Did I say Friday? I meant today. Thursday.
Oy vey. While I seem to have misplaced a day somewhere, I do remember what I wanted to show you.
It isn't any secret that I love quotations. Whether they are from poetry, someone's personal writings or a speech, I have been saving little bits of paper onto which I've scribbled some "words of wisdom" for as long as I can remember. My Dad used to do the same thing and one of the things I miss were the quotes he would run across and send me.
Quotations are even part of my quilts. When I started putting labels on my quilts about fifteen years ago, I included a quotation... just because. In a few instances, the quotation I used inspired the name of the finished quilt.
When it comes to saving those "words of wisdom", I'm not alone. It seems like everybody who is on Pinterest has a board for "words" of some sort or another.
So when I saw these boxes in a catalog a couple of years ago, it was love at first sight.
Gathered Truths by Sugarboo Designs.
On a side note, if you love quotations and words, I hope you know about Sugarboo Designs. They have created beautiful artwork, frames, pillows, postcards and notebooks using quotations.
Sundance Catalog had one in red. One word -- lust.
The boxes are painted wood and they're filled with 365 cards made from handmade paper, and printed with quotations. But as much as I really wanted one, the price was a little steep for a box of quotations.
But fate intervened one fine day last year... a friend had given me cash/money for I don't-remember-what-reason. A few hours later, with a few extra minutes and dollars, I impulsively stopped into a favorite local shop to find that they had the boxes. Make that "box", singular. The last one -- in black.
Do you know what the best part of it all was? That last lonely little box was marked down -- by fifty percent. I think I heard angels singing... or maybe it was just Maria... I must have done something really good that day because things like that never happen to me. Or almost never.
That's my box. (Don't touch.)
As much as I enjoy reading the quotes ~ and yes, I've read them all ~ some of my favorite quotes aren't in there. So I thought about making my own box of "gathered thoughts". But I'm not much of a carpenter and I wasn't having much luck finding substitutes. I have some vintage cheeseboxes that I considered using but I wanted something a little different. And that's when I found this Farmer's Market Basket at Anthropologie.
I thought about trying to use my computer to print my favorite quotations onto cardstock but in the end, I decided it would take me longer to do that than just to write them out by hand. So I bought a pad of 140 lb. watercolor paper at Michael's and cut it into cards measuring about 3 1/2" x 4". Since I love the look of really black ink on the heavy paper, I used my regular Extra-Fine and Ultra-Fine Sharpie pens.
Even though writing each card by hand takes extra time, I love the look of them. I know my Dad would have approved as he often asked me to hand-write quotes for him to keep on his desk.
Just to change up the look of the cards a bit, I'm varying the spacing, the margin alignment, the lines, etc.
The card is my divider ~ everything in front has one of my quotes and the cards behind it are waiting to be filled.
So there you have it. One of the things that kept me occupied over the holidays.
And with that, I'll leave you with another one of my favorite quotes:
Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore to this day. Sanskrit proverb
Toodles.
I love your idea of keeping collected quotes on cards! Sure beats my c:my documents\quotes file where I have been recording the quotes that I have collected! I will add the proverb that you quoted - it's lovely. One of my favorites is by John Lennon: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
Posted by: Donna | January 12, 2012 at 05:44 AM
Carrie, I've been collecting quotes for years. Probably started back in high school days. I've written them all down in a journal. I love to go through and read the words of wisdom. Sometimes I include them in a letter to a friend, or as a word of encouragement to someone going through a hard time. They are precious and special words. Thanks for sharing your "box" idea.
Posted by: Jocelyn | January 12, 2012 at 06:36 AM
You are amazingly creative! This would make a great gift for my 'word loving' friend. Thank you for the inspiration.
Posted by: Cheryl Miller | January 12, 2012 at 06:39 AM
Love it!!!! Perfect!
