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The Handwriting on the Wall

I am a letter writer. I find it relaxing and a better way to air my thoughts (and grievances) than in emails. Yes, emails are good ways to communicate, but there is nothing like the act of actually writing things to help sort your thoughts.

For a long time, I could not even read my own handwriting. I would puzzle over something I wrote on the calendar or a shopping list and had no clue. I promised myself that someday I would improve my handwriting. That someday came for my friend Claudia before it came for me. She bought some books and would practice her handwriting while watching TV at night. Her handwriting was already good but it did improve. Someday came for me during the pandemic. I printed out some handwriting exercise sheets. Claudia also recommended getting a pen I would enjoy using, maybe a fountain pen (this was the beginning of another obsession of mine – stationary items, but that is another story).

A recent issue of The Atlantic included an article about cursive writing. It has not been taught in schools for quite a long time now. You may say ‘so what?’. The article goes on to point out that while there are still a good portion of the population alive who write in cursive, the fact remains that in past times anyone who could write, did so in cursive. History (at least western history) was recorded in cursive writing.

Many of my jobs in art, collections, and archives work depended on my deciphering other peoples’ handwriting. Off and on I volunteer with the Library of Congress with their By the People project. This involves (from the comfort of your own computer at home) transcribing historic documents which are all in cursive. I have had the pleasure of transcribing handwritten documents including: an invoice for books that Teddy Roosevelt purchased over a two year period, Gen. Sherman’s open house invitation, Gen. Sherman’s daughter’s wedding invitation, an invoice for a watch that Walt Whitman was making payments on, family correspondences from President Garfield, and so on.

At this point, I would say that knowing cursive is almost like knowing another language. I have decided that my grandson will learn to at least read cursive, if for no other reason than because

Paper Quilt Sketch Book

Recently I took a virtual workshop through the National Gallery of Art on collage book covers. The inspiration for the collages were based on the Gees Bend Quilters, a group of quilters from Gees Bend Alabama known for their unique quilting style. While I did not make a book cover, I did make several very small paper collages based on the stylings made so famous by this remarkable group of women. The way in which the Gees Bend quilts are pieced together spoke to me as they are not in the traditional block style quilts with perfect symmetry. My description of their quilts would do them no justice so I encourage you to take a peek for yourself by clicking the link here to get to the exhibition at the National Gallery of Art where you can see, watch videos and read about them. I have been very fortunate to see some of these quilts in person as well.

For my project, I used a very small 4″ x 6″ wire bound sketch book. I wanted to approach these collages with not only the inspiration of the Gees Bend quilts, but also with minimalistic design elements which I am very interested in, generally speaking. The first paper quilt does sort of use a block style but that is because I was trying to follow some of the guided suggestions by the workshop instructor, Sarah Matthews. The rest go in a different direction. Below are my first six from the sketch book.

Many of the papers are ones that I printed myself for different projects, the second example is a paper towel stained with paint marker that my husband made when we took a jewelry workshop a few years ago, others are various forms of ephemera I had saved.

Harriet Does the Laundry

While tending to the laundry, a gust of wind swept Harriet the Elegant ghost off the ground leaving her in a most inconvenient position.

Harriet will be taking a short sabbatical but will return to report some more adventures soon!

Harriet on Halloween

For Halloween, Harriet the Elegant ghost went to the bowling alley and disguised herself as the headpin, causing great suspicion among the other pins as well as the management.

Harriet Visits a Pumpkin Patch

While shopping at a local pumpkin patch, Harriet the Elegant ghost was constantly interrupted by other customers who thought she was a seasonal prop and wanted her to pose with them for selfies.

Harriet Gets Harried

After a few very busy weeks, Harriet the Elegant ghost felt more like a disheveled Zombie than an Elegant ghost.

Harriet Fights Inflation – part 2

Harriet Fights Inflation – Tending Chickens

In exchange for fresh eggs, Harriet the Elegant ghost assists her neighbor in tending a flock of chickens.

Harriet Fights Inflation – part 1

Irritated by the high cost of groceries, Harriet the Elegant ghost engages in creative solutions.

Harriet Dines Out

At a local cafeteria, Harriet the Elegant ghost helped herself to food from the plates of unsuspecting patrons who went to use the rest rooms, thereby verifying that even the most Elegant among us slip into bad habits.

Harriet Goes Camping

At a campsite, Harriet the Elegant ghost noticed a family who forgot their tent so, even though it distorted her vision, she draped herself over some tree limbs so the family would be safe for the evening.