Eccentric Envelopes

Stephanie Fishwick posted some loose but lovely envelopes with her tips and techniques for creating fun envelopes for non-calligraphers. She recommends using watercolors but ink samples would also work and i a great way to use up all those samples you’ve accumulated.

Her best tip is that imperfections make it more awesome. Use a limited color palette and repetition to pull it together. No one will complain if they got a hand lettered envelope in the mail ever. It will make their day. So,  start playing.

She recommends good quality envelopes like Original Crown Mill cotton or Crane. Big box office supply shops usually carry 100% cotton envelopes in the section with invitations and resume stationery.

Maybe your kids will want to make some of their own envelopes too and send a letter to Grandma? That would be a fun, rainy day activity this summer.

If you do want to improve your writing, Stephanie also has some recommendations for getting started with calligraphy and the tools, web sites and books she uses for great calligraphy.

Most of all have fun and be inspired!

(via Stephanie Fishwick)

Smart Travel Tips for Pen Geeks

I’m about to embark on a little holiday getaway which always leads to seeking out good travel tips. Buzzfeed posted one of their silly lists called 13 Travel Tips to Make You Feel Smart. There are a couple good tips on the list but most will be things you’ve probably already heard.

My favorite tip: Ask the desk at your hotel for cords or chargers if you forgot to pack yours. It sounds like their is inevitably a box of random cords and chargers that get left behind so they might have one for your device.

Now for some travel tips for the pen-and-paper inclined:

• Check the locations you’ll be visiting and find out if there is a pen shop nearby. Make time to visit the shop. This will improve even the most boring business trip.
• Stop in local drugstores, book shops, truck stops or tourist shops (museum shops, state park offices, etc) to seek out postcards. I find these are the best places to find cheesy tourist postcards to send home or keep as souvenirs.
• Tourist destinations can often yield cheap, fun souvenirs in the form of pencils. Isn’t it time you started a tourist pencil collection?
• If you’re worried about fountain pens leaking on flights, store them in a plastic ziploc bag for the flight. You can also travel with the cartridge removed and pack a few spare cartridges to use at your destination. For more pen travel tips, check out the article I posted awhile back.
• Put together a Letter Writing On The Go kit.
• Don’t forget to pack stamps. Or plan to visit the local post office to pick up stamps and meet the locals. If you let them know you’re visiting, they might just hand cancel your postcards if you ask nicely.

I discovered the Rock County Historical Society in Janesville, WI which is on our route this summer and home to the Parker Pen Collection. And I might get a peek inside the Coudal/Field Notes HQ in Chicago.

Are you traveling this summer? Business or for fun? Did you find any great pen-related goodies? Can’t wait to hear!

Photo of the day: Genine Zlatkis

Genine Zlatkis is a prolific illustrator with a great style and her studio is amazing. She posted these pictures of all her supplies, organized so neatly, I couldn’t resist sharing them with you.

I recognize a cup full of Sakura Pigma Microns, Pink Pearl and assorted erasers, and the recognizable ferrule of a Dixon Tocnderoga pencil.

Genine also created some rubber stamps recently that would be perfect for decorating letters and envelopes and sold here.

(via Genine Zlatkis)

Neatography: Paper Good Subscription Service

Neatography offers a monthly or quarterly subscription packages filled with paper, letter-writing and office goodies. I received the May kit entitled “The Good Ol’ Days” which included an assortment of pencils, a His & Hers list notepad that is perforated down the middle to split up the tasks, a Rifle Paper Co. Thank You card, Telegram-style postcards, postcard stamps, a calling card, a sharpener and a self-addressed stamped postcard to send back to Neatography letting them know if you liked the latest kit.

Its a lovely package and a great way to discover new paper goods brands and receive a lovely little pick-me-up in your mail box. A monthly package with cards and stamps is $17 per month or on a quarterly schedule, and a paper good subscription is $27 per month or on a quarterly schedule. Shipping costs for the US are included in the costs but international subscriptions require an additional shipping fee.

