Friday, October 17, 2008

you've got mail!

Dear Friend,

When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter? A real handwritten, stamped and mailed letter? When was the last time you received one?

Is the art of letter writing lost?

Call me simple, but one of my favorite things in life is to receive a handwritten letter through the post. I never wait till I get in the house. I always open it up and read it standing by the mail box while I juggle all the other mail.

I have letters that my grandmother wrote me when I was first married. I love to pull them out and examine her scrawling penmanship. They are simple letters, about her daily life which chronicle my heritage and gently remind me where I came from and where I should be headed. They mean more to me than any of the other keepsakes she left behind. They are her words.

I hope today's feature will inspire you to sit down with pen and paper (lovely paper is always best) and write a note to someone you have been thinking of lately.

It will mean more to them than any email you could send. I promise.


The Feature Friday giveaway is a 2009 Turtle Papers calendar. Leave a comment to be in the drawing.

Turtle Papers is owned and run by Jennifer, a designer and full time mom in Seattle. When Jennifer isn't creating fanciful stationary, you can find her baking away in her kitchen, trying out new recipes. You can check out her adventures in both culinary and graphic arts on her blog.

For Christmas last year, I bought one of my good friends a set of Turtle Papers personalized stationary. It came beautifully packaged and ready to be presented. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping by visiting the Turtle Papers shop online.


The drawing will take place on Monday morning.

61 comments:

Abbey Lane Baby Boutique said...

Stunning! Turtle Papers design is gorgeous!

Handmade Product and Creative Expression said...

those papers are lovely. I love everything. Best wishes to you and your business!

Anonymous said...

Love this calendar... and the rest of your shop...all of the unique jewelry is fab!

GemmazGemz

Joni said...

These papers are absolutely beautiful! I love them!!

Crescent Moon Paper Co said...

I'd say the art of letter writing isn't lost... just more appreciated in the age of email, text messages, etc.

lovely cards and stationery.

lulusparkles said...

i have been admiring that shop for awhile now~the calendar is so bright and fun!
thanks

Sherry said...

A thought provoking post. The last time I wrote a letter was yesterday...to my son's teacher! Other than that, a real letter? It's been ages. Which is strange because I love to write, I love to write letters and spent the better part of my life with pen pals, writing to friend who had moved away. This is an excellent reminder!

Kits and Caboodles said...

Your blog is so beautiful. I might have used blogger if I had known it could look so custom!

LOVE your work and that calendar is to die for!

Crosses fingers!
Andrea
http:/kitsandcaboodles.etsy.com
http:/thewholekitandcaboodle.typepad.com

Danita said...

Mee!!! Pick meee! Pick meee!!!

I just saw your previous blog and I love the trims!

Danita

Anonymous said...

I love it!!!! Beautiful!

melissa said...

I was just talking about writting letters to a friend the other day. Its saddly becoming a lost art. I'll still do it though.
Beautiful Turtle desgin!

AnnCP said...

Count me in - maybe someday I will win two giveaways!!!

A trip to Thailand - very envious. Hope you find lots of wonderful treasures to expand your creativity!

ann packard

Isabel Aven and Sylvia Harper said...

oooooh! i love turtle papers! i bought thank you notes from her last year and they were GORGEOUS!

Fatally Cute said...

So very Nice!

magpie said...

hmmm...it's been years since i've written a letter to anyone. it's just a bother, i guess, to have to lick the stamp! hahah! but i see your point. i want to make sure to write letters to my nephews when they are old enough to understand. thanks for the reminder!

Terri Fisher said...

Letter writing is a lost art, I'm afraid, but I still love writing and receiving them. This paper is absolutely gorgeous, and the calendar is stunning!

esque said...

Yummy papers! Enter me pls!

carerelish said...

I love turtles! When I was little I found some turtle eggs on the beach that some animal had dug up and was eating. I took the few good ones home and filled the bath tub with sand and buried the eggs. My mom was so mad when she found out. lol A few of them lived and were set free!
craftsbycarer

Lisa said...

Wow - her graphics are stunning!

Anonymous said...

The papers are really beautiful! I have a tradition of sending out Halloween cards,since it is my favorite holiday, to my sisters and nieces that live out of state.
Morgan Z.

RedMarionette said...

I love writing letters and truly enjoy shopping in stationary and cards, something about personalizing it by taking the time to write it out means so much more to me!
You have beautiful work!

Leslie said...

pretty! i'd love a calendar, thanks!

Kari said...

How lovely. And I do so love getting pretty mail. But when I get a piece of pretty handwritten mail in a lovely envelope, I have to save it. I immediately clutch it to my chest and rush back into the house to set it aside while I rifle through the rest of the mail, sorting his and mine, and opening any bills. I don't want a perfect letter ruined by any dumb mail after the fact. Then I find a nice place to sit, take a deep breath and dive right in.

