Love letter to Pam

We received an anonymous Write_On submission that we just couldn't pass up sharing...


About 30 + years ago the mother of a school-friend died rather suddenly and, after clearing out her things, the daughter asked if I would like all her old dressmaking patterns and hoard of fabric. They were a well-to-do family and the mother was always effortlessly elegant and soignée and here were some beautiful items of both pattern and fabric from the 1950's when she had been a debutante.

Some years later when I went to use one of the patterns I found this letter inside the Lanvin Castillo design. 

I've no idea if anyone ever knew of the admirer/lover, somehow it's more poignant not knowing - a little touch of Madame Bovary or a sub-plot from a Trollope or Dickens novel.

-Anonymous

Live Well, Write On!

One evening, 100 people, and 100+ letters

Last Thursday evening, over a hundred people gathered at Coffee Bar in San Francisco’s Mission District to do something unusual: write letters.  Hosted by the Write_On Campaign and The Dinner Party, the event was called “Live Well, Write_On” and invited people to reconnect and deepen their connections through the written word.

As guests of all ages, backgrounds, and persuasions entered the room, they found group writing tables set up by theme:  Thank you, I love you, Please forgive me / I forgive you, and Sympathy.  Each table was stocked with stationery, pens, and writing prompts.

Sabrina Moyle of Hello!Lucky kicked off the program with a welcome and background on the Write_On Campaign. Launched in 2014 when Tess Darrow of Egg Press challenged herself to write 30 letters in 30 days, Write_On has grown into a national movement. This year, we’re giving away 10,000 free letter-writing card kits and thousands more free cards, thanks to sponsors Sakura of America, Mohawk Paper, Chronicle Books and nine independent card studios.  People worldwide, ranging from people who grew up writing letters to kids in the public schools, are taking up the challenge to bring back letter-writing.

Why?  

Sabrina observed that in today’s world, we have more social connections than ever but many of them have taken on a superficial, performative quality. Handwritten letters provide a way to deepen relationships, to say things that would be too awkward or embarrassing to say on social media or in person. They are private. They are personal. They are permanent. She went on to share three personal examples: of her six year-old son’s letter to a homeless man, a funeral where a letter written to the deceased was at the center of the service, and a letter she had just written to her college roommate, whom she had first met by letter.

Lennon Flowers of The Dinner Party, a non-profit organization that brings together 20- and 30-somethings over potluck dinners to talk about loss and life after, then gave her own examples of why letter-writing is important. She spoke about a friend of theirs by the name of Dr. Ira Byock, one of the world's leading palliative care doctors. After decades spent working with patients living with advanced illness and their families, Dr. Byock found that there are just four messages that patients wanted to say and hear at the end of their lives: “thank you,” “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” and “I forgive you.” What better way to express those messages than in a handwritten letter? And what better time than now? To write a letter, she observed, you don’t need an address. Each year, one of The Dinner Party’s members goes down to the beach, opens a bottle of beer and writes a letter to her dad, who was a surfer.  She then puts the letter in the bottle, and tosses it out to sea.  

Guests then got to watch Dear You, a short video of people reading letters they’ve written and received and were treated to readings by Shelby Cowell (author of the blog Future Stella, I Love You), Eliana Bruna (826 Valencia), Eva Silverman, and Christina Tran.

More than one hundred letters were written that evening. As participant Bobbie Pinto noted, "I aways knew I liked writing letters. Now I understand WHY".

Join the Write_On Campaign at www.writeoncampaign.com and #Write_On. Our next San Francisco event, The Last Letter, will be on April 28th from 5 - 7 p.m. at Chronicle Books and will feature Letters to My… author Lea Redmond. Find out about more Write_on events here.

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Designer Q&A: Fugu Fugu Press

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“I love it when I receive a letter and it tells me something about that person I didn’t know about.”

We sat down with Shino of Fugu Fugu Press and asked her a few questions about how she got started and where she sees the future of letter-writing heading. Be sure to check out the rest of our Designer Q&As after this. 

Write_On: Tell us about yourself!  What’s your background and what drew you to design cards and stationery?

Shino: I was an illustration major at a college, then a freelance illustrator for a number of years when I started working for my friends who owned a letterpress greeting cards company.

