfectly preserved postal marking. This is especially useful when you come across old letters and you're trying to determine if the date reads '1918' or '1928'.

These photos are from an assortment I've collected in the last few years. I decided to keep them together in the in the SuperSafe stamp album I purchased last year at the National Postal Museum store. I had not really considered myself a stamp collector, but now that I have an album with a few stamps in it, I guess I have to rethink that.

In addition to collecting nicely defined postmarks, I also collect a few different themes of stamps that appeal to me- holiday, authors/writing, cartoons, US states and a handful of cute or colorful stamps that just appeal to me.

I prefer the round postmarks as pictured above and below. They are more evocative of the postal imagery than the machine stamped postmarks that are more common these days. I save all of the letters I receive and every few years I'll go through the envelopes and cut out the stamps and postmarks that I want to save.

The 'Forman' postmark above is from my hometown of Forman, ND. I'm not sure where this stamp came from or what year the postmark is from.

Stamps and postmarks. Just part of the fun and ephemera of mail from today and yesterday.

Texas Pen Giveaway

2011-07-11T19:17:00.000-05:00

Winner of the Cross pen as featured in the June newsletter was Charles M. from Virginia! This Sterling Silver Cross Townsend fountain pen (retail $425) was generously donated by The Texas Pen Company. Congratulations, Charles!

Contest entrants were asked to submit a story idea for the printed version of Letters & Journals. I'm compiling these and will create a blog post with them soon. I've been developing my own list for the last five years and was pleasantly surprised and very pleased to see so many new ideas. Thanks to all who entered!

Show Me Your Stationery

2011-07-06T07:21:00.000-05:00

Like many of my fellow stationery addicts, I collect stationery wherever I go. Stores, garage sales, letterhead from old jobs, and, of course, hotels.

My favorite is the Forman Implement Company. I only have one sheet of this so I protect it and copy it on nice resume paper when I want to use it (not often).

Next is my assortment of hotel stationery. I collect this and use it frequently. Mostly I stay in the Hilton family of hotels so I tend to have a lot of their stationery. I won't bother showing all that I have as they are pretty much the same, just a different city.

The following stationery is from Ireland. We spent just one night in Bantry at the Bantry House & Garden. I was hoping for a castle, but this country manor was as close as got. The view was breathtaking.

Maybe you'd prefer to see a picture of the hotel rather than the nondescript stationery.

Naturally I do have stationery that is not hotel related. Next time I will do a post on that.

Show Me Your Stationery is a weekly feature of the Molly & the Princess blog. If you have stationery you want to share with the world, check out Molly's blog.

If you are inspired to share your stationery (I hope you are), please consider participating in Molly's 'Show Me Your Stationery' by including her badge in your blog post. Click on Molly's badge to be taken to her site where you'll see other participants and their stationery.