I Wrote a book!

Celebrating the release of my new book, A Letter A Week, with my family ~ January 8, 2022

A Letter A Week is a 104-page journal book that allows you to log 52 handwritten letters that you write throughout a year. There are tips and ideas on who and what to write.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Below are other retailers you can order the book from.

For a signed author copy or to order wholesale, please email me at julie@aletteraweek.com.

Who is this book for?

• People who enjoy writing letters
• People who write once in a while and would like to be more consistent
• People who would like a yearlong challenge
• The person who needs to unplug from electronics more often
• Those who know people in their life that would benefit from reading a letter
• The person who rarely picks up a pen and would like to connect to more people

The book will also:

• Improve connections with people without email or texts
• Be mindful while thinking of others
• Show how important the recipient is to the sender
• Share gratitude towards others
• Have a keepsake to treasure for years

Order your copy today and get ready for a year of writing handwritten letters!

GIVEAWAY!

Check out my Instagram page for random stamp and other merchandise giveaways!

Thank you for supporting A Letter A Week!

Do you save cards and letters?

Long time no blog!

Here are photos of my bulletin board before and after from this afternoon.  I enjoy having them up on my board to remind me of the wonderful friends and family I have and those who like to keep in touch through written correspondence.   Every couple months I take down cards that I put up and put in a file.  At the end of the year I’ll go back through them and either toss them or hang on to them.  All mood driven.  I’m a big fan of  The Minimalists, but believe you can still have the memory of something even though you no longer have the tangible item (sorry mom, I tossed the peacock glass Christmas display thingy you made for me years ago–but see, I still remember it).  😉

        

I went to Europe last month and enjoyed sending postcards from the Netherlands and Belgium.  One afternoon friends had to wait for me to go to the post office to get stamps.  They couldn’t believe how much I spent on postage, but I figure if I didn’t spend it on that it would have been for some meaningless souvenir…Here is a photo of my postcard and stamps.  The other photo is from the post office where I think the USPS could increase revenues if they had a number system like they did in Belgium.  So, I picked # 301.  When I looked up at the screen it was #290 so I perused through the stationery racks and supplies they had there.  Let’s just say I purchased more than just postcard stamps.

Of course I thought the stamps were lovely.  In Belgium they were beautiful butterflies and in the Netherlands they were of bikes, cows and tulips.    I know I returned home before these arrived, but it’s still fun for me to send to friends and relatives.

Happy June!  I’ll be posting more soon.   Until then, I’m just wondering–do you purchase postcards when you travel?  Do you save cards and letters?  Regardless, I hope you find time to write someone even if it’s just to say hello.

Who I am writing today …

After reading Roxanne’s blog, A More Creative Me a few days ago, I wondered what my “vision” for this blog was.  Is it really letters just because (I know I shouldn’t use just like I do, but too bad because I’m not an English major and I’m not trying to win an award blogging) or is it to keep an ongoing record of who I write to and why?  Who knows where the vision or direction of my blog will go this year, I am open to letting it unfold however it may, all letter writing related of course.

A thank you card is in order today for the wonderful Sarah from the concierge’s desk at the hotel where we stayed who so kind to not only put flower petals on our bed, but also arranged for this lovely display to be in our room upon arrival.   Loved it!  We had a wonderful time (minus the Green Bay Packer loss) and are blessed to be able to take little getaways as much as we do.

So, I’m in the gift shop and had to (!) purchase some cards.  Remember my last post where I said it was nice to get a pack of cards at Target for $3.00?  Well, these are on the higher end of the scale at $6.00 a piece. What can I say other than I am a visual and tactile girl.  The photo below does not do justice to the thick quality cardstock and letterpress indentations. Feeling these cards makes them worth $6.00.  I have only been to Orlando briefly, but if I’m ever near that part of Florida again, I’d love a tour of Rifle Paper Company if they would allow me.    I have seen letterpress machines and could have spent all day at Oblation papers in Portland, Oregon when we went there last year.  Do you have favorite letterpress stationer?  There’s yet another future blog post!

Also, last week I wrote about sharing articles with you that I’ve kept on my phone and wanted to share a one today.

