(please click on the image to the right)

December 2008

Merry Christmas Happy Holiday
and Winter Solstice and Cheers to 2009!

Our catalogue is finished & flying around the World. . . 
The other is printed & patiently waiting to go . . .
chock full of cards!  . . . The ink is dry . . .
the glitter is sprinkled!

2009 will bring you New Ornaments
Lots of Birthday cards . . .
Gifts of glass & paper, tin & ceramic . . .
and . . . SURPRISES!!!!

& (I hope I hope) these will bring you a little laugh
and a little sigh . . .

What a year this has been for our entire planet!
. . . so from my wonderful friends in our office
& from my wonderful family & from me

Wishes for Peace Health & Love

Cheers,
Patience 

Dear Birds . . .

I have very HAPPY HAPPY news!  To get the whole story . . . please click on to "What's New" and "Our New Gifts Division."  I am designing 2009 Krinkles right now which I will be manufacturing myself!  I will be off to the Philipines soon to meet the painters and sculptors who work on the characters.  I plan to oversee the special care taken in the whole process!  This means alot of extra work for everyone, but it is very exciting to bring respect and personal service to the Krinkles that we bring to the cards at the card company.

We are celebrating by offering more Krinkles on the website store . . . Some retired and some signed, changing all the time.

Also . . . check out our "Calendars" page for a sneak peek at our 2009 wall calendar . . . It is a tribute to canines and felines called "Reigning Cats & Dogs."

New cards are in the works . . . almost ready . . . and there is a new paper in our future.  I have finally found a nice, thick, environmentally responsible paper which we will begin printing on.  Eventually we will convert all out everyday cards.  That will be so nice!

We have a fresh layer of spring snow here which we all hope will begin the delicious conversion into a blanket of green.  We know it will happen but it gets hard to wait . .  and wait . . . and wait!

Happy Spring to you all,
Patience

Dear Patience,

I was so fortunate to stumble onto your lovely cards at my favorite shop "Paper Kicks" in Hallowell, Maine.  Your cards are so awesome and I can't wait for the next event or occasion to give one.  Thank you Patience for your LIGHT!!!

~ Norma 

Patience,

I'm SUCH A HUGE FAN of your work. I love your website.  Tomorrow is my birthday (1/25/08) so today I'm treating myself to an order from your website.  SUGGESTION: Please start working on a book of your works/bio.  In the fashion of a "coffee table" book; I would eat that up.  You are an amazing artist.  Thank you for making my life more fun with your artwork.  If you're ever in Atlanta, I would LOVE to meet you!

~ Laura
Atlanta, GA

Hello Patience,

I am a brand new fan of your work.  What caught my eye one day looking through the shelf of cards was the image of a Potato Lady.  Being one of the ladies who is not considered "Petite" any longer, I wanted to thank you so much for the funny/intelligent way of including a female image which was not "Barbie doll or Fairy-shaped" in your Potato Lady example.  We non-petite ladies want to be included too . . . showing we have grace, intelligence and a sense of humor.  I am framing that card and putting in my kitchen. Thank you Patience.

Here's hoping you can follow "Happy Trails,"
Pam

Dear Birds . . .

Happy Brand New 2008 to you!

Whew!  Marietta and I got the new catalogue ready just in time!  It is ready for you!  Inside are new cards, new categories . . . some yoga influence, some meditation & some humor.  I hope, I hope, I hope you will like everything!

Rebecca had a great idea . . . a Valentine sampler!  It is available only here so take a peek! (Online Exclusives)  We will also be offering some retired Valentine Krinkles . . . jeweled boxes to love bugs!

A bird suggested an Everyday mixed sampler . . . Good idea!  That will be next!

Let us know what you think of the new cards . . . especially the new correspondence/invitations!  It was 7 below ZERO here yesterday . . . I hope you are staying warm and cozy and staying in touch!!

I will be in Atlanta on January 11 & 12^th in the D56 Showroom . . . Maybe I will see you there!

Cheers & Chirps,
Patience

P.S. It has been brought to our attention that I somehow omitted EASTER on our 2008 calendar! I apologize for this and hope, if you bought one, that you will fix our mistake by noting Easter Sunday on March 23rd. SO sorry!

