How To Set The Mood For Letter Writing...

Letter Writing Rituals...

Do you ever find yourself in a frame of mind where you just can't make yourself sit down and write a letter?  Did you know that writing a letter requires a great amount of mental energy? An article I read recently talked about the relationship between creativity and mental and physical energy ( article ).  It all made sense to me.    I guess what I need to say to myself is to SLOW DOWN.   I know it's cliche to say, "slow down and smell the roses"...but there is much wisdom in that saying.  The other morning, I was sitting in my living room with a cup of hot tea  just gazing out the window.  I don't know how long I sat there just gazing, but it was so peaceful and re energizing.  The above photo was taken after I got up.

  

So, Step 1. Slow down, clear your mind of "the tyranny of the immediate".  It also helps to make sure you are getting proper rest and nutrition. 

Step 2.  Declutter your work area.  "A cluttered workspace evokes a distracted mind." was straight out of the article.  For me, not only the immediate work area needs to be neat and tidy, but also the entire room.  

Step 3:  Have supplies at the ready.  I usually spend a craft session or two making envelopes, or the bones of  several flip books.  It is a good idea (if you make your own stationery) to also have plenty of that available ahead of time.  I like to rubber stamp my sheets, but wouldn't that take an immense  amount of time if you were going through that process for each letter?  I also try to have "happy mail" packets ready to go.  I truly dislike searching everywhere for supplies.  It is draining .

Along with general supplies, stationery, envelopes,  stickers are a nice touch, and require no artistic talent.

Step 4:  Let's not forget to stop and take a break for tea!  A little refreshment along the way will recharge you!

Along with step 3, and having some "happy mail" (little paper gifts such as stickers, die cuts, etc. that you can share with your pen friend), be on the look out for items to "enclose" in your letter.  I found these sturdy scripture cards that I have started to enclose with  my letters.  

Once you have finished your letter by putting it in the envelope and sealing it up,  you may find it evokes a sense of accomplishment. For me, that includes the thought that  I was able to give the gift of a letter to someone.  This gift not only  was a tangible item of which I may have spent quite a bit of time creating, but it is a gift in another way.  It is a gift of my time in which I have  focused solely on them.  

Thinking about all of these things, makes me more aware of how I might learn to be more productive in my life in general, not just in letter writing.  I hope it has helped you too.   Please leave your comments below, and be a part of this conversation!  I would love to hear from you!

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Flip Book--Lady Cornell

Here is my most recent letter to my pen friend. This is the flip book from the Flip Book Tutorial  that I recently posted.  I decided to send her some things that she could possibly use in a future craft, or letter.

Let's not forget the tea!

Additional pages were attached by washi tape.

The Letter was  written on such thick paper that it was  a bit difficult to fold properly.

Yes, happy day!

I worked a charm "lock" onto the ribbon.

This flip book was sent into the mail by  placing it in a clear cello bag.  Postage was placed at the Post Office.

Write Letters,

Write Often

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Flip Book Tutorial

I am sure many of you have been making "flip books", but I thought that I would put together a brief photo  tutorial just in case someone was wanting some help.  After this, if you have been hesitant, you will be off and running (with your "petticoat 6  inches in mud!" P& P chapter 8) !  In this post, we will be just developing the "skeleton" of our Flip Book.

To make things simple...I use 12 inch X 12 inch paper.

Fold in half.

Please disregard the horizontal crease you see here....it is a total boo boo!  Cut your paper in half (without the added crease)

You will now have two halves of your paper.  Divide evenly into thirds.   Mark off 4 inches and 8 inches.

Crease along those two markings as shown.

I do several at a time.

If you want the inside of your flip book to be "lined" , you need to glue a piece (I used a contrasting paper) the same size to your other piece.

It might need a tiny bit of adjustment, trim here and there as needed.

I made 4 flip book "skeletons ".  They will be ready to add pages to, and embellish when I am ready to sit down and write  a letter.

We will explore  the completed flip book in my next post!  Have you sent any flip books lately? It's a great way to send little goodies to your pen friend.  

Write Letters,

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

My Letter To Lady Isabelle

Here is my most recent "accordion letter"  going off to Lady Isabelle in France.  You can see the  exquisite  mail  she sent me Here.  Some paper crafters refer to this as a "Folio" letter.  You can do a search and find more ideas.  If you are interested, here is another one I have done:  Accordion Letter

I have been looking for a good excuse to get out some of my supplies.

Oh dear.  The "not so good" edge punch job, is very noticeable in this photo.  I'm not sure how I got off on my punching, but I did.  You can see, I'm not a perfectionist.  

The card is a blank postcard that I received from a friend. It was not glued in, so that she could use it. The small envelope has some  cute washi samples to enjoy.

