A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils...?

1998. Ten years ago: it was a simpler time, the end of an era.
(Work with me; I'm trying to set a mood.)

The story is a timeless one, of competitors caught up in the rat race of the business world, who fall in love in their own spare time. (See? People had spare time, ten years ago, I promise!)
The tale has been passed along by many skillful storytellers. This particular one happened to be from a very talented movie screenplay writer and director, Nora Ephron.

In the story "You've Got Mail," the protagonists are both in the book business, something very close to my heart. They are also really into their personal computers. (Need I say more?)


Yet the way they become involved in one another's lives is by sharing things that have so little to do with the A/S/L-type chat room talk. They share thoughts, personal moments, humor. The philosophy of Starbucks customers, the mysteries of bagel flour, the love of the small-town-within-a-city where they both live, the anticipation of opening email from a dear friend.

One of my favorite email exchanges is near the beginning of the story, when Joe (NY152) is saying how he loves New York in the fall (autumn). It makes him feel like buying school supplies. Joe tells Kathleen (Shopgirl) that he would send her a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, if he knew her name and address.

A man after my own heart! As an artist and a writer, I have a special love for pencils, myself. But he really had me at "school supplies."

Who doesn't love getting new paper, new notebooks or binders, folders, pens, pencils, crayons, erasers? Years of memories crowd into my mind.
As an adult, and especially as a parent of three children, I saw Back-to-School season in a different light, too. Yet when I went back to college and got my degree in elementary education with my minor in art, I went to a whole new level. I could have spent hours in the College Heights Bookstore, looking at acrylics and oils, Arches watercolor paper, bamboo pens, sable brushes, drawing pencils, painting canvas and stretcher bars, mat board... ah. Even now, a dream-like feeling of contentment steals into my psyche as I remember browsing the art department. There were so many things to see and dream of, I felt happy just looking, even if I couldn't afford everything I liked.

Wouldn't you love to send that bliss to someone you know?



I drew pencils and added colors, then tied them up with a red ribbon to create a bouquet. The scent of the freshly-sharpened wood is exquisite.

I created more than one text option by using one cursive font for a more grown-up look on some items, but a hand-drawn manuscript font on others, for a fun graffiti effect.




If it hasn't yet, wherever you are, school will be starting soon. You can get or give these happy colored pencils with either Our Favorite Teacher or one of the Happy School Day designs.




Pencils are a tool of creativity. Remind teachers, students, and parents that school is a time of new beginnings and infinite possibilities.


Some parents may even be so happy at the prospect of school that they would consider putting this sign in their yard to celebrate the season.

In the meantime, I'll be using my pocket-sized journal --



-- to draw and to make notes of new ideas for TeachersPets.com ...