April to Nicky and Janet

 

Here are two more variations of Christi's versals. I used a big chunky paint pen on Nicky's and resisted the temptation to outline the whole thing. I'm not wild about it - but I think it looked better in person.

I think Janet's was better. I outlined with a gel pen and then filled in with patterns using paint pens. I liked how the style went with the quilt stamps. I love-love-love the quilt stamps - but I think the JANET should have been larger. I had to make the strokes slowly or the gel pen would skip - so that limited the size. 

***

I'm not sure what this person has in mind.

At the top of her IG account she has this:

Artist and illustrator, sharing daily art and experiments in art #calicobrush
Do not copy!

Then she has pages and pages and pages of fun watercolor illustrations that include step-by-step instructions. Not all of them - but a lot of them. If she doesn't want people to *copy* why is she providing instructions. 

Maybe she doesn't want the images copied?

I'll just type out the name and if you are interested in simple watercolor illustration - you can check it out.

instagram(dot)com(forward slash)calico(dot)brush(forward slash)

Four wild ones (inspired by Christi)

 

These are all inspired by Christi's versals. I could work harder to make my versals more like Christi's but her style is so personal that it would feel more like forgery to try to write exactly like her. So, I did what I always do - I went looser. I also used more color. Amy's was the first and it's tighter - which might be a good thing or maybe the looser ones are better? I think it might be a sheep/goat situation.

***

A couple days ago when I was writing about the minimalist lifestyle that Juliana should not be thinking about - I wondered - when did the word lifestyle become *a thing.*

I also want to know when did saying *a thing* become a thing? But, I don't feel like researching that. I did ask TheSoCalledKeeperOfInformation to tell us when lifestyle became a word and it was first used in a journal titled Mind in 1915. Then in 1929 Alfred Adler used it:

Alfred Adler coined "lifestyle" (originally from the German Lebensstil) to describe a person's unique way of striving toward goals and coping with their environment. In this context, a lifestyle was considered "fixed" by age six and included a person's self-concept and world view.

But - that's not how we currently use it -- in the 50s and 60s it turned into a term used in marketing - which was the slippery slope that we've been dealing with our whole lives - if we are a boomer. 

More lost and found

These are all fun - and were having a good time hiding from the other stack that is organized.

Mike Moore shoots beautiful photos - makes then into cards and then sends them in envelopes with dreamy Spencerian penmanship. The vintage stamp was on the envelope which was inserted in the clear envelope. 

Finnbadger sent this for New Years.

This is from Irene - and should have been posted with her envelope - but it's being rerouted to my stash of illuminated letters.

Troy's been saving these special vintage stamps just for me - I get verklempt when I see them because once upon a time I had all of them. 

And this one from Grace cracked me up. I think she might have signed up in December and then didn't get her envelopes done until Feb - which is fine -- and there was a note inside referencing bananas and the circus stamp --- as in going bananas and the way we sometimes call chaos - a circus. 

 

March from Juliana - minimalism

I enjoy Juliana's notes. They are usually topics that I can relate to. The design reminds me of one that I remember seeing where the name was on the left of the vertical line and the address was on the right. It was so simple and I don't know if I ever used the design. This one is inviting me to steal it.

***

Juliana is way too young to be seeking a minimalist lifestyle - so this is not for you Juliana. It might not be for anyone...but it caught my eye and I have to fill my posts. So here it is - a link to all kinds of articles that are offering tips on a minimizing.

https://nosidebar.com/popular-posts/

I am not promoting this website - they have some course you can sign up for - and they also are asking people to submit articles for free which is absurd. They think that by promoting your work that's a fair trade. While that seems absurd to me, perhaps I am just exposing myself as a fossil.

No surprise that this is one of their images....

 

May 1 --- March from Judi

A couple weeks ago I posted an envelope from Judi with a suggestion on the rays she had drawn that were inspired by the Keith Herring stamp. I had asked her if it was OK to post suggestions and she was fine with it. She also left a thank you comment. So, I'll assume she's OK with a suggestion on this card. I love the sentiment and if there was any way to get more of those stamps - I'd be using it. Maybe I can figure out a way to pair the sentiment with other stamps.

In the list of principles that we can use when designing things, one of them is contrast. I think the design would benefit from more contrast in point size between the block lettering and the script. I like the amount of space that the lettering takes up - leaving lots of space - so I wouldn't change that. I'd just make the block letters smaller to fit their spaces better. I'd secretly widen the script *good* as well as the *co* to give those two spaces.

Judi gets an A+ on the word spacing. I'm so glad there is no space between *good* and *coffee*

***

Time to sign up for the May exchange.

Today through May 4th is the window to sign-up. Lists are sent on the 5th.

If you participated in the APRIL exchange - just shoot me an email that says: SIGN ME UP - you do not need to retype your address and info.

