The Last Letter - A Pen Pal Story by Megan Stoughton

Until I started writing letters back and forth to my Great Grandma Kay, she had only been a family member who I saw once in a while at family gatherings and knew very little about. Every conversation we had previously to what we talked about on paper was just small talk to pass the time. I had figured, as many kids do, that there probably wasn’t much to talk about because we had nothing in common.  Little did I know, I was very wrong.

Megan, 17yrs (Left) with her Mother

Our letters started off like small talk, covering all the basics. We talked about the weather, what was going on in each other’s lives, and what we were looking forward to in the upcoming week. It didn’t take long before I started learning more about her. It hadn’t occurred to me that she had lived a whole lifetime before she was the fragile and small lady that I knew her as. She told me about her life in New Zealand growing up, and about how she met my Great Grandpa and fell in love. About every other week I could expect a response from her. Each letter I received let me learn even more about her. When the envelope arrived in my mailbox, it was always a highlight of my day.

The beginning of each one of her letters was the same loopy cursive I had become a pro at reading. But towards the end of some of her letters, her handwriting would get harder to read. She would always apologize and tell me her arthritis limited the legibility. I always felt a little pang of guilt when I would think about her hand hurting while finishing some of the letters, but that never stopped her from ending them. Some of the letters I got were up to 6 pages long, and I appreciated every one. I was grateful that she liked writing to me so much. She wouldn’t shorten her letters even when she could have. I admired that.

As my great grandma got sick, the letters we sent became few and far between. She would tell my Nana, her daughter-in-law, that she felt bad for taking a long time to respond to me because she often forgot or didn’t have the energy to. I didn’t mind, I just wanted her to get better. One day after not hearing from her in a while, I overheard a conversation my dad was having on the phone and learned that she was really in bad shape. That week, my dad went to Nana’s to see her for the last time. Before he left, I wrote one last letter to her, which was read aloud for her when it got delivered. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do, but I wanted to do it. I remember thinking, what would a 16 year old girl say to woman who was about to die? What would I want said to me? I started it off by thanking her for taking the time to write me. I hoped she enjoyed our letters as much as I did. With watery eyes, I asked her if she was excited to see Great Grandpa again in Heaven. By the end of my letter, I was trying my best to keep my tears off the paper. I was sad that her life was coming to an end but I found comfort in knowing that she wouldn’t be in pain for much longer.

The day that Kay Stoughton died the world lost a precious person. She was buried with my last letter in her hands. It was an honor and a privilege to have gotten to know her. I still have all of the letters she sent me, and I can feel her presence when I read them over. Although we only were pen pals for a short time, her stories and advice in her letters will stay with me forever. 

The Great Google+ Pen Pal Challenge

In celebration of National Card & Letter Month (April 2014), I invited the Google+ community to write me a letter and in turn, I would write each of them a letter and send with it a card from StationTEEN.

I was touched and overwhelmed with the responses. In fact, I am still answering some of my new found pen pals.This project is one that made me realize that I, a designer of cards and stationery, get caught up in the day to day of emails, my website and social media sites. I was reminded how much I really love building relationships with people through handwritten letters. I hope all who participated had a wonderful time.

Within a week of posting the challenge, letters began showing up in my mailbox from all over - New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, Maine and Whales to name a few.

                            

This masterpiece was designed and mailed to me by the incredibly talented, +Matthew Price, owner of Octopus Creative Design in Wales. This incredibly cool design is proof that letters aren't boring and that letters can be fun, surprising and exciting.

Sending handwritten letters are not only fun, they are a way to express yourself in a way that doesn't come through in an email. You don't don't have to buy fancy stationery and your handwriting doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, your handwriting is what makes your letter different than all other letters. You can get creative by decorating the envelope or the paper that you write on using magic markers or colored pencils. Try including photos, writing a poem or making a collage. If you buy or make a note card, why not write your letter on a piece of notepaper and include it within the card?

My most unique pen pal is, Ivy the Pit Bull.Her owner is Katherine who runs a fabulous company, Kotow Content Marketing. Their second letter is shown above. A great example of self expression. 

Writing letters enables you to develop deeper relationships wether it be with new and old friends as well as family. Do you remember how exciting it was to open your mailbox and see a letter addressed to you? You won't believe how happy you can make someone feel just by sharing a small part of your live with someone this way.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? 

