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Sometimes I Surprise Myself

3/15/2016

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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.
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The Envelope as Canvas

3/10/2016

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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.
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2012's Best in Show by Ruth Korch, Theme: anything beginning with the letter D
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.
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2015 Best in Show by Hannah Holder, Theme: There's No Place Like Home
Special thanks to Lorraine Swerdloff, contest administrator, for the images!
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Experimenting With Color

2/21/2016

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Going with the less-is-more approach.
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Oodles of Doodles

2/5/2016

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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!
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Love Letter CollageĀ 

2/3/2016

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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.
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Handmade Cards

12/11/2014

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Layers of Meaning
My mother turned 83 this week and I made her a birthday card. Making cards has become a ritual for me. Some are handmade, others a combination of handmade and computer elements. But in each one, I like to incorporate bits of meaning.

For my mom's card, I started with the first letter of her name, and then added a few elements: 8 diamonds (one for every decade), 3 flowers (one for each year after 80), and one heart (for good luck and love). Then I added diamonds to represent her children, (6 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren).

I'm not sure she (or anyone else I've made cards for) would see or catch the meaning behind the symbols without me pointing them out, but as I make the card it allows me to really consider the person's life, likes, and how much they mean to me.

When I started making cards I worried they weren't polished enough. With this card, the letter isn't perfect, and there are things I would change were I to do it over, but I've discovered that's not so important. Letting go of making things perfect leads to finishing what I started and having something to give away. And people like handmade cards. It makes them feel special . . . which of course, they are.

I start with pencil, then draw over with pen, erase the pencil, and use color sparingly. Most of the time I use color pencil, sometimes watercolors.
Do you make your own cards? Post a comment and tell us about your process.
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COLLECTING: Mapping It Out

10/27/2014

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The Osher Map Library opened a new exhibit last week: The Art of the Hand-drawn Map. They have a fantastic collection of hand-drawn maps and globes. Big globes, tiny globes, and my favorite—a globe that opens to reveal an inkwell. Fabulous!

At the opening there were lots of interesting souvenirs and books available for purchase. I grabbed a copy of Map Art Lab by Jill K. Berry and Linden McNeilly.

Maps can be as detailed or simple as you like. Here's my apple picking map. Saturday we went for a long drive meandering until we found an orchard. In the collage I used a scrap of paste paper, a cancelled stamp, hand-lettering, and machine stitching.

Do you collect or make maps?

Post a comment
with the link above and tell us about it!
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