<p><iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" height="175" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vanessa-harnik-of-notes-queries/id1517156345?i=1000778885320"></iframe></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">You have doubtless seen Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood — well, my brilliant guest today has reconfigured the concept for greeting cards and postcards. For 30 years, Vanessa Harnik has worked alongside her dad Alan running <a href="https://www.nandq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">⁠Notes &; Queries⁠</a> — which sources and brings fantastic European stationery to American shores.</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Earlier this year, I named Vanessa a <a href="https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/STAT/winter-2026/index.php#/p/24" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maker to Watch in 2026 at Stationery Trends</a> — and felt even better about that choice once I learned she had invented <a href="https://thenotenest.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">⁠The Note Nest⁠</a>. These illuminated dwellings are full of paper treasures to discover one at a time. On any given day, that may include unused cards to send, writing prompts, pre-stamped postcards — even anonymous notes of encouragement!</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Right now there&#8217;s only two of these small houses of stationery in existence, both located in Notes &; Queries&#8217; stomping ground of Baltimore. However, working with their local nonprofit makerspace Open Works, they have created 10 note nests for FREE — all that&#8217;s needed is willing proprietors! Or, purchase a blueprint for $20 and truly make this house your own.</p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-66204" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-66204 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="66204" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-11266 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-favorites tag-art-prints tag-black-and-white-photography tag-color-photography tag-correspondence tag-etsy tag-notecards tag-paris tag-photography tag-postcards tag-roisin-grace tag-sarah-schwartz tag-stationery tag-the-paper-chronicles" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/an-english-girl-in-paris/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=293%2C293&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/5.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/favorites/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Favorites</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/an-english-girl-in-paris/">An English Girl in Paris</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2015-08-24T12:50:03+00:00">August 24, 2015</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="11266"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a digital world that moves at dizzying lightning speed, The Note Nest invites us to slow down, write down our thoughts, and connect authentically, for posterity — one handwritten message at a time. As such, a neighborhood Note Nest may well be just what the world needs right now.</p>



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Vanessa Harnik of Notes & Queries
