My latest little project

 I fell in love with Susan Branch's books back in the 80's.

Sweet cookbooks illustrated with hand-lettered quotes and delightful watercolors.  

Small books celebrating the seasons, holidays, girlfriends, and home.

I still have several, and recall giving several as gifts.

Design by Susan Branch

I only recently discovered that she is still writing and designing and has a large cottage industry of charming Susan Branch Wares.  And a newsletter.  You can check out her webpage right here - https://susanbranch.com/  Be prepared to stay awhile.  You can even do some shopping!

Her latest book is a book of quotes.

Design by Susan Branch

It didn't take me any longer than two seconds to order it, and half that long to dive into it when it arrived.

And there's a second one coming soon!  Yay!

Design by Susan Branch

In the meantime, while enjoying Ms. Branch's work I decided it was past time to compile my own book of quotes.

I'm betting some of you who are reading this have been, like me, in the habit of writing down your own favorite quotes over the years.

And not just quotes, but passages from books, song lyrics, poetry; words that have touched you.

You've probably been more organized about it than I have.  

I have started several notebook lists only to misplace the notebooks.  Written things on an envelope, or scrap of paper never to be seen again.

Well, now it's time to do it right.

Office supply junkies like me always have extra notebooks and journals lying around.

I grabbed this one.

I don't have the artistic talents of Ms. Branch so my illustrations will come from piles and piles of stickers and photographs and scrapbooking paraphernalia I use in my collages.

And so it begins -

Seems Mr. John Bartlett wasn't the only guy who enjoyed compiling a few favorite quotes!   What started as a hobby for him back in 1855 and evolved into an enduring work of reference has since become a fun thing for some of the rest of us who also love words.

His initial Collection of Familiar Quotations has grown considerably.  There are now 19 editions, each larger than the the last.  And the perfect sourcebook for my own compilation while "I seek quiet joys."  - - John Clare, Poet, 1793-1864

"There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic."

 - - - Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale 

❤