I’ve heard April being called “Analog April” around social media, and I love that idea! Here are some analog things I’ve been doing lately.
- iHanna’s Postcard Swap. iHanna hosts a postcard swap every spring and fall, and her spring 2026 swap is open for registration right now. Of course, I signed right up for it, and I’ve already started making postcards to send when I get my assigned list of names and addresses. For this swap, I’m doing mixed media collage with acrylic markers and magazine clippings. I’m making a bunch of postcards, so if you’d like one, please fill out my handy Google form!
- I got some very special crafting glasses from a company called Craft Optics. They’re specially made with my prescription to make any kind of close-up work easier. I absolutely love them! I tested them out with a Little Lamb Doll, hand sewing her arms and legs to her fleecy body. These glasses would help any crafter, but they’re especially helpful to me with my vision issues. They also came in very handy when I removed a splinter from my husband’s hand, and when I gave myself a manicure. Plus, come on…they’re super stylish!
- Walking with the Cool Bloggers Walking Club (CBWC) has been such a delight! It’s wonderful to get outside and watch spring springing into action! (The CBWC is hosted by Elisabeth from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist Blog.)
- Do you remember the paper plants that J sent me, which I wrote about last week? Well, I decided they needed eyes and smiles – and I love them!
- I ordered some 12 X 12-inch fabric samples of my designs from Spoonflower. It’s always such a thrill to see my art on actual fabric! I can’t wait to sew a dress for the little lamb doll.
Are you working on any analog projects? I’d love to hear all about them! Thanks for reading! I hope you have a lovely week!
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Those glasses sound super helpful! And you look so cute in your hat on your outdoor walks. Gosh that view of the snow-capped mountains is so gorgeous!
My biggest analog hobby is reading. I mostly read on my kindle but I’ve been trying to read a physical book in the evening when the boys watch their nightly pre-bedtime show to make it clear that I’m reading a book. And Paul has been more interested in me reading to him again. His interest in it really ebbs and flows as sometimes he wants to read alone (which is also great!) so I really enjoy it when he’s up for a read aloud!
Lisa, you’re sweet to say I look cute in my hat! The glasses are amazing, and I’m so grateful that I could get them. I love “analog” children’s books. There’s something special about them that isn’t quite captured on a screen. It’s great how you gently encourage your kids to read by example, as well as by taking them to the library regularly.
I love all the happiness in this post.
The only real analog thing I’ve been doing lately is reading actual books. I never really got into e-books, so I like that I still love good old-fashioned books. 💜
Kari, I agree that there really is nothing more lovely than an actual paper book. The sound it makes when you open the cover, the smell of the paper, the feel of it in your hands – I miss those things so much now that I mostly read ebooks and audiobooks. When I worked at the library, my favorite thing was to process new books, especially putting on the plastic cover. It was such a satisfying feeling, like wrapping a gift.
I did not know that you could order fabric of your own designs. That is so cool.
I have glasses envy. I could use those for so many things. I’m struggling with reading ingredients of things lately and with my specific ingredient issues that’s no fun.
I would say my analog activities include: working out and walking, playing board games (we play a ton of games as a way to connect with our adopted daughters), and reading paper books.
The scenery near your home is so beautiful. I imagine it never gets old.
Ernie, it’s so much fun to design my own fabric! I understand about ingredients lists being SO teeny – can anyone read them? Sometimes the printing is blurry, so magnifying doesn’t even help. It’s frustrating! I also enjoy working out and walking – they’re perfect analog activities. I haven’t played a board game in such a long time, but that’s also a great one. There’s nothing like holding a paper book. Now I mostly read ebooks or audiobooks, but I do miss the feel, and even the smell, of real paper books.
Those glasses remind me of the kind surgeons wear! And you are kind of a surgeon, sewing on limbs and whatnot. What am I saying – you removed a splinter – you practically ARE a medical professional now!
Those little calves, oh, so sweet!
Eeek! Googly eyes and smiles on tiny little plants! That is so cute.
I guess my biggest analog activity is gardening. I have four rows of seeds up – and I am thrilled every time this happens. This weekend I’m going to plant some flower seeds and I think onions as well. I’m going to wait another week for things like cilantro. I like to stagger-plant my greens, otherwise I have SO MUCH KALE ALL AT ONCE. So right now I have a row each of arugula, spinach, kale, and lettuce. The little sprouts just bring me so much happiness!
Nicole, it’s funny because I just had my teeth cleaned, and my hygienist had these kind of magnifying glasses! I felt a bit sorry for her though, having to look at my icky teeth gunk! God bless dental hygienists, because I could not do that job. And mine is SO good at her job! Gardening is such a great analog activity, and I’m so happy that you’re enjoying your sprouts! I will look forward to seeing pictures of it on your blog!
Your postcards are so great! I put a bunch of old Sunset books on gardening and houseplants in the Little Free Library the other day…it would have been cool to cut pictures out for postcards!
I’ve been doing lots of analog things lately. Cleaning and decluttering mostly. Also walking, lifting weights, yoga, reading my physical book. Oh, I went to lunch with a friend, then went and bought some skin care stuff at the actual store today, didn’t order online. That’s analog, right? Nice to frame it this way, I hadn’t really considered it.
I love the eyes and smiles on the plant pots! So cute! Also, lambie is adorable!
J, Sunset gardening books would be so awesome for collage projects! I’m so happy you like the plants with smiles! I like your list of analog things. Yes, shopping in an actual store IS analog! That’s a great way to think about it!
I love the eyes and smiles on the plants.
A long time ago I got the Hubs and lighted magnifying stand for electronics work. The most recent time that we used it was because he got a splinter. Now that I know that the glasses are an option he might get an upgrade!
Birchie, hooray for splinter removal! It’s a great use for these magnifiers! I should have mentioned that my glasses have a light on them which can light up the whole room!