Three Centuries of Valentines Offer 12,000 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ -The New York Times By Eve M. Kahn Feb. 13, 2018 Paper Valentines spanning three centuries of optimism about romance have been delivered to the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif. The collection of about 12,000 cards was assembled […]
1st Christmas Card (revisited)
Before there were printed greeting cards, people sent handwritten messages to each other. In 1843, Henry Cole, a British civil servant and entrepreneur, commissioned John C. Horsley to design the above Christmas card. Sir Henry Cole (as he later became known) was looking for a way ordinary people could use the services of the newly […]
Penmanship revisited
Hello Reader, Valentine’s Day always signals a good reason to put your pen to paper. And having your message clear and legible will help the recipient know who is playing Cupid. Did you know? In former times, when a man was wooing a young lady, the quality of his penmanship determined whether he even had […]
Reclaiming normal
Dear Reader– Here we are at the end of another year devastated by COVID and the variants. People are emotionally frayed, hair-trigger impatient, and more than slightly nuts. Kids are caught in the middle between what is safe, and what adults believe. Their education and social development are spotty and disrupted. Supply chains are missing […]
Mother’s Day is Sunday!
May 9, 2018 Whether it’s been a while or not since you’ve written…now’s the time to think about sending Mom a card or a note. Mother’s Day is May 13th. Sure, flowers and dinner are lovely, but a card with a few personal lines written by you will be a keepsake! Look for a card […]
The History of the 1st Christmas Card
Before printed cards, people sent handwritten messages to each other. Then in 1843, Henry Cole, a civil servant and entrepreneur, commissioned John C. Horsley to design the above Christmas card. Sir Henry Cole (as he later became known) was looking for a way ordinary people could use the services of the newly established post […]
WAIT- Recycle those cards and stamps!
December 28, 2016 There’s always the question: What to do with all those cards once the holiday is over? Do they all go out with the wrapping into the trash? WAIT! You can recycle some of those cards. And, before the envelopes disappear, you can cut out the return addresses and paste them onto a […]
In Praise of Holiday Greeting Cards
December 26, 2016 These last week weeks, I would discover large stacks of cards at individual mailboxes, waiting for me to pick up for mailing. I love to see folks still sending cards by mail. The fact that people are still communicating on paper is key. A personalized card is a keepsake. So why do […]
Holiday Greetings Tips
It’s that time again. “Only 18 days left till Christmas.” Hmmmmm… Let’s prioritize our card lists… If you’ve thought about sending cards and you are feeling rushed for time at this date, focus on the family and friends who live at a distance, are elderly, or infirm. Those are the folks who would […]
Holiday Greetings: Your words are a gift!
December 12, 2011 As we write our holiday cards, please take the time to personalize the card with at least 3 short sentences. Picture the person you are addressing and write a few lines directly to him or her. Bring up a good memory about a visit or a shared experience. Or say something encouraging, […]