Today, National Handwriting Day, is John Hancock’s birthday. John Hancock was a patriot, a rabble-rouser, the first and third governor of Massachusetts, and yet he is best remembered for his large flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence. Hancock’s handwriting matched his personality. As the very first signer on the Declaration of Independence, he declared, […]
Having a “John Hancock”
The ability to sign your name is one of the best reasons to learn cursive writing. Even with all the digital ways you can dodge handwriting, often one needs to “sign the pad” for a transaction. So what do you do? Scribble or print? Your signature or your “John Hancock,” as it is sometimes referred […]
David Bowie’s song lyrics were all written by hand
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hunky Dory had its own alphabet- ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo: David Bowie in 1967. Getty Images
Christopher Columbus’ signature
There’s something about a person’s signature that indicates much about them. I know very little about the science of handwriting analysis. What I do look at is the way the letters are formed. Are they clear and precise? Bold? Or illegible? Notice the flourishes in the script above. The lines are practically weaving themselves […]
The Art of Letter Writing
June 2, 2015 The Art of Letter Writing: Voice, Handwriting & Spirit With Christian McEwen and Barbara Bash June 12 – 14, 2015 In my mailbox, buried amid the sales offers, catalogs, and charity requests, I found the latest brochure from the Zen Mountain Monastery. There I discovered a workshop for writing letters. Wow! There […]
Priceless Handwritten Letter in the News
March 23, 2015 A few weeks ago, a wealthy Spanish family, The House of Alba, attempted to auction off a letter written by Christopher Columbus to his son Diego. The Spanish government blocked the sale saying the letter is a national treasure and must be kept within the country. The value of this 1498 missive […]
My Mother’s beautiful handwriting
Mother’s Day- May 11, 2014 My Mother had beautiful handwriting. She was trained by nuns at a boarding school. And letter writing was her favorite way to communicate. Although she is gone now, the sight of her handwriting in one of the many letters I’ve saved, brings her voice immediately back into my present life. […]
Tips for Writing Love Letters
Tips for Writing Love Letters Create atmosphere- To focus your attention on the person you are writing to, eliminate distractions. Give yourself the space to discover how you feel. Bring them to mind with a photograph or some memento, and, then have a conversation with them on the page. Be natural. Content- Think about what […]
The Multifaceted Art of Writing Letters
September 16, 2013 Much has been written about the “Lost Art of Letter Writing and Handwriting.” Yes, it is rare to see a handwritten address in one’s daily mail. And, yes, cursive writing is disappearing from school curriculum. But is the art of writing letters really “lost,” like the Holy Grail, or gone the way […]
Matthew’s “Right Writer”
MatthewMatthew’s ‘Right Writer’ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ While listening to NPR on my morning commute, I heard about Warren Buffet’s contest for kids: Grow Your Own Business…and his Secret Millionaires’ Club. (The later is his cartoon series where he imparts valuable financial lessons to kids.) Nearly 4000 kids, ages 7 to 16 submitted their entrepreneurial ideas for a chance […]