Dear Patience,

I am so happy to find your site. Your cards are exceptional, for the illustrations too beautiful for words, and also for the WORDS themselves! I am particularly grateful for the encouragement section. There are times when good words and fairy dust are in very, very short supply, and these cards communicate this with understanding and love.

Thank you,
Kathleen

Hi!

My name is Layne and I was hoping that Patience still did book signings.  I have recently graduated college and since I was 6 years old, after meeting her at Homer Elementary's 'Young Authors Day', I have collected her books and feverishly have stayed a fan.  

One of my fondest childhood memories was when I was 12 at an antique store in Skaneateles and Patience read Yoo Hoo Moon. Afterward she signed my copy of Queen of the May and luckily by sweet chance a photographer for the local paper snapped a picture that was then clipped out and filed away into a scrapbook.  When I was little I wanted to become an illustrator for children's books just like Patience.  However, when I grew into a teenager I wanted to become a fashion designer.  I studied design under Apparel and Textiles in college and always referenced my childhood collection of Patience Brewster books for color combinations, whimsy, and the honest innocence in her work.

Now, I am struggling in New York to earn experience and become a fashion designer-and-like Patience my degree has qualified me to work every other job but.  But, I haven't given up and continue to build my portfolio in romantic pastel figures labeled in calligraphy (which I also started to practice in the 4th grade when my grandmother mentioned that as one of Patience's techniques), and whimsically sewn garments with calligraphic seams, embroideries and fabrics.

Thank you for being a part of my life and introducing me to graceful depictions of Princess Abigail, Sylvie of the May, and the Merbaby; they are my most confident and elegant of muses. 

Sincerely,
Layne

‘Tis the season!  How we love to hear about your traditions & decorating!  Your happy descriptions of your homes and stores make us want to see and share your efforts!  If you send me pictures at birds@patiencebrewster.com I’d love to send you a little surprise for all the pictures we have space to post!

I need to mention calendars . . . They are almost gone, so if you need one, now is the time!  A sneak preview for you birds . . . Next year’s calendar will be a tribute to our beloved four-legged friends.  Its title is “Reigning Cats and Dogs.”  As I fill my home with greens and I pull out my old toys and my children’s hand made ornaments, I have a half a century of memories flipping through my mind like pages of a book . . .  This year, my husband and I made a donation and helped dig and plant a courtyard garden in our son’s high school.  It is truly an effort of blood, sweat and tears from the young students who labored over it to the many family, friends and community.  Our daughter, Marietta, designed a t-shirt in her brother, Holland’s (Herm’s) memory . . . You can view it by clicking on “online exclusives.”  Proceeds from the sales of this t-shirt will help the Environmental Club keep this beautiful spot as vital, healthy and blooming as our memory and thoughts of Holland.

At this time of year we thank our friends at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for their wonderful work supporting science and research which is bringing us so much good and hopeful news for our health and well-being in the future.  I hope you will look for the limited edition ornament I designed for their benefit.  It is called “Hope Rides the Wings of a Dove.”  This is a charity so dedicated to its goal to patients’ comfort and to finding a cure.

I will be counting my blessings this year, thankful for a warm, safe and loving home.  I send to you my best wishes for peace, peace, peace and love in the New Year!

To a Merry Christmas . . . A Happy Hanukkah.  To Merry & Happy Celebrations all over the Globe!

Cheers,
Patience
December 2007

Dear Patience,

The Christmas cards I ordered from your website have arrived and they are just as whimsical and wonderful as I knew they would be!  Since I couldn't make a choice of just ONE design, I ended up selecting FOUR!  I'm sure all my friends will wonder where I found such delightful cards with their charming, unusual greetings -- no "Seasons Greetings" there!  Thank you so much for sharing your abundant talent with all of us!

~ Nancy
Sonoma, CA

Dear Birds,

I feel so lucky to be looking forward to heading home to my family in Plymouth, Massachusetts for Thanksgiving.  Brewsters have been gathering there for at least twelve generations and almost four centuries.  My sisters, sister-in-law, my brother, nieces and cousins are all fantastic cooks so the traditional food is bountiful and incredibly delicious.  My sister’s pies are something to dream about.

Then we have the long drive home . . . possibly to snow . . . and the next holiday which shall remain nameless until after Thanksgiving is fully digested!!!

