2006 Graceful Envelope Contest Winners

The Graceful Envelope Contest, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and administered by the Washington Calligraphers Guild, congratulates this year's winning artists. Out of close to 375 entries received, a panel of three judges selected 12 envelopes as “Winners” (including two given the distinction "Best of Show"), and awarded “Honorable Mention” to 39 entries in the contest’s adult division. The judges also selected winners in the junior and children's divisions.

This year marks the 12th year of the contest, and the theme--A Fine Line--inspired many original and beautiful entries. The judges looked for creative interpretation of the theme, skill in lettering and illustration, and effective use of color and design, among other criteria.

The contest was created in 1995 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum, which administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. Beginning in 2003, the National Association of Letter Carriers agreed to partner with the Washington Calligraphers Guild to sponsor the contest and exhibit the winners. In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve.

The entries were judged by three professionals in the graphic design and lettering fields: Sammy Little, a professional calligrapher whose clients include the White House and presidential inaugurals; Ann Czapiewski, calligrapher, photographer and graphic designer for the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Michael Shea, designer/web editor for the National Association of Letter Carriers.

The adult division winner and honorable mention envelopes are on display in the lobby of the National Association of Letter Carriers headquarters building, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001. Open to the public free of charge Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8-6 Eastern time, the building is located near Union Station and the U.S. Capitol, at the intersection of Louisiana Ave. and First St. NW. If you need further information about visiting the exhibit, call 202-662-2851 or email.

View the 2006 winning Graceful Envelopes
Theme: A Fine Line
Thumbnails of winning entries:
Best in Show
Winners
Honorable Mention
Student Competition

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2006 Graceful Envelope Contest:

Best in Show:

Julie Gray - Sandia Park, NM
Shane Perry - Cheverly, MD

Winners:

Yukimi Annand - Torrance, CA
Joan Gooderham  - Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Ruth Korch - Santa Cruz, CA
Jill Lichty - Mechanicsburg, PA
Anna Fong Lum - San Jose, CA
Susan Miller - Parksville, B.C., Canada
Monica Lima Mirones - Pinecrest, FL
Donna M. Sabolovic - Richardson, TX
Leena Vierikko - Kangasala, FINLAND
Flo Wilkins - Everett, WA

Honorable Mention:

Marie Adamson - Rockwall, TX
Paul Antonio- London, ENGLAND
Gloria Austern - Secaucus, NJ
Dick Borgstrom - Fountain Hills, AZ
Sheryl G. Bracey - Hendersonville, TN
Dawn Rochelle Davis - Boise, ID
Shirlee DiBacco - Voorhees, NJ
Wendy Watson Diedrick - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Gloria Eckart - Plantation, FL
Jean-Marie Ferrara - Monterey, CA
Jo Forsyth - Shoreline, WA
Lorrie Frear - Canandaigua, NY
Linae Frei - Scottsdale, AZ
Yogi Grunwald - Calgary, AB
Elaine I. Hartman - Cherry Valley, MA
Heather Victoria Held - St. George, Ontario, Canada
Jeri Hobart - Iowa City, IA
Catherine Hogan - Moriarty, NM
Yvonne Carey Howell - Hartville, OH
Lorna Ingram - Penryn, CA
Margaret James - Monroe, NC
Sharon Kelley - Williamsburg, MI
Audrey Kincaid - Fresno, CA
Catherine Langsdorf - Charlotte, NC
Beth Lee - Tallahassee, FL
Marn Majeski - Lacey, WA
Virginia Meltzer - Missoula, MT
Carol Meetze Moates - Julian, NC
Kathy Orf - Saint Louis, MO
Patti Peterson - Colfax, CA
Cindy Rudolph - Norwood, MA
Donna H. Ryan - Charlotte, NC
Georgiana Shearn - Rush, NY
Kaisa-Leena Tunkkari - Shangani, Zanzibar, TANZANIA
Delphine Vasquez - Davenport, IA
Katherine Vorstius - Belle Vista, N.S.W., AUSTRALIA
Eric Willis - Richmond, KY
Debbie Thompson Wilson - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Elaine Hurney Young - West Linn, OR

Graceful Envelope logo by Gini Ogle.

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