If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you have probably picked up bits and pieces about my grandmother, whose farm we lived on for our first two years here in Maryland. Beyond the fact that she is the mother to fifteen children, there are countless things about her that impress and inspire me. As I get older (and I'd like to think, wiser) I notice little bits of her influence in my life–whether it be her granola recipe, the basket I keep at the bottom of my steps and carry up each night, or washing out my ziploc baggies and keeping them on the same drying rack that she uses in her kitchen.
If she's not in the garden, you could most likely expect to find her way in the back if the house, just off the back living room, sitting at her desk, stamps and address book laid in front of her, NPR crackling on the radio. My grandmother keeps in touch. And she keeps in touch the old-fashioned way. A letter, a clipping, a remembered birthday, holiday or special event.
In all my years, I've never known her to forget my birthday, and I am one of forty plus grandchildren. Her correspondence and letter-writing is a gift to many people and an inspiration to me in an age of email and hurriedness. (I told you I feel the pull of two very different worlds.)
So several weeks ago, when I saw Amy post on her blog about the book, Handmade Hellos, to which she's a contributor, I felt drawn to it immediately. If you need a little push to get out the pen and paper, and stamps again, this is the book.
There are many projects I love in this book, just a few on the list….
…..the self-mailing note (my girls will love this) by Darling Clementine
….the fabric collage card by Sally
….the pop-up birdie hello by Kate Sutton
….the library card birth announcement by Paper + Cup
….the new baby nest card by Abigail Brown
I could go on….the book has clear, illustrated directions, includes templates, each project is given a difficulty level and there is a great source section in the back (one of my favorite parts of any magazine or book).
And of course, thanks to the sweet people at Chronicle Books, I have a copy to give away!
Leave a comment to throw your name in the hat. I'll announce all the winners of this week's giveaways on Saturday, February 14th!!
Happy Writing!!
Perfect book, inspiration and directions all in one! We’re also homeschoolers and this book will be an enchanting addition.Connor
Found your site recently too. What a fun sounding book. Thanks for the give-away!
How sweet is that book! Awesome.
This book looks like so much fun! Thank you for the lovely giveaway!
I should wait because #1 never gets picked, but really. SO FUN!! My girls would love this. We love getting good mail, and should be better about providing it to other people.
What a great looking book. Looks like one more for the wishlist!
I still write cards and letters, believe it or not. It just seems more personal to me. Once a month, I sit down at my desk, look at my contact list (on the computer — inevitable!) and write a letter/card to five friends whom I have not spoken to in a month. I always receive a reply… via email! Funny, but so worth it for me! I still love stamping or punching out my favorite figures, etc. and signing my name with XXOOs!
I saw the book awhile book and it looks lovely. I do love a good letter…the getting,not the writing maybe I’ll be inspired.
hi there! i’ve recently discovered your site and love it!!
i’m a homeschooling mom and my kids and i would just love a book like this! what a nice giveaway. 🙂
have a great day!
I think that book is so great. I’ve been eyeing it since it came out. And I need to be better at using the mail.
ooh, that looks fun! i’ll have to check it out.
This is on my wishlist but winning a copy would make it even sweeter. Please toss my name into the hat!
That looks like fun! There’s nothing quite like snail mail!
Ooh, I love the idea of baby nest cards!
As someone who loves to receive snail mail, this sounds perfect. I may have to order some for gifts just so I receive mail too!Chris x
Throw me in, sister! Think I’ll fit? ; )
I’m drawn both ways too. My girls would love that book. I just posted about one of my Grandmother’s legacies–the birthday board.
so adorable… what a great idea!
i love it!throw my name in too please 🙂
Letter and card writing are a lovely gift! I know when I see actual handwriting on an envelope, I’m so excited I’m usually opening it right there at the mailbox!
I want to write more letters so this would be great to have. thanks!
Mail time is the best time of day, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing this book!
What an enormous blessing your grandma is. How wonderful. I’ve put that book on my wishlist for myself, and my 10yo daughter (also and Emma). She, particularly, loves to make cards and send them to loved ones.Such a pleasant give away.Cara
That looks fab!My daughter and I would love it!
My own 95-year-old grandmother never forgets a birthday or holiday (including Halloween). And we come from a large family, too.
Wonderful giveaway!!