I like that there’s an option to receive a package every three months. I acquire a lot of other office supplies, cards and writing tools that if a package came every month, I don’t think I’d ever get a chance to use everything and it might accumulate.

I love that the kit includes some stamps so that I can immediately write out a few cards and pop them in the mail.

Once I unwrapped the His & Hers notepad, I was able to see the perforation and started to really like it. There is a magnet on the back of the pad to attach to the refrigerator making it easy to make lists of tasks that each person can tackle. I’d also love one that was “groceries” on one side and “everything else” on the other since our trips to Costco, Target, and the hardware store usually happen separately from the grocery buying but its still a clever pad and will probably get a lot of use at our house.

The pencils in the kit were a Palomino Blackwing 602, Golden Bear #2, Ticonderoga EnviroStik #2 and a Ticonderoga Laddie #2. I look forward to trying a few of these new-to-me pencils like the Laddie and the Envirostik. More about those in the coming weeks. But, yeah! Pencils!

The apple Thank You card from Rifle Paper features a gold foil apple on the cover on soft ivory paper. Its lovely and general enough to be sent to anyone though it would be perfect to give to a teacher.

The sharpener is a brushed aluminum from Maped and looks like a decent little sharpener with a reomveable/replaceable blade. The postage stamps are the new hummingbird design postcard stamps that will go perfectly with the Telegram postcards from Girl of All Work. I’ve used these before and I quite like them. The paper has a bit of tooth to it but ink stands up nicely to it and the look is classic postcard/telegram.

All-in-all I think a subscription with Neatography would be a great opportunity to explore some new paper goods. Looking through the Lookbook at past offerings, each paper goods kit looks to include at least one small-press card, a notepad or other larger item (one kit included Rifle Paper Co mail stickers), some postage stamps,  and a small selection of office supplies (pencils, thumbtacks, washi tape, etc.). They value of the items seems to add up to the asking price pretty closely and includes domestic shipping so it is a good value. Everything is packaged beautifully too so it feels like a little gift.

I wrote a previous review of products in October of 2013.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Neatography for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Parcel Ghost Postal Whimsy

Marissa, creator of the postal spook know as the Parcel Ghost, sells fun and informative zines like the Parcel Ghost’s Guide to Post and the Parcel Ghost Zine Fun Pack. The Parcel Ghost is one of the most delightful promoters of postal whimsy so if you’re feeling inclined to write and receive letters, you will surely appreciate the Parcel Ghost.

Follow the travels and adventures of Parcel Ghost on Tumblr or follow him on Twitter as well. Long live Parcel Ghost!

New Hammerpress Letterpress Cards

Kansas City Letterpress-ati, Hammerpress, have recently updated their web site and added a lot of new products. Their letterpress cards are gorgeous and if you can’t make it to Kansas City to shop locally, ordering online is the next best thing. Prices on cards are $4-$5.50 per folded card, and are blessedly blank inside and ship with a kraft or coordinating envelope.

But the best shopping experience is to stop in to the Crossroads store in KC and browse posters, postcards, and ephemera.

Kickstarter: Leafcutter Designs’ World’s Smallest Post Service Kit

As a diehard mail enthusiast, I could not possibly resist the new and improved Smallest Post Service Kit from Leafcutter Designs. This might look a bit familiar to you because several years ago Chronicle Books published a version of the kit but this new, Kickstarter version will be exactly the way Leafcutter Designs wanted the original kit to be, with all the bells and whistles including tiny stationery, tiny stamps, tiny envelopes, a tiny newspaper and a super-fine tipped pen for writing your letter. If you purchase the deluxe kit, you’ll also receive tiny rubber stamps, stamp pads and glassine envelopes to mail your tiny mail through the big postal service.

I went ahead and purchased the deluxe option because I always want the rubber stamps. Lea is super cute in the video above so, if for no other reason, make a contribution to her Kickstarter just to see her sweet, happy smile.

(via Make Everyday A Good Mail Day)

Rubber Stamp: Good Old Fashioned Letter

I’m not the only person making postally-themed rubber stamps. This little lovely is from Oh, Hello Friend and is available for purchase from Moorea Seal for $17. Have your written a letter this week?

