Quality over quantity. Again.

When I was in Portland last month, I spent too much time in bookstores and paper stores. Wait, wait, wait, no, not too much time, one can never spend too much time in these places. I did, however, spend a lot of time in these places. I like this. I like paper. I like books. These facts are well established.

When I was in the Paper Source while in Portland, I saw a set of hand made note cards. It was the last set, well handled, the top card bent over from people opening it to look inside without opening the whole pack. I loved the pattern, so I picked up that last set, and, surprising to no one, picked up a couple more sets of hand made cards, and bought them all. The cards are I've had these cards for a month, and started writing to family and friends.

Side note, if you want a note mailed to you on paper, written upon with pen, send me your address.

My goal is to send two or more notecards or postcards a week. If I can establish a good habit, that'll increase, but for now, it's a good number that I'm achieving.

Inspired by this, when I was in the local Michaels yesterday and saw a box of note cards with cute designs on them, I thought, sure, I'll keep this up. I bought the box, and with anticipated delight, opened the box last night.

And I am disappointed.

The expensive, handprinted notecards are a delight to write on. The pen sinks just right into the paper. The texture of the paper is lovely. The colors are vibrant.

With the inexpensive notecards I bought last night, they're glossy, with a smooth writing surface that is likely to smear. There's little joy in the texture of the inside, much less the outside. It's a card. There's no art in the card the way there is with the expensive handmade cards.

And I'm reminded, again, how much choosing quality over quantity is important. I'm reminded that spending more money for exactly what you want, instead of saving a few bucks and buying something "close enough" just isn't worth it.

What I don't understand at this moment is why I keep needing to learn this lesson. Especially with paper. Well, notecards anyway. I already knew this with journals, so buy only ones I love. I know it with furniture and vehicles and computers and electronics and clothes.

Next bunch of cards, I'm totally ordering off Etsy.