It is always "Tea Time" with Lady Pamela.  :-)

When you lift the  "You're My Cup Of Tea" card, there is an envelope with a tea bag of Twinings "English Breakfast Tea" for Lady Isabelle.

More pretties....I'm so delighted she likes Jane Austen!

I hesitated posting this photo...I do not like my hand writing.  I really need to get some lined paper to put under my writing, and then there are the cross throughs, etc. etc.   But I did want to show you that  I wrote a letter in FRENCH!  How lovely is that?  Thank you Google Translate!  I think the trick to getting a smooth translation is to  not use idioms, keep your speech straight- forward, etc.  I hope the letter made sense.  

The left side has a few Jane Austen tags, and an oval with her sillohuett , my letter was properly sealed with the Jane Austen Letter writing Society seal!

Here is a nice over  view of the project.  The  letter and tag sections ( previous photo) are on the reverse side.

I did put the accordion letter in a clear cello bag to mail.  I was pleasantly surprised that this rather large letter , weighing 3 + ounces went "large envelope"  international rate and only cost me $4.16 to mail!

Summer Letter Writing...

Writing On The Go!

I had three Jane Austen Letter Writing Society letters recently.  Lady Cornell is my summer pen friend, but I also received letters from two previous Pen Friend Exchanges (Lady Alaina's is not shown here).   I was off to the mountains for two weeks for Cabin Camp Counseling which would mean very little time (if any) for letter writing.  And I was right, as I was only able to write actually 2 letters.  

I did take some stamped graph paper, pens, and stamps in my mobile writing box.  But, alas...there was just no time to concentrate on letter writing.  Here is my letter, concocted  in the middle of the wilderness of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I only had my trusty  Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen.

When I tried to write on the envelope... the ink feathered something terrible.  The more I tried to "fix things", the worse it became!  I was missing my Sumi ink and my straight dipping pen.  But a letter was written, even without  my favorite supplies.  It can be done.  

Write Letters

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Waiting List Has Begun

The Summer JALWSociety  Pen Friend Exchange....Has Commenced!

If you haven't done so, check your email to receive your Pen Friend information.  I have finished the lovely task of matching all of the requests and now it is time to send out your emails to greet one another and then letter the letter writing begin!  If you sent a request, filled out an Pen Friend application, but did not hear back from me, then please notify me as soon as possible! Also, if after emailing your pen friend, and you do not hear back, please let me know as soon as possible.  I will be in the Blue Ridge Mountains  for the next two weeks, where my internet will be nearly non existent,but I will endeavor to get back to you as speedily as is possible. 

For those of you who have just stumbled upon my blog, please do not fret.  I am beginning a waiting list  and as applicants become available, I will gladly match you up as well.  The first step is to fill out a "Pen Friend" application form (top of this page is the tab, click on this and it will take you to the form), then manually "cut and paste" it into your email and send it to me completed at :JALWSociety@gmail.com.

Thank you for all your sweet comments about the society.  I wish you all the best with this new Pen Friend  Exchange.

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Flip Book, for Lady Alyssa

Jane Austen Flip Book?  Why Yes!

I wanted to try making a few flip books on the Austen Theme,  Lady Alyssa spoiled me with her crocheted  letter pouch and I wanted to reciprocate with something special.

Here the flip book is opened. This is a piece of pink card stock paper that is cut and then folded into thirds.  I made it the dimensions of my journal cards that serve as the "pages".  They are taped into place using strips of washi tape.  I also have a Jane Austen Quote tag card taped in.

Hi, dear friend!  This, as you see is a journal card.

The goodies...  The page that has the polkadot bag with the feather, is also on a journal card.

This is the "Tea Time" page...

And the letter.

I used one of these cello bags to hold the letter, it worked out nicely.  So that is the flip book with a few Jane Austen touches.  I enjoyed putting it together so much that I plan on making a few more!

If you make some, send me a picture, and I will happily post it here to share with others!

Write letters,

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

March Musings of a Jane Austen Fan...

March Musings

The month of March was a strange one for central VA.  We had this little bit of snow, which I snapped from my front parlor window, then we had temperatures as high as 85 degrees!  The snow made me long to sit at my desk and pen some letters and try to create some lovely mail.

This lovely card came from Lady Carolyn who is a member of our Letter Writing Society and has been making all sorts of beautiful mail!  I received this lovely "thank you " card from her.  

She used some of the supplies  from my Jane Austen Letter Writing Kit.  (Smile)  I have several items for sale in my Etsy store which will help you send beautiful Austen themed mail!  

Here I have assembled some items that just beg me to create something beautiful to mail out.  If you have sent or received any lovely letters and you want to share them here, please take a picture of the letter and  forward it to me at :  JALWSociety@gmail.com and I will gladly post it!

We are now in April and  surprisingly we have SNOW again  in our forecast!  Good.  It will draw me back to my desk!

Write letters,

Write often!

Lady Pamela