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This July, we took a break from the always-bustling Smudge Ink studio and went for a jaunt up to Ipswich for our annual summer outing. We decided to have a fun and relaxing day soaking up some history and picnicking on the beach.

Inspired by our slight preoccupation with Downton Abbey, we spent the morning on a tour of the impressive Crane Estate where we got to see some stately rooms and frolic on the lush green lawn. A few of us felt like we were stepping on to a beautiful movie set! After the tour, we headed straight to Crane Beach. Deb and Kate served a delicious and healthy spread of bean salad, tortilla chips, spinach, peaches and cookies. Even though the sun wasn’t very cooperative (and the water was freezing), we had a great time hanging out on our beach blankets and bonding. All in all, it was a pretty perfect summer day. Thanks Kate and Deb!

Side note: In this post, Alyssa failed to mention she was the only one who was brave enough to go in for a dip while the rest of us wimps stayed warm on shore! 

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It’s no secret that I love letters. Writing them and receiving them, I’m all for it. I could easily spend hours in a store looking for the perfect stationery set. Writing out a personal letter encourages the writer to sit down and think carefully about what they really want to say. It isn’t full of condensed sentiments or abbreviations. ("Omg lol! :)") Handwritten letters still have an alluring sense of romance and mystery. What will the contents of the envelope reveal?

To spread the letter love, we're taking a peek at letters written by famous figures throughout history. Since July 24^th was Zelda Fitzgerald’s birthday, it seems fitting to begin with a letter exchanged between the infamous golden couple of the Jazz Age. The Fitzgeralds, whose name alone evokes wild parties, champagne and flappers, may have had a tempestuous history but their devotion to each other is memorialized forever in their love letters.

February 1919 (To Scott, From Zelda)

Darling Heart, our fairy tale is almost ended, and we’re going to marry and live happily ever afterward just like the princess in her tower who worried you so much – and made me so very cross by her constant recurrence – I’m so sorry for all the times I’ve been mean and hateful – for all the miserable minutes I’ve caused you when we could have been so happy. You deserve so much – so very much – I think our life together will be like these last four days – and I do want to marry you – even if you do think I dread it – I wish you hadn’t said that – I’m not afraid of anything. To be afraid a person has either to be a coward or very great and big. I am neither. Besides, I know you can take much better care of me than I can, and I’ll always be very, very happy with you – except sometimes when we engage in our weekly debates – and even then I rather enjoy myself. I like being very calm and masterful, while you become emotional and sulky. I don’t care whether you think so or not – I do. […] Sweetheart – I miss you so. I love you so – and next time I’m going back with you – I’m absolutely nothing without you – just the doll that I should have been born. You’re a necessity and a luxury and a darling precious lover – and you’re going to be a husband to your wife.

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I know that in the age of email, text and 160 character messages, the art of letter writing, particularly a heartfelt personal note, has gotten a bit lost. A handwritten Thank You note conveys an elegance and charm that emails just can’t replicate. It is a return of kindness, a small effort on your part to recognize the people who took the time to be involved in your life. The personal touch of a handwritten note on beautiful stationery can have a lasting impression.

Once you have the stationery and writing supplies, there’s always the daunting task of coming up with something to write. So how do you WRITE a note that is meaningful and memorable? Here are some helpful hints.

Begin with gratitude. The first line of your note should include words of appreciation and specifically mention what they did.

Thank you so much for coming all the way to Boston for my college graduation.
I’m incredibly grateful for the birthday money you sent.

I greatly appreciate you taking the time to interview me for a position at your company.

Adding personal details is an important factor to a memorable Thank You note. People will appreciate knowing how their gift or gesture had a positive effect on your life. If they gave you something tangible, make them feel like your appreciation goes beyond their material contribution and that you recognize the thought and time they put into the gift as well. If their contribution helped form a warm memory, write about it.

The flowers you sent to celebrate my new job add a burst of color to my office and are a lovely reminder of what great friends I have.
I will never forget the weekend I spent as a guest in your home. Your family made me feel very welcome and the pancakes at breakfast were phenomenal.

I can’t wait to use the graduation money you sent to visit my best friend in California.

Look to the future. Tell them how you’re looking forward to seeing them again. If you know you won’t be seeing them anytime soon, mention that you’ll be thinking of them.

Sign off with warm regards. Ending with “Sincerely” or “Thank You” is the best formal option.  But for more informal relationships, possibilities include:

Yours truly,
Lots of  love,

Warm wishes,

Thank You notes only need to be a few lines. Short and sweet is the best way to go. A note sent promptly will show your sincerity but even if a month has passed, it will be just as cherished.

Have fun writing! If you have any questions about letter writing, please comment below or send them my way at info@smudgeink and I’ll be happy to get back to you!

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It’s finally starting to feel like summer here at Smudge Ink. We’ve got fans blowing, the AC cranking, and exciting ideas for the next few months flowing. In honor of the warm weather, we’ve put together a few fun facts about the summer to get you looking forward to longer days and balmy nights.

Also, start checking in regularly to our blog! We’ll be posting tips and inspiration for those with a touch of writer’s block, new project ideas, and features on our products, staff, and upcoming events.  There will be plenty to spark your creativity and get you writing and crafting all season. Happy Summer!

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In honor of all the folks graduating this month, including our very own fulfillment guru Steph M., we are having a giveaway! Personalized note cards are the perfect gift for a recent graduate or anyone starting a new chapter—yourself included. And when it comes time to show appreciation, our thank you note log will help you keep track of all of the notes you need to write.

To enter to win 50 letterpress note cards and envelopes and a thank you note log:

1) COMMENT on our Facebook giveaway post by telling us to whom you would write a thank you note
2) and FOLLOW @smudgeinkboston on Instagram (if you don’t already)

We'll choose one winner on Friday, June 13, who will then work with us to design a set of stationery. Happy June to all!

Official Rules: Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C. & CANADA who are 18 years of age and older as of date of entry. Contestants may only enter one time. A winner will be selected in a random drawing and contacted via the comment stream of the Facebook post on Friday, June 13. We reserve the right to disqualify contestants for any fraudulent activities. 

The sponsor of this contest is Smudge Ink, Inc. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By participating in this contest you agree to a complete release of Facebook from any claims.

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