Lettergirl

Lost and found (books, that is).

Trying to cram as many bits of daily inspiration into the last few days of January as I can.

1. Read a forgotten book.

I am reading Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar, on loan from a book buddy.  Love it! (Written in the 50's, takes place in the 30's, the mother actually tells her daughter: Cigarettes are disgraceful when your're unmarried, but once you've tied the knot, go ahead smoke like a chimney.)  Had never heard of it.  Ask someone you know to recommend a favorite forgotten book.  So many out there.

2. Do what Amy did.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is not the only one to do this, but she's the one who comes to mind first.  Watch this video and you'll see what I mean.  For my part, I just like to leave little notes in my library books.

3. Keep track.

My first post about this album is here.

4. Reread.

I love to reread -- especially when a significant amount of time has elapsed since the first reading.  In 2008, I reread Crossing to Safety (still very much a favorite), My Antonia, Animal Dreams, and Kitchen. 

What are you reading?

Five ways to improve your handwriting.

1. Practice

Basic, I know, but oh so true.  When I look at my own wedding invitation from 1991 versus those I lettered in 1998 (the year I designed stationery for 108 weddings), the difference is startling.  If you want to have better handwriting, you've got to write every day.  Every. Single. Day.

2. Write more letters

Now that there's no more holiday mail coming in, I feel a pang of disappointment each day when I collect the mail.  I love a letter from Mel in Japan or a postcard from Kelly staying in Las Vegas.  Who would love a letter from you?

3.One card x twelve months

In an effort to stay in touch with my far-away father, I sent him one card each month for a year.  Seems a simple thing.  Buy cards, make cards, use what you already have...just be sure to include a personal note.

4. Embellish an envelope

Doodles, color, glitter...make a mail carrier's day! 

5. Take my class at Paper Source

Next month I'll be teaching a handlettering class at Paper Source in Minneapolis.  We'll start with the basics and work our way up to awesome envelopes.  If you live in the area, pretty please join me!  (And if you don't, tell your Paper Source you'd like a visit from me!)

Great week giveaway.

I'm having a great week.  Filled with hope.  Here's the giveaway I mentioned yesterday:

 

25 personalized calling cards with handpainted grass on the lower edge.  Hopeful!

Simply post a comment before end of day Friday -- include any tidbit to make my week even better.  (Where did you hear about dreamland/lettergirl? What's your daily uniform? Did you find a heads-up penny on the sidewalk?)

My uniform.

My uniform in winter:  black turtleneck sweater + jeans.  I am free to get messy in my work, run out to Target, walk up to the mailbox, eat my lunch, design new stuff, help at school.  I have been doing some thinking about how having this "uniform" is liberating, rather than restricting.  I've also been considering how I can extend the uniform concept into the rest of my day.  (Keri Smith calls this a "clothing system" -- clothes that work, that don't have to be considered each & every time you put them on.  Clothes that can be uniquely embellished for each outing.)  Then there is this timely article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  I dare you to read it and not be just a little bit obsessed with it.

Do you have a uniform?  A clothing system?  Tell me about it!  Comment by end of day Friday; I'll draw a winner to receive a wee little package of treats.

Sweetheart Sale.

I've just added fourteen new stamps to my etsy shop.  Purchase any stamp during January and receive a free valentine!  Four different quotations are available:

i carry your heart with me i carry it in my heart i am never without it (e.e. cummings)

happily ever after

What is the need of Heaven when Earth can be so sweet?  (Edna St. Vincent Millay)

The language of friendship is not words but meaning.  (Thoreau)

Please note that papers used on card will vary (but will definitely include a range of reds and/or pinks).

Scrapbook the old-fashioned way.

Who says that scrapbooks have to be amazing feats of great design?  I'm all for keeping my memories the old-fashioned way.  Photos, captions, a bit of color, done.

 

 

 

 

Snupper.

 

Quite an average photo of some very splendid soup.

Fridays are covered (pizza).  On Saturdays my husband usually cooks (always worth the pile of dishes).  Sundays...what to do with Sundays...?  This weekend we tried Sunday snupper (snacks + supper):  egg salad sandwiches, Italian wedding soup, a wee portion of sauteed scallops.  I have been wanting to make more soup this year -- and by making it on Sunday afternoon, I have enough for Sunday dinner (er...snupper) and lunches through the week.

I highly recommend Lynne Rossetto Kasper's recipe for broth (following) and Ina Garten's recipe for Italian Wedding Soup (especially the meatballs).

Cheater's Homemade Broth

Combine the following ingredients in a 4-quart pot.  Bring to a simmer, then partially cover & cook for 30 minutes.  (I let mine cook closer to an hour and throw in an extra tomato.)  This is easily doubled so you can save half for next week's soup.

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 whole cloves

1 canned tomato (Hunt's 100% Natural or Muir Glen Organic)

1 bay leaf, broken

1/2 teaspon dried basil

42 oz. chicken broth (Swanson's or College Inn)

1 medium to large onion, coarse chopped

1/2 stalk of celery, with leaves, coarse chopped

1/2 carrot, coarse chopped

Strain the broth and use right away, or refrigerate/freeze if using later.  If anyone wants the soup recipe, just let me know.  I am counting the minutes till lunch!

90/10.

  

(Yes, I could have just provided a link to this article in this morning's Taste section, but I really, truly love the physical newspaper.)

Eat rice.

Such a simple idea:  eat rice one night a month and donate the money you would have spent on dinner to a hunger relief organization.  (We do Feed My Starving Children.)  The Rice Dinner Project was started years ago in the kitchen of Rita Juhl, a member of our church and an old friend of my husband's parents.  Last year, Rita introduced the idea to our congregation, and then some neighboring churches, and well...now it's global. 

Here's the web site, ricedinner.org.

Word of the Year.

I discovered this concept (er, movement?) sometime last summer.  The notion is this:  choose a word to inspire your whole year.  One Little Word.  "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything," according to one-little-word-veteran Ali Edwards.

Here are some words to consider.

Here is a calendar with one word for each month.

Here is some nifty jewelry to remind you of your word.

Here is a blog about choosing your word.

For the record, I haven't actually chosen a word.  (Wouldn't this be a sweet blog post if I had?)  I am leaning towards finish.  I don't want a heavy word.  Finish means finish your sentences, a goal I am working on (really).  Finish means stay up late once in awhile and work on projects.  Finish means go ahead and have another craft weekend this spring -- I finished so much at the last one.  In general, I want to be better at finishing.  But I don't want finish to also mean end:  I started this blog wondering where Dreamland would be in 2009, after 17 years in business.  A big chunk of me does not want it to end.  (Hmmm....finish my worrying?)

Do you have a word?  Or advice for my word?  Submit either (your word or your advice) and I will write out your word all pretty on a 4x6 card so you can frame it or put it on your fridge.  This offer is valid through the month of January and applies to comments any day in January (or via email).