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!

My Inbox of Old- or last week anyway.

Though today was amazing in the Mail area of life, The last several days preceding it had been rather dry. Thus I almost forgot to post these pictures, they were the only rays of light that emitted from my post box all of last week!

Front and Back of a lovely piece of mail art sent to me by Taradactyl of SendSomething. I love that she used a multitude of stamps!

Totally rad Handmade patch sent to me by Half Pint of SendSomething. And, check out that bike chain stationery!


A letter from Lynn Riordan, who is a whiz with vintage postage stamps. I always look forward to getting her envelopes for the variety of stamps she uses- not to mention her wonderful letters too! :)

Holy Smokes, I've hit the Mother lode!

Wow, what a wonderful day it was for receiving mail! Five envelopes full and a postcard to boot! It's days like these that make me feel justified in spending all of my time decorating envelopes and writing letters...

First up, we have a letter received from TheBigB of Swap-bot. Not for swapping though, just for fun!

Isn't it Mystical and Wonderful? This wondrous Hand-Carved Goddess Stamp was from Cheryl Fines (Onceinabluemoon) of Swap-bot. Received for a swap.

A whole envelope full of goodies from Wendy S. or 'Sassytealhippo" of Swap-bot for a "No-spending Swap". Perhaps it'll come as no surprise that I am Especially excited for the tea? :)

Postcard received from a friend who is quite dear, and recently lost a dog friend who was quite dear herself....


This parcel, sent from Kata L was really a 'Daymaker'. So artfully pieced together, decorated with hand-carved stamp designs. And, as you can see, the gifts inside were everything the envelope promised and more.


Oh, and I just had to include a special picture of the card she had made to write the letter in. This is some truly inspiring craft!


Last but certainly not least, a big mail art envelope from my penpal Meg Elias of Rhode Island. It didn't fit in the Post Office box, so I got the extra privilege of being handed it directly by the PostMaster. I bet he was sure jealous.


Some of the misc. surprises awaiting me within..


The sweetest surprise- a Moleskine journal that she had hand-cut bird silhouettes out of. I had secretly been coveting a Moleskine journal forever, but couldn't bring myself to buy one when it's so easy (and efficient) to make my own using scrap paper. It's a travel journal, to be my constant companion once I gain the courage (and the funds) to hit the open road.

Things Sent or Recieved-

In the mail-by me. One old, the others new!

Years have passed since I discovered the lovely owl post in my mailbox, but still I hold onto it-
Like so many other things in life....


The front -notice the clear button artfully sewed over the womyn's face. The sender had some serious craft skills, let me tell you.


The Back- surprisingly just as lovely as the front- if I do say so


An especially lovely envie I created for an especially lovely girl.


Mail Art Postcard I made for a "Whimsical Woodland Creatures" Swap via Swap-bot. The feathers lining the bottom came from a Wild Turkey.


AND NOW, the AWESOMEST thing ever received in the mail. (Drumroll Please) Handmade Monster from my penpal, the radiest Dangerous Mustache......



Yep, basically couldn't be anymore wonderful......

Garage Sale Finds and Mail Art.

I must have gone to a dozen garage sales last weekend, and most were lousy-but, I did manage to find a couple rad items. And, I did send and receive some quality mail art this past week, so all is not lost!

This little guy is actually a pencil sharpener. Who'd have thought something so cute could also be so functional?

Secondly, I discovered this lovely treasure box, handpainted and decoupaged. The crafter who did this was a womyn after my own heart (yes, I know it was a womyn because the seller told me so)

The lid- which initially drew me in...


Only to find it's this wonderful blue owl interior.....





AND NOW, time for a selection of last week's mail.
RECEIVED:

Barn Owl Card sent from my friend Carolyn- she knows well my love for owls



Totally neat postcard I received from Hope Hayes (Knitsicle) via Swap-bot. Not only is this card painted and embroidered, its inspired by a Bikini Kill song! Could this be any radder?



Isn't it a lovely envelope? Received from Eileen Oh via SendSomething.Net - the tea was great by the way- I love the strong floral tones of Jasmine.





SENT:

A little creature that I drew with a Bic pen, and added a little color with an oil pastel Sent to a fellow mail artist.


The name of this picture is "Chaos in Cancerland" and was drawn by Jamie Reed (he did all of the art for the Sex Pistols). I refined the linework a little, added a touch of rose here and dash of violet there, and dusted some glitter on for whimsy. Sent to my penpal Meg.


That's all for now, it's getting late. perhaps more tomorrow...

Some of the loveliest Mail Art Postcards I've ever received.

This morning I was sorting through my postcards over a cup of tea, and I thought I'd share some of my favorite pieces.....

This is one of my favorites of all time, because it has a Raccoon and alludes to Dumpster Diving!

(Received from Carroll Woods in March 2008)


This beauty was made last September by one of my best friends, Ali.








A watercolor Etegami-style Postcard from DosankoDebbie in Japan. (Sent via Sendsomething.Net)









I love Kathleen Hannah and any art that alludes to Feminism- because I think it (Feminism) is hella important and still valid in our society.
(Altered Art card received from Lynn Alexander on Halloween of 08')

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Silhouetted hillside against a cloudy sky.
(Lovely ink painting created by Dewi in Canada. Received via SendSomething.Net)

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Vintage Horse and Rider photograph with a goldleafed border.... I love Horses, including that Patti Smith album!
(Sent from my dear friend Jona when she was living on out in the country)


Altered photograph of a Gnome.
Created by Spinweaver for a "Gnome Postcard" swap via Swap-bot.

Very Crafty postcard made from vintage photographs pasted over an old dictionary page.

Created by Angela (StiffNeck18) for a "HandMade Postcard Swap" via Swap-bot.

Both of these postcards were created through digital collage, and sent via SendSomething.

The one of the left was sent from Cuan Miles in S. Africa.

The one on the right "A woman in Space" was created by Fast Eyes.

That's all for now friends. Perhaps for my next post I'll put up some mail art postcards that I've made, or I might post some photos of fine Mail Art envies that I've sent/received. Stay tuned!