Write_On:  How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Shino: I love Scandinavian designs, vintage children’s book and advertising illustrations, and Japanese character designs.  My Japanese upbringing definitely shows through when I design our cards. I try to design cards that communicate immediately, and evokes some sort of emotion.  They tend to be more of ‘illustrations’ than ‘designs’.

Write_On: How do you use your designs to inspire people to connect in writing?

Shino: My hope is that people see our cards and somehow make them think of specific people in their lives, and inspire people to send the cards.  When I design, I usually have specific person in my mind for that particular design.

Write_On: What does your process look like for creating a new card or stationery design?

Shino: I have so many papers and half-filled sketch books lying around everywhere - printshop, computer desk, dining table, on a night stand… I brain storm constantly. Once I have a rough idea, I sketch it out, and sometimes do a finished drawing to scan it into Photoshop, or I re-create the image in Illustrator, depending on what feels right.  

Write_On:  How have hand-written letters shaped your life and relationships?

I used to write long letters all the time to my friends when I was a kid.  My family and I moved around within Japan and then from Japan to Texas when I was 13, and there was no Skype or email then, so I wrote.  I’d check the mailbox everyday to see if my friends wrote back.  Then when I started college in California, the rest of my family moved back to Japan, so again, I wrote to them.  My mom would send care packages, I still have many of the letters my mom sent to me from those days.  After college, some of my friends and I sent little comics to each other about what’s going on in our lives.  I still have those as well, and they crack me up.  We were pretty silly.  I also made zines for a short while, and it was exciting for me to receive letters from total strangers requesting to purchase them.  I think I sold them for something like $3 each.

Write_On:  What do you find most difficult about writing a letter?  

Shino: It’s really weird, because I used to LOVE writing letters, and now I don’t know what to write about!!  

Write_On: What does your letter-writing practice look like?

Shino: I still write to my friend from college (she is an avid letter-writer and a mix CD sender), but other than that, they’re pretty limited to writing notes to our customers and also birthday and Christmas cards to friends and family.

Write_On: Modern times have made digital correspondence increasingly available and convenient. Why is it important for people to send handwritten cards and letters?

Shino: Both personally and professionally, a hand-written note or memo immediately makes whatever that’s written so much more personal.  When I receive a hand written note, I can imagine the person behind the writing.  Not as much with emails or texts.

Write_On:  What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about letter-writing?

Shino: I don’t remember if I ever received any advice about writing letters.. but I love it when I receive a letter and it tells me something about that person I didn’t know about. So I try to do the same when I write to other people.

Write_On: What’s the next letter you’re planning to write?

Shino: To that college friend/pen pal. I owe her a response.

Seasonal Letter-Writing with Jaime of Send More Mail

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Summer

Throwing a letter-writing get together in the summer lets you take it outside.  Gather up your friends and some stationery bits and bobs and get writing – by the lake or in your local park!

Summer tips:

Use the shade from a great big tree and spread out your picnic blanket(s).

Pack a cooler with cold lemonade, fruit salad + homemade brownies.  (Maybe even iced coffee?)

Set out your supplies. Cards, paper, envelopes, pens, stickers and postage stamps.  Keep things summery with bright and cheery colours.  My favorite thing to tote along is a teeny-tiny watercolor set.  Pooling together your stationery supplies makes for a fun and thrifty way to spice up your letter-writing game.  One person’s everyday washi tape is another’s gem!

Get writing and chatting.  It’s so nice to socialize while cutting, pasting and writing pretty mail.

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Winter

There’s no other way to describe winter letter-writing parties other than cozy.  When it’s a snowy Saturday in February it’s the perfect time to catch up with friends and write some letters while you’re at it.  Anything goes: birthday cards, thank you notes and for-no-reason-at-all letters.  (Honestly, receiving those out of the blue letters always delights me in the very best way.)

This is the time to put on the kettle and make a few pots of tea.  Hot chocolate works like a charm too.  Treat it like a mini potluck.  Each friend can bring along a snack or sweet.  Since you’re indoors, break out your typewriter and turn on your local jazz radio station.  (Typewriters are always a hit since not everyone has one of their own.)  Get super crafty with rubber stamps, stencils, glue, paper scraps and twine.  

