History of the Blog and random info

History of the Blog

In 2010 I was still teaching art as well as calligraphy and lettering classes. Whenever a session ended, students would wish there was a way to continue the fun (and inspiration) that we had been having in the classes. At the time, blogs were popular so I tried setting up a blog and it was so easy. I had tons of envelopes in my files and figured I could easily post one new idea every day. I told my students about the blog and from then on it just grew like Topsie. 

I started it on Feb 17 which is the birthday of my younger son who was born in 1988 which means he was a senior in college and I was feeling like my nest was empty. My daughter was engaged and planning a 2011 wedding. In addition to classes I was also very busy in my studio where I did free lance work as well as tons of envelope addressing for brides as well as all the other paper items that brides need like place cards, menus, etc. 

I also traveled to some of the other calligraphy guilds an taught workshops. I was 52 which was a very energetic age. In 2013 someone suggested that we do an exchange. The first few exchanges were a little different, but I gradually settled in to the system that has been working very nicely. 

Ironically, Pinterest was also launched in 2010 and it is probably the most common way for people to find the exchange. Ben Silberman was one of the original founders of Pinterest. He was a high school  classmate of my daughter's and they were on the debate team together. I asked her, many years after Pinterest had taken off if she thought Ben would remember her. She said, "If he did, he'd probably say that she was one of those two girls who did not contribute much of anything to the team." She and a friend had only signed up for debate because it was the only way to get out of the required speech class. That's how much they dreaded the thought of speaking in front of friends who might end up in their class. At least with debate - everyone would be strangers. My daughter and I laugh about the intensity of peer pressure at that age.

In 2025, Ben Silberman was skiing in Tahoe and my older son ran into him. He asked Ben if he remembered Ellen Wilson from the high school debate team. Ben said he did and didn't even groan at her lack of skill in debate. 

That's along digression, but, I'd love to meet Ben someday and tell him how his idea of Pinterest was a huge contribution to me meeting people from all over the world and how much enjoyment I get from having so many pen pals. As I write this, I am a week away from my 74th birthday and the time spent on the blog is a very happy time. It offers just the right amount of *work* to be done so that I can reward myself with play time after I finish the daily chores. For me, making art is *work* but it's the best kind of work.

It seems as though the true value of the blog and the exchange is that I can network with people who are kindred spirits. We all like to make stuff - but what does one do with a stack of artwork? It's so perfect to make things that we drop in the mail because we know how much fun it is for everyone involved to simply get an envelope in the mail. Such a simple pleasure. 

So, that's my story. I hope to keep the blog running for many years to come. I have a co-pilot who will take over when I am no longer able to do write my daily posts and run the exchange. She might have to shut things down - but at the very least she will write a final post so that people know what happened to me. 

Thanks to everyone who participates in the exchanges or maybe just enjoys the daily musing and leaves a comment from time to time. Welcome to anyone who is brand new and only found me recently. We're a fun little group. People come and go - but the number of exchangers each month has been consistent - always more than 20 but never more than 30.

 

*****

The following information is random and will not make any sense until I go back and insert links to the pages.

I'm just using it as my filing system so that I can find these posts when I need them.

IMHO, it's not worth reading at this time.

First exchange announced on Nov 15, 2013

Last call to sign up for first exchange was Nov 22. 

The next exchange was April and then

Aug 28, 2014 - Jan Hardt took on the job of collecting sign-ups

and sending lists - monthly.

First envelope from Miss Cathy - July 20, 2013
First envelope from Smash
First envelope from Finnbadger
When the blog reached 1-million hits
First envelope from Maggie - Janis Joplin glasses

History of Jean
My first signature - July 21, 2011

First workshop w/ Peter Thornton - June 1996

The most pinned exemplar:
June 25, 2010 and Oct 20, 2016

FONTS

Black Cow - June 5, 2014

Feb 28, 2016 - 5 lists of 5

Dec 12, 2014 - pp to BHB about helping

Jan 16, 2016 - parabola (July 22, 2015?)

May 31, 2015 - start with a pin

March 13, 2022 - Letterbox puzzle 

If you want to know how the money is divided when you send international mail - click on this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHhkNwE7pr8

If you want to watch some graffiti guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRNFiU4fG2o&feature=share

If you want to watch the Black Country Alphabet song
You can find a translation on Google

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrIqSlt9PXg
This has been all over the news recently........

The Black Country Alphabet ( I have provided translations in brackets for yow's oo doe speak propa!)

A is for Opple (Apple)

B is for Nana (Banana)

C is for Council Pop (Water) (the beverage that comes out of the tap)

D is for Donnies (Hand)

E is for Ere Ya Goo (Here You Are)

F is for Fittle (Food)

G is for Giz a Goo (Can I have a try)

H is for Oss (Horse)

I is for Ickle ( Small / Little)

J is for Jed (Dead)

K is for Kaylied (Drunk)

L is for Loike (Like)

M is for Mucker (Mate / Friend)

N is for Nah (No)

O is for Ow Am Ya ( How Are You)

P is for Tata (Potato)

Q is for Quid (Pound)

R is for Riffy (Smelly / Dirty)

S is for Suck (Sweets)

T is for Tara a Bit (Goodbye)

U is for Um (Home)

V is for Vest (err…vest)

W is for Ooman (Woman)

Y is for Yampy (Mad / Crazy)

Z is for Stripey Oss (Zebra)