Behind the Curtain

Children & Typewriters

If there is one thing I learned about our time at the Mini-Maker Faire, it is that children LOVE manual typewriters. They are absolutely fascinated with them.

One child asked for an explanation as to what these machines were. I described it "like a computer, but instead of hitting print, the words are put on paper instantly." She was flabbergasted and excitedly jumped to write on one.

This kid was an absolute whiz on the typewriter! He was click clacking away without any stuck keys and very little mistakes.

The Mini-Maker Faire was a good reminder to us that although there is more of a learning curve with the tiniest of patrons, you can give children the seeds to appreciate older technology. Our youngest letter writer was a wee boy of four and he did better than some of his older friends on these machines.

I apologize for the cellphone pics, but with the constant stream of kids wanting to learn how to type, we didn't really have a chance to bring out our proper cameras. Before the kids rolled in, I was able to get a photo of Donovan with her morning coffee and our army of pigeons as well at the set-up on our new shelving system. Afterward, our booth was pretty much covered with eager letter writers.

I didn't get to take a photo of the lovely sisters who won the raffle typewriter, but we know it went to a good home. These sisters fell instantly in love with typewriters and letter writing; they were a stream of excited questions. It was amazing to see the spark we lit in these mini-letter writers. So, if you have a typewriter hiding away in your attic or at grandma's house, perhaps you should dust it off and see if the mini-maker in your life may take an interest in it.

Thanks for having us Champaign-Urbana!

Typewriter Dancing, 1937

Clip from Ready, Willing, and Able (1937). View larger here.

As Donovan and I prepare for our Champaign-Urbana Letter Writing Social, I find my mind preoccupied with typewriters. Since we are giving one away at the social, I can't help but think about how happy the person who wins the typewriter will feel.

I try to think back about how I felt when I got my first typewriter, which was given to me for free many many years ago. How exciting it all was. The clacking sounds, my soar finger tips, the accomplished feeling you get just from hitting the keys. I found this clip from the movie Ready, Willing, and Able (1937) and felt it is the closest to expressing what that first typewriter feeling is like. I hope you enjoy.

For those of you who can join us this weekend at the Mini-Maker Faire, the above typewriter is the one we have up for grabs. Stop by, say hello, and get a giveaway ticket.

Atlas Obscura & Letter Socials

Some awesome news - Letter Writers Alliance is participating in Atlas Obscura Day. What's Atlas Obscura Day, you ask? And what's Atlas Obscura? Well, Atlas Obscura is a "compendium of the world's wonders, curiosities and esoterica" and Atlas Obscura Day is when we all try to get out and explore them.

We will be hosting a social at the Read/Write Library from 2PM-5PM on April 28th. This social will be a bit different than usual. For starters, we're going to ask you to R.S.V.P. on the official Atlas Obscura Day site. A ticket will be $5; some of which will go to support Atlas Obscura and some of which will get you an Atlas Obscura Day L.W.A. membership which comes with a badge, limited edition membership card, and special artistamp. You can read more info on the event at the LWA blog and on the Letter Social page on the Atlas Obscura site.

We have two socials happening next month, one where we will be giving away a typewriter! This will take place in Champaign-Urbana's Mini-Maker Fair. For those of you who can't make it either, here is some info to sooth your soul. Many of our LWA members are located outside of Chicago. In fact, our members are so spread out Donovan & I have been working hard on the Community aspect of the Letter Writers Alliance. We know that members want to know who they share their badge with, so we have been creating a "Our Community" section in the member site.

Now, I already shared this infographic about the people who make-up the LWA community on the Letter Writers Alliance blog, but I thought you all would also be interested in this information. I'm also quite proud of my first ever infographic and I hope you like it too!
- Kathy

P.S. - For those of you who live in Illinois we're going to be giving away a typewriter in mid-April, so stay tuned!

Uppercase Magazine Giveaway

Because of our love for all things pigeon, we will be giving away the current issue of Uppercase magazine this weekend at our Letter Social!

