Open Letters

I love these genius open letters! Image via Honestly...WTF?.

Envelopes

Found: environmentally friendly, reusable felt envelopes. I am in love; these are genius! Via Twig and Thistle.

Critic

I'm reading Garlic and Sapphires, and am adoring every page (thank you, Gregory). With the conclusion of every chapter, I'm yearning to be a food critic more and more.

Writer's Block

Found: the cure for writer's block. Try it the next time you need to write a paper or a blog entry. This website will annoy you until you've met your goal.

Letterhead

I'm thinking it would be pretty swish to have my own personally-designed letterhead. Feel the same way? Letterheady offers so much inspiration; the blog showcases letterhead of many famous people. I'm particularly smitten with these choices. All images via Letterheady.

Talent

Fake it 'til you make it; truer words have yet to be uttered as regards my creative abilities. I wasn't born with perfect pitch or poetic vigour. However, I have tried my hand at tap dancing, painting, singing, theatre, violin and ballet. With such a string of ventures (many short-lived), one could come to the conclusion that I give up too easily (and they'd be half right).

While I do feel pangs of jealously when I see others create in ways that seems to be effortless from the outside, I think the most cathartic way for me to release creative energy is through the written word. I don't linger for long with the green eyed monster. While I've enjoyed the other pursuits, I don't feel empty without their accomplishments and embellishments.

This love affair with words began a long time ago. As a child I wrote poetry and preferred to play with books over dolls. In the midst of my teenage angst, I dabbled in online journalism and wrote a short story that to this day I reflect upon fondly. In my university years, I wrote a bi-weekly newspaper column. For a long time I missed that writing, and in fact, many days I still do. Thinking about words (and even fonts) excites me. Thankfully writing, albeit not of the creative bent, is a major component of my current profession.

Greg and I chatted about creative energy on our road trip. We were exposed to poets, actors, musicians and potters. The joy that stretched across their faces when talking about their art was infectious. It got us to thinking about our own energies. In thinking back on that side-by-side chat on a hazy Saturday evening, I write this post as a commitment to myself to delve into writing more thoroughly. I'm sitting at a juncture in my life right now, and I'd like to use my pen more frequently in this next chapter. I'm venturing forward with the intention to write another short story. We shall see where this pursuit takes me. I think this is one of those truck stops.

Image via Janny Brocken.

P.S. I haven't given up on ballet, and hope to continue in the fall.

Isola Bella

I once read in Real Simple that it is a good idea to keep birthday, congratulations, thank you and other sorts of cards in your home so that in a pinch you can always share a kind thought with someone close to you. Last year, I found a sale at a local card shop and stocked up on a range of birthday cards.

This advice from Real Simple contradicts the lesson my mother taught me - cards are a waste of money, spend the money you would have spent on the card on the gift. This approach works fine for her because her friends and family know what to expect, and she always hand delivers presents so she is able to articulate in person how much the recipient means to her. The special part about my mom's ritual is that when you do receive a card or a letter it means a great deal. For someone like me, who is just as likely to pop a birthday present in the post as deliver it to a friend who lives close by, I grew to rely on e-cards. Hallmark has a great variety and I often send them (in addition to the required post on their Facebook wall).

Living quite far away from most people I am close to has caused me to rethink my approach to card sending. I purchased some great cards this fall with blank insides to send out as needed. I spent some time in Vancouver in November looking for cards and writing paper with Greg's mom. She thoroughly enjoys writing letters and is frequently putting something in the mail to us. When a piece arrives Greg is always certain to analyse the stamps affixed, as no detail is overlooked and the postage often reveals a message about the contents. I've started to open up more to the benefits of letter writing and card sending. My favourite cards are Isola Bella from Mudlark. Here are file folders with the same pattern:

If you happen to find yourself in Edmonton, I recommend checking out Chicken Scratch on Whyte Avenue for all your paperie needs.