Valentine's Day?! But Maggie-Pie, it's still January, have you totally lost your Bird-Brain? Let it never be said this Bird is not thinking ahead. Also, Valentine's Day really sneaks up on you -- we have the end of December and November for typical holidays, but February 14th is coming up faster than you can say, "box o' chocolates." The holiday is about as stealthy as a Cupid's Arrow being shot right into your behind, so get your tailfeathers moving, Lovebirds, and send some sweet St. Valentine notes to Special Someone's!

I was blessed in early January, by my good friend and fellow blogger, Radish and Rose, who sent me an early Valentine, a sweet stand-up paper doll card made by illustrator Brigette Barrager. This totally inspired today's post, because it was a sweet reminder that Valentines don't have to be romantic -- give a handmade or hand-picked note to a BFF, a relative, a totally awesome workmate who always buys your latte when you hit the Starbucks. We are all blessed with Special Someones, so why not send them something clever in the mail? 

So here are some Jaunty picks that I thought would fit anyone, be it friend, family or the one who is lucky enough to have your precious heart: {1} Guitar Valentine Card Kit from Paper Source, {2} Dress Shoppe, 12 Paper Doll Notecarcds by Brigette Barrager on Chronicle Books, {3} Hand-drawn Valentine cards from Creation Faeries on Etsy, {4} XOXO Robbie Robot Mini Valentine note cards by Papertivity on Etsy, {5} Love: King and Queen of Hearts stamps from US Postal Service

Jaunty Fine Print:  images from listed shops above - get those Valentine's Day notes ready!

This Bird is a nerd for, yes, you guessed it... stamps! I love writing notes to loved ones and I admit to having an extra bit of satisfaction being able to put a thoughtfully-designed stamp on the envelope. A portrait of a favorite musician or actor, something socially-conscious for the environment or animal welfare, or just something gosh darn pretty. I was really excited to see the latest set of USPS stamps coming out featuring a dozen legendary American industrial designers, adding these stamps to a Fancy gang of envelope corner dwellers that I like to keep at my desk.

You may not have names like Walter Dorwin Teague or Eliot Noyes on the tip of your brain, but you've likely seen these their work before. These designers helped shape the design of the modern-day appliances we use to this day -- flatware, phones, lamps; they all need someone to consider a look that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Much like the haute couture of fashion, it took innovators to shape the idea of what we consider a pleasing form, and eventually the look trickles down into the mass market. But these designs had to start somewhere and the new stamps seek to celebrate these design pioneers. In the same notion that a well-designed life should be sought out and embraced, the same goes for your notes. If you're going through the effort of writing a letter, isn't it nice to send it off with a Jaunty stamp? (Save the boring, plain stamps for sending out bills!)

Jaunty Fine Print:  images of stamps from USPS stamps page

 

I know it sounds pretty corny and downright archaic but one of the Magpie's resolutions for 2011 was to write more letters. Yes, you heard me correctly. Those J'adore-able things that are mailed out using stamps, thoughts adorning decorated paper, written out in pen, using the script style of writing that I hear most schools are deeming as useless as Morse Code and the Dewey Decimal System.

Crazy and seemingly useless thing to focus on? Probably. But like a lot of folks, I'm sure you have people in your life, probably older relatives or family friends who just haven't bothered with a computer, much less email. I'm sure those people would love to hear the everyday happenings beyond the once a year holiday card. Or maybe a cousin or distant relative you haven't spoken with in a while. Wouldn't a little note saying "hello" be a nice way to reocnnect and let them know what you're up to? I know that's what things like Facebook or regular emails are supposed to do -- and I still use those -- but sometimes the simplest pleasures in life can be as sublime as a pretty note waiting for you in the mailbox.

So I recently took pen to paper and wrote up a stack of notecards to friends and family, just telling them how our holiday was, the snow that was falling, and the little hopes and goals for the new year. I made sure to have a mug of cocoa with some bits of chocolate melted in for good measure. What's worth putting in a note? Nothing life-changing, just stuff you'd say to the person if they were right in front of you for a friendly chat. I especially wanted to write to a couple of my cousins; when we were little in the pre-email days, we used to write each other as often as one letter a week if you can believe it. We'd trade funny notes, doodles, magazine clippings -- all these funny things I wished I kept, as they would get a kick out of seeing those old Tiger Beat or Bop magazine cutouts of our favorite members of New Kids on the Block. Hey, I never said we were composing deep, intellectually-stimulating transcontinental conversations.

So take a moment and think of a person in your life who you know would appreciate a hand-written note. It can be anyone. A grandparent or distant aunt or uncle. A friend who just had a baby and would probably rather curl up with a letter versus being hunched over a computer. Besides, it's a great excuse to curl up with some cocoa and put some good thoughts out into the universe. Oh, and there's some really cool stamps out there -- the hell with those boring Liberty Bell Forever stamps!


Jaunty Fine Print:  photographs by Denise Sakaki

 

Let it never be said this Magpie's Mama never taught her little birdie the value of good correspondence and just dropping a note in the mail now and then, especially to those who may not be hip to the email and interwebs. Tis the season to renew old fashioned habits like mailing a holiday greeting or three. It doesn't have to be a big chore or a list so hefty it requires a pre-written generic letter of "What the Magpie Did This Year." Pick a few favorite people, especially family or friends who you haven't spoken to in a while or don't use the computer much, and write a little note to wish them a seasonal greeting and a hearty wish of good tidings for the new year. There is nothing more heartwarming than getting a pretty card in the mail.

To make this salutation all the more Jaunty, I couldn't help but show off some beautiful cards from this Bird's favorite place to find really unique holiday sendables, the Museum of Modern Art Design Store, aka, the MoMA Store. Along with getting a little bit of thoughtfully designed cards that are truly gifts in and of themselves, every purchase supports the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. There's several family friends who purchase their cards from the MoMA Store and I always look forward to receiving their holiday greetings every December. I keep the cards because they are so beautiful, and along with them, I keep the kind thoughts and well-wishes of the senders.

Fancy a chance to send some artistic good cheer? Take a look at these pop-up, three-dimensional card designs that caught the Magpie's eye this holiday season: {1} First Day of Christmas by Teen Liu, {2} Snowman Party by Keisuke Unosawa, {3} Kaleidoscope Baubles by Peagreen, {4} Hannukah Lights by John McDonald, {5} Winter Vista by Peagreen


Jaunty Fine Print:  card images from the MoMA Store

 

One of my favorite Jaunty shops to browse in for gift ideas is the Bellevue Arts Museum store, as they have a lot of unique finds, many by local artists. They recently had an event where Museum members were invited to sip bubbly, nibble of chocolates and shop with the benefit of a nice discount. I was too busy snapping up photos to snap up deals, but my Jaunty shutterbug eye nabbed a few favorites.

The unique paper shoes were of course beautiful, as were the delicate glass sea urchin vases, but I often gravitate towards cards when I'm at Jaunty shops. I think letter writing is sadly becoming a lost art, but when there are still paper artists making handmade cards that look like little dancing dolls, or stitched shapes cut from beautiful paper, how could someone not want to send a special note or three? Even if the most beautiful of baubles are too much for one's pocketbook, a beautiful card with a handwritten note can be both priceless and affordable. It's a small object that's easily kept and treasured, slipped away in a box of keepsakes for someone to find later and be reminded of such a loving gesture. I know Mother's Day was just last week, but maybe we don't need an official reason to send a note to someone in the mail. Sometimes the best gifts are the little kind thoughts that are sent without reason.

Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki, courtesy of the Bellevue Arts Museum shop