The wonderful Art of Letter Writing

Today I started the day by writing a letter to my pen friend Jennifer in Delray Beach, Florida.  I hope you also had some letter writing fun today.  After all, a day without letter writing is like a day without sunshine.  Don't you agree?  And if we add art play to our letter the experience is even more enjoyable.

Today I decided to create a floral note card for Jennifer's letter and to help with that I pulled out a  book for inspiration.  This "Flower Sticker book" designed by Fiona Johnson contains pictures of garden flowers with notes regarding their size, blooming time and characteristics.  I don't use the stickers in the usual way, but rather as models for my own drawings.

[caption id="attachment_2336" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A page of Fiona's book[/caption]I'll choose a flower from Fiona's book, a flower  that is currently in bloom, take out my watercolor pencils, and go to town.  You don't have to be a great artist to enjoy drawing.  Think of the fun little kids have. Well, you can have that fun too.   I always make a note in the book as to which flower design my correspondents  receive for there's  no point sending the same design over and over when there are so many flowers to choose.

And after a little art play I have a one-of-a-kind card to use for my letter writing.   Fun, fun, fun!  The price is right too because I have a great source for purchasing paper.  It's Hollo's in Brunswick, Ohio.  (hollospapercraft@yahoo.com).   I figure each of my handmade cards costs about 10 to 20 cents to make, but I don't make these cards because I'm frugal.  I make them because art play is so much fun!

Today I decided to draw the Clematis flower for Jennifer's letter.  Are you a gardener familiar with this climbing plant?  Clematis loves to cover walls and fences.  Its flowers can be purple, blue, pink or white, and as you can see, its leaves are oval.  I love flowers, don't you?  Well, if you try to draw them you will love and appreciate them even more for you'll be forced to focus on their details, details you may never notice otherwise.  Like they say - to really love something you must know it, and if you're like me, you'll get to know and appreciate flowers even more when you attempt to draw them.

I don't think it matters at all how great an artist we are, What matters is that we're exercising our creativity and enjoying ourselves, then sharing our joy.  You know what I'm always saying - Sharing doubles the joy.  And one of  the perfect ways to share our joy for art is to send our artistic creations away in the form of  letters.

[caption id="attachment_2348" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Jennifer's letter[/caption]

Of course the ideas we share in our letters are the main event.  Jennifer and I were discussing creativity in our correspondence and let me share with you some of her fine words on the subject.  She writes:

"Creatively I've tried many things but of late have found an interest in making handmade  greeting cards and note cards.  I'm thinking this is an endeavor I can enjoy for years barring any physical or mental incapacity.  I just have to give myself permission to 'let go' and let my hands guide me rather than my mind as I have a very strong and active inner critic. "

(And don't we all?)

Jennifer then went on to tell me what her mantra is.  Her mantra, which she repeats to herself over and over, is a quote by Kelly Kilmer.  Jennifer loves these words and so do I.

It's all about the journey.  Make.  Create.  Don't worry or over think.  Make art for you and your own sake.

So what have you created today?  There are so many ways in which to be creative.  You probably guessed  two of my favorites are writing and art, and when you put the two together what do you get?

The Wonderful Art of Letter Writing

The Personal Letter

I love the artistic and personal aspect of letters, don't you?  The one-to-one... Some messages can be posted on Facebook or written up in a blog and that's fine, but other messages are meant to be shared with only particular people.  There's something magical about writing and receiving personal letters - where you know the words are meant just for you or for one special friend.  As I like to say in the talk I give on The Art of Letter Writing -

"The pleasure of a letter written just to me... why there's practically a radiance to it!"

I can't help but relate the subject of personal touch to the very different kinds of in-person conversations we might have. Talking to a group of people at a big party, as opposed to an intimate dinner or tea, suggests very different talk. There are many subjects we just wouldn't want to bring up in a large crowd.  Not only do we have to generalize our topics when lots of people are participating, but some information we would want to share with only certain people.  And so it is with our writing.  If a letter isn't personal, if it's just a lot of general chatter, it's not nearly as special to write or receive.  And it's this Personal Touch that's suffering in our modern age of electronic communication.

 Today I spent part of the morning at a farmer's market in my town of Hudson.  I had a wonderful time strolling around, looking at all the goodies I might purchase.  In the next few letters I write I'll go into some details of my shopping experience if the particular correspondents enjoy this sort of thing, but other letter friends not interested in farmer's market shopping won't be bothered with these stories. That's the thing, each letter we write (hand write I hope) and all our topics of conversation should be tailor-made to interest each of our correspondents. To make each letter we write unique, one-of-a-kind, (not like those carbon-copied holiday letters ) aimed at the interests of our correspondents, that's one of the secrets to making a good  and personal letter.

You might enjoy walking past farm stands set up with produce, olive oils, candles, fresh bakery, etcaetera etcaeterorum

feasting your eyes on vegetables and flowers which you might buy and place in your own garden

or maybe you are the kind of person who simply likes hearing about beauty and reading descriptions of garden -like settings, with a few pictures inserted in the  letters you receive, pictures to give you ideas for your own garden .

