Come join us for a meet-up of the Modern Letter Project and celebrate our 6th month of correspondence! We have chosen a Brooklyn location since that's where we're based, but we welcome letter-writers from all parts of the globe.

Union Hall Bar
702 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 [map]
Thursday, August 16, 7:30PM

Directions: M,R to Union Street (closest); B,Q to 7th Avenue; 2,3 to Bergen Street; F to either 4th Ave/9th St or 7th Ave & 9th St (a bit of a walk)

RSVP to themodernletter(at)gmail(dot)com. If you are interested in attending, but not yet a member of the project, please send us an email!

[image via Union Hall]

One of our favorite resources for handmade notecards is over at Etsy. They have great letterpress, journals, and all sorts of paper-goods that are great for letters and writing. Here are a few of our summer favorite finds:

Summer strawberries letterpress cards from paperedtogether: A set of 8 cards printed on 100% cotton paper:

Polaroid postcards from Maditi: A set of 12 cards (6 images, 2 postcards each), glossy photograph with a matte back:

Shimmer, Sea, Shimmer letterpress cards from port2port: a limited edition set of 2 cards printed in gold and silver inks on bright white stock:

Lots more over at etsy. Check it out!

The Green Field Paper company makes recycled paper goods for all of your writing needs. One of our favorites are the Grow-A-Note Recycled Cards, a 6.5"x5" card contains a seed embedded in it. (Cards run $3.50 apiece).

Bloomin' Flower Cards also cards made of “100% post-consumer paper, soy-based inks, and organic pigments” and includes seeds for your garden.

[via treehugger]

Today the NY Times featured excerpts from letters between presidential hopefully Hillary Clinton and high-school friend John Peavoy during the mid-to-late 1960's. A picture of Clinton's youthful self (read: embarrassing college photo) is displayed alongside excerpts from college letters during a time author Mark Leibovich notes are from when she was going through a "period of profound political transformation." The letters reflect a transformative time where Clinton transitions from being a Young Republican to a Democrat, as well as touching on daily ruminations and missives about peers in her dorm, the news, college life (a little talk of drugs and boys), the state of American politics -- both critical and analytical of her surroundings with a precocious air.

Leibovich makes note of the aesthetics of the letters, saved by Peavoy after all these years despite 38 years since he last received one:

Ms. Rodham’s letters are written in a tight, flowing script with near-impeccable spelling and punctuation. Ever the pleaser, she frequently begins them with an apology that it had taken her so long to respond. She praises Mr. Peavoy’s missives while disparaging her own (“my usual drivel”) and signs off with a simple “Hillary,” except for the occasional “H” or “Me.”

We at Modern Letter Project must admit we are pretty impressed with Hillary's circa 1960's letter-writing. She reveals herself to an acquaintance by being analytical, self-critical, and whimsical enough to convey everyday drama with an air of self-importance.

[Ideas contributed by Modern Letter Project participants]

1. A fun summer memory from childhood
2. Your favorite vacation spot
3. A big dream you have for your life that you don’t usually tell people about
4. Sunday scribblings
5. Local food stories
6. Childhood stories relating to where you are now
7. Travel wishes
8. Anything you don’t discuss on your blog
9. Community
10. Work
11. Family
12. Favorites (movies, books, restaurants, seasons, holidays, etc)
13. Balance (idea of a broad word-theme)
14. Trips (to the grocery store, road trips, to see your grandmother, etc)
15. Music

More letter-writing theme tips after the jump!