(tip o’ the hat to Kimberly)

 

 

April is National Letter Writing Month

(Original photo from Silvebluestar on Flickr)

While it might be a bit late in the month to bring this up, April is National Letter Writing Month. In 2001, the USPS released a statement to encourage letter writing by designating April as Letter Writing Month. We all already know and may have participated in February’s A Month of Letters or InCoWriMo but why not use April to reply to all those letters you got in February? That’s what I’m doing.

If you wrote to me in February, don’t be surprised if your reply arrives this month or in the early part of May. I’ve been spending each day writing at least one reply, usually over my lunch break in an effort to finally respond to the many cards, postcards and letters I received in February.

I did receive a few cards and letters without a return address. If you sent me a letter in February without a return address, I assume you were not anticipating a reply. If not, please send me an email using the Ask The Desk link at the top of the page and send me your mailing address so I can send you a proper reply.

There’s still more than a week left in April — plenty of time to dash off a few letters and cards.

Keep writing!

(for more info, check out the post over on the Letter Writers Alliance blog)

Ask The Desk: ID Protection Stamps

Sandy asks:

Think this is good idea?

I assume the question regards any sort of blotting stamp for security purposes. Folks seem to like these as an alternative to paper shredders as they are smaller, quieter and portable for obscuring personal information on printed material. While shredding makes sense for a lot of papers, sometimes you just want to throw those credit card offers in the trash and the only incriminating information is your address. A quick stamp, stamp, stamp might be enough to make it possible to throw the papers in the recycle bin.

The general term to describe these stamps is ID protection stamps or ID Guard stamps. I definitely think that the Max Korkoro model, with the rolling stamp and ability to refill the ink easily makes a good option. The price for any ID protection stamp seems to be about $10 which seems reasonable.

The only thing I don’t know looking at the photos and description is whether the ink is water resistant when dry. That would be the winning feature. If its water-soluble, then someone might be able to wash the ink off reveal your address or account numbers.

So I suppose I ought to order one and put it to the test, huh?

Timbuk2 Terracycle Mail Bag Messenger Bag

Ever wanted a bag made form old USPS mail bags? Well, now’s your chance. Timbuk2 has introduced the Terracycle messenger bag made from old canvas mail bags. Each bag is unique and this option will only be available for a limited time. They are available in small ($99) or the medium ($109) and in original white canvas or in an overdyed brown (seems more UPS than USPS, but who am I to judge?).

I REALLLLLLLLYYYYY want one.

Paper Pastries’ Custom Return Address Stamps

Paper Pastries just created some new custom, hand-lettered return address stamps featuring animal silhouettes. Margaret asked if I’d be a volunteer address for her new creations since she knows I’m a cat lover. She created a lovely hand-lettered rubber stamp with my return address inside a big fluffy cat silhouette. Looks like my big ol’ Maine Coon Milo!

Paper Pastries has a dozen different, animal designs available: cats in various poses,  dog silhouettes, and even a bunny! Or you can send her a clear photo of your pet to be turned into a custom silhouette stamp. Then she’ll hand letter your address and make this fabulous wood, art block stamp for you. Each stamp will cost $70 but they are original designs, made just for you and, seeing one in person, it’s clear that its a great value.

Paper Pastries also has state silhouettes, custom calligraphy and unique hand-lettered rubber stamps available as well.

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DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Paper Pastries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

Kickstarter: Tiletto

By now, I’m sure you’ve probably already heard about the Tiletto. Tiletto is a Kickstarter project that’s a multi-function letter opener made from titanium, of course. It can also be used as a bottle opener (my favorite additional feature), hex wrench, straight edge, pry bar, box opener, and the list goes on. Its durable, functional and pretty elegant looking. You can get in on the ground floor for $30. The project has just eleven days left.