Thank you Jaime for sharing these inspiring ideas! For those of you wondering where you can find the vintage stamps featured in this post, Jaime has a beautifully curated online store called Send More Mail! She also has a not-to-be-missed Instagram account for endless letter-writing eye-candy. 

Mail Carrier Q&A: Tips & More

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We sat down with a veteran mail carrier to find out what it's like to be on the other end of the mailbox.

“I hope people keep sending letters. You know, it’s more of a personal thing. Right now, people are keeping in touch but they use this (points to the cell phone) but it’s not personal. Someone likes to open letters – especially older people. That’s their joy. Sometimes they’re right there by the box waiting for it. ”

Please note: interviewee requests to remain anonymous for this interview. 

Write_On :    How long have you been a postal worker?

Interviewee: I’ve been working for the post office since 1985. So 31 years. 

Write_On :   What is your job title? Or what do you like to be called? 

Interviewee: Mail carrier. Not post man. No. 

Write_On :   What is a typical work day for you? 

Interviewee: Getting up in the morning, getting there around 8. And I’m a rural carrier in a small town, I’m different from the normal carriers so when we finish our deliveries we go home, we don’t have a set schedule. When I’m done, I’m done. It’s nice. 

Write_On :    Sometimes we want to stop and say hi, or ask our mail carrier questions but we know you're on a tight schedule. What is the etiquette there?

Interviewee:  Well, I’m very flexible. I usually chat with customers, we can’t take too long, but we’re very polite to our customers and friendly. 

Write_On :   What is your favorite part about your job?

Interviewee:  My customers. Getting to see people every day. I have a regular route that I’ve been doing for seventeen years. So I know everyone pretty well. I have lots of friends around. We’ve become friends. My route is 25 miles. I drive and deliver in a rural area, outside of the city limits. So I can’t walk, even if I wanted to. 

Write_On :   and your least favorite?

Interviewee:  The politics. 

Write_On :   Have you noticed any changes in the amount of letters being sent? More or less?

Interviewee:  It’s a lot less. There’s not that many personal letters. It’s mostly emails. The only personal cards we get is when someone passes away you’ll notice that. Otherwise it’s someone’s birthday or something like that. 

Write_On :   Is there a time when you noticed a decline in personal mail being sent? 

Interviewee:  When these came out! (laughs and points to cell phone). Devices. The internet. 

Write_On :   How often do you get to see beautifully decorated mail?

Interviewee:  The ones that have a lot of artwork are usually from prison! Usually they’re the ones that have drawings and stuff. But otherwise pretty envelopes you see mostly around Easter, Valentines. 

*Sakura recommends Gelly Roll pens to decorate the outside of your envelopes! They are waterproof and archival and will withstand the weather. The bright colors will provide a fun and cheerful greeting for your recipient. 

Write_On :    Describe a unique piece of mail that caught your attention. 

Interviewee:  I’ve actually received a coconut in the mail from my co-worker who went to Hawaii. I’ve seen messages in a bottle, but mostly regular envelopes. 

*For alternative surfaces like cardboard, wood, plastic or metal, try Pentouch or Permapaque markers. The water proof inks are durable and the opaque colors and metallic shine inks stand out on darker colors.

Write_On :   What are some tips you can offer for anyone sending a letter? Any dos and don'ts?

Interviewee:  Always put your return address. Because if you don’t do that it can go back to what is called “Dead Letter”. And it could stay there for quite a while. The inspectors have to open it up. Always put your return address because it can get stuck to a piece of equipment, or get stuck to another letter and can go from California all the way to New York before it comes back! 

Write_On :   What do you hope to see in the future of mail?

Interviewee:  I hope people keep sending letters. You know, it’s more of a personal thing. Right now, people are keeping in touch but they use this (points to the cell phone) but it’s not personal. Someone likes to open letters – especially older people. That’s their joy. Sometimes they’re right there by the box waiting for it. 

Write_On :   We started Write_On to promote joy, creativity, expression and connection through hand-written correspondence. How do you hope this campaign can help people to connect?

Interviewee:  The way we get paid is by how much people mail! That’s how they figure out our pay. (Laughs)! The best thing to do is write to someone in the hospital or who is down or isn’t feeling well. They love to receive mail. Older people love to get mail. Sometimes that’s their whole day.  Young people, it’s their phone. But older people – the highlight of their day is when they see the mail carrier. We’ve gotten invited to weddings by our customers. They’re like our family now. We’re a small town. We know everyone.