Make Mother's Day Meaningful

This Mother's Day, write your mother a handwritten letter, fold it up and place it in a card. Don't worry about perfect handwriting or saying the "right" thing, just start writing. This just might be the most meaningful gift you have ever given. It will certainly be memorable.

Mother's Day card found at StationTEEN® by Jennifer! Designs®

  

LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE PRINTING COMPANY?

Why use business cards in this digital age when it seems that everyone has a digital device in their hands or pressed to their ears? 

1. Business cards can provide business opportunities.
2. Business cards can make a solid first impression.

3. Business cards can provide legitimacy to your small business.

The time had come for me to print business cards for my stationery company, StationTEEN, something that would stand out from all of the others. I found a fabulous printer who allowed me to order online. What a concept! I'm a very busy person who doesn't often have time to leave my studio. 

I chose a company called printfirm.com, an online printing service! Printfirm's website interface is excellent. All I had to do was upload my own design. They provided the pre-made templets which saved me lots of time. Printfirm also has many talented graphic artists that can help you create a wonderful, unique design of your very own! Not only was ordering easy but the delivery was quick.



I recommend working with Katherine Tattersfield. She's a great designer and knows how to get the results that you want. Katherine made sure that the color of my logo matched my card to a T!



My "Mini" business cards really do stand out. I added ribbon so that I can use them as hang tags, hand outs or inside my customer's shipment of stationery product. My customers love the added tough that lies within their order. I will definitely use print form again........I'll need labels and stickers and more business cards and......

Learn How to Make a Handcrafted Gift Tag!

How Writing Thank You Notes Can Strengthen Your Brand

I’ve been designing and writing thank you notes since childhood. Saying thanks was something that was required of me by my parents in daily life, whether spoken or written. I found that over time the practice of writing thank you notes became easier for me than expressing myself through words.

This practice is powerful. It enables you to say more than thank you. It’s an opportunity to show appreciation on a deeper level, detailing your feelings about the receiver and what they may have done for you or how they have enriched your life in some way.

Have you ever received a thank you note from your boss or written one to your employee or customer? Either way, you must know that the thank you note is powerful. Even in business!

In this digital age where most people email and text, handwriting certainly shows the human side in us all. The handwritten thank you note catches the recipient by surprise. The note can immensely boost an employee or customer’s self esteem, leaving him or her feeling valued and appreciated. You might even solidify a relationship with a client.

Over the years I have kept many thank you notes. When I read them, I am left with the same emotions that I had when i read them long ago.

If you can’t afford to give your employees raises or your clients a holiday gift, why not write each of them a thank you note that makes them feel appreciated? You won’t regret it and you will in turn be remembered and appreciated. Remember, we all want to see the human side of people and the thank you note lets us show that side.

StationTEEN®, LLC Announces Releases of New Online Stationery Company - Empowering Girls Ages 9-15 to Develop Deeper Relationships with Family & Friends

New York, NY, November 22, 2013 --(PR.com)-- StationTEEN®, LLC, a New York based company has officially launched their online handcrafted stationery line for girls. Jennifer! Designs is the brainchild behind the beautiful, whimsical card designs. StationTEEN.com is a fun, teen stationery website for the modern girl with a whimsical twist! The stationery features handcrafted cards for teen girls, inspiring them to express themselves to friends and family through writing on memorable, beautiful, collectable stationery.

StationTEEN.com is focused on building a fun interactive community for teen girls to share design ideas from all over the world. Teen girls can be a part of a community that encourages the importance of creativity and living through shared knowledge, while having fun!

Self Esteem, Fun, and Empowerment are some of the key mantras for the StationTEEN Brand.

Jennifer Broderick, designer and entrepreneur, developed the first StationTEEN cards as a form of "art therapy." Designing and creating cards since she was a teen, sharing her experiences through public speaking along with the beauty of illustrations and designs have established Jennifer as world known designer.

“We are extremely excited,” said Broderick, “We provide a wonderful product that girls can use to communicate and empower other teen girls.”

"It's an honor to be part of Jennifer Broderick's creative, collectable and memorable designs through www.stationteen.com, a website that empowers shared experiences and knowledge from girls all across the world." - Jeni Wood

StationTEEN® is available online at www.stationteen.com. For more information about StationTEEN® please contact Jeni Wood at 646-502-5560