You are right--there is nothing like it. And, at this time of year, it's one of the most nostalgic things about the holiday season--sending cards, getting cards, thank you notes. (I still have the last cards personally signed and sent by my now-passed grandparents.

Thanks for inspiring such nice memories.

Cardwell said...

What gorgeous papers! I love them all!

Anonymous said...

Those are so pretty! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

Diane

Unknown said...

I love letter writing. Now if I could get someone to actually write one back. Oh well I'll keep trying. I love your blog.

Holly Loves Art said...

Thank you for inviting me to come on over! You have a beautiful blog and these papers are gorgeous. What a nice thing to do!

Take care,
Holly

K and/or K said...

I love these papers! I sent a note to a friend a couple weeks ago that said, "becasue sometimes snail mail is nice too!"

and what project will use those pom poms? love them!

i'm going to thailand for xmas--can't wait to see pics from your trip--i hope...

ourgreatgreenglobe said...

love the papers!

whimsywren said...

Turtle Papers are beautifully designed and that calendar is divine!

Free Art Printables said...

Lovely! I want to go and peek at your shop.

Maria said...

That calendar looks lovely!

oh and I agree with you about the art of letter writing being lost- I can't remember the last time i got a handwritten letter... but then again, I'm guilty of not writing letters myself *blushes*

Charlotte Tollstén said...

The shop is Great! So much nice things.

shellybelly said...

Am in love with Turtle Papers!!!!!!! Yahooooooooo!!!!!

Abby said...

Wow! those are beautiful!

ajcmeyer AT go DOt com

Natalie Hutchison Belnap said...

hey i am that good friend!! I love my turle paper and want more!

Rachel Elizabeth said...

These are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Put my name in! I love, love, Love Turtle Papers!

Unknown said...

Well, I'm ready to write- now I just need to find a stamp with the current rate!

I have boxes of letters going back as far as the post-lady's letter congratulating me on being born! Letter writing is a gift.

What lovely papers!

Fancy Nancy Chronicles said...

So true ~ words on paper mean much more than words on a screen. I love getting an unexpected letter in the mailbox. A lost treasure ... and a wonderful keepsake. Beautiful stationary and calendar ~ talented artist!

DART said...

Thanks for lighting that match under my butt to start writing again, and for introducing me to that neat site! Gorgeous calendar...

SandraRee said...

The Turtle Papers design is beautiful!

Casey said...

Oh my, that shop is just delicious. I love every single thing in it!
-Casey from acrossthepond

Christine said...

Oh wow, I love their designs. The personal notecards are awesome. I think I might look into them in the future.

swanriverstone said...

the stationary is wonderful..has a classic look almost victorian..and the doves are a wonderful touch..they look very warm and inviting to look at....

i would love to enter..the calender is beautifully unique:)

http://nyblaque.etsy.com

Jenny said...

Wow! Was not familiar with this company but love it!! Thanks for introducing me to something great!

Digital Misfit said...

Absolutely gorgeous! That calendar would be an amazing piece of functional art to display all year (and find all sorts of crafty uses for when the year is over!).
Turtle Papers etsy shop is beautiful - I love all of the personalized notecard designs, and this icecream girl tee is just adorable http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12544543

MaryMarsh said...

Lovely papers! And I do agree with you, I would rather get real mail than anything. It seems that letter writing is becoming more a thing of the past. However, it's such a nice gesture to both send and receive! :)

http://marymarsh.etsy.com

Field Notes said...

Beutiful papers.

rb said...

Love a chance to win this amazingly neat prize :D

Anonymous said...

I would LOVE to be entered in this contest ... those papers are gorgeous!

Jess
jessicacook17@hotmail.com

ps. I still write real letters to my grandmother, and to people I participate in swaps with on Ravelry. :)

Becky said...

fear not! letter writing is not dead. i send letters thru the us mail all the time.
i also like that you have an adoption line. both of my girls are adopted. one born in seoul and the other in the us.
becky

Kelli Lee said...

Cool stuff - maybe its the multiple colors, or maybe its the unusual graphics but this stationary stands above the rest. Thanks for the generous giveaway!

Anonymous said...

The papers are beautiful!

rhonmitch(at)comcast(dot)com
RhondaP

Stacy said...

My dad jokes that I am keeping the post office in business, but I love writing letters.

hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

Eds said...

that calendar is so beautiful.

how i wish to have one like that too.

goodluck and congratulations in advance to whoever win the contest!

Ashley said...

That's beautiful. Thanks so much for the contest.

Anonymous said...

Sending and receiving 'real' letters is great, because they're a lot more personal than an email, even if the card is bought and not made by the sender. It still has their writing inside :)

The calendar is lovely :)

Jenn Miyamoto said...

The calendar is beautiful! Thanks!

Unknown said...

The drawing is now closed! Thanks to all who put their name in.

Kristin W. said...

those designs are amazing!