Last Chance

A week dedicated to letters, stationary, paper, writing desks, and a giveaway (go HERE to enter)!  It has been a blast and I think that I could get use to this.  

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Thank you for all the comments, support, and general excitement this week.  I've enjoyed it.  I really hope that letter writing becomes a regular pattern of your life instead of a big project.  It is awfully fun to exchange letters!

Fully-Stocked Writing Desk

"Writing a personal letter is like home-cooking a meal-It's one of the everyday human pleasures that sometimes rises to the level of a sacred ritual, complete with special objects that add extra meaning.  You probably cook with your own quirky assortment of familiar spoons and pans, and enjoy the color, furniture, and decoration you've created in your kitchen.  Of course you could arrange it more logically, but then it wouldn't be you.  And whether you cook from scratch or open a box, it's still the same kitchen you've organized to create the food you offer to the peolpe you care about.

"Your writing desk can hold the same kind of personal treasure as your kitchen, to reinforce the same human pleasure of creating something that connects you with friends and family."

Margaret Shepherd, The Art of the Personal Letter

The pens, the paper, the stationary, the setting, the stamps, are all great things to encourage a good letter.  For resources and links to encourage some good fun, there is this post that I wrote a while ago.

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Snow Doesn't Stop the Mail

Today is day 3 of the biggest snow that Chattanooga has seen since the blizzard of '93.  Eight inches for this southern town is enough to really shut things down.  Schools are closed, some businesses are closed (except John's work), and I have not driven my car in three days.  (For the record, besides Christmas, I haven't spent this much time at home ever.  Even after I got home from having Burl.)  Some might say that I'm getting cabin fever.  They would be wrong.

I'm loving being locked in!  Oh the things that I am doing.  Lots of playtime with Burl, fun projects (including the biggest paint project I've ever done), and lots of letter writing.  

The snow might have stopped a lot of things, but one thing has kept on truckin': the United States Post Service.  High-Ooo!!!  

If you are stuck inside, then wouldn't this be a great time to write some letters?  There are several types of letters to be written.  In The Art of the Personal Letter by Margaret Shepherd, she has 18 different kinds of letters.  My favorite and most frequently sent types are:

Letters of Congratulations

Letters of Condolence

Letters of Sympathy

Letters of Thanks

Letters  to Someone Who Is Away

Letters of Encouragement

This morning I sent out some letters (and a Netflix movie) that I have been wanting to send for a while.  I love seeing them sit on my mantel by the front door, keeping my greenery company, waiting to be walked to the mailbox.

If you would me to send you something, anything, I will, I would love to.  I'm OBSESSED with mail.  Just send me your address at abarefootday@gmail.com and I'll do it! 

Until then, happy writing!

Some Lovely Things, Giveaway

It's no secret that I am a stationary junkie.  If there was an award for the biggest stationary variety bought, tested and used, then I would win or at least get honorable mention.

 I love it because it makes letter writing even more appealing.  Don't get me wrong, I'll take a letter on ANYTHING.  Napkin, styrofoam raw meat tray, whatever.  But, if I'm going to write and send something, it's gonna.be.cute!  

I have the supplies to make my own for a more casual approach.  In fact, I have a whole desk full of supplies as well as a variety of envelopes with different textures, colors, and sizes.  

But, nothing is as great as having my own personal stationary that is exactly what I want and is completely unique.  For my birthday this year, I worked with Heidi of Heidi Gruner Design to design my own personal stationary.  I LOVE it.  It's turned me into a lean, mean, letter-writing machine.  I highly recommend checking her out HERE and getting some yourself.

Recently, she launched Some Lovely Things, unique stationary designed for you, me and all letter lovers to enjoy.  So, here it is, are you ready for this, she is going to give away eight cards to one very lucky reader.  How fun!  She has the cutest cards to choose from and they all have funky names like:

 
The Youngest Child

Takeover

 
Hello Gorgeous

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Here's how you can enter to win:

1. Check out her site by clicking HERE and pick which cards you love and would like to win.

2. Come back here and leave a comment, letting me know.

3. Blog or facebook about it and get an extra entry. (just leave an extra comment letting me know you did so.)

Contest will close on Friday (1/14, day after my momma' burfday) at midnight, est.  Winner announced this weekend!

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I'm so, SO EXCITED that one of my readers gets to share in the excitement of receiving, using and passing along a Heidi Gruner Design.  It will come to you wrapped up quite nicely, something a little like this: