Greetings from ENGLAND still in LOCKDOWN. 6-29-20Then it’s throwback Thursday once again and this time we’re so close

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…and a beautiful England at that, glorious weather, glorious surroundings, glorious happenings….well, a lot of it is glorious, even more so if we could, get of this virus which is causing mayhem everywhere in the world. but as I said last week, I’m trying not to mention the V word , so here it goes….. This week has been full of busyness, lots to do and lots to complete in a short time. It started with the community hub that I run, it’s a beautiful old church as you know and I am so passionate about community, I cannot wait to get started again with groups and courses and projects going on. To this end we have started to make it look fabulous, from the garden makeover I told you about a couple of weeks ago to the building itself. It has been used by stitchers and groups making scrubs and all manner of things to keep our nurses and doctors safe and now that has slowed down, we can move on.

The next project is making masks as the wearing of them will be mandatory as from July 4th you recognize that date of course!!! We have lots of stitchers busy on their sewing machines to make the masks from material that has been donated and left over from the scrub making. We are organizing a mask give away day on July 6th where we will unveil our mask tree which will be hung with masks for people . If they want to make a donation, they can and it all helps to keep the costs down, small donations add up to a big donation in the end. I am looking forward to that as it will get people in and it means lots of members of our community will feel safer when the new guidelines come into play, easing the lockdown.

Whilst we were discussing the tree project I happen to be talking about the wonderful peace poles that were created across America for World Peace Day. There are some in Lake Worth which of course, are beautiful Everyone thought the idea sounded great and so that will be another project!!! I love that we can now meet up with friends as long as we socially distance……and last Thursday we did just that, this time in a friend’s in -on-sea, a lovely fishing village and town, 10 miles down the coast from where I live. We decided to have Turkish food and we stopped of off the restaurant to pick up the food on our way, it was utterly delicious and just like old times, chatting and laughing and drinking the odd glass of wine. It is very noticeable that people are getting together, at the beginning of this endemic, it was eerily quiet, as people stayed home , only to venture out to get food or exercise, now we hear the sound of laughter and voices again. I love it! I also love that we can hear the children playing in the local primary school as they play outside at break times, a lovely sound. The beaches are still busy, particularly on weekends we tend to stay away when they are busy and go for a walk along the beach later in the evening when the crowds have thinned out. People are better now and social distancing is much in evidence. Paddle boarding has really taken of here as a new sport and the paddle boarders are out in force especially on weekends, it’s nice to see. The big news is that from the 4th we only have to stay 1 meter apart than 2 , I think it will be ok, it will certainly help the economy hugely as restaurants and pubs can reopen, in a new way of course. It will be very different as there will be new ways ordering and paying for drinks and food…….lots of eating and drinks al fresco to make it easier to keep distancing. Airlines are advertising flights and there are several countries we can travel to without having to quarantine 14 days upon our return, I think I will give it a miss for now. You appear to have a lot more freedom to travel as we do, has it changed at all? I heard about your new rule re wearing masks, a wise move if numbers are rising again. I have just finished the thought of the day board for tomorrow and it is day 98, only two more days till day 100, I think I will stop here. Please take care, have fun and stay happy ……..speak to you next week.

Real Mail Friday 1/3/20

This takes place on the first Friday of each month at the Wimberley library’s third floor. The Jaffe Center for Book Arts. It houses approx 10,000 hand crafted unique one of a kind Artist books. I’m always delighted to share it with acquaintances and friends and they have all become devotees of this once a month special afternoon . Bring your address book, I flip through mine, first the birthdays for the month and take time to write letters to friends I have not been in touch with, who do not do Facebook. Usually some 3o missives go out to friends, loved one’s, parents it’s hosted by John Cutrone a Lake Worthian that I met years ago as a member of the South Fl. Calligraphy Guild long before I moved to Lake Worth Beach. John created this event and he’s a marvelous host, available to those who attend are all sorts of ephemera glass pens, variety of inks, Washi tape, stamps for those feeling just a bit intimidated.

A congratulatory note on an engagement
A congratulatory note.

Each letter that leaves here is special. And while we muse over the right phrase not to be misconstrued we drink Coffee, tea and cookies can be munched on and chocolates. Each month brings surprise xtras depending on the time of year. Today it was crackers. inside were the traditional small gifts a crown, a joke and in mine I got the tiniest deck of Alice in Wonderland playing cards. 

Four hours of bliss thinking of someone special and communicating that love. Real Mail Friday also provides postage and there’s a basket where you deposit your letter, note and they will take it to the post office noblesse oblige.o

A letter to a parent from today’s Real Mail Friday.

Only 12 minutes south of Lake Worth Beach

National Handwriting Day 2018

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phawnda art of writing

National Handwriting Day celebrates all things handwritten on the birthday of John Hancock, January 23 (born in 1737). The Writing Instrument Manufacturer’s Association selected that day in 1977 to honor penmanship.

Hancock’s distinctive signature is one of the two most famous in history (the other being Picasso, whose signed checks were often saved, not cashed ~ imagine!)

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(image from Wikipedia)

 

In honor of John Hancock, let’s make something handwritten!

Here are 4 ideas from Phawnda Moore, a calligrapher, designer and instructor in Northern California. (See more projects on her FB page.)

https://www.facebook.com/CalligraphyandDesignByPhawnda/?pnref=lhc

phawnda nhwd21. Write out a pangram: “The quick brown fox . . . “ or, let someone know the meaning of their name. Micron pens are great for both. Add shades of color with pencils or markers.

 

 

 

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2.Send a love letter or note ~ S.W.A.K., of course! Try a pointed pen with ink or gouache, or use a small brush marker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Encourage a friend with a handmade card and envelope. Brush

watercolor is my favorite choice for this because it’s so expressive.

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Create something artful today to share ~ you’ll both enjoy it!

 

4. And, treat yourself to some new treasures, too!

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image1We appreciate Phawnda taking the time to share her ideas for using your handwriting to connect with others. To help you in your endeavors, we are giving away a set of our staff’s favorite every  day writing pens, a Rhodia dot pad for practice, a Strathmore Writing journal to record all of your thoughts and ideas, and a set of Strathmore Correspondence cards to encourage you to send a note to a friend. To be entered to win, simply comment on this post with your own idea of how to celebrate National Handwriting Day. Be sure you include your name so that we can contact you if you win! Contest will close on Friday, January 26th!

If your interested in handwriting classes for children or for adults please contact me via lakeworthart@gmail.com

This blog was not written by me but shared by one I follow.   so you can click on that in the area that states blogs I follow.   Guess I got mine out yesterday just in time.