More Than Just Pens

Sometimes I forget there’s more to JetPens than just pens. I recently went on a hunt for some cool non-pen goodies on Jet Pens. First, Jet Pens is now stocking an assortment of washi tape. I got a roll of MT red cross tape  ($4) and a roll of Pine Book Nami Nami deco tape which has keys and locks printed on it and a wavy edge ($3.65).

MT is THE original brand of washi tape and the best quality by far. The printing on the tape is always very good and its stickier than some of the other brands. I do hope that Jet Pens continues to stock the MT tapes and offers a wider selection of prints and sizes in the future. Those $3 and $4 rolls are a great way to bump up to that free shipping and great for adding a little color to your workspace, notebooks and letters.

I also decided to try out the Kurochiku Japanese Pattern Eco-Bag ($10). There were about a dozen different patterns to choose from but I chose the simplest which was navy blue with colored dots on it. The pattern is Konpeitou which translated to “Sugar Candy”. I guess the dots do look like little candies.

This is one of those reusable shopping bags that fold up into a small carrying case. The carrying case was pretty heavy duty with the same fabric as the bag with a padded lining. The actual bag is shaped like a traditional tote bag (a big rectangle) with straight straps and a wide gusseted bottom which will allow it to hold lots of books, groceries or other shopping goodies. The material is considerably heavier duty nylon than other reuasble bags I’ve had and the seams are all nicely finished. I can definitely see using this for a long time. It seems durable enough to stand up to a trip through the washing machine if it gets dirty.

I might have a little trouble refolding it properly to fit back into the carrying case but I’ll cram it back in for awhile. All in all, I’m quite impressed with the bag and can see why its $10 and not $1.99. It is made to look good and last.

So, there’s more to Jet Pens than just pens. Happy shopping (and don’t forget to bring your own bag)!

Review: G. Lalo’s Vergé de France Writing Pad

For some time now, I’ve kept and ear and an eye open for good quality writing paper for letter writing. Stationery (not note cards) is getting harder and harder to find so I’m always on the look out for it. I’m familiar with the French line G. Lalo but had not tried out their paper until recently. It’s a textured paper with a classic laid finish which gives it some toothiness. I was concerned the toothiness would cause ink to bleed or skip but I should have expected that an upscale French paper would be as luxurious as it sounds.

I’ve used  the G. Lalo Vergé de France pad for a couple weeks to write letters and found it easy to write on. The pad is a standard A5 size (5.75 x 8.25″) with a glue edge at the top to easily tear away sheets. Each pad had a cardstock cover with a metallic finish and gold embossed logo. It folds back easily. Each pad has 50 sheets.

The pad I purchased is listed as white but I found the stock to be a warm white/ivory color which is pleasingly warm but not so dark as to alter ink colors dramatically. The paper is blank but I use an undersheet with lines or grid under it to keep my lines neat and straight.

The best thing about the paper is that not one single fountain pen I tried on it bled or splined or did anything untoward. This is THE paper for writing letters for sure. The paper is thick enough (100 gsm)  to use both the front and reverse of the stock too so its economical — relatively speaking.

I purchased my pad at Patrick & Co. Office Supply in San Francisco but can be purchased online through European Paper for $11.50/pad (if you purchase two or more, the price drops to $11) and they stock a range of colors including a lovely pistachio green. I might have to grab another pad. Matching envelopes are also available.

Link Love of Epic Proportions!

Clampersand (via Domesticated Desk)

Pens:

• Review: ACME Studio Rollerball and Fountain Pen (via J Robert Lennon)
• Zebra Prefill 3 Color Mutli-Pen (via No Pen Intended)
• Buying a Grail Pen (via Ed Jelley)
• What’s your favorite pen? (via Gizmodo)
• Pentel Energel Multiple Pen Review (via That One Pen)
• It’s all about the money boys #2: sub £20 pens (via A Fool With a Pen)
• It’s all about the money boys #3: Pens between £20-£75 (via A Fool With a Pen)
• Platinum #3776 Sai fountain pen review (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
• TWSBI Vac 700 Fountain Pen (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Poppin Main Attraction Silver Pen with Magnetic Cap (via Gourmet Pens)
• A review of the Kaweco Elite (via A Fool With A Pen)
• Lamy’s CP1 Matte Black Fountain Pen (via From The Pen Cup)
• Nib Notes: Esterbrook #1551 Firm Medium School Nib (via Fountain Pen Quest)
• Nib Notes: Esterbrook #1550 Firm Extra Fine (via Fountain Pen Quest)
• Kustom Karas Retrakt Hack (via That One Pen)
• Sailor Reglus Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Pen Review: TWSBI Diamond 580 (Rose Gold) (via The Pen Habit)
• Faber-Castell Ondoro Smoked Oak Fountain Pen (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Lamy Al-Star Blue-Green 2014 (via Write To Me Often)

