Who has more fun than people !?

I made some mail the other night inspired by a saying that has been in my family for years.  You know all the "life is good" stuff you see around (especially at the beach)?  Well, my family's version of "life is good" is this--"Who has more fun than people!?"

It is both an exclamation and a question.  One could simply leave it as an exclamation (because it's obviously rhetorical), but my Grandpa Orlie--on particularly good days--demanded an answer.

diy envelope liner (from scribble art)

Yesterday, while Caroline and Lincoln were busy making cards for family members, Roman was busy scribbling with (and eating) markers.

Even though the activity ended in a meltdown for Roman (he was very angry after I took a bitten-off marker tip out of his mouth and declared marker time over), we did get a great piece of one-year-old scribble art out of it.

I copied it and made it into an envelope liner (naturally) for an envelope made out of black construction paper (I used the envelope and liner templates from Paper Source).

I really love the look.  I might just put Roman to work designing some more.  :)

(You can see some of my favorite diy stationery supplies right here.)

family crafting and antiquing, part 2

Addy and Libby when they were just littles

My little sisters have enjoyed raiding my craft supplies for as long as I can remember (see above).  :)  Because they share my love of crafting, I willingly pack up boxes of supplies when I am going to visit them, no matter how cumbersome those boxes may be.  I once filled one whole suitcase with craft stuff when I was flying from Texas to North Carolina for a visit.  For this past trip, my luggage was about 90% craft supplies and 10% other necessary stuff.  I should have taken a picture of the trunk space of our minivan--you would have to see it to believe it.

I go to all this trouble because I love to use my stuff no matter where I am, and because I especially love to use it with people who appreciate it as much as I do.  I am so glad my sisters share my love of crafting and, more recently, letter writing and keeping in touch.

After the boys were in bed Sunday night, my sisters and their friends helped me bring my boxes upstairs to the dining room table, where we spread everything out and crafted for a few hours.  My typewriter was a big hit that night.  My daughter Caroline took a turn on it while Libby's friends watched with interest.  They actually oooohed the first time a key hit the paper.  It was pretty funny.

Emily and Kelsi watching Caroline type

I don't know if the teenagers present had ever seen a typewriter in person before (or at least in action).  I am 17 years older than my youngest sister Libby (and her friends), but I still forget how different her childhood has been than mine in many ways.  I used a typewriter (electric) in grade school for typing class.  I met friends at summer camp and wrote them letters afterwards (no texts!).  I only started using email my senior year of high school . . .

It makes me feel old, in a way, but I also feel privileged to have lived before instantaneous communication was the norm.  I appreciate the conveniences of texting and emailing (usually), but I am also glad to know firsthand the pleasures of letter writing and finding good mail in the mailbox.  It makes me happy to see my young sisters starting to appreciate this too.  A few years ago, when I finally got my sister Addy (now 18) into letter writing, she told me, "You were right!  This is so much fun!"  And now Libby is completely sold on it as well.

When Libby first started typing Sunday night, she couldn't stop grinning and she kind of shuddered a little with excitement.  That was my exact reaction the first time I used it.  I was glad she could relate.  Here she is in all seriousness working on a journal entry.

deep thoughts by Libby Sawatzky

Sunday night's crew:  Addy (sister), Libby (sister), Emily (friend), Caroline (daughter), Kelsi (friend), and Laura Beth (sister-in-law)

Monday night we decided to do it all again.  Once our dinnertime cookout was over and the littles were in bed, my dad reminded us that it was craft time (it cracked me up that he was instigating it).  This time we even got the boys involved.  My brother Dillon carved a stamp for his wife Laura Beth and Jonathan (Addy's boyfriend) made an envelope (!) and tried to upstage Libby with his calligraphy skills.  My mom took a few pictures of our family craft night.  My sister Stefani didn't craft, but she stayed close by and provided running commentary.

Clockwise from left:  Jonathan trying out calligraphy, Libby looking on with envy, friend Kelsi stamping in her journal,
Caroline drawing a picture, Laura Beth punching confetti, Dillon carving a stamp,
me coaching the calligraphers from across the table, Addy writing a letter (good job, Addy!)

I spent a lot of my time helping others with their projects, but I did manage to get a couple of cards made.  I will show you those sometime next week.  I hope you have a great weekend!  

:) amber

family crafting and antiquing . . .

Hi, friends!  This post is a little out of the norm for the blog, but I am just filled with inspiration after a trip to see my family this past week, so I wanted to write about it.  And since it does have to do with letter-related things, I think it's appropriate.  :)

My family was going to be visiting me in Maryland, but plans changed and I drove down to North Carolina last week to see them.  And I had a blast (even with a 10-hour car trip both ways with 3 kids).  I always enjoy time with my family, but this time was extra special--I think because we all did so many things together.

My dad and I went to The Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville on Monday.  He and I were on the hunt for color inspiration for the wood pieces (mirrors, benches, etc.) that he builds and finishes and distresses.  My dad and I love talking colors, so this was a really fun outing.  I took lots of cell phone pics of old doors and windows and benches, anything with a great aged finish or neat color.  This door is a good example of one of my favorite color combinations.

I also snapped some pictures of other fun things.  I couldn't resist [taking a picture of] this child-sized roll top writing desk!  The picture doesn't accurately convey its diminutive size.  I would have loved one of these as a kid (I would love one as an adult!).

After my dad and I had browsed for a little while, my brother Dillon and sister-in-law Laura Beth showed up.  Because we were having a cookout that night, my dad and Dillon left early to pick up some things at the store and get the bonfire started.  LB and I stayed a little longer at the antique store, and I am so glad we did.

I ended up getting a few things in the end.  I was so excited to find a 2-drawer wooden index card file (think library card catalogue but with 2 drawers).  I have been brainstorming different uses for it, but for now it is going to sit on my desk and make me smile.  It is really well made--solid wood with dovetail joinery.  The drawers slide in and out very smoothly and have brass finger pulls.  There were even several old peachy pink numbered dividers still inside, along with 2 green ones.

There are two brass plates on the box, and I want to figure out what they mean.  I am guessing the first is either the company who made the box or the company that used it.

But I am not sure what P. B. 950 means.  Guess I will have fun finding out!  Anyone have any ideas?

I also got a wooden type ampersand and a couple of old keys and pictures (not shown).  And I can't thank my sister-in-law enough for finding me the little booklet below.  She was holding it in her hand when we met up after browsing separately, and she showed it to me and said, "You don't have to buy this or anything, but I thought of you when I saw it," and I think I might have actually jumped up and down.  Yes, it IS fun to write letters!  I love it to death.

You will definitely be seeing this little booklet again, as it is filled with some excellent retro (printed in 1954) letter writing advice that I would just love to share with you.

I will have to write another follow-up tomorrow or Friday to tell you about the family crafting aspect of the week.  Right now I have lots of unpacking to do!  Hope you are having a lovely week!