Snail Mail

 Snail mail has lost its way in the past years.  Many of us sit at our computers or devices to say a simple "hello...how are you".  For centuries, our universal mail system has strengthened the bonds of friendship, family, and community. Our system has encouraged civil discourse, disseminated information, and bolstered the national economy {both as the hub of a vital industry and as a trusted courier of the nation’s and world’s business}.  

 A home-made card or telegram is a fun and creative way to honor and show someone you value them.  You can pick up card stock, envelopes, decorative tape, and string in the dollar bins, or at least on sale at your local craft store. {Even cheaper for teachers like me!}

I printed the text using a typewriter font, which you can download for free, on rough newsprint paper {purchased in the dollar bin}. 

Then, I used double-sided tape to adhere after using the end of the table to create the rough edges.  

Then, I used a black marker to forge a burnt look.

From there, you can go crazy with stamps and stickers and tailor your creation to the person you are sending.  

 Always remember to add love to your project...your recipient will remember that for years to come.

 Use a pre-printed ephemera sheet and glue it to the front of your blank card stock.

Tie with rustic string for that old look.

 Your loved-ones will remember and cherish the time you put in.  I always say, that the best expression of love is time.  When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life...we can always make more money, more food, or buy a store-bought card...but time can't be bought...it is our most precious gift.

The Local Bean

Coffee plays a role major role for many of us.   For some, it's an encouragement to get going in the morning.  For others, it's a life-style, like a wine connoisseur. 

My local coffeehouse {the only one in town} buys their beans straight from the farms in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and locally.  The owner makes sure she is buying the highest quality and even follows the climate and weather patters of the particular area in order to get the best bean possible.  

My original idea for walking the bean {back in 2006} was going to be a blog about coffee.  These local beans were grown and harvested right here in the Houston area.  This particular brew is a Texas French Roast {sounds like a war between the states} this is one of the darker roasts. Do you have a favorite coffee?

Love Notes

 
It is surprisingly difficult to communicate the depth of your feelings in short notes, but when you honestly articulate what's in your heart, it comes across as pure, primal and passionate.
The best love notes are filled with warmth, affirmation, encouragement and optimism through music. They address different themes: romance, joy, risk, courage, wholeness, growth and commitment.
Love notes given are an expression of what is in your heart and those received are to be heard each day, whenever you feel the need play the love notes and hear the music and your serenity and peace will be restored.

Look ahead;
There is no black sinner.

Look behind;
There is no white saint.

Look above;
There is no grey sky.

Look below;
There is no gold joy

We walk through calligraphy of colorful music, the rhythm in the wind rippling through breezes in choirs of trees, where hints of sunlight dance across trees and leaves, and hundreds of sounds from dark branches of the night, comes trumpets bursting in the sky. With a hint of urgency we reach out to dance with them in fear the music will stop. So where do the tumbling notes spend themselves after they have spent all meaning residing to us in music, after they have slipped from our lips unto the instrument? Reach and touch the trumpet, dance with it...reach, reach, reach and feel pure clarity of its musical sounds.

  

School's Out for the Summer

Our last day of school was May 25th and I've enjoyed my time off so far {76 days left of vacay!}

I've been looking at the selection of commercial stickers on the market...while they are pretty, many of them just don't reflect what I am looking for.  I began a process of trying to make my own stickers at home...{daunting task and a brain twister}.  I considered purchasing labels made for a printer and using my own words/pictures.  Then, I thought about just printing fun ideas using newsprint paper {it's a bit thinner} and literally cutting them out or using a fun punch shape...and either gluing them or using double-sided tape.  This is a fun idea because I'm all about having something unique and something that a million people can't go get in the stores.  I started with emoticons and will work my way to original pictures or drawings.  What do you think?

 I also like the idea of making my own envelopes and stamps inspired by these originals from the 1950s.  Any thoughts?

 

Victorian Bookmarks

Here is the latest series of Victorian bookmarks...these are perfect for the high school or college graduate or just as a gift for friends and family.  I made these in less than two hours and the materials are easy to find and are not that expensive...best of all, you can customize it for that particular friend or loved-one.
So many of us use technology {nothing against technology} for our reading.  I still like the satisfying feeling of a hard-cover book in my hands and the joy of a bookmark reminding me of where I left off in the journey.