CappuccinoandArtJournal

Mostly postal but art and other things of interest too.
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Friday, February 15, 2013

Handmade Joss Everything!


OUTGOING
Ok, here we go -- playing with (joss) paper--
sometimes I just stick some stamps on the joss paper packs and address them and
mail them off -- quick and easy!
And so much fun to open up and look for the treasures inside.

OUTGOING
Yup -- just drop them into a post office box. So far everyone has gotten the ones I've sent out.
Stationary, envelopes and collaged postcards....Top is stationery, middle is handmade envelope and bottom is postcard with rubber stamps and paper envelope.

OUTGOING
Simple one -- just label, stamp and send...

OUTGOING
Wrapped up a couple of letters inside the paper....and off they go.

Hum.....I am noticing these pomolos are the same colors as my envelopes above.
Wonder if I could get away with sticking a stamp and address label
on them? You think?


OUTGOING
Some of my Lunar New Year greetings..
these were fun to put together and send off...
Front and back


OUTGOING

PAPER CLOTHING
I have loved the paper clothes for years. Check out the white underpants.
So funny.
And this year I've put some in vellum envelopes and sent them out...sometimes I just string them up in my studio...
Collaged Postcard with joss paper...
Collaged postcard with joss paper and vintage Chinese children's book
INCOMING
From Vizma (IUOMA) in Australia -- a collaged booklet made from joss paper...
extremely cool to get this in the mail..
INCOMING
And from Harriet O in NYC -- a set of notecards with my initials in joss paper.
Why didn't I think of this?

These very large calendars have tissue thin paper -- I use it to fold up into origami booklets,
tear up for collage or write letters on.

Time marches on.
Time to get busy and make some more stuff.

Now, how about all of you tell me what YOU do with joss paper? Or what you would like to do with it if you had any? 

I made up 10 packets of joss to sell here but someone told me you can't sell things on blogspot blogs. Who knew?
I am kind of bummed though.

I'd like to hear from you.
 I am wondering if I should keep the blog up and running.





53 comments:

  1. Oh my. This is exactly what blows me away. How long does it take you to do all this? When do you sleep? :)

    I know joss sticks. Must Google joss paper. I like paper. Period. Now I wonder about the creative possibilities. Hmm.

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    1. Well, Limner, normally I am quite busy all the time making art but I've been down for the count the last five days with the flu and my unanswered mail pile is ready to topple over. I'm with you on the liking paper - period comment.

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  2. I didn't even know there was such as thing as joss paper! I'm going to have to investigate...thanks for sharing and teaching me something new!! I'm going to have to see how I can "experience" this new mail art medium!!

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    1. Hello Happy Mail Day -- very nice to see a comment here from you. I image joss paper would be difficult to find in most places without a very large Asian community. As I mentioned, I made up some packs to sell but then someone told me I couldn't sell directly from the blog...I guess I better get that Etsy shop open.

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    2. I do hope you'll get that Etsy shop going, but in the meantime I love your blog! It's been a while since your last post so I hope you haven't decided not to continue with it...I check for your posts daily and I have learned so much about mail art from this blog. Please continue !!!

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    3. Happy Mail Day -- many thanks for the encouragement. No, I haven't given up but I have been spending a lot of time catching up on mail. I believe there is something on the way to you! I will post some outgoing soon and after I visit the postcard show in Boston and Postal Museum in DC I will post about those.
      happy Mails to you--P.

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  3. Who told you that you can't sell things on Blogspot? I see people doing it all the time. And even if it's true, you can always link to an Etsy shop, which doesn't have to be elaborate. :)

    I don't comment often, but I do enjoy your posts; I'd be sad if you didn't update it at least occasionally!

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    1. Hi Melissa -- From what I was told, you can link to a spot like Etsy or eBay but you can't sell from the blog directly.I wanted to keep it simple but I guess I am going to have to get an Etsy shop going. I have been thinking about doing it for long enough. I can't think of a name for it -- maybe I will have a contest on the blog to name the shop???
      Thanks for your comment.

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  4. Fun! Fun! I want some! Please keep this blog going... I love to see what you're doing. (late Valentine on it's way to you).