What do you have to do for a chance to win the current issue? Show-up this Saturday and write a letter with us. Here is the info:

Sat., March 3rd • 3pm - 6pm
Read/Write Library
914 N. California | Chicago, IL 60622

Hope to see you there!

We are so classy

Donovan and I decided to use American Sign Langage to our advantage for our two new cards. Both our Lady Sign and Man Sign cards are cheeky ways to tell someone to stop being a jerk and other delicate matters.

Yeah, we went there. Enjoy.

Love Boats & Love Letters

We had a lovely little time at Binth on Sunday with everyone who joined us for our letter social. It was a great way to celebrate one year of hosting LWA socials! Above you can see one of the tables full of happy folks toying and writing away. Once the awesome Salted Caramel packed away her sweets for the day (minus a few packs of marshmallows and caramels that came home with me), we took over the table to expanding the typing party. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get photos of the second table, but perhaps someone who attended has some.

We even had some "love boats" being made with lace, old valentine cards, stamps, and decorative tape as little flags. These were so wonderful.

Last but not least, the ever awesome Miss Donovan had some of her cards on hand. You see, she was asked to collaborate on Binth's Love Letters set, in which she illustrated the vowels.

She cleverly used a typewriter to create the tones and texture that make each letter in the style of an illuminated manuscript capital. To make it even more amazing, she used the key of the letter from the typewriter to make the illustration, so "I" was created by layering the "i" on her manual typewriter. Really stunning work.

 

It was the first time we've been to the newly opened Binth, but it shall not be our last. It is an amazing space and a great shop. Thanks to Binth for letting us host our 1 Year Anniversary Letter Social.

Teasing upon desktops

Don't be a tease this Valentine's Day...OR you could use this sheet as reference as things to do this weekend. Tsk tsk. (Click to view larger.) If you don't feel up for such activities, I have a little V-Day gift for your laptop or phone...

Here is a free download of a lovely desktop to help remind you to get off the internet for a small bit and write some letters. Available for all resolutions screens, iPad's, and smart phones. Hope you enjoy!

The above article was published in the November 1952 issue of "The Girlfriend and The Boyfriend" magazine. Via clotho98.

Love & Letter Socials

The first Letter Writers Alliance letter social of 2012 will be at the newly opened BINTH in Forest Park this Sunday the 12th from 3PM-6PM! We will have the supplies you need to make a valentine or write a letter. Typewriters, stationery, envelopes...all free!

BINTH is located at 7507 West Madison Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130; the last stop on the Forest Park section of the Blue Line. This will be our one year anniversary for letter socials! Yup, we hosted our first letter social for Valentine's Day last year at the ever awesome Greer.

If you are on the west coast, there is another Snail Mail Social at Arch Drafting Supply on Saturday, the 11th from 1-4PM. The Snail Mail Social was also featured in Uppercase Magazine. Huzzah to the promotion of letter writing!

Love Cards for Cynics

Drunk Elephant card

'Tis that time of year again, but even if you hate V-day or don't have someone special next week, we've got "love cards" perfect for you. Everything from wanting to talk shit about others, to how we should ignore the "corporate holiday" to how you may actually think the person you are with is pretty bad ass. Send a card and let others know how you feel, even if it isn't love.

For those with little ones in your life, you can also spread the love with these Instant Love Notes by tucking them into their lunch bags. Heck, these would even perk-up a grown-up's lunch!

Paper Pigeons

We've been getting some serious love for our Pigeon Post Kit. We recognize that many of you love the idea of mailing a fake pigeon just as it is, but prefer something more compact. For those of you who prefer paper to plastic, we now have Stationery with the Pigeon Post design. You still get that carrier pigeon feel, with just a first class stamp!

For those of you who are L.W.A. members, we reorganized the Letter Writers Alliance member site to make it easier to browse. I also updated the login process so that it is more secure and streamlined.