Digging through some older files last weekend I came upon these stationery folders. They are designed to hold a few pieces of stationery, stamps, and a tip sheet. I liked them when I created them, but wondered if they were right. I still needed to create the stationery and tip sheet, so I put the project aside . . . not ready for whatever reason, for lots of reasons, for no reason.

Putting them aside and finding them nearly two years later gives me a fresh perspective. The concept needs a tweak or two, but it's a good start. I want to incorporate these folders into a new project I've got going.

The title of this post is "Sometimes I Surprise Myself." Why?  Because I like what I created and the concept, the reason I made the folders, is still with me. So why did I stop working on it?

Timing? Other priorities? Distraction? Uncertainty?

No matter, it's time to move forward, and I'm taking them with me.

Are you a calligrapher or lettering artist? Consider entering the Graceful Envelope Contest (deadline March 28, 2016). There's no entry fee and the contest is open to adults and children, judged separately.

The challenge is to use an envelope as your canvas, tie in this year's theme (communication), and incorporate stamps in your design. Entries must created on an envelope and mailed. Below are two examples . . . very clever.

The contest is sponsored by the Washington Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers. You can find more information and get your entry form here.

Don't delay, entries are due March 28th.

A note about this year's theme from the Washington Calligrapher Guild:
Ever since Benjamin Franklin became America’s first Postmaster General, many of our most important messages arrived inside an envelope. Now your challenge is to design the outside of an envelope to highlight this—or any other—mode of communication. Your Graceful Envelope could honor the mail or the internet; the telegraph, telephone or television; person-to-person conversation or whatever kind of communication inspires your imagination.

And here's a link to some of last year's winning entries.

Special thanks to Lorraine Swerdloff, contest administrator, for the images!

Going with the less-is-more approach.

This is a lettering experiment I did as I was thinking of my dog, Agatha, and her wagging tail thump, thumping thumping on the floor.

Doodling can be an expressive and experimental way to approach a project.

Have you heard of Zentangles? It's the ultimate expression of doodling.

This is a Calendar of Days post: Doodle Day!

Years ago, I hosted a Valentine's Day letter event and wanted to offer people some suggestions for writing a love letter. But I had two concerns:

1) it had to be easy
2) it was important to emphasize that love letters are not just for lovers

So I created a template, an easy fill-in-the-blanks love letter. And people really liked it.

This year I wanted to create a new version. Because I've been wanting to experiment with collage, hand-lettering, working off-line, and keeping things loose, this was the project I picked.

Below is the finished piece. Be sure to download the fill-in-the-blanks love letter along with a stationery sheet, write a letter, and say something nice to someone you love.

Whenever I stop to talk with my neighbor, he gives a big parting wave and says, "Hug your baby!" Turns out, that's good advice, hugging is good for us.

Chalk lettering in progress . . .