Ink:

• Better Off Red: A Comparison of Three Diamine Reds (via A Fool With A Pen)
• Iroshizuku Kon-Peki Ink (via Inkophile)
• Review: OrganicsStudio Pendleton’s Purpillusion (via Gourmet Pens)
• The Beginning of my Ink Collection (via Inkdependence)

Life Imitates Art: Vector Pencil Art (via Woodclinched)

Pencils:

• UPDATE: Dixon Ticonderoga Laddie Review (via The Daily Carry)
• How To Sharpen Pencils: The Documentary (via Pencil REvolution)
• Refreshed Palomino design at Pencils.com (via Woodclinched)
• Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Pencil Review (via The Pen Addict)
• Staedtler Pencil Holder 900 25 (via My Pencil Draws Worlds)
• Ink Notes: Graf von Faber-Castell Stone Grey (via Fountain Pen Quest)
• The Humble Eraser (via Rhodia Drive)

Writing & Letter-Writing:

• Journaling lessons learned (via Plannerisms)
• InCoWriMo is Over (via My Pen Needs Ink)
• How I Learned to Stop worrying and Write A Letter (via Pen Envy)

Paper & Notebooks:

• Fold an origami paper heart (via How About Orange)
• Staples are killing your document (via Strikethrough)
• Staples Arc and Levenger Circa Compatible Accessories (via Office Supply Geek)
• Baron Fig Notebook: Worth The Hype? (via Woodclinched)
• Apica CD Notebook Review (via The Pen Addict)
• 30% Off Moleskine Star Wars, Pac Man, & LEGO! (via European Paper)
• Paperblanks Mini Reporter Notebook in Grolier – Review (via Ed Jelley)

Notecards for All

Clockwise from top left: Long Overdue Notecard Set ($19.99), Pendleton Greetings Notecards ($14.99), Terrarium of Expertise notecards ($9.99) and Art of Instruction Notecards  ($19.99). All sets from Chronicle Books via ModCloth.

In the last week of InCoWriMo and A Month of Letters, I am seriously starting to deplete my stash of writing paper and notecards. While I love florals and pretty cards, I have a lot of male correspondents and prefer to send cards they might find appealing. I think Chronicle Books is great at providing a great range of  looks in their notecards, postcards and stationery so I picked out a few favorites. I love the Art of Instruction postcards full of vintage botanical illustrations, maps and anatomy sketches. The Pendelton set is all deep colors and classic blanket patterns — a toasty note for this endless winter in the Northern Hemisphere. I spotted the Long Overdue notecard set in the faux card catalog box while in San Francisco but knew I would never be able to fit it in my suitcase so I’m delighted to find it online. Its filled with reproductions of Library of Congress card catalog cards and the box is perfect for storing incoming letters once the cards are used up. The painted terrarium notecard set is a little more feminine but quirky and fun with great diecut shapes.

Clockwise from top left: Typewriter Notes ($14.95), Woodcut notes from Princeton Architectural Press ($15.95), Cheers Notes ($12.95)  and Rex Ray notes ($14.95). All from Chronicle Books.

I found even more notecards I liked at the Chronicle Books site including one of my favorite artist’s Rex Ray. The Woodcut, Cheers and Typewriter sets all have wide appeal that both men and women might like. Chronicle Books also offers more stationery sets and postcards than I can possibly list here. Check out their site or visit your favorite shops to find more great postal inspiration.

