Wendy Bounds offers a compelling case for the value of handwriting in our present day culture. Backed by scientific research from Indiana University, brain scans of school children show increased brain activity after they practice writing by hand, actually forming the letters! Technology is supportive as children can use apps on their smart phones and […]
Carol’s Tips and Greeting Cards!
October 17, 2010 “A blank canvas can be intimidating,” – a painting student once told me. The blank sheet of stationary (with or without an imprint) can be just as scary. However, in my opinion, nothing displays our written words better than a clean sheet of stationery. I get scared too, so let me share […]
Stationery, the paper we write on
October 11, 2010 Now it’s time to discuss paper or rather stationery. This topic is quite involved and I am not surprised. Years ago, I worked in a printing and engraving factory. The behemoth presses would rhythmically bang out the sheets of business letterheads and personal stationery. Some of the results were stunning. The variables […]
Pen, Paper & the Desire to Connect
October 1, 2010 In contemplating a formula for letter writing, I wondered how to keep it simple. Basically, three elements are necessary: pen, paper and the desire to connect. This desire for connection is primary, otherwise there would be no motivation behind the effort. Expressing one’s feelings and stories to another through a handwritten letter […]
How to Choose a Pen, Part 2- “Fountain Pens”
September 26, 2010 “My handwriting is awful….Most people find that using a fountain pen improves their handwriting just a little, as it slows your hand just a bit…a fountain pen can bring out your best.” -Steve Leveen Choosing a fountain pen is both a vote of self confidence and a commitment to the art of […]
100 Million Pens per day!
September 22,2010 I noticed this statistic in a catalog: “worldwide, 100 million pens are discarded daily.” All those pens in the trash, urges me to say, “Choose your pens wisely, for many reasons.” I have a variety of favorite pens that I use for different reasons and moods. My “work pen” is a chubby ITOYA […]
Tips on Ballpoint Pens
September 20, 2010 Always store point up. Pad writing surface to allow for easier writing movement across the sheet. If ink stops flowing as it sometimes does in cold weather, hold the tip near a flame , wipe it and wait 2 seconds to get the ink flowing. If the ink blobs, as […]
“Don’t Write Off the Art of Letter Writing”
By Amy J. Barry Special to Living Publication: The Sound Published 09/09/2010 12:00 AM Don’t Write Off the Art of Letter Writing Call me a word nerd, a hopeless romantic, a dinosaur among the techie crowd, a person who, 10 years in, is still kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but by golly I […]
How to Choose a Pen, Part I
September 12,2010 Choosing a pen that feels “just right in your hand” is actually more challenging than it sounds. Most stores have pens entombed in plastic, or locked behind glass. If you get lucky enough to actually get your hands on a fountain pen, it will most likely not have ink. Lovely catalogs tease us […]
Mother Teresa stamps
September 8, 2010 I have to deviate for a good reason- Mother Teresa. Today the local Knights of Columbus in New Haven, CT, USA- had a big celebration in conjunction with the US Postal Service to launch the sale of the “Mother Teresa stamp”. I went to buy some stamps and to check out the […]