Send your sign-up to:    PTEnvelopes-at-aol-dot-com

Let me know if it is your [Birthday] month or if you are willing to be on [2 Lists].

If you were not on a April list - or if you only sign up occasionally - or are a new exchanger - please send your information in the following format:

Jane Doe

123 Oak Street

Ames, IA 50010

janedoe@aol.com

[Birthday]  [2 Lists]  -- if those items apply

If you are new to the exchange - there are helpful details at this link:

https://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/p/rules-of-exchangement.html

 

March from Kerry. - hedgehogs

 I loaded these photos more than a week ago and started talking about hedgehogs and now I can't figure out what the connection was. Maybe there was a hedgehog in the envelope? I just found this partially written blog post and am finishing it - starting here.

I included Kerry's business card in case anyone wants to look at her work or hire her to design something. I have not had a chance to interview Kerry. If she sticks with the exchange maybe she'll offer some additional information. There are several new exchangers who seem much younger than a lot of us old timers - so if you are young and trying to grow your online presence, I'm happy to put your names out there for those 10,000 people who view the blog each day. That's just crazy. I don't understand how that is happening. Maybe Google is just messing with me..... 

***

Hedgehogs in the news.

This caught my eye:

Mayors in Germany are calling for a nighttime ban on robotic lawnmowers in order to protect small nocturnal animals, especially hedgehogs, which tend to curl up and stay put when scared. But when we use that reasoning to try to stay in on a Saturday, suddenly all our friends want to mow us down.

Hedgehogs are so darn cute. I already have two hedgehog stories on the blog. One of them is recent, the other is from 2019. It's weird (for me) to go back and read old blog posts. It's like reading someone's journal and the writing needs to be edited and polished. 

LINK to two old posts talking about hedgehogs

March from Liz - Office of Collecting

I keep looking at this one from Liz and trying to figure out if I can do a version. I think she made the shapes and then outlined them. Since I am heading out to Chicago for a couple weeks, I won't have time to try this before I leave so I was thinking of a way to remember to try it. I see that I have already made a tag or label that is supposed to bring me back to things I want to try. Maybe I'll remember to do that.

***

Add on for the day - you're on your own if this looks interesting. So many things to see. 

https://www.officeofcollecting.com/about

Their IG might be a better place to get a feel for what they are doing - collecting itty-bitty things and then doing flatlay photographs of the items. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRDPO4pkqD7/?img_index=4

This is done by one of their fans - just to give you an idea. My favorites were often ones that were shown in videos - not still shots. I do not collect anything but I do have an assortment of unrelated itty-bitty things. Maybe I should take a photograph of all of them and then pass them along to someone who likes itty bitty things.

 

March from Maggie - Mailman book

 

Apologies for my redundant comments that I want to get out my paints and do some flowers. This particular color combination is calling to me. Instead, I am trying to fill up a dozen posts because someone has reset the Time Machine and making time go faster. Why did Google just capitalize the word -time- and the word -machine-. That is very suspicious. Or perhaps I am exposing myself as clueless and or ignorant. 

At least Clover provided us with a fantastic new book to read. Thank you, Clover. I like that border and it's giving me an idea for how to do a better stamp border than the way I usually do them.

Here's the blurb that goes with the book.

1966, Chicago. Backlogged with millions of undelivered letters, the post office announces a temporary closure. But eighty-one-year-old Henry Walton can’t stand idly by when there’s mail waiting to be delivered. He believes letters are what keep people connected, and he’s not about to let them get lost in the chaos. 

Plus, connection keeps the mind sharp—according to a note someone’s pinned up in his kitchen.

While the post office scrambles to get things under control, Henry races against time and forgetfulness. Taking it upon himself to deliver the mail, he discovers hatred and tragedy, triumph and joy in the letters he carries and the people he meets along the way.

Inspired by true events, this delightful story will linger with readers long after they turn the last page—and might just inspire someone to write a letter, the old-fashioned way.

March from Mary

Mary enclosed a note mentioning how welcome spring is and how she wishes she had more coffee stamps. Me, too. I need to visit the stamp guy and see if he has any. This is a steal worthy idea....the stack of stuff up the middle. Is this the month where I use each envelope as inspiration for the following month's envelope?

 ***

Remember Dorothy Parker's line: What fresh new hell is this? 

I think she said it when the phone rang. 

My fresh new hell was getting a paper cut on the finger that I use on the little button that allows me to bypass all the times I need a password to do whatever I need to do on my computer.

I've overstated the situation.

It was just a fresh new annoyance. 

I fact checked myself to make sure the quote actually came from Dorothy Parker. Not that we can know anything for sure any more. However, I learned so much about Dorothy Parker.