40 grandchildren! Holy Moly! So nice that she thinks of each and everyone of you! I love to send mail and this book looks great!
What a cute book!
Would love to own a copy of this book… I have 3 little ones that would put it to good use. I find your blog very encouraging!
Love reading your blog!!! It inspires me daily!
I use to write to my grandmother every week. Letters were her connection to the outside world. I miss her everyday.
How sweet! My grandmom was a letter writer, too.
Grandmas are Great!
I love cards and anything you can address and brighten someones day!
The book looks lovely. My mother is an incredible letter writer. I tend to do more e-mailing, but also like to send cards and little clippings to friends and family. I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for such a nice giveaway!
I like the idea of slowing down and communicating the old-fashioned way, especially doing it with some creativity!
I love a good crafty book!
how fun! love it!
This sounds like a wonderful book!I used to be a major rubber stamper. Now I seemed to have passed it on to my girls. They would love this!
This sounds like it would be great to have in our library. I try to show my children that handmade notes and thank-yous are wonderful to give as well as receive.
I would love to own this book. It tried to follow me home from the bookstore the other day, but my wallet gave it a firm NO. Someday…
Please throw my name in!
I read this at a B&N one night. It’s totally inspiring and lovely and I’d love a copy. 🙂
Call me crazy, but I would rather have this book than the Peek!
I find myself torn too, constantly. I tend to really gravitate toward the older, simpler things because we are just so bombarded by everything else today that if we don’t make an effort to hold onto the old, we can easily get swept away.
What a funny back to back giveaway. Nearly opposites!
What a wonderful giveaway!
This looks like such a fun book. What a great giveaway for our busy lives.
This would be great inspiration for my daughter and her far-away cousins, some of whom are very into the “letterbox” these days… What a happy valentine’s day you’re going to make for the lucky winners!-Robin
I love to stay connected via real post office mail and my kids do too! ~H
Thanks for the chance! The book looks great. I love snail mail – both sending and receiving, but lack your grandma’s discipline in doing it regularly.
Lovely! I’ve eyed this book already…
What an awesome book – I noticed it on Amy’s blog too. I made my friends stationary sets this Christmas and they were SO appreciated! What a great giveaway
I would love to win this book. Sounds like a great opportunity to teach my daughter a practical way of expressing love.
I still write thank you cards, but that’s about it. I know how much I love to receive snail mail, so maybe I should get on the ball about sending more out!
I just sent an email to my library, begging them to order this book. Winning it would be awesome!
Oh how cute!
I’m still a “card” person. This looks like a lot of fun.
How absolutely stunning!!
Liz M.
Looks like a wonderful book — thanks for the giveaway!
Looks like a great book, I will put it on my wish list.
I would love to be entered. Count me in!
What a great book! I miss writing letters…
So cute! I hope I win! I love handwritten notes.
Cute! and practical – please enter me for a chance. Thanks!
Sounds like a great book. I’d love to be entered in for the chance to win it.
Thanks!
I have this book on my wish list, so I’d love to win a copy!
I still love writing notes and letters, so nice to find a letter in the mailbox.I would love this book!
I still believe in old fashion pen and paper. Thanks!
I LOVE sending snail mail and I could always use some fresh ideas… send this book my way, please ^_^
*~ Katie
I am just beginging to be crafty, I used to think that I was not, but I guess I was not in a creative place in my life, now I know that it is okay to use someones work to create your own masterpiece. Please throw my name in the hat.
Looks like a beautiful book and I adore getting actual letters in the mail. Please add my name to the draw!
my great grandfather and I corresponded for years. Like 12 years- from when I was 10 until the time he passed away when I was 23. I love letters.
Throwing my name in the hat! : )
Another fabulous givaway!! Thanks for the chance!!
Hey, I want that.
xo Courtney
Yes, Throw my name in the hat.
So cute!!
It’s funny, I was just thinking about how nice it would be to teach my little ones about handwritten notes, and how it’s so much more than just pen and paper… I’d LOVE a chance to win one – thank you!
gotta get this book.
This book sounds like a wonderful source of inspiration. I hope people never forget the joy of holding a thoughtful note in your own hand rather than just reading and deleting an e-mail. Nothing can replace the sentiment of good old-fashioned mail.
