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December 18, 2007
Talking Letters with Kathy & Donovan of 16 Sparrows and the Letter Writers Alliance
The Modern Letter Project talks to Kathy & Donovan of 16 Sparrows and the Letter Writers Alliance--one of our favorite projects online that combines pen pal'ing with the best of well-design stationery. Kathy talks about her problem with cursing and love for the historical; Donovan shares her love for zombies and thoughts on why we ought to keep writing letters.
MLP: Hello! Please introduce yourselves.
We are Kathy Zadrozny and Donovan Beeson. Kathy created 16 Sparrows in 2003 because she was frustrated with the lack of stationery and cards with her sarcastic sense of wit. Donovan joined up in 2006 when Kathy decided to go to graduate school. Donovan now oversees everyday production and shipping and we both collaborate on new designs and goods. We are a well-oiled machine of well-designed cynicism.
MLP: Tell us a bit about the Letter Writers Alliance – how did you come up with the idea? What were the inspirations?
Kathy: I was sorting some archives at the Newberry Library and I came upon this awesome 1930s header for a cultural alliance. I absolutely loved the look of the vintage header and for years now Donovan and I have wanted to do something pro-active about letter writing. I designed the stationery and Donovan and I started hammering out how the alliance would actually work. A few weeks later, the LWA was born.
MLP: What does it mean to become a member of the LWA? Is there a fee? How many people are involved in the alliance?
Donovan: Right now we have 128 members. As a member, you accept our mission to “carry on the glorious cultural tradition of letter writing. You will take advantage of every opportunity to send tangible correspondence. Neither long lines, nor late deliveries, nor increasing postal rates will keep us from our mission.” Membership comes with a badge and member card and access to our members-only website where you can download free writing stuffs & purchase exclusive LWA items like personalized stationery. We also have a pen pal swap. We offer a free membership when you purchase the Letter Writers Alliance stationery, or you can become a member for $3.00
MLP: And there is Letter Writers Alliance Stationery? We’re in love. Tell us more!
Kathy: The stationery was the first thing to be designed and, as I said earlier, it was based from this 1930s header for a cultural alliance. From there, Donovan and I just looked to ephemera from our own collections and designed things we wanted. Like, “Oh, I want to write a letter to my friend on a telegram, let me design that.”
MLP: How do you think letter writing has changed now that other methods of correspondence (email, cell phones) are so ubiquitously used?
Donovan: I’ve always considered letters to be treasured objects and, for me, their value has only increased with the overload of cheaper, faster communication. Every time you go to write an email or make a phone call, ask this question, “Is what I have to say to this person worth my time, effort and first class postage?” If the answer is yes, then put down that receiver and back away from the monitor! Just because something is quick and “free”, doesn’t mean it’s the best or the most effective. If you are going to make contact, why not have it be meaningful?
Kathy: It has definitely added more importance to a hand-written letter. Letters were part of the day-to-day until about 30 years ago. Heck, the mail came twice a day! Now, with it so easy to press send, the letter has become something almost romantic.
MLP: Why do you think it’s important to help preserve letter writing?
Donovan: Letters are our proof of history; artifacts of one’s life and community. Hands down, letters are the best form of correspondence we have. It is a tangible connection between the sender and receiver. You can’t hold an email and marvel about how you are touching the same object that someone else held thousands of miles away.
MLP: What do you think makes a “good” letter?
Kathy: The ones I find myself attached to are letters where we make a connection. You are reading it and you are lost – it is as if they are there talking to you. At the opposite end, I also love coded letters, but that’s because I’m a pulp detective junkie.
Donovan: I even like junk mail. I am a mail addict. I will say that the best kinds of letters are the ones that give you something to respond to, a conversation to keep going.
MLP: You two also run 16 Sparrows, a fantastic online retailer with a “Fucking Card Collection” and a “Get Up Off Your Ass” to-do list among many other great paper goods. How did 16 Sparrows get started?
Kathy: My background is in graphic design and I was working in advertising when I created 16 Sparrows. It was a combination of needing an outlet for my creativity and running out of friends to make stuff for. I’ve always been a lady that cursed a lot. It was a constant struggle with my parents trying to get me to stop being so sarcastic and not talking like a sailor. My language has toned down quite a bit over the years, but it was only to give more fuel to my odd sense of humor.
Donovan: I’ve had to edit all the cursing out of her answers. Just kidding!
MLP: 16 Sparrows offers lots of great downloads, like a pdf greeting card, mailing labels, and notecards. How did you come up with the idea for downloadable paper goods?
Donovan: Don’t forget our Zombie Guide! People love free stuff and so do we. We know that there are some people who love stationery and letters, but just don’t have the money for handmade goods, and we don’t want to cut them out of the picture. Everyone should have access to good design.
MLP: Do you have any new collections—either for the holidays or for the New Year? Tell us what’s new! And where can we get your goods?
Donovan: Oh gosh, we have so much stuff in the works. Letter writing kits, secret coding devices, calendars… We’re in the process of revamping our Effin’ Card line. Two of the new designs are already on sale here. We also have 2 other holiday designs here.
We’re entirely online, but we do have a retailers' page where you can check to see if we sell at any shops in your area. I also handmade a lot of stationery goods over at my etsy shop.
MLP: Many of your collections are inspired by historical iconography like the 1920s British telegram (Telegram Stationery) and typography/posters of the late 1800s (Paddingken Stationery). Why have you chosen to draw from these sources in your designs?
Kathy: I have quite a love for all that is vintage as well as old style typography. Donovan and I act like crazy squealing ladies when we are around old stuff like Flemish maps or a dulled brass ink well. We’re nerds who surround ourselves with these types of items and we want to create things that perpetuate that aesthetic.
MLP: Do you do personalized stationery or design work?
Kathy: We have a custom design service that is 100% customizable. Whatever the client wants done, we try to do it for them. We are also able to personalize our stationery and cards.
Donovan: My training is as an illustrator; so we also offer original illustrations for our customers.
MLP: Who are your favorite designers of paper goods and notecards right now?
PodPost (Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Wheeler)
Red Horseshoe
Pearl and Marmalade
Papered Together
Rar Rar Press
Golden Hen Press (Her site still isn’t up yet despite constant badgering from me. She’s my downstairs neighbor and makes lovely lovely paper and just gorgeous cards.)
MLP: And last, but not least: are you two letter writers?
Kathy: I have about five people that I constantly write to. Three of those are people I’ve never met in real life and it is so interesting to be connected with them and watch their lives unfold and develop right on paper before you.
Donovan: I consistently write or mail packages to about twenty people and there are always some floaters in and out. I’m sending about 40 cards out at Christmas and about 10 packages.