Posted by: Darlene | January 12, 2012 at 07:26 AM
I love this idea and I love the look of your handwritten quotes...thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | January 12, 2012 at 07:46 AM
What a wonderful idea. Your creativity is leaving quite an impression on me. Thank you for sharing these wonderful thoughts.
Posted by: Mary W | January 12, 2012 at 07:53 AM
This is such a wonderful idea and so attractive as well.
Posted by: Mary | January 12, 2012 at 08:02 AM
OMG, this is so awesome! I've finally found another quote collector!!! This is such a great idea too. For years I've been collecting quotes in a Moleskine notebook tucked away in my bag. This is such a fun way to put them in full view. Love this!
Posted by: Lisa | January 12, 2012 at 09:43 AM
I LOVE this idea. I am definitely going to be "borrowing" this......thanx for sharing.
Posted by: LizA. | January 12, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Fantastic idea! I saw those berry baskets in Anthro and was wondering what use I could put one to. I will have to "borrow" your idea.
Posted by: Cathy | January 12, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Your handwriting is wonderful. Better than any computer generated printing. You could box those up and sell them...although writer's cramp might be a real possibility! There you go, another business idea...handprint one set and then copy the other sets at a print shop, cool container; and you could charge as much as the wooden boxes! Love the quote idea. I've always loved them but could never seem to recall the right one when I wanted to.
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawl4Fn4W8Ls4ptrIO-5DDJPf7AbNjtQePVc | January 12, 2012 at 11:08 AM
I love quotes, also. I had been saving them for years on odd bits of paper. A couple of years ago I invested in a nice red leather journal and have slowly been writing them in there. I have been trying to group them by topic, which isn't always easy. I do not like my handwriting, especially my printing which is how I want to write them, so that takes a little bit of the pleasure out of the process. Your handwriting is wonderful.
I like your idea also, they are more accessible this way.
Posted by: Valerie | January 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM
I love your quotation boxes! I love quotations but I never write them down and therefore never remember them. Shame on me! I went to the website but they are no longer selling the 365 Gathered Truths. I will have to make 2012 a year to write things down to remember!
Posted by: Denise J. | January 12, 2012 at 12:29 PM
I love your market basket quotes...I really love the Sanskrit quote! I needed that today...thank you!
Posted by: Carol | January 12, 2012 at 01:56 PM
What a cool idea Carrie. I have a journal to keep all my little bits of wisdom in but I must admit the icing on the cake is your writing, its is so cool.
Posted by: Deb | January 12, 2012 at 02:55 PM
What a cool idea! I have slips of paper all over my work surface, and bulletin board. Some are written in my 'commonplace' book, but they don't see the light of day very often. Your handwriting, and the variation in the way that you are writing is divine. Love it!
Posted by: Jan S. | January 12, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Carrie, this is a fantastic idea. I have a stash of these on scraps, emails, and yes, on Pinterest. I love the way you did this. I'll have to search for the perfect box.
Posted by: Auntie Pami | January 12, 2012 at 09:43 PM
Carrie, I really needed this blog post today. I love your idea, and quotes. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: L. Rudd | January 13, 2012 at 01:20 PM
No wonder i love you so much...quotes..MY aqua box...with quotes...soul sista
Posted by: pat sloan | January 13, 2012 at 07:57 PM
You have such beautiful script that the quotes look fabulous. I love your box-
I have a note that came in a giveaway prize package from you that I kept- just because I admired your beautiful script.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Regards,
Anna
Posted by: quiltmom anna | January 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM
I love this! I'm going to start looking for an appropriately decorative yet useful box...
Posted by: Sandi | January 15, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Oh my once again you have added to my project list, in a very good way. Now to find the perfect "box"
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 16, 2012 at 06:46 PM
But I thing sharing of thoughts is also a good thing....!
Posted by: Essay Writing | July 11, 2012 at 05:00 AM
Awesome piece of art .very interesting..thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Essay Writing | July 11, 2012 at 07:06 AM