With deep gratitude and in peace,

Patience

Dear Patience,

Hello! So glad you have a website! I was first introduced to your work in June of 2007 in a little, privately owned bookstore in Park Rapids, MN, called Beagle Books. (They have a real beagle in the store. Her name is Kallie, and she, as hostess, gently greets everyone who comes in.) The store has many wonderful books, plus two revolving card racks and a shelf filled with your cards and other items. One item was the "Pencil" note pad. I stopped in my tracks when I saw it because I had just joined a journaling group called "The Pencils". It hardly semed possible that there could be a notepad with a beautiful, stately Pencil on it - but there it was! It was the only one left on the shelf and I grabbed it. Joy!

From that time on at every meeting of the journalers, everyone has received a sheet of  the 'pencil' notepad on which to write her inspired words, but, as time has passed, the notepad has gotten thinner and thinner. What to do? I don't live near Beagle Books (3 hours away), but I truly want more sheets of 'pencil' paper. I also bought some Patience Brewster greeting cards at Beagle Books, so I checked the back of one to see if there might be, maybe, possibly, I hope - I hope -I hope, a website....Yes!

And now, I have ordered some "Pencil" notepads, a calendar, a few cards and a catalog. I am set for a while. Thank you for having these products available on line. I thank you, and "The Pencils" journaling group thanks you, too.

Sincerely,
Teri

Dear Patience,

Now that I have discovered Patience Brewster Cards at my local pharmacy, I may never buy any other card again.  They are absolutely exquisite!  Thanks for your talent.

Susan

(click on the image to the right to see Patience's note)

October 2007

Dear Birds!
The colors are ablaze outside my studio window and we have just had our first frost . . .  I have a preview for you!  Two difference mixed samplers for Christmas . . . One is a mix of animals and one a mix of star, snow and holiday people and fairies!

Thank you so much for Haunting our site and have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Patience 

Hello,

I was lucky to have found your Krinkles merchandise a couple of years ago and I have to say that I am C-R-A-Z-Y about them.  I have many of the Christmas Krinkles and I have that cake plate with the shoes (which is wonderfully fun).  I was able to pick up a tray, mugs, and dessert plates with the cats and dogs from a department store.  I wish that you would design a line of Christmas dinnerware.  Something fun and colorful.   

Thanks,
Melissa

Ta Da!!

Eggplants are appearing in your gardens.  And they grace our new 2008 wall calendar which is about to appear in stores!  We wanted you to be the first to know that you can find it here in our store!  Also, as promised there are a few signed books from my small collection of out of print picture books.  Look too, for an occasional seasonal signed Krinkle . . .

Enjoy the harvest, my friends.

Cheers,
Patience

Dear Patience ~

I am absolutely enchanted by your art. The "tutu too tight" was a perfect birthday card for my sister who is 12 (!) years younger than me and while she annually reminds me I'll always be the elder, I loved being able to remind her that she is getting older. You provided me a delightful way to inform her of that ... and to remind her to eat her vegetables.

Thank you!

Sandra

Dear Patience:

Your art is simply stunning.  Every time I look through your scrumptious gallery I'm blown away by the beauty.  I marvel at how you can take what's in your head and put it on paper like you do.   Each character looks like it is totally loved by you.  That's what comes across, if that makes sense.

Anyway, I've read your bio many times just for the sheer pleasure of soaking up your beautiful way of writing and your inspirational story.  I just wanted to say that today in particular your words struck a chord with me as I take my own leap of faith to turn my passion into more than just a hobby, as naysayers all around question the idea.

You're so gifted, so inspirational, and so generous to share your many talents.

Thanks and continued success!
~Lisa

Dear Patience,

I love your cards; I was introduced to them during a Christmas stroll in Ann Arbor, shopping on Main Street. I have looked through the year for them when shopping in other boutiques but, unlucky during my times of wonderings. I finally decided to track you down online and am most pleased, to know that I can purchase your items online. I will order soon from your site.

Happy shopper,
R

Hello!

