Get your supplies together!

(Find this stamp box here. Not necessary, but so fun!)

At Target the other day I noticed all the school supplies are already out, so I thought perhaps the next installment in our series on hand written notes would be about that...supplies!

What do you need to write a note? Well, it is obvious, right? A paper & a pen! The next question is what do you select first? No matter what you prefer to start with, you eventually need them both. You have to start some where though. I pick my paper first, largely because I select it by occasion. Besides, the pen in my hand is almost always the same, especially for note writing. I am in love with Pilot pens, of all kinds, but especially my Pilot G-2 Gel Pen. For our purposes, though, whatever feels good in your hand & has plenty of ink in it will suffice.

Several resources, including The Art of the Handwritten Note, which I quoted in my previous post, suggest having a "starter set" of stationery handy. Choose some simple notes...maybe just some all purpose cream or white folded cards...and keep them together with envelopes, stamps & your pen or pens. Put them in a nice basket, in a place that they are easy to access. Mine sit in a mail holder next to my desk. The idea is to make note writing a fun & easy thing to do.

Where do you get said simple notes? Almost anywhere. I have seen sets at Staples & at Target. If you are in my 'hood (Brooklyn!) I suggest Papel NY. Great card selection as well as stationery. Etsy, of course, has lots of cards & papers for sale (hello, plug for the K. Batty shop!), or you could check out several other online options. Here are some of my faves:

Paper Source, for plain paper, all things crafty & fun demos on their products
Papyrus, for funky cards
The Paper Cottage, for everything preppy
Paper & Cup, for fun & well designed everything

And then there is always the classic...Crane's. (sigh)

I hope this post breaks down note writing a bit for you. As I said previously, it isn't a huge task to write someone a note. You just need a few simple things & a few words.

Happy writing :)

*** If you order monogrammed notes from the K. Batty shop between now & next Wednesday, enter SUPPLIES in the messages to seller. I'll complete your starter stationery set with stamps & a pen! Plus, from now until the 25th you can get 10% off your order & free shipping during the Christmas in July sale! Whoo hooo!!***

Why handwritten notes?

(like these correspondence cards? They are K. Batty! Look for them soon on Esty!)

People's desire (hopefully!) to send & write handwritten notes is a major part of my business, so I thought a little blog series on the subject may be in order.

First up: Why send one in the first place?

Emails are quick. So are texts & phone calls. So, why wait on snail mail to deliver a sentiment? All have their place. But, in my opinion, none of them show the sincerity of a handwritten note. I turned to The Art of the Handwritten Note by Margaret Shepherd for a little guidance. Shepard says that sending a handwritten note tells the recipient that "You are worth the effort it took" to write, stamp & send this note.

I like that. She also points out that it's rarity heights the appeal. That makes me like sending them even more. To show someone that I am thinking about them by doing something that is (sadly) rare these days increases the importance of the gesture.

Now, you don't need to write anyone a book or your life story in a note. Figure out your message & send what's needed to deliver it. Maybe it's a card just to say hi! Saying something is better than saying nothing. So, if it comes to texting or emailing your message, then fine.

But, the point is put down your device, pick up a pen and make someone's day with a surprise in their mailbox.

Up next: haven't decided yet! Basic formats for notes? Perhaps materials, like pens & paper? Let's get excited about handwritten notes, people!