The Art of Letters

In this age of email and instant messaging, we sometimes forget it wasn't all that long ago letter writing was the only means of written communication. Words were carefully chosen, penmanship mattered, and the thoughts expressed were personal, written down for all eternity....

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? When was the last time you wrote one?

I know, I know, I sound absolutely ancient here....

But there's a lot to be said for doing things the old fashioned way on occasion, don't you think?

For one thing, letters leave a tangible record for future generations. Given the test of time, emails, memos and blogs pale in comparison to letters, journals and diaries. The letter shown above is from Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett....so romantic. It's part of an anthology of love letters John presented me with a few years ago on Valentine's Day. Here's another page, this one from Sir Richard Steele (Dublin born English writer) to Mary Scurlock, penned in August, 1707. A declaration of love, the letter closes: "Dear Molly, I am tenderly, passionately, faithfully Thine, Richd Steele".

Sorry, but no one writes emails like that. ;)

Letter writing also forces us to slow down, to organize our thoughts, to use language as it was meant to be used, without abbreviations and acronyms. (Don't even get me started on "Ur" and "2 go"!) We may save a few seconds with this kind of communication, but we lose something far more precious.

This is all by way of telling you I've had letter writing on my mind for some time now...

I've mentioned the desire to create a large stationary chest for storing beautiful writing supplies, and I actually have TWO to share today; one completed, and one a work in progress. The chest you see below was created for a very special collector in New York. She was looking for something in lighter shades, neutrals, ivory and gold, with an old fashioned yet somewhat mystical feel, incorporating stamps and letters, and large enough to hold boxes of notecards....



Such a joy to paint this one! It will be on it's way in a day or two. :)

The next chest is in progress, and may even be completed tomorrow. It's shaping up to be a very elegant witch's stationary chest, and may also include a black cat and a raven, not sure yet. I want to add some hand lettering too - perhaps single words of inspiration like "magic" and "art" and enchantment"...Heres a sneak peek:


Oh - and did I mention I'm including a plumed pen, a bottle of ink, a brass seal and two sticks of sealing wax?! Yep.;)

Unless I receive an offer I can't refuse, look for this one on eBay very soon!

That's about all for now. I'm off to the kitchen throw a quiche in the oven, slice some strawberries for dessert, and pop an old movie in the dvd player ("The Philadlephia Story", with Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart)...

There's a lot to be said for "old fashioned". ;)

♥ ~ Carolee