The Art of the Handwritten Note

Hello my friends!  I hope all is well and happy with you and yours!  I finished my Christmas card making last evening and they are ready to be mailed tomorrow, after I buy some holiday stamps!  I've been making my cards for.. well.. when I say how many it makes me feel old.. but forever.  I've done different covers of the card over the years, one time doing a Sumi ink watercolor on each one!  For the last several years I've used a photo of our farmhouse lit for Christmas, or our tree by the fire.  This year I used a tree/hearth photo but converted it to a watercolor using the app "Waterlogue".  

I have a big artist's clipboard which I use so I can do my projects in my easy chair.  I'm all about comfort!  :-)  The boys borrow this on a regular basis so now it's decorated with markers.  :-)  I can thank my freshman year shorthand teacher for introducing me to fountain pens.. I adore them and have used them my whole life.  

I wish I could send a card to each and every one of you.. but since that would be difficult, consider this your card, ok?  I usually print my own cards, cut them and fold them, but our printer gave up the ghost and I had these done at a printer - who cut and folded them - I may never go back to doing my own printing.

This is what I write in each card.. the message changes, but the candy cane exclamation point is in each one.  :-)  Consider your name at the top of your card.  :-)

Here are my two favorite fountain pens.. I do have a few more.. but you knew that, didn't you? LOL!  The top one is a Parker Duofold Pearl and Black Centennial and the bottom one is my sterling silver Yard-o-Led Victorian.  I have the pencil and ball point pen to match both of them.  I'm a collector.. don't judge.  :-)

I also do a newsletter to include in the card to family and friends.  I hand address each envelope with as much flourish as possible.. and hand draw two holly leaves and berries on each one.  In this newsletter is a photo of my 3 blog friends, Betsy, Gracie and Taci from our Christmas luncheon that I hosted here last year.  This year Taci has offered to host and Betsy is flying in, renting a car and hotel room so she can join us!  I wish we could have a big bloggers holiday luncheon and invite you all!

Dayle and Travis set up our tree last evening and Kristi and Travis brought all our boxes of decorations down.. now it's up to me to set everything up!  It might take a while.  LOL!  Kristi found this collar and put it on Buddy -- his new nickname is.. wait for it.. Buddy HOLLY!

One of my 3 colors of Christmas Cacti in bloom.. this one is from a slip from my Aunt Helyn in Annapolis, MD when I visited several years ago.  It's white, with a pale pink center and an amazing fuchsia colored stamen.  Isn't it pretty?

Do you send Christmas cards?  How do you go about it?  We are having a cloud-free day, it's windy and freezing cold outside, but cozy and warm inside.  I hope you are having a superb day.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)