Dear Reader- Margaret Shepherd’s calligraphy show, “Song of Songs” just opened at Yale’s Divinity School last week. The back story of this event is a curious one, so I thought I’d share it with you…And, in this season of Valentines, it’s easy to talk about some love poetry! In the Spring of 2010, Adam Schwartz […]
Expressing sorrow
Yesterday, I wrote a condolence card to a friend. No matter how many of them I write, each one challenges me with an inadequate feeling. What can I say to offer comfort at such a time of grief? Yet words of sympathy are necessary to write especially now- when so many are dying unexpectedly, due […]
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 […]
Holiday Greetings
Holiday greeting cards, do they still matter? Yes, they do. The US Postal Service estimates that out of the 20+ billion pieces of mail they handle between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, 1.5 billion are attributed to holiday cards! Let’s face it, the end of the year is overflowing with holidays, feast days, celebrations and […]
Meeting Margaret
November 2, 2016 I have been a fan of Margaret Shepherd’s books for many years. When I first discovered her collection of letter writing guides, I was sold. I felt I found a kindred spirit. With a little research, I discovered her address and immediately wrote to Margaret Shepherd expressing my thanks and appreciation. She […]
Gift Ideas: Carol’s picks
November 29, 2013 One passionate letter writer I met told me that she always makes a gift of thank you notes. Isn’t that a WONDERFUL idea? One always has good reason to be grateful for some kindness. Perhaps you need to thank the person, people who cooked that delicious meal you enjoyed yesterday. Thank you […]
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 […]
Letters of Sympathy
December 18, 2012 If you would like to send a sympathy note to the Newtown community in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, please address your cards to: The Families of Newtown P.O. Box 3700 Newtown, CT 06470 USA ______________________________________________________________________________________ Tips for writing a sympathy letter: Keep it brief. When a loved […]
“Just a note to say I care…”
March 30, 2012 …It was a year ago, I had major surgery for cancer. In celebration of my anniversary and my clean bill of health, I want to finish the post I started: “How to Write a Get Well Letter.” Being in their shoes…You know, this culture values us by how productive we are. Multitasking […]
Cursive Italic is Classy!
January 14, 2012 Have you ever noticed whenever elegance is required in written or even printed communication…. script always fills the bill! Let’s face it, cursive italic IS classy. The popular lament these days is “my handwriting is horrible!” Vimala Rogers counters that remark with her #1 Truth: “There is no such thing as ….bad […]