The Ocean

Just returned from a quick trip to the Mystical (and chilly) Oregon Coast. I adore the ocean, worship it. Though I've never lived there, I always have a sense of going home once my feet touch the cold grainy sand. The salty water, pulsing and moving with the draw of the moon- like a cosmic womb of sorts.

View of an ocean sunset. (Photo taken from my window)

Silver and chilly, misty and sharp. Exactly how I remember the Oregon beaches.

A couple of beautiful trinkets, gifts of the tide.

And one day I shall build a home by the sea....

Some industrious beach folk must have built this little structure from driftwood. Absolutely charming abode.

MAIL ART!!! Inbox and Outbox

Just a few things sent out today, and a rad Mail Art piece received earlier this week.


OUTBOX:

Front/Back of a Mail Art envie. Letter sent to Dosanko Debbie of Japan- a very talented Etegami artist.



Postcard sent to Fast Eyes.


Insect-themed Mail Art envie. Sent out to my friend Ash in southern Oregon.

INBOX:

Received from Taradactyl of Las Vegas.

Yes, there were more stamps but as you can see the postman kindly forgot to cancel the postage- so I am thoughtfully recycling it. ;)

MAIL CALL!

My inbox was a bit low this week, but I did receive a few quality mail items so that's heartening!

First up, a long letter and some vintage postage stamps from Lynn Riordan (and don't isn't the nautical-themed envie great?).

An etegami card sent from the very talented Mail Artist Dosanko Debbie (and check out those cute Hello Kitty postage stamps!). The polar bear line is from a Shel Selverstein poem.

Hand-drawn Mail Art postcard sent from my artsy friend Ash. It makes my name look fancy. :)

Lastly, but certainly not leastly- a very rad postcard sent from Ms. J.D. Lowry of Las Vegas. This is probably the coolest street art I have ever seen!

Summer Solstice & Posting Parcels

Just a quick look at my recent "Out' box and a few shots of the sunset walk I took during the Solstice.

Mail Surprises I've sent out into the World recently:

Front of a Mail Art parcel I sent out to my Penfriend Beth L. in Canada. She is a fellow Avian lover, and which I certainly allowed to inspire this collage piece I created.



(Back of parcel to Beth)

Front & back of a Mail Art piece sent to Robotmad. She's a zinester who recently sent me a copy of her lovely perzine with poems called Erik and Laura-Marie Magazine.



I embroidered this for a crafty and sweet friend of mine, who is indeed named Sam.

(It's a red-winged blackbird, currently one of my favorite animals in the whole world!)

The Summer Solstice- (June 21st) Did you miss it? I hope not, it's a good day for making Good Magic. To commemorate the day, I went for a lengthy stroll around sunset. Did some reading by the lake, and didn't leave until the moon had risen and swift bats were on the wing.



On my way to the lake- can just see the sunset through the trees...


Oh, a beautiful watercolor evening over the lake. Worthy of Monet, I daresay.


I only got through a couple chapters before the sun had sunk behind the hills, taking all of those tender shades of lilac and rose with it. In it's stead, the trees creatied a stark black silhouette against the indigo sky.



And finally, in all of her glory, La Luna rose into the sky- dancing ever higher and radiating her silver glow. She reflected softly there in the water, as though the sky had fallen into the lake and rested upon the surface.


Oh, and it appears I wasn't the only one feeling festive for Solstice. Had a very young buck come down to the yard, apparently to wish me well for the change of season- and to sample some tender rosebuds while he was at it!


AND LASTLY..... The newest addition to my little knick knack family.

I purchased this little trinket at an estate sale full of owl things. And I had promised myself to stop buying owl items (I love them so!) but my resolve crumbled when I saw this. It reminded me so much of Harry Potter's Hedwig. At that, I simply could not resist.

Mail Surprises received just this day...

This Raddy-ass patch and handmade item were sent from my friend Sam of Arcata, CA.


Look @ the patch closely, you shall see it's not simply a flower design- but in fact a passel of mice tied together at the tail. Rich with metaphor, don't you think?


Isn't this rad? It's all contained within a sardine can and the interior is completely lined with googly eyes (which, funnily enough, do look exactly like fish eyes.)


Mail Art Postcard sent from Fast Eyes of SendSomething. Definitely a Mail Artist with some mad Skills!

Like Water, Time runs through my fingers.

Oh my, too many things and too much time have passed since I last posted. Words fail me at the moment, so may these photos weave a story of my life for the last couple of weeks...

There was time spent lounging in the sunny garden:

The Verdant lushness of Spring is incredible. I run my hands through the soft grass, reveling at the touch of it and the stark contrast of my pale hand against that magnificent green- the color of new life.

Isn't this blossom Lovely?

To GnoMe is to Love me...

Going for long walks along the Lakeshore at dusk...

Is there anything more dear than Fallen Leaves that look like Hearts?!?


The following pictures are all taken of (Mystical) Foster Lake- different days but all at Twilight- in-between time, magic time, bridging the worlds of day and night. The bats come out to catch moths on the wing, the blue of the sky deepens, and the lake eventually turns to black ink under the dying light.....








Finding Second-Hand Treasure at Garage Sales...


I just had to buy this, to honor someone's adorable little craft here. The whole little scene is within an Emu egg. According to the sticker on the bottom, the crafter also owned an Emu/Ostrich farm. What a crafty use of upcycling an egg!


A dear, hand-sized vintage skunk stuffed toy.


Obtained this rad (yet very serious) Great Horned Owl statue. I think he's meant to scare off mice, but I think he looks good in this little tree, harshysurveying the cats, dogs, and people that dare to stroll by...



I adore this dear mirror, it's such a charming thing to look at it & to see your face framed by a rainbow and a bed of flowers. The best thing about this little piece? It's also a music box (well not a box per se...) The tune it plays is "Over the Rainbow". But of course...


THINGS THAT MADE THE POST BOX HUM.......

(Received)

First up, some Really Neat Owl Socks sent from my Canadian penfriend Beth L. of SendSomething. Needless to say, I was beyond stoked to receive this unexpected & adorable gift in the mail.

And my feet have never been more stoked to be clothed in such Awesomeness!


Some Properly Awesome Mail Art received from Tardactyl in Las Vegas.




One has gotta admire that awesome 70's style. I tell you, they just do not make fashionable clothes as they once did. This treasure of a Polaroid was sent from HappySangria of Swapbot for a "Polaroid Swap".


Superb Bicyclist-themed Mail Art received from Moonswings of Swap-bot.


Great Random package of adorable vintage stationery from my rad Penfriend DangerousMustache.


Funny Postcard of a Vintage Cheerleading photo. I dig the braces, don't you?


Letter & a couple neat postcards from Eileen Oh.


Digital collage Mail Art received from Fast Eyes.


(SENT!!!)


A bit darker and visually deeper than my normal work perhaps. Mail Art Postcard sent out to Missive Maven of SendSomething.


This was meant to be a drawing of a Ringtailed Cat (I am obsessed/in Love with them) but when I finished it- well, it looks more like a red panda or a coati or something of the like- apparently my drawing hand has different ideas than my head.


Front/Back of a Mail Art Envelope. Sent to fellow Mail Artist Bill Porter of the Olathe Poste.

The following three Mail Art postcards were sent out to a penfriend by the name of Lynn, for all the fascinating & delightful surprises she always includes with her letters....




Well, I think that pretty well covers it for the time being. Have you found a story through all these photos? I hope so.