My name is Serah and I am a stay-at-home mom of two little girls, Virginia (age 3) and Evie (14 months).  We went for our weekly visit to our local library and on a whim I checked out "Nobody" for Virginia.  I was personally drawn to the title and cute illustrations, and when I skimmed through it I figured that she would like it too.  Well, I read it to her yesterday before naptime and she was just rolling with laughter.  When my husband came home he was immediately taken by the hand into her room so that he could read it to her as well.  We read it three times during our bedtime story time.  She asked to sleep with it, and this morning it was the first thing she was talking about and we have read it several times today as well.  It is such a hit around here and we ALL love it!  Virginia is now asking me to make a "Nobody" for her too.  I have barely ever sewn in my whole life, but I think I might just have to attempt it.   :)   It looks like the book is a little hard to get a hold of now, but I am determined to find a copy of our own.  I just wanted to thank you for writing such a sweet and charming story.  It has also been fun researching you and your work on the internet. I am excited to read some of  your other books.  Please keep up the good work!

With sincere thanks,
Serah
Baton Rouge, LA

(click on the image to the right to read a note from Patience ~ which includes secret handwritten messages)

May 2007

We finally have tulips and daffodils . . . and annuals patiently waiting for warm earth summer homes for their thready roots.  And we have a crop of new cards!!  I have made some new birthday cards for the children in your life . . . there is a “new home” card, and I have scattered some punctuation into the line (inspired by my friend Robin Pulver when she was writing Punctuation Takes a Vacation).  I have added some exclamation points who are excited about their appearance in our new Congratulations! Category.  A Question Mark will help you inquire about your friends’ well being, and a pair of punctuation marks mark an anniversary.  There is also a bunch of carrots to help you say “Thanks!”

Now I am going to finish packing reindeer, witches, kings and falling leaves.  They are all coming along to the NY Stationery Show, May 20-23^rd.

Happy Gardening and Cheers,
Patience

Dear Patience Brewster,

I hope you will be surprised by this letter from an 83-year old lady (typing with a cast on her right wrist) writing to describe her reaction to the newspaper’s article about your achievement.

At the mention of “Dame Wiggins of Lee” I immediately tore to my bookcase to get the poem, remembering exactly where it was written.  Alas, that volume of the Bookhouse series was missing!  Mercifully, however, I found it Sunday among our granddaughters’ books.

When my two younger sisters and I were growing up our young widowed mother bought us a set of six books entitled My Bookhouse.  This was in the early thirties, Depression time when she must have paid just a little each month.  Oh, hut how rich we were as we devoured the poetry, the stories and tales as our young imaginations soared (as I’m sure our vocabularies)!

Compiled by Olive Beaupre Miller, copyright in Great Britain and Ireland in 1920, 1925, and 1928, the six books from nursery stories to adventure stories include myths, fables, and history . . . everything you can imagine.  They are also indexed such as affection, anticipation, ambition and anger.  Of course your Dame is in animals!  I never lost my love of literature and became a Reading consultant.

Just in case you haven’t seen the old illustrations, I am enclosing a copy from my book.  I can’t wait to read about your award ceremony!  You are a very exciting person.

Most Sincerely,
Margaret V.

A well organized web site and vast selection of quality work only pales in comparison to the artist’s unspeakable talent.  I too was a fine arts major at a private women's liberal arts college located in SC.  Later I went on to work in textile design, garnering industry-wide acclaim as a leading proponent for a prominent Italian rug and broadloom manufacturer located in Italy.  Today I own a growing Interior Design business here in RI.

Additionally, I must candidly convey that I find it a rare occurrence to come across an artist with such a distinct ability to convey her expressions, thus mastering a stylized craft.

Kudos to you, Mrs. Brewster! You lead by example as a remarkable wife, mother, artist and mentor.

God bless,
Amy

Dear Patience,
 
I just wanted you to know that I’m totally in love with your cards.  My friend and I went into a small card shop in Tulsa and there were your wonderful cards.  I just stood and cried I was so touched by the simple beauty of them.  The one that really took my breath away was one with a lovely jeweled woman with feathers in her hair surrounded by ruby-looking stones. The verse was what got me:  “Wishing you thoughts like feathers to polish the gold of your memories.”  I have so many of those golden memories in my life and I’ve never heard it so beautifully said.
 
