National Handwriting Day

Who needs an excuse to practice cursive? I normally don't but I've been waiting until today to create a label for an unlabeled quilt that I recently purchased. This colorful Dresden Plate patterned quilt feels like a splash of sunshine on this foggy day.

The label, created in my handwriting, will be sewn onto the back side of the quilt. This exercise helps me give another unlabeled quilt its finishing touch. If you have an unlabeled quilt, why not join me in creating a personalized label, using cursive, for yours, too.

Did you know that WIMA (Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association) sponsors National Handwriting Day every January 23 in conjunction with John Hancock's birthday. Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and also known for his large, distinctive signature.

From WIMA's website: Handwriting is a true art form and one of the few ways we can uniquely express ourselves. There's something poetic about grasping a writing instrument and feeling it hit the paper as your thoughts flow through your fingers and pour into words. This year, we suggest you take advantage of National Handwriting Day on January 23 and use a pen or pencil to rekindle that creative feeling through a handwritten note, poem, letter or journal entry.

Handwriting allows us to be artists and individuals during a time when we often use computers, faxes and email to communicate. Fonts are the same no matter what computer you use or how you use it and they lack a personal touch. Handwriting can add intimacy to a letter and reveal details about the writer's personality.

Noteworthy facts about handwriting:

• Handwritten notes are more effective: People who write notes by hand tend to be more selective in what they write down, focusing on the most important concepts and organizing their notes more effectively.

• Handwriting keeps the mind sharp: Writing by hand engages motor skills and various parts of the brain and memory. Doctors recommend taking up a hobby that involves handwriting to keep the mind sharp.

• Handwriting reduces linked distractions: When you write by hand away from the computer, you’re less likely to get distracted by social media, email, or the internet.

• Writing it down can help you get it done: Studies show that those who write down their goals, especially by hand, are more likely to achieve them. Writing things down can help you clarify your goals and hold yourself accountable.

• Handwriting is therapeutic: The mere act of writing by hand can have a calming, therapeutic effect. Additionally, writing down thoughts and feelings can liberate a chaotic mind and help reduce anxiety and stress.

  
  

CURSIVE AND CREATIVITY

From CursiveLogic: Cursive has the added benefit of being both artistic and highly personal. Developing a cursive hand - epitomized in the signature and carried through in a unique form of writing that others can identify and associate with a particular individual - is an important step in developing a personal style and voice. Flourishes are those extra pen strokes that connect, begin, and end words. They differentiate printed words from words written in cursive.

So, if you are are passionate about penmanship, cursive writing, joined-up writing, fancy writing - I know you will enjoy this 16-minute video . . .

What is the future of writing in the digital age, and why does it matter? In this surprising talk, Master Penman Jake Weidmann explores the connections between the pen and how we learn, think, and carry out cultural heritage at a time when the very act of writing is being dropped from school curricula across the country.

Jake Weidmann became the youngest person to receive his Master Penman certificate in July 2011. He works across several mediums including drawing in pencil and charcoal; pen and ink; painting in acrylic, airbrush, oil and gouache; sculpting in wood, gone, antler and clay, and is versed in numerous forms of calligraphy. He is best known for the integration of flourishing and hand-lettering in his art. Jake also designs his own hand-made pens. He, like his pens, travels the globe, reintroducing this Old World art form and cultivating its relevance in the world of today, of tomorrow, and forevermore.

"A signature is the shape of our personality; it's our nameprint, our soulmark in ink." ~Terri Guillemets

As I practice simple swirls and flourishes for use in a pattern design for fabric, I realize that I have far to go to reach Jake's level of expertise. That is not my current focus. In one short story that I have written, you will read about Iris and her beautiful handwriting . . . her trademark flourishes appeared at the end of a sentence or as part of her signature. Today, the quilt label, needle and thread are calling me.

P. S. - We are hearing about the snow, sleet and severe ice that is predicted to impact millions in 34 states. The long-lasting Winter Storm, Fern, is moving through for several days. Please be safe, keep warm and have quilts ready for comfort and use.