March from Patty - nonsensical

 

I love-love-love Patty's horse. I also love that the Fire Horse suggests I should just go ahead with my wildest dream - and just do that. It says - Let's do that. Maybe I can only do the wild dream if I am with the horse. There might be more to the story. I'll wait to hear from you Patty. We have another project for the museum in my back yard. It's a good one. 100% creative - no tedious flower folding. Let me know when you want to get started. You, too, Janet. ***update - the project has turned into something that will be *unveiled* in July - so I don't know if we need to keep it top secret. I've probably already alerted Patty and Janet to the need for brainstorming.

***

I'm working hard on not talking about health and medical issues - but this line was just too much fun to ignore.

This dictation was electronically transcribed via Dragon

Medical. We endeavor to check on the accuracy of the transcription but at times nonsensical statements inadvertently make it through the proofreading process.

I'm guessing everyone has learned how to use patient portals and adapted to the electron-ification of all our doctor appointment. I figured out how to do this and actually read through everything and found the line that *there might be nonsensical statements* that slip through the proofreading. 

I had to make up that word - electron-ification. Maybe there is a better word for all this new fangled stuff. I still think that there are aliens from other planets that are behind all this so-called progress. And I know they are keeping an eye on me because of that theory...  but they're going to leave me alone for a while because they want to see how good I am at figuring everything out. 

P.S. It is unsettling to see those notes following the appointment - and will make any further appointments rather strange because I'll be thinking more about how what I say will be recorded.

March from Renee - Nina's signature

This is from Renee and there is a sweet little item inside with suggestions for May - but April is so close - especially now that the weather is bonkers. It says *By Julia Dreams* in the middle. Maybe we should Google that.... 

***

This is from the folder of random stuff.

Nina Garcia is the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine and if you've ever watched Project Runway, she was frequently a judge. This is one fine signature. That dot on the i in Garcia is spectacular. It would be fun to see how it evolved since I doubt that was how she was signing her name when she first learned cursive.

March from Jeannette - 1st woman letter carrier

 

Jeannette's envelope is jumping out of reverse alphabetical order because the add-on is about a famous Jeannette, our Jeannette does collage - and she saw my warning about how the USPS machines chew up mail. Jeannette uses acrylic medium to laminate her artwork - so her collages would probably be fine - but she decided to put her work in a plain envelope. I'm flattered that she acted on my suggestion. 

***

Yay! The next item in the folder is something I saved to put on the blog and it's on-topic.

Photos that were hiding - The Orb

 I had the add-on posted and no envelope  - then I found several photos that I'm pretty sure have not been posted. So - today is housekeeping day. Top one from Irene

 Card above and envelope below from Lynne.

Below from Jeannette

Above  from Riley.

***

I was in a bit of a tizz over the subject of content creators and worrying that I have become a content creator. I was going to seek professional help. Then I remembered that I'm a blogger. That's different. Blogs really fell by the wayside as other formats were invented. Lucky for me - I never moved over to other platforms. Recently, I saw something that said that blogs are coming back. 

I'm clearing out that folder of silly things that I save - always with the idea of a specific person who will enjoy it - but then before I send it, I think about what that person has going on in their life and I figure they do not need another random bit of silliness.

OK - I still love this one. Apologies that I have to resort to this to fill up April.... but we've endured worse times than this - and we'll probably get through this, too. 

I am literally laughing out loud at my idea to make an orb and put it in our driveway - next time MrWilson is out after dark. I reeeeeeally hope I can control this impulse. The bad part is that I have a perfect bowl --- all I need are the glow sticks... and someone with a gorilla suit. But I don't think I need the gorilla - I think an orb will be quite enough. What I need is a camera to record what happens. 

March from Riley --- quirks

I put the March envelopes in alphabetical order (by first name) and will start at the end of the list and work forward. Somehow I have two from Riley. Maybe the one below was from February. It's a reminder to everyone that the USPS charges extra for square envelopes. They didn't tell me how much they want but next time I go to the post office - I'll find out and give them the entire amount in pennies because there is a penny shortage and they will appreciate getting some pennies.

I like Riley's tall Js and should try some tall letters someday.

***

Actually, that silly pizza picture yesterday reminded me of something fun to talk about. I have a friend who is in her 50s. Technically, I could be her mom. Her mom is not that much older than I am. My friend  was talking about how when her mom makes something that she's made for years (in the world of cooking and baking) my friend really, really, really wants it to be exactly the same. She does not want her mom trying any variations of the old-favorite recipes. She asked me if I was the same way - or if I had been the same way when my mom was still around - and I do not recall being that way. But, wow, did it ever dredge up the trauma of having my sandwich cut into two rectangles. What kind of mom refuses to remember that the offspring needs to have triangles. It's not a want, it's a need. I'm resisting the temptation to Google the topic to see what I'd find. It's rare that Google can't find something about every topic. There was one time when it came up blank and I deeply regret that I did not make a note of it..... it's nice to have some truly benign regrets.

