Upcoming Mail Art Workshop - Lakeland, FL

Calling all central Florida letter writers. I've teamed up with the Lakeland Public Library again this Fall for a two hour Mail Art Workshop on Saturday, November 5. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. You can register online here. 

In this workshop we'll learn how to fold an origami envelope and get creative with glassine. As always, our analog table will be set up with washi tapes, rubber stamps, and all the ephemera a library can offer. This includes old book pages, maps, magazines, etc. If you are in the area, please come join us and make mail. 

Handwriting Trick For Halloween Treats

Cast a spell on your handwriting with a simple trick I use when I'm unable to use my calligraphy pen. All you need is a marker of your choice. I like to use a fine black Micron pen. It works great on things like kraft paper bags and coffee stained papers. 

For Halloween, I'm using this trick to decorate simple kraft treat bags. The process is simple. In addition to a marker, you will need a pencil, a ruler, and a regular mouth jar lid. Step by step instructions are provided in the following video. 

Down The Rabbit Hole: October 2016

One thing that baffles me is the idea of other people having an interest in what's catching my attention and sending me down rabbit holes. Nevertheless, I've had enough people ask that it's time to consider a routine blog post to sum it all up. I'm willing to give it a try and start with a monthly post. Here's the rundown. Let me know what you think. 

Reading and Bookish Things

• I'm on the road a great deal this month and I really enjoy listening to bookish podcasts to make the journey more pleasing. Currently, I'm loving What Should I Read Next. 

• For some reason I've become obsessed with collecting and showcasing Lost World genre books. Especially anything written or inspired by the Victorian adventure writers. I'm on the hunt for books by H. Rider Haggard and scored a vintage copy of "Allan Quartermain" this month from a charming Etsy seller, Box Thirteen.  This has led me to discover the real life female adventurer, Gertrude Bell, so I'm reading "A Woman In Arabia: The Writings of the Queen of the Desert."

Stationery

• I'm really digging glassine envelopes for my Halloween parcels. They add a nice touch.

• Cataloging my fountain pen inks has become a thing for me. This is totally inspired by a weekly post by Anderson Pens called thINKthursday.  In no way am I comparing my ink catalog entries to their magnificent works of art, but they have raised the bar to a new level and that gets me excited. 

Creativity and Florida Life

• As usual, my neighbors are creating magic in their garden and inspiring what will most likely be holiday party gifts. This year they've started putting air plants in oyster shells. I'm in love with the look. 

• I've gone nuts over Saints of Old Florida. The blog, the Instagram, the book - it's all heavenly. 

Note: All items purchased with my own money. This is not a sponsored post. Please be advised that some of the links provided are affiliate links and I do receive a small commission if you make a purchase using those links.  This does not cost you any extra when you make a purchase. Thank you for your support.