Maybe you're an animal lover and you would like to hear about the people I met at the farmer's market who run an Alpaca farm in Hudson called Whistler's Glen Alpacas (www.whistlersglen-alpacas.com or www.alpacastore.com).  Those Alpacas are so cute!

 Maybe you're a fashionista and you'd like to hear about the sweater-coat I bought today at the farmer's market.  It's made from Alpaca yarn.  (Shopping is funny.  I went out today planning to buy only wax beans, but I came home with a whole lot more.)

or maybe you're a knitter like me and you'd like to hear about the Alpaca yarn and pattern I purchased

in order to make this Twisted Shrug which converts into a hood or cowl scarf.   It's worked up on size 15 needles using only one skein of Alpaca yarn (approx. 150 yards).

But maybe you're not like my wonderful pen friend Amelia who I wrote today.  Amelia would enjoy all the above topics.  You might not enjoy any of the above topics.  That's ok.  If these topics bore you I'd try to find different topics you would enjoy.   After all, I don't write friends with the intention of  boring  them to death, and I hope you don't either.

My "dead friend' Robert Louis Stevenson said,

"The world is so full of a number of things I think we should all be as happy as kings".

And because there are so many things to talk about and share in our personal letters we should have no trouble picking and choosing those topics which delight both our friends and ourselves. Don't you agree?

So till we meet again, enjoy writing and receiving  lovely personal letters.  Enjoy some reflection and then some sharing.  Hand write.  Add some original art.  The world has plenty of electronic chatter already, but what the world needs now, besides love sweet love, is more  communication with the personal touch.

Let's Get Personal!

Shall we have another outing?

[caption id="attachment_1934" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flying the friendly skies to California once again[/caption]I'm in the mood for a little culture.  How about you?  Let's go to Pasadena, California and visit the Huntington.  The Huntington is a wonderful private non-profit collection-based research and educational institution founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington. Huntington was an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.

The Huntington is a huge place composed of a library containing rare books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American history and literature.

It is also an art gallery composed of two separate buildings.  The Huntington Gallery, completed in 1911, originally was the Huntington's residence.  You would love walking through its rooms of elegant furnishings.

Just look at this gorgeous dining room.  While the Huntingtons were not known to have entertained regularly, the dining room was nevertheless suitable for important functions.  One such occasion was a dinner for the crown prince and princess of Sweden, who visited the Huntington mansion in the early 1920s.

Every room is exquisite.

I'm sure you would be most impressed with the building itself, never mind the extensive art collection it contains.  When planning the residence Henry Huntington first envisioned a more modest retreat, but his uncle's widow, Arabella Huntington, whom he would marry in 1913, was looking for home on a grander scale.  Looking at one of the staircases in their home I think you would agree Arabella achieved her grand vision.

The floor to ceiling windows are wonderful.  I had such windows in my last 1829 house.  I miss them.

The rooms are painted whites and off whites with gold accents.  The look is very elegant and peaceful.  I might copy Huntington's color palate should an addition ever materialize on my own home.

The 2,900-square-foot hall was added in 1934 for displaying the Huntingtons' Grand Manner portraits.  Now called the Thornton Portrait Gallery, the addition followed a trend begun with the Wallace Collection in London and the Frick Collection in New York, where grand homes were converted into museums.  (That's my son Patrick standing in the gallery).

The loggia on the east side of the house represents a concession by the architect.  Archival documents show that Myron Hunt preferred a modest terrace on the east side; Henry Huntington envisioned a bolder, more spacious "outdoor living room."  Huntington ultimately prevailed.

I think Huntington had the right idea, for a grand home like his truly needed a bold and spacious loggia rather than a small modest one.  Don't you agree?

Of course such a wonderful residence has wonderful vistas too.  It must have been fabulous to live in such a grand home, but all along Henry Huntington intended his home to function as a public gallery, which is why less remarkable spaces such as bathrooms and the kitchen were not saved.  It opened to the public in 1928, a year after Henry's death.

[caption id="attachment_2144" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sculpture of George Washington by Pierre-Jean David[/caption]

The Huntington 's art collections occupy two separate buildings on the grounds.  A third structure, The MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, hosts changing exhibitions.

If you visit the Huntington you will find the finest collections of European art in the nation and  The Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art bring together American art from the colonial period through the middle of the 20th century.

Besides all this the Huntington contains  an incredible Botanical Garden.  There is too much to see at one in-person visit or one post visit.  People are truly blessed who live in or near Pasadena, California for they can and should return over and over again.

I hope you have enjoyed popping over to the Huntington with me today and I hope you manage to get there one day in person.  Join me again and we'll return to the Huntington one of these days.  Till then look for the beauty that's all around you.

 The beauty we focus on becomes us.

Spa Day

Hello from another Country Inn Day.  Today is  Spa Day at the Inn and I'm happy to share highlights of this day with you.  Why?  You know.  It's because sharing doubles the joy.