Hope these inspire you to start, finish or continue writing for February and beyond.

Eyecandy from San Francisco

While I could not get Flickr to upload my travel photos, at least it saved my goodies, so I shall share those with you today. I did not buy a lot of goodies knowing so many things could be purchased later via Jet Pens and other vendors’  online shops so I limited myself to must-haves and small items that would fit in my carry-on bag.

Above, Melissa of Craftgasm and the Smithsonian Postal Museum shared the postal love with a little pink mail box filled with paper treats.

If you put red-and-blue airmail stripes on anything, I’m likely to buy it. Maybe that’s why I love red/blue pencils so much? The pencil pictured above came from the epic Patrick & Co. stationery shop for a mere $0.39. Patrick’s is a classic stationery shop that’s been in business for over 100 years with an endless array of legal pads in every color imaginable, pens and pencils in jars to be purchased individually and so much more. There are two locations in downtown San Francisco, both near Union Square and should not be missed. The Dennison Airmail seals and the gummed labels came from Saturday Morning Vintage who had a stellar booth at the vendor market at Ex Postal Facto. The G. Lalo Verge de France stationery pad came from Patrick & Co. while the Air Mail stationery and envelopes came from Maido.

I purchased a few Pilot Hi-Tec C refills and a Hi-Uni HB pencil in the Maido shop in the Westfield Mall in Union Square. I also visited the Maido shop in Japantown and picked up a few more goodies. The postcard set tied with twine came from the 826 Collective Pirate Shop in the Mission. What fun! The Ohto Dude pen was compliments on Jet Pens along with a couple Morning Glory Mach 3 pens.

And of course, no trip would be complete without a little green. I got a word cards deck, some green gel pens, a “beans” cutter and itty bitty green staples from Maido. There will be more details about these purchases in the near future but I wanted to give a little taste of the stationery bounty available in San Francisco, should you find yourself there.

Ask The Desk: Organizing Correspondence

I recently received a letter from Paul asking:

What are the best practices for archiving correspondence?

My first recommendation was the Paper & Type Letter Ledger which I use to archive all my correspondence. I use this to track regular correspondence as well as any thank you notes I might send. Christmas cards and thank yous get stored in a list in Field Notes since I really only reference those lists once a year. After some thought, I came up with a couple other ideas.

One idea is to tag letters with a sticky note with notes regarding your reply. You can write a few lines about what your reply stated, the date sent and any other info you think relevant. Then you can file the letter. I do store my letters.

I file my letters in accordion file folders by recipient. When I strike up a new correspondence, I have a folder for “Misc. Correspondence”. Once I’ve received a few letters from the same person, they get their own folder.

I read somewhere (it was ages ago so I’m not sure who does this. If its you, leave a note in the comments!) to store letters in 3-ring binders. You can slide the letter into a plastic sleeve with the envelope if you’re inclined to keep that too. Or simply hole punch the letter. Then you can easily review previous letters. You can add a 3×5″ card or sticky note to the sleeve with information regarding your reply. Add divider tabs for each correspondent.

For a digital solution, I saw this post on Lettermo. K. Tempest Bradford recommended using Evernote to photograph and tag your outgoing letters. You can then tag the photo and Evernote may even recognize words written in the letter depending on how tidy your handwriting is. You could actually photograph your incoming post as well and put both images in a collection so that you have quick access to the history of your correspondence. I think this is absolutely brilliant.

Hope these ideas help. Anyone have a different technique for tracking what you’ve written or how you keep your letters?

Shop: New Stamps!

It took awhile but I have new stamps in the shop, just in time for LetterMo/InCoWriMo.

I also have an awesome deal for folks headed to Ex Postal Facto in San Francisco this weekend(Feb. 14-16). You can order now and pick up your stamps in person to save the shipping and get them personally delivered. Stocks are limited and I will not be vending so this is your only option to acquire stamps from me at the event. Use the code FREEXPF to ditch those pesky shipping charges (only good for folks who will be at XPF and the deal is good through Feb. 14, 2014). Email me if you have any questions (click the ASK THE DESK button in the header).