I took the postcard from the resort and wrote to Tom Purcell thanking him for his article titled, On Handwritten Letters.  I like researching online and aside from spending an additional half hour looking for a physical address for him, I was able to read more of his articles that weren’t letter writing related, but it’s cool to learn about others.  I know I’ve written this before, as he may never get my postcard, but I enjoyed taking the time to let him know he had an engaged reader out here in cyberspace. The best thing about his article to me was, “Still, I miss getting handwritten letters in the mail.” And, that my readers is why I believe it is a nice gesture to still write on paper with one’s own writing.

Here is another postcard that was in the room.  They also provided a flat note card and envelope that was on the desk.  Any hotel that still provides stationery for its guests will get a repeat customer out of me!  I always keep a couple first class and postcard stamps in my wallet for occasions just like this!

I wish you a good rest of the week.  I’m off to purchase some of these beautiful stamps online as you know what fun holiday is coming up in a few weeks!

 

More Thank You Letters

I’m plugging along with writing thank you and gratitude letters this month. I’ve made it a priority to write to one person a day. Some days I’ve written to a few because as I’m getting the stationery out I sometimes think of someone else. It’s a wonderful “problem” to have.  Some letters have ended up thinking of you type cards, but whatever the sentiment it’s the connecting to the recipient that means the most to me. 

One letter I wrote was to thank two high school girls in Indiana for their generous spirit that I hope becomes a nationwide or worldwide club that is in all high school. How selfless are these teens to first think of this creative idea secondly to take the time to not only write the letters, but to spend time with the patients. I wish much success to Handwritten Hearts.

I wrote to the girls’ high school and again hope they receive the letter to know their news reached me in Southern California. I know there are many different types of organizations out there doing the same thing-one letter at a time. If you know of one, please share in the comments. I’ll have to write another blog post on my favorites, but for now, here are some other people I wrote to last week:

 

*A man I’ve known in our community ran for city council. He didn’t win, but I wrote him to thank him for running and having the courage to get in the arena!

*A friend from high school who isn’t on Facebook (I think there are only six, ha!) but that I wanted to wish a Happy Thanksgiving and thank her for her years of friendship.

*A thank you card to friends who hosted an early Thanksgiving meal. Everyone brought a dish to share and the place setting cards were even handwritten.   Above is a photo of card holder in her kitchen-love it!  I was beaming when I saw this as I know why I associate myself with these friends–because we all still write thank you notes!

*A thank you to my esthetician who does a great job waxing my eyebrows.  I didn’t write her for the service she provides, but for her dedication to losing weight.  We had a nice discussion on discipline and how you have to start small, but keep with it.  I was so inspired by not only how great she looked, but that she didn’t diet or do anything extreme. She started exercising and is committed to making it a part of her daily life.  I’m a big exercise, fitness girl, so I had to write her to say, “Way to go!”

*My French Bulldog’s vet received a thank you this week because when we went for a visit last week they gave us a free bag of turkey and cranberry treats.  Here is a photo of Nitro wanting more after I shoved some in his bone.

Thanksgiving is Thursday. May you not only count your blessings but perhaps take the time to write to someone this week to let them know how thankful you are for them.

Postcards

I organized my stationery drawers yesterday. That sounds so lame, but I had mixed matched envelopes and cards that were bent up or a few I know I’d never use-so into the recycle bin they went.

Except for postcards.

86 postcards. Ridiculous that I have that many from trips we’ve been where I over zealously buy them when traveling to send to friends or their kiddos.

It was fun displaying them and thinking about how incredibly blessed I’ve been to travel as much as I have. Orcas are my favorite animal so I always pick up a few when we go to the San Juan Islands to see them.

In order to continue with my less is more theme of the year, I will be sending postcards to friends to say hello even though the postcard trip is history. .33 cents knocks off the .49 a bit.

I remember finding a vintage postcard site and about fell out of my chair when I saw prices of $350 for an old Coca-Cola card or how about $500 for a Santa and beer one?

Another site I found through Facebook is Postcard Happiness. Based out of Cape Town, Africa, a graphic designer is dedicated to encouraging the sending of postcards. My favorite sentence on the about us page reads, “I would like to reignite the joys of sending and receiving these little gems around the world just because they make people happy.”