March to JeanR

 

I've been using a round stamp on JeanR's envelope every month for two or three months. I love the stamps but, I do a terrible job when I have a bunch of different names and sets of stamps with wildly different colors. This way - I have the same name and four letters is plenty for a circle. I need to find a larger circle for the name or smaller envelopes so that the name has a lot more punch. I couldn't find markers to use for the background so I built it up with layers of something. I don't even remember what I used.

This is the end of the March envelopes that I did. Tomorrow I will start the March envelopes that arrived. There are some really fun ones. Also, it is April 4th as I write this and there were quite a few people who let us know that their envelopes were running late - so brace yourself for a lot of chaos with the system. 

Is there a fun add-on lurking in my folder of random cute stuff? I sure hope so because so far this is not an inspired blurb. 

***

I'm going to refrain as much as I can from reposting the silly things that I see on IG. I read enough articles about how the internet is turning our brains to mush and I don't want to go down that slippery slope. But, technically, I am just another random ding-dong posting stuff on the internet. Maybe I'm a little different because I literally post one new thing every single day that is not a repost from somewhere else. So maybe that counts as not-mushbrain-inducing content. Ick. Double ick. I have never considered that I am creating content. I might have to go seek some professional guidance on this matter. Or maybe we'll have fun pondering for the next 13 days....which is how many I need to fill up.

Maybe to USPS will issue some round stamps to celebrate round food. Pizza, donuts, slices of kiwi, etc.

March to Judi and Irene - missed my connection - cute buttons

 

The three envelopes yesterday had names that fit on two lines. With Judi and Irene - I split the long last names and used three colors. Once again, I have a fondness for these because I had to let them marinate on the desk for a while. I like the size of everything and how it fills up the space because I'm not always good at filling up space. It's fun to take a risk and not have it backfire.

***

As promised, I will put this topic to rest for a few reasons. The main one is that I had a few posts written and I had more to say - but I was interrupted and lost my train of thought. When I came back to finish up the series, the train had left the station.

I had to take the next train - then I saw that I was going to miss my connection. That means that my little break where I lost the train of thought caused me to get behind on my blog writing so now I'm in the midst of a big time crunch.

It don't want to fill up the posts with drivel - so I will come up with a plan to dig into the archive of random tidbits that I save and see if I can find some nuggets.  I have to fill up 15 posts in one day. Yikes.

Here's an image off IG - but I lost the link - so I did a Google image search and found a link.

LINK to Paper Craft on FB

March to Patty, Lynne and Juliana - almost end of topic

 

I hardly ever produce envelopes that wow me - and I'm not crazy about these colors - but, I have a real fondness for them because I had to do 30 envelopes and I was really late - so I needed an idea that I could just crank out fast. I had a stack of these leftover envelopes from my daughter's holiday cards and I did not have a good stamp. I decided I would try to make it work with the flower stamps. I wish the white had been whiter. I had all the names done and then really struggled with how to tie everything together. The most fun part was trying different borders for the stamp. Thanks again to Janet who is a frequent borderer so that the concept keeps popping up.

Patty's is my favorite which is unusual because the TTY in her name is often challenging. Lynne's name is perpetually challenging because of the NNE - and she doesn't fit in the short-first-long-last category - so I struggle with making the two names work together at the same size.

Juliana got the best border - but the J-loop with the z-loop inside is a little clunky. Patty's border is pretty good. Her name is sooooo loopy that the straight lines are nice visual relief. 

***

How can you tell if your hodge-podge has finesse or is just a weird mess? 

That's a trick question. There is no definitive way to judge finesse. Bob Ross was convinced that the road to happiness was mastering the techniques that he had learned from that other guy. 

LINK to article about Robert Alexander

Those guys and all the people who learned the style are pretty happy with their skills. I'm happy for them. I wouldn't say this to them directly, but for me, the paintings are generic.  If you get good at that style, it's hard to see any sign of an individual artist. That's fine, too.

Calligraphy is quite similar. If I worked really hard to make my lettering exactly like Sheila Waters' I might be able to fool a few people. But, it would be really hard and doubt I could pull off something that would fool the other rock stars in calligraphy. 

For me, finesse comes from working hard to master a style as done by someone else and then after you can replicate that style, your own *hand* will start to appear. I'm pretty sure that's how it works when someone finds an old Rembrandt in an attic that's been hiding and needs to be authenticated. There are tons of little details that reveal whose hand made those strokes.

Tomorrow will be the last day on this topic.

***

Yesterday I added this photo to illustrate writing that has too much space between the words. It's written by a left-handed, non-calligrapher. 

I'll put an extra post in below - with several examples of calligraphy with word spacing.