HeyJaredOpinionologist
I’m Maria Armijo, artist, educator, and librarian, using this space to practice paying attention. Each week, I share books, art, and quiet joys. A mix of reflection and creative sparks for anyone finding beauty in the everyday.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 10
- Latest publication
- Sep 21, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 15, 2026
Latest issues
Books, Broken Spines, and Small Discoveries (opens the original)
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These last two weeks have been filled with a little bit of everything.I made two small sketchbooks using leftover paper from an abandoned 100-day project. Both Teresa Barroso and Blue Shine Art have shared demos on glue binding, or “perfect binding,” so I thought I would give it a try.I created the covers from discarded library books and some book board. I really liked how they turned out, except I glued the spine to paper that should have been able to move freely, so the spine broke.<d
September Lucky Letters are open! (opens the original)
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If you’ve been thinking about joining The Lucky Letter Club, you can sign up for the September mailing through September 24.Each month, I put together a little collection of things I love: a personal letter, something to read, a recipe, a bit of art, and a few surprises along the way<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VvoJ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F426b82cc
September, So Far (opens the original)
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Hello friends,I can’t think about September without thinking about Earth, Wind & Fire. The minute I hear the word, the song starts playing in my head, which is pretty great. September has already been an interesting month.Since I wasn’t able to bake a birthday cake for my coworker Arden, I made her a crown instead. It had apples, stars, beadwork, and a big 23 on the front, and it was so much fun to make. I love having an excuse to create something completely playful every once in a while.That p
One Foot Still in Summer (opens the original)
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Hello friends,These past two weeks have felt full of transitions.I took a week off work, which was wonderful, and spent a surprising amount of it working outside. We stained pickets and started building our fence, and I finally cleaned my studio and decided to put a clear acrylic finish on the wooden worktables. The wax just wasn’t cutting it anymore. It felt good to spend so much time outside and to take care of the spaces where I live and make.Maybe it’s the end of August, but I’ve been feelin
What We Made This Summer (opens the original)
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Hello friends,It has been such a joy this week to see and hear about Lucky Letters landing in people’s mailboxes. After spending so much time gathering all the pieces, making the little journals, and packing everything up, there’s something wonderful about knowing those envelopes are now being opened in homes far away from mine. I’m already excited about August’s letter.If you received one, I’d love to know: what was your favorite little surprise?While something new is just beginning with the Lu
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