Many thanks for all the beauty you create.  It makes my heart sing,

~ Carol in Oklahoma

Hello,

I just used my last card for my daughter-in-law for mother's day and decided to see what was online because sometimes I cannot find the exact card I want at shops . . . just want to say how much I love these cards, their messages, of course the artistry - Patience Brewster's work is definitely, to steal one of her card lines, A KEEPER.

Regards,
Kay

First let me tell you how much I adore your creations.  I think the snowman and fairies are my favorite.  Of course, so are the angels and almost everything else!!  I didn't realize you were an illustrator of children's books until I looked you up on the internet (gotta love it!).   Anyway have you thought of creating your own stories starring your wonderful creatures?  I can see each of them having a story of its own.  I take my ornaments in to my class and have my students use them as a story starter.  I'm sure you already have a story for each one, as you put so much personality into them.  Thank you for your whimsical "outside the box" ideas turned into delightful art pieces.

~ Joann

Dear Birds,

The sun recently warmed up a spot in my garden enough melt the snow.  The too eager lilies and tulips rush it a bit every year, sending up the first green scouts to test the weather.  Inevitably, those first brave and helpful soldiers will be frozen in one or two more blankets of Finger Lakes snow before they can report back that Spring is truly here!

A flock of snow birds flew over head this week too, reminding me to give you some Early Bird news on exclusives.

~ The boxes of mixed notes have sold so quickly that Rebecca is making a new exclusive collection of just fairies.
~ I have decided to sign some of my hard-to-find children’s books from my personal stashed-away collection for you to purchase on the store.
~ We just saw our first PB t-shirts which we like and hope to offer soon!
~ (really early sneak preview news)
We are in the process of designing paper napkins for Christmas, Holiday and Valentine’s Day.

So . . . I would love to hear what you think about these ideas as we get ready to trade in our cabin fever for a little t-shirt weather around here . . . after all . . . we make everything for you!

Cheers and Chirps,
Patience Brewster

Hello!

I’m living in Malmö, Sweden, and one of my neighbors just showed me a picture in a magazine.  It was a cat in high heel shoes, socks with dots, and some red outfit on the body. This lady was in love with the cat.  According to the magazine I called the shop in Stockholm, (mariatorget2.com), but they sold every cat they had.  The lady I admire is turning 80 in the end of April, and now I would like to get her a cat with high heels.  Can you please tell me if there are any more shops in Sweden I can call, or can I buy one directly from you?

Kindly,
Gunilla Bergdahl
Malmö, Sweden

Hi Patience ~

I started collecting (your ornaments) when I was a travel nurse in Burlington, VT several years ago.  My favorites are the alligators . . . I have three.  I lived in Canastota, NY for 20 years and now make my home in Naples, FL.  I display your designs year round.  They always make me smile.

Love to you,

Vanessa in FL

Dear Patience,

My employer sponsors an elementary school here in the District of Columbia -- being secret Santa’s for the students and their siblings, mentoring, reading to younger students, and special projects. At the moment, we are in the middle of a book drive.  Instead of candy and chocolates, we are collecting Sweet Treats for the Mind for Valentine's Day.  Many of these children have no books at home, so their school library is their only source of reading material.  Through an amazon.com search of Patience Brewster items (I specifically wanted Patience Brewster illustrations), I found and purchased and received three chapter books written by Johanna Hurwitz and illustrated by Patience Brewster -- Pee Wee's Tale, Lexi's Tale, and Pee Wee & Plush. I believe the cover illustrations will draw children to these books,  which are perfect for young readers.  I hope the writing will inspire young readers and writers; I know the Patience Brewster illustrations will speak to the hearts and stir the imaginations of young artists. And I am excited to be able to pass along these works and hope the seeds will be sown.

Thank you for all that you do for the dreamers.

~ Bonnie in Washington, DC

Patience,

While at Disney for New Years my wife and I saw the Donna Display Deer Figure at Dept. 56. I immediately wanted to take it home but it took a bit more convincing for my wife to see what I saw in this piece. Now that it is home and has a permanent spot in our living room, she has really gotten into it. She has dressed it up for Valentine's Day and is already planning other theme makeovers. I thought you might enjoy seeing her efforts and also wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your efforts that have brought this unique piece into our home.

Looking forward to owning more of your work!

Regards,

- Don
The Glass Palette