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    1. Millicent --(hey girl -- did you get the chili and postal pouch I sent you???)
      I like doing the blog but it seems like I get so few comments -- I need encouragement!

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  5. Yes! Please keep your blog up and running! I enjoy reading your posts too.
    I don't think I could just stick stamps and an address on a package I just bought in a shop. Belgium is a weird country. XD

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    1. Hello TomoyoHime -- very nice to hear from someone in Belgium!
      We can actually get away with a lot here as far as mailing crazy things. I have sent and received some pretty amazing stuff. Thanks for commenting.

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  6. I love your post, so much inspiration here. I hope you keep it going.

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    1. Thank you Barbara....

      I am just looking for some feedback...sometimes I don't know if people are thinking "Oh yes, this is interesting' or "Oh No here she is again..."

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    2. I get you now, Pamela. When the few say they like something, the logical question is "why." I learned the importance of the "why" in art school.

      Too often, I comment in my head instead of leaving them on a blogger's post. Then again, I am also guilty of being long winded. :) keep going.

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    3. long-winded is ok............

      yeah...I learned how to talk about art is art school too....

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  7. Very cool! I thought of you yesterday. I want to make a card for someone. I wish I had your creative ideas and resources! :D

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    Replies
    1. shams -- OK, here is an idea just for you -- seamstress that you are...

      Buy a box of cards/envelopes at Beverlys or JoAnn next time you are there and pick up a couple of old patterns at SCRAP. Then you can lie the card stock open flat and and glue pieces of the patterns on it...then stitch around the card with you sewing machine and maybe stuck a couple of bits of fabric on it and viola -- cards!

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  8. Oh looky looky at all your goodness heading out the door. Those tissue paper calendars, well you just have access to the BEST stuff. xox

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    Replies
    1. Corrine -- yeah but you do too! I have seen some of your New England thrift shop hauls...

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  9. I'm new to your blog and what you do is new to me, too. I love paper and love seeing the stuff you do and your passion for it. By all means, please keep your blog up. Think about opening an etsy shop. What is joss paper and where do you get it? And that calendar? Where can I find one of those???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan -- are you in SF?

      If you go back a couple of posts to the joss part one you will see photos of the shops in Chinatown where I buy the paper here in SF.
      I got that giant calendar for $3 at a junky dollar shop there too....

      I am thinking of the ETSY shop for sure -- now all of you can come on over and help me set it up, ok???

      Thanks for your comment.

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  10. Oh my god yes mail one of those pomolos as is.

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    1. uncustomary -- hum....I wonder if I would get stuck when they said "liquid or perishable?".....

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  11. I would miss your blog terribly if it went away! you share such beauty and inspiration and interesting new tidbits and links. your joss paper extravaganza is amazing!

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    1. Thanks, Karen. I really wasn't looking for compliments but I guess I need to hear if folks are interested and enjoying the blog posts. As you know, they take time, and there are so many things to be doing...
      Thanks for your kind words.

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  12. I love reading your blog. It is really inspiring and your creative mail is awesome(I just don't comment very often). I would really miss it if you stopped.

    The joss papers and paper clothes are awesome and I have never seen them here in South Africa (I shall explore further though).



    ReplyDelete
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    1. Alison - South Africa! Really appreciate your comment from so far away.
      You would have to find a Chinatown to look for the joss paper. is there a large Asian community in South Africa?

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  13. I really enjoy your blog, thanks for sharing your creativity. However, I don't know how I'd feel about getting joss mail! Being of Chinese ethnicity, joss paper was used for honouring and venerating our dead relatives in very specific traditional methods. It would definitely feel strange to receive it when it's so contextualized for me!

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    1. You raise an interesting point -- and one I have thought about. I do not ever send joss paper to anyone of Chinese ethnicity for that reason.(although a number of my Chinese friends have no issues with it) But I also believe we imbue objects with meanings and the meanings don't hold for others who don't share the same traditions. I did a photography series on that same subject called "Religious Icons" exploring meanings behind (mostly) Catholic objets with certain associations not shared by all. I do try to be respective while following my muse. I do appreciate your comments -- thank you.

