I have always loved notebooks and stationary and sending hand-written cards and notes. I keep sentimental old letters that mean the world to me. There is just nothing more fun than popping into a paper shop! Some day I hope to have time to participate in the mail art and post card swaps I keep hearing about too. And remember when I told you about the magazine, Flow, full of paper goodies?
I love paper, so it was sort of a no-brainer that I signed up for the e-course, Paper Love, a tactile, creative experience celebrating the personal possibilities of paper. It’s taught by Rachel Hazell, whose English/Scottish accent when she speaks makes me smile. (She says “pay-pah,” for example.) She says, “As you read, please imagine you are sat at my kitchen table with a steaming cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit.” She is just delightful!
So there began our papery adventure! I have to admit that there is a world of information about it that I had no idea about, and I love delving into unknown worlds. I tried my darndest to get interested in the daily content, but while I enjoyed reading about how paper is made, the art of collage, text, handwriting, books, and stationary, and the history of the postal system and stamps, I just couldn’t get excited about doing any of the assignments. The amount of information in this course is mind-boggling. And as you read last week, I don’t have time to spare!
However, I’d like to share some fun resources with you:
- Felt and Wire, an online journal about stationary by Mohawk Fine Papers – amazing reading and resources there
- DearMe, a collection of letters written by 75 of the world’s best-loved personalities to their younger selves and published with photographs of them as teenagers. I think I need to write to my 16-year-old self too! Read this too on writing a letter to yourself.
- Nick Bantock’s blog on the art of letter writing. I love his books so I am sure this is awesome.
- Decor8‘s ideas on creative gift wrap. All about washi tape as gift wrap. And just in itself. This book is full of ideas on creative packaging.
- Interesting-looking book on the history of our alphabet.
- The art of the thank you note.
Love the heart image – did you make it? I would be so smitten with the instructor’s accent and lovely dialect, too! Thanks for the links (especially love the art of the thank you note). Read some of the excerpts from the Dear Me project and I will be sharing them with my own teens!
debbie recently posted…Wishy Washi: DIY Washi Tape Projects
No, I didn’t make it… the girls at Do What You Love did, I think.
I recently returned to the notes form a course I took almost 2 years ago. I remembered a technique we learnt as I was fiddling with something else and rediscovered a whole new approach once again. All of this information is packed away for you for later even if you do not have time to do the work now.
I am intrigued by the heart, did you make that? It looks fabulous.
Also some great links here, thanks for sharing.
Karen Main recently posted…The surprising moment I reignited my childhood wonder
Don’t even go there! It’s not like you had to twist my arm! Like you, I thought it sounded just like us!
I’m in the same boat, Naomi…it seemed like it was right up my alley, but I just couldn’t get motivated to actually DO anything. We have access to the classroom for a few months I think, but I’m afraid I’m dreaming if I think time will help any.
janet forrest recently posted…Do You Have A “Go” Bag?
I regret that I talked you into taking it! Ah well, we live and learn. 🙂
The alphabet book looks neat! And I love that first review by Dr. White (that in and of itself was worth the click). I’ll have to look at the Washi tape ideas! I have to stop myself from buying more and more of it, despite the fact that I have yet to actually use if for anything!
Jill @ Do Try This at Home recently posted…Getting Your Kids in the Picture: The subtle differences between bribes, threats, and good natured cajoling
I have a washi tape addiction too! I’ve made myself use it on mixed-media canvases and cards because it adds a fun little dimension. There are a million ideas out there for uses…
Well maybe you will come back to the assignments at a later date, or at least you gained new knowledge about paper that might be handy down the road.