Handle versions of the stamps will be available after XPF and more stock will be added then. Thanks for all the support!

A Month of Letters: Week One

I’ve written and sent out about 10 letters this week for the first week of A Month of Letters/InCoWriMo. What I wasn’t expecting was when I posted my address last week was that anyone would actually write to me. Well, they did! I received 10 letters today so I guess if I send a letter, I really do get a letter!

I am thrilled, flattered and a bit overwhelmed. I just wanted to say thanks for the letters and to let anyone who has written to me know that replies are in progress. Also, pen, paper and letter people really are the best!

Keep on writing!

Ask The Desk: Letters in Downton Abbey

Hello!
There were some beautiful shots of envelopes and letters on last week’s Downton Abbey episode. I can’t find images of them online. Any thoughts on how to find them? LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR BLOG!
Laura

Laura, Thanks so much for your letter. I feel like I must have been wrapped up in the story this week, watching Downton Abbey because I didn’t even notice the letters! I too searched the internet but so far screenshots from Season 4 are sparse. But you are in luck! Last week’s episode can be viewed and replayed through March 9, 2014 on PBS. I watched up to the Ritz letter for Alfred so you can get a better look at the mark on the envelope.

February is InCoWriMo & LetterMo

InCoWriMo, stands for International Correspondence Writing Month, which rhymes with “Ink a Rhino”. The goal is to write one letter, card, note, or postcard everyday for the entire month of February.

 

February is also LetterMo, as in A Month of Letters, a concept started by author Mary Robinette Kowal several years ago but whose mantle has been taken up across the blogosphere.The website is facing a few technical glitches this morning but should be ironed out soon. In the meantime, the Facebook page is up and running and will post when the site is working again.

Both collectives’ goals are the same, write a letter everyday for the month of February.

Since I have an enormous pile of letters to reply to, hopefully, February’s letter writing push will help me get caught up.

If you want to participate and need someone to write to, you can drop me a line, show off your favorite ink color or latest pen acquisition:

Ana Reinert
The Well-Appointed Desk
PO Box 411752
Kansas City, MO 64141
USA

Include your return address and I promise to write back.

Link Love: The Good, The Bad & The Postal Rate Increase

Shades of Lime (via A Penchant For Paper)

Pens & Ink:

• Kaweco Sport Luxe Fountain Pen (via The Pencil Case Blog)
• Vintage Pen Review: ca. 1929 Parker Lady Duofold “Lucky Curve” (via Pen Habit)
• The Airfoil by Masterstroke – Aviation Inspired Kickstarter Pen (via Clicky Post)
• Retro 51 Tornado Black Acrylic Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• ACME “Eames Chairs” Rollerball (via From The Pen Cup)
• rOtring Lava Multipen Review (via The Clicky Post)
• Bic Duo Ballpoint & Highlighter (via No Pen Intended)
• From The Archive: Pens (via A Penchant For Paper)
• Yasutomo Y&C Stylist Gel Ink Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
• A Survey of Browns (via Inkdependence)
• Sailor Jentle Sky High Blue Ink (via Ink of Me Fondly)

Pencils:

• Start With A Pencil (via Woodclinched)
• Golden Bear #2 HB Pencil Review (via The Daily Carry)

Paper:

• Tomoe River Paper (via Inkophile)
• Black n’ Red Notebook Review (via The Pen Addict)
• bRead Notebook in White, Wheat, & Whole Wheat (via No Pen Intended)

US Postal Rate Increases (illustration by Donovan Beeson via Letter Writers Alliance)

Misc:

• Stationery Travel Kit (via East, West, Everywhere)
• Philadelphia Pen Show Recap (via That One Pen)
• Do You Keep Your Pen Boxes (via My Pen Needs Ink)

Video: Wise Words for Handwriting

In preparation for National Handwriting Day, here’s a little advice from Donovan B. from the Letter Writers Alliance on the best way to improve your handwriting. Thursday is Handwriting Day so get your pens, pencils, brushes and crayon at the ready!