Show & Tell

Show & Tell : Handmade Hellos

Showandtell_updated

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.)

9780811862394_large

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!!

Showandtell_updated

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.)

9780811862394_large

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!!

128 comments on “Show & Tell : Handmade Hellos”

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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

  5. 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!

  6. 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

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

  9. 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!

  10. 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.

  11. 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!

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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!

  16. 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.

  17. 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!

  18. 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.

  19. 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!

  20. 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!

  21. 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

  22. 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.

  23. 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 😉

  24. 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!

  25. 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!

  26. 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

  27. 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!

  28. 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 !

  29. 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 😉

  30. 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.

  31. 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”.

  32. 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.

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