Thursday, January 23, 2014

January 23rd is National Handwriting Day



    NATIONAL HANDWRITING DAY


Express Yourself Through Handwriting on National Handwriting Day


The art of handwriting is one of the few ways we can uniquely express ourselves. There’s something poetic about grasping a writing instrument and feeling it hit the papers your thoughts flow through your fingers and pour into words.

So, the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA)
suggests you take advantage of National Handwriting Day on January 23and use a pen or a pencil to rekindle that creative feeling through a handwritten note, poem, letter or journal entry.

Handwriting allows us to be artists and individuals during a time when we often use computers, faxes and e-mail to communicate.  Fonts are the same no matter what computer you use or how you use it.  Fonts lack a personal touch.

Handwriting can add intimacy to a letter and reveal details about the writer’s personality. Throughout history, handwritten documents have sparked love affairs, started wars, established peace, freed slaves, created movements and declared independence.

"Though computers and e-mail play an important role in our lives,
nothing will ever replace the sincerity and individualism expressed through the handwritten word," said David H. Baker, WIMA's Executive Director.

The purpose of National Handwriting Day is to alert the public to the importance of handwriting. According to WIMA, National Handwriting Day is a chance for all of us to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.

WIMA sponsors National Handwriting Day every January 23in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday.  Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his large, bold signature.

The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association is a national trade association covering $4.5-billion industry of pen, pencil and marker manufacturers.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Year of the Horse; Chinese New Year - Jan 31, 2014



CHINESE NEW YEAR
January 31, 2014
  YEAR OF THE HORSE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Horse is one of the Chinese favorite animals.

Horse provided people speedy transportation before automobiles,
so people can quickly reach their destinations.
Horse can even help people win the battle.  

Therefore, Horse is a symbol of traveling, competition and victory.
That's why Horse is connected to speedy success in China.
Horses like to compete with each other.  

Their pursuit is for their freedom, passion and leadership.
That implies that people will have busy schedules for their goals in the year of the Horse.

Horse hour of Chinese horoscopes is from 11am to 1pm.
Sunshine generates lots of heat during the Horse hour.
Therefore, horse is connected to heat, fire and red. 

Horses like the social activities because horses like to show off themselves.
Since horse is a social animal and red is also connected to love,
horse is treated as a Romantic Star in the Chinese horoscope.
 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How do you connect to Horse and how will you incorporate their symbolism into your day to day life throughout 2014! 


Monday, January 20, 2014

YOUR IMPERFECTIONS ARE PERFECT

from January 2014 Paper Architect Community Newsletter
 

Comparing ourselves to others is a sure way to crush our self esteem.

There will always be someone smarter, better looking, thinner, richer, younger than us.

We have our week and strong attributes but for each of us, they are in different areas which strengthens what makes us unique.  In fact, there have been times when our weaknesses lead us to creating things in a new and different way turning us into innovators.
In my business of making journals, I strive to make them as perfect as possible.  I take pride in doing my best so whoever receives it is feeling the love and energy put into the journal.
I have also been fanatical about testing the journals to see how well the materials hold up and tweaking the formats when needed before offering them for sale.  I'm especially proud of the journals that I have designed out of my own need for something I could not find out in the marketplace -- tea  journals, photo and travel logs.  There is nothing more satisfying than doing what you love and sharing it with others.

I use handmade papers that always have natural irregularities which gives each sheet its own personality.  In my opinion, the irregularities is what makes them beautiful.
No matter how careful I am, I have difficulty making my journals perfectly.  Sometimes I learn from the imperfections which allows me to improve upon the design and other times I cannot accept the outcome and start over.  I want the customer to have the very best.  If you've ever watched the TV series MONK, which is about an obsessive, compulsive detective, you see how he has difficulty with imperfection, often wasting large amounts of food, materials, etc.  It also gave me a window into my own need to be perfect and how absurd it is wasting time, money and materials.  Who would think a funny TV show would leave me to coming to terms with my imperfections and actually accepting tht I am not perfect.  I continue to always do my best in everything I do, pushing myself to improve, grow, learn and expand my experience as a creative being.  It's about quality more than perfection.

In fact, I found a stamp that I often use not just for the person who buys or uses my products but myself as well, that these items are made by a human being.  It reads:

"This is an individually crafted
WORK OF ART.
Any smudges, splotches, or other irregularities are
intentional and do not diminish the quality
of this piece in anyway."

If we were perfect, what a dull life we would lead.  
It's our unique imperfection that gives us opportunities to learn what we don't know, reflect on our strengths and weaknesses, so we an work on improving them and most of all, to celebrate our individual unique design that makes us who we are.

But once we are able to acknowledge and accept ourselves that's when the magic happens.  Giving gratitude will enhance your experiences.



 There will always be someone who finds your 'weaknesses' and uses them against you.  But if you are able to embrace your imperfections, it will not effect you so severely because you know that your imperfections are perfect.

"I accept myself just as I am now.
.I give thanks for myself and my imperfections.
I give myself permission 
To transform and beautify my personal tapestry."
~Sue Patton Thoele~