How to: Write a Love Letter

As the second Paris workshop opens for registration today, I’ve been thinking lots about the themes we’ll focus on. Here’s project so that you can join in, whether you get to come or not – How to write a love letter!

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Collection of envelopes

The history of letter locking goes way back. We’re going to create a contemporary version of something that might have been delivered by a messenger on horseback, secured with a royal seal!

Previous how-to projects show other examples of letter locking:

Folded Pocket Decoration

Fold Up Some Mail Art

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: You'll need these materials

You’ll need:

  • Rectangles of ephemera such as maps, manuscript or book paper. The proportions don’t matter too much – this fold will work with all sort of shapes and sizes of paper
  • Gesso or white emulsion
  • A flat brush
  • Something to write with – i’ve used my trusty brass Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen
  • Maybe spare paper for jotting thoughts and ideas
  • Old stamps and a glue stick (optional)

Step by step:

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Putting pen to paper

On one side of the paper, write a letter to a beloved. Make notes beforehand, or be spontaneous.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Applying gesso

If your ephemera is double-sided, you can apply a layer of gesso to obscure the background, while leaving some characterful texture to show through.)

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Ready to fold

Now we’re ready to fold your love letter!

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Fold the long side to the middle

Fold the long side up to the middle, roughly.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Second fold

Fold the top long side down to meet the other. Leave a tiny gap, like a millimetre, as then it’s easier to assemble.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Left side in

Fold one end in from the left, about a third of the width.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: And tuck the right hand end into the left pocket

Then fold and slot the right hand end into the pocket on the left.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: WIP

It takes a little jiggling and manouvering.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: View from above

Here’s a view from above.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Finished envelope

When you’re happy, smooth the right hand edge down flat. There you have it, a self-sealed envelope!

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Add gesso for the address

Use the gesso to make a clear space for the address.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Batch paint address spaces

Might be worth doing several at a time.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Wiat for the gesso to dry

Then leaving them to dry.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Add name, address postcode

Add the recipient’s name and address (and marvel at the satisying bite of gesso under your nib.)

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Add a stamp

Add a stamp – i’ve used some of the stash collected from a Parisian flea market.

The Travelling Bookbinder: How to: Write a Love Letter: Finished handmade self-sealing envelopes

Oh there’s something so lovely about making your own envelopes.

Happy corresponding!

The Paris Love Letters workshop takes place in November.

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