Okay, so I try hard not to be - or even appear to be competitive - but I am. There. I said it. I am competitive. Not the win-at-all-costs kind of competitive, but work-hard-and-do-your-best-without-cheating kind of competitive. You remember all those stories where the moral is cheaters never win? Well, that message took. I believe a little bit of competition pushes you to do better. And a good friendly one is my favorite kind. I think that’s one of the reasons I love Spring2ACTion so much. Smack talk to raise money for your favorite cause? I’m totally here for that!

Just before the pandemic, we met with the folks at the Washington Calligraphy Guild to host their first-ever People’s Choice award for the annual Graceful Envelope contest. (Which, if I may toot my own horn, was my idea). The Graceful Envelope contest was created by the Smithsonian’s Postal Museum (obviously Penny Post’s favorite museum!) in 1995 to highlight the art of hand lettering. For the last 27 years, artists from all over the world have submitted - through the mail, of course - an envelope beautifully designed and illustrated based on that year’s theme. Since 2001, the Washington Calligraphy Guild, the DMV’s home to all things calligraphy, has hosted the contest. Unfortunately, the pandemic postponed our plans until last year, when we hosted the People’s Choice award for the first time. This year, we are excited to do it again.

You will find a small selection of the very best examples of this year’s theme, “Greetings & Salutations,” hanging in our window and on our invitation wall for your voting pleasure. We are asking our customers to stop by and vote for your favorite entry. The entry with the most votes will win all-important bragging rights and a gift card from Penny Post. Voting has already begun and continues through the end of July, so stop by to cast your vote in this friendly competition!