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Mailbox Monthly for March ... a set of 5 flat cards with envelopes, Fabriano Medioevalis paper with deckle edges, wrapped with Italian floral paper. This was the first time I printed this pattern, but it's actually one that's been sitting around for at least six months. As ever, I love the combination of ochre and slate (which happen to be the colors that we're planning to paint our house soon). I have some extras of these sets; you can find them here and here if you like them but haven't subscribed to MM. (Although I should mention you can sign up for MM anytime you like!)
This poem on my mind and included in the March mailing, via The Writer's Almanac.Elegy for the Personal Letter
by Allison Joseph
I miss the rumpled corners of correspondence,
the ink blots and crossouts that show
someone lives on the other end, a person
whose hands make errors, leave traces.
I miss fine stationery, its raised elegant
lettering prominent on creamy shades of ivory
or pearl grey. I even miss hasty notes
dashed off on notebook paper, edges
ragged as their scribbled messages—
can't much write now—thinking of you.
When letters come now, they are formatted
by some distant computer, addressed
to Occupant or To the family living at—
meager greetings at best,
salutations made by committee.
Among the glossy catalogs
and one time only offers
the bills and invoices,
letters arrive so rarely now that I drop
all other mail to the floor when
an envelope arrives and the handwriting
is actual handwriting, the return address
somewhere I can locate on any map.
So seldom is it that letters come
That I stop everything else
to identify the scrawl that has come this far—
the twist and the whirl of the letters,
the loops of the numerals. I open
those envelopes first, forgetting
the claim of any other mail,
hoping for news I could not read
in any other way but this.
How fitting is it that this parcel went out today all the way to Ireland? Wrapped up are some allium wedding invitations and enclosure cards (plus a few extra goodies) for lovely Alison Nash, a jewelry designer in Dublin.
I love this.
Four years ago while walking down the street in Santa Monica, CA the voice of Roger Ridley singing “Stand By me” was heard from a block away. His voice, soul and passion set us on a course around the world to add other musicians to his performance. This song transformed Playing For Change from a small group of individuals to a global movement for peace and understanding. This track features over 35 musicians collaborating from all over the world. They may have never met in person, but in this case, the music does the talking.
We were a little late getting out the door this morning, but on the walk back home I stopped to take some photos, though this is the only one I liked. I finally did a really simple thing: I removed the strap from my camera – it was really long and always getting tangled and in the way. Isn't it silly how things like a too-long, messy strap could keep me from putting the camera in my bag every day?
Yesterday I didn't get so much done. Certainly not everything I mentioned I might, but I did make a good last-minute dinner without even needing to go to the store at all. Spaghetti with garlic, clams (canned), tomatoes, Italian parsley, lemon, white wine and crispy home-made bread crumbs on top. It was, as Liam said, SIX THUMBS UP! (That's because it takes me, Ben and Liam to get all six thumbs up – this is the mark of a good meal in our home.) And it really didn't take long at all – started at 5:30, eating by 6:15 if not a little before.
Today my list is long and I'll admit that I am off to a slow start once again. But I stopped at the co-op on the way home and bought, among other things, a can of sweetened, condensed milk and I'm having a spoonful of that in my black tea. And it is good. What I'd like to do is keep reading the book I started the other night about Alice Waters and Chez Panisse, but I think I'll try to focus on a few organizational tasks in the studio that might get me in a better space for printing next week. Can you tell that I've been in a funk this week, though I am trying not to feel badly about it. This is the way things go sometimes.
I am having a hard time getting started today. I didn't sleep well last night; I have a lot of things on my mind. The sun is shining this morning, but it's fairly cold out. Three cups of tea already, but no sign of really being energized ... so I'm just going to resign myself to a slow-paced mid-week day here. I'm going to do things like fold and package stationery, organize for wholesale orders, clean my closet and answer emails. That's not all that lazy, I suppose, but I won't be printing today. I may try to find time to peek at my newly arrived books from Canal House Cooking. And I'll be looking forward to a freshly made bed – my favorite.
P.S. I've been listening to these songs an awful lot, some old, some new. For some reason, you can only hear a 30 second clip of The Felice Brothers song ... I'm technologically challenged so I don't know how to change this.
I signed up for formspring account the other day. Is there anything you want to ask me? Letterpress related or otherwise? Go for it – just ask. I'll do my best to answer.
On Thursday, I picked up a copy of A16 Food + Wine from the library. Yesterday afternoon I made my own version of the pistachio and almond cake. I changed up quite a few things – olive oil for half the butter; half the amount of sugar; kamut flour for half of the all-purpose flour; no lemon zest ... so I suppose it's really not even the same cake at all, but it is really delicious. This may not be for everyone, but all three of us here liked it very much. I baked four mini-loaves and we ate thick slices for an afternon snack yesterday and for breakfast this morning with Greek yogurt and home-made granola.
That's Liam in a pile of leaves last fall, and me in a pile of leaves many, many years ago. Don't we look so similar?!
I love, love, love these two necklaces from Stone & Honey. I'd choose the silver versions, though: silver pinwheel and silver honeycomb – both available in varying patterns, all so lovely. It's hard to pick which one I like best.