Ready to Write! A Letter-Writing Toolbox

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Of course, all you really need to write a letter are paper, pen, and thoughtfulness, but being organized and having a few extra tools can make it more likely that you'll write more often and generally make the process more enjoyable and one that reflects your personality.

Read on for some of the tools you'll find in my own letter-writing stash!

  • Vintage paper clamps to bundle outgoing mail, stamps, etc.
  • Handy paper snips for cutting ephemera, washi tape, etc.
  • Special paper that inspires you to write. This is woodblock printed paper from Haibara, est. 1806. I recently spotted Mr. Carson carrying a similar style in a brief scene in Downton Abbey! 
  • The letterpress Possibilities Notebook from Social Preparedness Kit for planning and plotting. 
  • Social Preparedness Kit Tear-Away Notes for letter-writing on the fly. There have been several occasions when I was kicking myself for not having this in my car glove-compartment AND my purse.
  • Little goodies! I love to send little treats with my letters like tea bags, seeds, and candy.
  • Social Preparedness Kit pouches. These come in a range of sizes from pen pouches to document size. I love to use them to gather up a whole stack of cards, stamps, and address book and go work on some letters at a cafe.
  • Postcards. Sometimes you aren't feeling very verbose and just want to send a funny joke, a few words of thanks for an awesome dinner, etc. It's nice to have a limited space to write!
  • I haven't painted since 5th grade (as you might be able to tell!) but I've been inspired by all of the Spring blooms in Portland to try my hand at water-coloring. “Strathmore Artist Papers™, a division of Pacon Corporation. ® and TM used under license from Mohawk (Write_On sponsor!) has these terrific watercolor postcard pads. I've been having so much fun with them. Perfect for a little plein air painting AND letter-writing!
  • A collection of brush pens (I like the Pilot Futayaka) and various paint brushes.
  • Vintage stamps! These are from Send More Mail, a wonderful curator of unused vintage stamps who sells them in packets which are all sorted by color.
  • Social Preparedness Kit card sets. I can't really imagine life without these. I use them as mini-card writing stations with one in my kitchen, one on my desk, and one on my livingroom table. Writing letters is hard! It's so important to have things at the ready whenever YOU'RE ready.
  • PENS! Gelly Roll pens from Sakura are so painterly and fun and perfect for addressing envelopes. For the inside of my cards and letters I'm devoted to the Japanese Pilot Hi-Tec-C pens. They have a very fine tip but don't drag. I recently bought the white refillable jumbo pen so I can have all my favorite colors at hand.

Letter of the Day

“It’s my most favorite month because I get to think of all the people I don’t get to write to as much and share my sentiments.”

For Write_On 2016 we've decided to share our favorite letters in the #write_on feed. Have you browsed all the posts lately? GLORIOUS! This one is from Issa (@issalilley on Instagram) and we love the ideas she's shared and that she racks her brain for silly memories to send to her mom as a way of showing her how much she appreciates her. Awww.

20 Reasons to Write a Letter, with Sabrina Moyle of Hello!Lucky

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  1. A letter is personal, private, and permanent

  2. Writing it down in a letter makes it known and real

  3. A letter gives you perspective on what someone means to you

  4. Letter-writing takes time; the process helps us savor the people we love

  5. A letter is a shared object

  6. A letter is a shared experience

  7. Handwriting is more personal than typewritten text

  8. Handwriting helps us generate creative thoughts and ideas

  9. Letters give us a reason to be creative and expressive. They can include words, pictures, quotes, lists, poems, questions...

  10. Letters help us stay connected to people who don’t use computers often

  11. Handwritten letters are rare, which makes them special to receive

  12. Letter-writing is a form of contemplation

  13. Writing a letter helps you know yourself

  14. Writing a letter helps you develop your voice

  15. Letters give us a reason to express gratitude, which is scientifically linked to happiness

  16. Letters help friendships grow deeper

  17. Letters let us say things that would be hard to say in person or on social media

  18. A letter is a more meaningful gift than most material things

  19. Letters are 1-to-1 instead of 1-to-many

  20. Letters re-humanize relationships