Last year I traveled to Spain and Italy. My mother loves water colors so instead of buying a large print and dealing with the cost of shipping or having it damaged I purchased three postcards and had them framed when I returned home.

Postcards from Florence, Italy

My most recent purchase was a cool thank you postcard. It is so cool that I had to make a video because my description wouldn’t do justice. The only information on it shows a German postcard website along with Copyright by L.M.Kartenvertrieb Graffiti and Stefan Fleischmann-Design made in Germany. Creative men in my book.
I only purchased a few months ago, but called one of my favorite stores that carries unique cards and gifts, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond in Montecito, CA and fortunately they have more!

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Do you send postcards? Make anything from them? Keep them? When is the last time you sent one? With summer here I'm sure you can pick one up on your next trip and surprise someone with a handwritten personalized note.

Long Overdue Thank You Notes

I have to give Hallmark credit. I am normally one who likes to send stationery that isn’t from a Hallmark store. However, due to not being able to get around that good after hip surgery, I was limited to go to my local Hallmark store. I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but I think I am when it comes to stationery. I love boutique vendors and way too expensive letter press stationery. Limited to time and money on this trip, I found these adorable thank you note cards. I love the colors and the raised ink. Hallmark is a good gig. You gotta hand it to them for also having a special .99 cent card area.
Target and Michael’s can have good selections too. I am having my own cards made as we speak-I’ll tell you more about that soon!

The cards above are being sent to friends who sent me a get well gift or card during my recovery. It is amazing how a note from a loved one can support you when you are under the weather or in my case, laying around for days.

I saw a card once that said, “You’re welcome” on the outside and on the inside read, “Thank you for the thank you card”. I thought that was quite clever.

Who can you send a thank you card to today?

February 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day

So excited to sit for a bit tomorrow and send cards to friends!  It’s National Send a Card to a Friend Day!   I of course do this all throughout the year, but tomorrow will be for those close friends, ones I text and see a lot, but don’t really write to that often.  It is still fun to take time to let them know how much I appreciate our friendship or send them a little motivation.  So many of my friends are hard working moms and sending them a handwritten note is the least I can do for them.  I don’t have kids, so I try and let my mom friends know how incredibly awesome they are!

The photo above is where I get my cards when I’m at home. It sits right next to my desk and computer and is within arm’s reach.  I purchased this BisleyCollection Cabinet from The Container Store years ago.  I love it and spend way too much on stationery, but this is exactly why I started this blog:  To inspire others to write letters, “just because …”

I’m not an English major and I’m sure someone can rip apart my grammar.  I am passionate about putting pen to paper and hope you will enjoy what I share!  I don’t plan on posting just “National” this or that day. I had been sitting on this blog for months and the other day when I read about Thank a Mailman day I decided to dive in!  I will share who I write to and hopefully encourage others to write more too!  There are many articles out there about the diminishing art of the handwritten letter. I’ll share those, my favorite stationery vendors, other bloggers and organizations that support writing good ol’ snail mail.

Please feel free to add any comments or suggestions!  I’m new to this blogging world, but figured I’d give my Facebook friends a break from constantly talking about the art that I love:  handwritten letters.

February 4th: Thank a Mailman Day

                      What better way to start my new blog than on a special day? Even if you don’t read this on the Tuesday, Febraury 4th, when is the last time you did thank your mail carrier? I’m going to decorate our mailbox and put a treat out for him, along, of course with a handwritten thank you note!

Do you even know who delivers your mail? Do you still have the old fashioned single mail box? Wow. I haven’t thought about those “flags” that would be raised to alert the mailman that you had out going mail. Does your mail carrier do anything special or unique that you want to share? We have a new one and unfortunately he does not deliver it at the same time daily. My husband is rather scheduled, so I think it is fun to come at 10am one day and 4pm the next! Getting mail always adds excitement to my day!

Read more about this day here: http://nationaldaycalendar.com/2013/02/03/february-4th-2013-national-thank-a-mailman-day-national-create-a-vacuum-day/