We humans are a mixture of  the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual  ---and  each of these aspects of life  needs careful attention in order to function at its best making  life as rich as possible.  On Spa Days the focus is on the physical.

It's not just about how we look,  though I'm guessing most women feel a lot better if they look in the mirror and are pleased with what they see.  But it's also about how we feel. How we feel  is quite the physical thing.   On Spa Day I can complete a  treatment and look exactly as I looked before that treatment, but I will be feeling ever so much better.  A little pampering goes a long way, and if you believe as I do, that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within us, then hey, we need to keep that temple up.

Spa treatments can be enjoyed right at the Inn (my magical Inn, also called Home) or they can take me "off site"  to a variety of establishments offering additional   pleasures.  This Inn Day I begin with a trip to the Off Main Street Salon  as you can see from their sign.  They promise rejuvenation and that's what my physical being is after today.

I approach the salon with delicious anticipation.

And upon entering who do I see but Pat, one of the owners, who is waiting and ready to pamper me.

"Hi Pat", I say.  "I'm ready for some physical rejuvenation.  Where shall we start?"  Pat suggests the pedicure area.  Well, ok.   And away we go!

One of Pat's helpers steps up.  After all, Pat can't do everything herself.

 I'm sorry, but I forgot to get this nice gal's name, but she sure was friendly and sweet.  Working with nice people on spa days helps the social aspect of life get a boost too.

From the pedicure area I was off for a  shampoo and a few other  hair treatments.  Doesn't it feel great to have someone else shampoo your hair now and then?  Answer:  YES!

Pat has a nice establishment, but after a few delicious hours it was time to say goodbye  till my next visit.  "Bye Pat, Keep up the good work!"  I had  a lovely morning and I did feel somewhat  rejuvenated,  but my Spa Day was not over.  No, not by a long shot.  Treatments would continue back at the Inn.

And here I am, back at my Inn  entering  the boudoir to prepare for my next luscious treat, a relaxing bubble bath.  I have a little pink rubber duckie to keep me company

Nothing like a fragrant bath.   Today the bath water  is laced with Bronnely's Pink Bouquet,  a fragrance that I first discovered on a trip to Bermuda.  Bronnely is an English company and I love their products.

I love all sorts of pretty girlie products like these tall bottles filled with  Mediterranean bath foam infused with various scents - Geranium, Camomile, Moss, and Jasmine.  The balls of bath salts  and large  fragrant bars of moisturizing soap will be enjoyed some other Spa Day.

I could stay in my personal spa hideaway for hours, and the "do not disturb" sign on the door keeps me safe from intruders.  We don't have to go far away to get away from it all.  If you're like me, all you need is a little peace and quiet - some alone time,  and  an atmosphere that is peaceful and pretty.

No, this isn't my ballerina dress.  It's a bit small for me, but to look at lovely things like this while I soak in the tub makes me feel happy.  Just to gaze at things of beauty offers its own refreshment.

But there are all sorts of nice treatments and things that offer refreshment.  To have a book like this one, simply called spa , written by Leslie Wolski, you'll get lots of spa ideas you can enjoy right at home. Here's one spa  idea, and all you need to make it happen is a sink,

a little water,  warm or cold, and a small towel.  Simply place the warm or cold compress across your eyes, lie back and dream dreams while you relax.  What an inexpensive treat.  The Inn Spa offers many of such rejuvenating experiences.

Spa Days can't promise the look of eternal youth.  Nothing really can.  Even this Fountain of Youth potion I purchased in Florida at Ponce de Leon's actual Fountain of Youth didn't make me look a day younger.    But it's not just about how young we look or how good we look.  It's also about how we feel. If we treat ourselves well, pamper ourselves,  just as we'd pamper a precious work of art (and we all are a precious work of art)  then we'll  feel great no matter how we look.

It's not just the physical, though the physical is important.  Our lives are a combination of physical, social, intellectual and spiritual experiences.  We must be attentive to all four aspects of ours lives maintaining each.  We are, after all,

GOD's WONDERFUL WORK OF ART

That's YOU and ME

This reminds me of a song that happens to be called

WONDROUS WORK OF ART.

The song is written by Carey Landry.

My children's choir sings this song.

Here are the lyrics:

Each and every one of us

Is a wondrous work of art

Signed by the hand of God

Some of us are masterpieces painted long ago

On some of us the paint is still wet

So many different colors, so many works of art

Yet each is the handiwork of God

Like clay in the hands of a potter

None of us is finished quite yet

Though each of us is deeply loved exactly as we are

There is always more we can become

Each of us is on a journey started long ago

A journey full of promise, a journey full of hope

We seek the way of truth and life that Jesus came to bring

Guided by the loving hand of God

Yes, Each and everyone of us

Is a wondrous work of Art

Signed by the hand of God.

WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THIS WONDROUS WORK OF ART !

So have yourself a Spa Day

You deserve it!