Speaking of volunteering your penmanship to a cause, I recently offered to hand write postcards to voters for the local mayoral campaign. The cards I worked on are addressed to the folks who live in apartments that are inaccessible to canvassers- knocking on doors. These neighbors are a serious voting block and they deserve time […]
Cinque’s story
“They call me Cinque. I am a rice farmer and a proud husband and father of 3 delightful children. One beautiful day in the Spring of 1839, while I was walking along the road in my native country of Sierra Leone, 4 strong men jumped out at me and held me down. They tied my […]
Yes, Yes, Yes…
Indulge me. Take a deep breath in, and exhale. It’s 2019. Time to take stock and reflect, set goals, make resolutions. Four days in, I’m still knotted up in details for improving myself. Yes, I’d like a full makeover, but realistically, let’s be kind. So, I’m reminded of a quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn, the father of […]
2018 Graceful Envelope Winners
Whatever the Weather… As a former letter carrier, I can talk from experience about the daily challenges the weather poses. During the course of a single day, a kaleidoscope of possibilities can occur with rain, chill, humidity, varying degrees of sunlight, heat, and wind. Snow, hail, sleet, and ice feature big during Winter months when […]
Timothy Matlack
Speaking of “writing history,” The Declaration of Independence is the perfect subject for this week. The Committee of Five or the brain trust of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman formulated the concepts. The wording was Jeffersonian. And the final draft written by Thomas Jefferson was engrossed by the famous […]
1000 words…
June 16, 2018 A picture is worth a 1000 words. Happy Father’s Day!
Hand-Lettered Opinions
Yesterday was the MARCH FOR OUR LIVES in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of thousands gathered in support of the students’ demands to end gun violence. 800 other locations across the country held rallies, while support also came from round the globe in cities such as London, Paris, Hamburg, Geneva, Amsterdam, Bogota, and Sydney. I am truly humbled by […]
Valentines!
With only a few days to go, we need to make a plan for Valentines Day. Flowers, chocolates, diamonds? Well, here’s a simpler idea- how about a love letter? Young or old, everyone appreciates them. And I’m talking about the real deal with pen to paper. Emails don’t quite do it. Even the millennials prefer […]
Instructions for Life
Wise words for the New Year…
“Whatever the Weather”
Now that the holidays are winding down, perhaps you might try your hand at The Graceful Envelope Contest…”Whatever the Weather,” the 2018 theme might spark an idea. View the complete rules and check out many inspiring winners from previous years at http://www.calligraphersguild.org/ Deadline is March 26, 2018