Oooooh! Me me me! Pick me!!!! It looks so wonderful!
I’m a regular corresponder with several friends; we do love our snail mail! This looks full of fun new ideas!
Oooh, looks just lovely!!
I just put this book on my Amazon wish list in hopes of a V-Day hint for my husband. I would love gift myself with it too!
Ooohh this looks so nice – what a great giveaway. Never won anything before – hmmm is this my time? I did see a ladybug in an unlikely place. Thank you!
Oh! I would love this book!
This book looks great! It is definitely going on my wishlist (although winning a copy would be even better 🙂
Library card birth announcement — sounds cool!
Molly,Women of my “vintage” wrote notes. Our mothers stood over us with menacing gazes until we completed our Christmas or bithday thank yous. Now, even among my own peers, email has crept in. Sad. I know being your mother counts no special favors, but I am throwing my name in the pot.Hoping in Hagerstown,Mom
What a great book! I love to get mail and with that in mind, I am trying so hard to be better about sending mail. It is so easy to sit at the computer and dash off a quick email but really, it’s not the same as a hand written note.
so cool! I have just the friend who’d love this!!-Or I’d love this!
Molly, just wanted to say… pick me pick me pick me!!!!
This book looks awesome!
I love to make cards!
My stars — 40 grandchildren! I have 8 and have a hard time keeping up with that many.
Love the bag drying rack — didn’t know there even was such a thing. I reckon I’ll have to be getting one soon 😉
Nice! I haven’t heard of this, thanks for the chance to win!
This looks like such a fun book! And as a librarian I’m intrigued by the library card birth announcement.
I’m trying to be more crafty this year, this would help!
Snail mail is such a gift nowadays! I’d love to win.
I have an aunt who sounds a lot like your grandmother, and i’m so thankful to have her in my world (if not my neighborhood). Thanks!
Real mail is so fun- my sister and I try to write every other week, just a little note. The ideas in the book are cute, I’m looking forward to trying some.
I would love to get my hands on that book! My oldest is really into sending and receiving mail these days. I’ll take any excuse to play around with cute paper and stamps!
Mail is the BEST!
If you know me (or my blog) I’m all about writing! Count me in — the book sounds just lovely!
Oh! I would love to find this book!
Lovely!
Thanks for the giveaway to you and your sponsor. I would really love to see inside that book!
The book looks lovely – a promise of so many cute projects to make myself or with my youngest who is very much into letter writing and sendingKattrin
I hate having to buy cards for any occasion. It’s so much more fun to make them!
I still send cards and love doing so – I’ve been eying this book for a while now and would love to incorporate some of the projects into my correspondence! Thank you for the offer!
My gals would LOVE to try these out! As homeschoolers , snailmail is extra exciting:o)We may have to look into some of these neat products on our own as well !
Having my 2 yo make her first Valentine’s is so getting me in the mood for more Handmade Hellos!
THAT would make my day!
I want to bring back hand-written correspondence!
oh. letter writing is so good. i love to do it and i love to receive it. another fantastic giveaway opportunity molly! wow. throw my name in the hat please 😉
I love this book and would LOVE to have a copy!Jeni
please count me in! i’m one of those with the trouble. this looks like just my kind of inspiration. i will be taking on the basket at the bottom of the stairs, too.
Your grandma is an inspiration and reminds me of my own. How I miss her! And how I aspire to be someone who “keeps in touch”.
I was just looking at this book and thought there were many great ideas that I’d like to try! Thanks for the chance to win Molly!
just looked at this one in barnes and noble…how beautiful and inspiring!
i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to send more snail mail and less e-mail!
That book looks inspiring! Who doesn’t love a thoughtful handmade card?
This book looks great. Even if I don’t win, I think I might still need to get a copy.
Added it to my amazon wish list, but maybe I will get Lucky!
fun stuff!love the little snail in the photo!
Yes, please!
jodie.marie@verizon.net
I have this in my wishlist but would love to win one 🙂
Oh! I am a letter writer. I would really, really love to win this. Your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman. My own Mamaw only had three children, but they sound very much the same. She never missed an occasion for any of us. In fact, as she got older she would worry that she might forget. So, many years I received two birthday cards, two Easter cards, and at least one Thanksgiving and Christmas. I do love snail mail.
Oh dear…I;d love to win this!