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    2. Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I do realized that for many others there isn't the association that I have and they see a different beauty in the joss paper than I do which is great. I guess that is the wonder of art and the "borrowing" of cultural icons, symbols and materials. Keep up your great & inspiring blog!

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    3. Thanks so much, Rosemary. Thanks for the encouragement and I hope I never offend anyone but I definitely do borrow from different cultures. I think living in such a multi-cultural city such as San Francisco inspires a lot of cross-cultural interest!

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  14. Thanks to all of you who commented here. As I mentioned above, I'm not trolling for compliments but with all the effort it takes to get a blog going I need some encouragement. Sometimes I wonder what is interesting to the readers and what isn't? I would love to have more feedback ....
    Thanks to all of you guys -- much appreciated.

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  15. i tried to send a comment...i am still trying. i love your blog and don't want you to not do it. please keep doing it. the photos, words and ideas are great, ju

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  16. Thanks for trying so many times, ju -- and you did it!

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  17. Love the outgoing! Love the incoming! Bright way to kick off the day, thinking of stamped fruit. Thanks!

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  18. I'm a long time follower but a limited commenter. As you said, everything takes so much time. I find sometimes that a week goes by and I've written anything on my blog and then I'll post 3 days in a row. That's the way it is....it has to fit around other commitments. And commenting on others - as you know it takes time and even though I'm a big fan I rarely take the time to comment. Ironic since I'm a blogger who enjoys comments as much as the next person.....hope you keep posting when you can.

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    1. Well...helloo Terrie....I hadn't seen you before and just took a look at your blogs. Very nice. Another mail lover/collage maker - who knew? Thanks so much for commenting...

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  19. Hi Pamela,
    I love your blog because it is so rich with photos (including your tasty lunches)!! I do read it consistently in my news reader. However, I am much more likely to comment on your FB posts.
    Sarah

    P.S. I encourage you to think about an Etsy store. I realize that it would be a lot of work, but I hope that you could reap some financial rewards from it!

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    1. Thank you Carter - yes, I do see your comments on FB and appreciate them. The Etsy shop seems to be a popular idea.

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  20. Love all that outgoing mail, Pamela...you are truly prolific. I was interested in the interchange of comments about the cultural context of joss paper. I have been reluctant to use Bible text pages in my art because of my own personal associations with the Bible, though I am reconsidering in favor of the positive messages I could use them to convey. But I certainly understand the need to be careful and respectful in how one approaches such things.

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    1. Thanks Andria - interesting thought. I am looking forward to being prolific again now that the flu is mostly over.... And also interested in seeing what you will be working on.

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  21. I love seeing that paper, it reminds me of burning in China at a couple Temples. Me and a friend had no idea what we were doing but we did it. Also, I've never been able to figure out the correct number of candles to light. Anyway, thanks so much for posting this and for sending one of your cards.

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    1. Thanks - glad you liked the post. I loved the temples in Taiwan and Hong Kong I visited and I remember amazing amounts of incense and rooms so smoky they seemed otherworldly - isn't travel great? Thanks for commenting.

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  22. I heart your blog, so don't quit! :D I immed. thought of making paper airplanes out of the Joss calendar! :D Or cool tissue paper for bagged gifts!

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    1. Thanks, Jessica -- good ideas! Thanks for the encouragement too.

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  23. wow,wow,wow. Just received your wonderful envelope.Its always exciting to open and investigate and marvel at the beautiful materials you have available. This is something I'll treasure for a long while. This is what makes mail art worthwhile, an insight into life around the world. Thanks again.

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    1. Cuan -- So happy it my mail made the trip to South Africa. I love sharing mail too and appreciated yours as well. Thanks for commenting.

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  24. Wow, these look so awesome! You can try to put a postick on the pomolos ;) Love <3

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  25. Hi Pamela -- Came back to your blog this morning and saw that my comments on this post never "took". (operator error, I'm sure... I remember having some difficulty logging in). I just wanted to say I hope you keep doing your blog! As your other commenters have already said, your photos are incredible and it's motivational and inspiring to the rest of us to see how you incorporate everything around you into your art. xoxo sw

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    1. Thanks, sallyw3000 --(no, didn't get the other comment). Thanks for the moral support and nice comment.......

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