Kickstart your heart for Love on the Run

Graphic designer Ella Durham donated the Love on the Run logo in 2008. It’s having a great run.

James aims to spread the (free) love. He started the Love on the Run event in 2008, and he has learned a lot about logistics — even more about the joys and generosity inspired by building a community. James loves to rave about the “valenteers” (his word, not ours — it’s even a tab on the Love on the Run web site). Like Todd, Porridge Papers’ regular UPS driver: He volunteered to be a driver for Love on the Run in 2009, when February 14 fell on a Saturday.

2008 valentines: 90 bottles, arranged in a heart. The red car out front is serendipity.

Has the event grown every year?
Oh, yes. It started out with 90 people the first year. Last year — four years later — we had over 350 people. This year we are preparing for 500, since it is the five-year anniversary.

Love on the Run started with five typewriters. This year, there may be as many as 20 at the event.

You must need more and more typewriters. Whose machines are they?
Most of them are ours now. Back in the beginning, when my father-in-law heard what we were doing, he had four in his basement that he gave us. Since then, random people have just stopped by and dropped theirs off after hearing about Love on the Run.

We think Oliver’s father will cherish his son’s “early work” forever, or at least for years.

Last weekend, I dropped off some Love on the Run flyers at Studio K, our cupcake sponsor, on Saturday morning. Later that morning, I got a call from a gentleman who had not been aware of the event, but he said that he had a collection of vintage typewriters — and he will be happy to lend us three!

Ella Durham, designer of the Love on the Run logo, with her daughter Ivy

And he understands that children as well as adults will be typing on his machines?
He does! Another great thing: The machines he’s lending us are already in working order, with ribbons in good condition. I’ve learned how important it is to have a good repair service for these old machines and how to check the ribbons — and how to rewind them halfway through the afternoon.

Party favors include “i gave love” buttons. A lovebird told us that the 2012 buttons might be year-specific, so even more of a souvenir.

What paper will people be typing on?
This year we selected Mohawk Ultra Fuchsia. It is a bright, festive pink that just wants to make you smile. We’ve learned that our handmade paper does not work so well in the typewriters.

The Oliver is James’ personal favorite typewriter, and it lives at his house now. The “ears” at the top are like hinged piano keys.

And what about envelopes?
No, we don’t use envelopes. From the first year, the love note has gone in a little “vehicle,” because — given that they are all hand-delivered — it has more impact than an envelope. So, first the message gets rolled up in a tiny bottle, which we provide.

But everyone who receives a valentine will also get some Porridge Papers plantable paper. Can you tell us about that?
Last year, we decided to make a bag out of our wildflower seed paper. We include a little tag that says “Plant this bag,” so people can also get a flower garden out of it. Plus, the bag has handles, which makes it perfect for hooking over a doorknob or on a mailbox or what have you.

Porridge Papers pressman Blayne Tanner (left) printed all the bags.

How little is this little bag, and how do you make it?
It measures 2.75 tall x 2 wide x 1.5 in. deep. We letterpress print them, die cut them, and then valenteers assemble them before the event. It’s labor intensive, but it works really well … and we know that some people like to keep the note in the bottle in the bag, instead of planting the bag.

People put their bags on the delivery tables, into boxes labelled by ZIP Code.

Where does the address go?
We print a spot right on the bag for people to fill in: to, from, address and phone number — that’s the sender’s phone number, in case we run into any difficulty.

How does delivery work?
Beautifully! Obviously, it is really important that we are able to guarantee that every valentine will be delivered. We deliver them to offices, schools, nursing homes and of course houses. We have a good system, and to our knowledge we have had no mishaps — and some really sweet surprises. These are the kind of how-to’s — and stories — that we want to share in our Love on the Run manual.

But wait, there’s more! Local photographers Aubrey and Josh Leeker use their nifty Polaroid Insty-Max to take a print-on-the-spot photo to go in the bag you’re sending.

This video shows the 2011 typists snapped by the Leekers, who will be snap-happy again this year.

And will you send love notes to people who support your Kickstarter campaign?
Yes and yes! For small pledges, we’re saying thank you with a letterpress print, a limited-edition Cupid Crew button, and letterpress Valentine cards. For a pledge of $50, we will type out your love note for you, put it in the bottle in the bag, and mail it to your valentine. For larger pledges, our gratitude gets, well, greater. I admit that it was a bit of a challenge for me to make the Kickstarter video without getting emotional.

This year’s Love on the Run is open to the public in Lincoln on Saturday, Feb. 11, and Sunday Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday evening, Feb. 10, the store will host a semi-private Ladies’ Evening.

Photos: Studio Orange and The Leekers