Ready or Not....

Christmas is coming....ready or not!
Cards to write and presents to wrap. It's all good, if a little crazy busy.
I made this pocket folder to hold my Xmas cards and postcards.

I really do enjoy wrapping gifts (all year round). And, I love a neutral palette....
I really like using books pages as wrapping. And after they are unwrapped, the recipient can use the papers for collage.
We're all for creative re-use.

I also love brown kraft paper. I wish I knew where I found this one with the white dots because I want more of it....

Sometimes I do like more traditional Xmas wrap -- especially if it has airmail stripes and a postal theme!

I even broke out the vintage tags this year instead of hoarding....er....saving them....

A little Cavallini paper slipped in there too....

I also love buying various sizes of these clear bags at Diaso and making little packs of cool things....doesn't that look nice?

When I'm traveling I always notice how beautifully things are wrapped in places like France and Italy....every day is a holiday.

So, what are you using to wrap? 
Hope you get a little inspiration from my ideas. Now put on that holiday music and sip a little eggnog and get to work!
Santa needs all the help he can get spreading happiness.
I'm off to the SF Correspondence Co-Op Holiday party tonight!

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Santa Baby

Dear Santa,
I would really like mail art for Xmas.
Thank you.

I am not the most easy person to shop for unless you are another mail art/postal/paper/ephemera nerd like I am.
So, in case Santa is wondering about some things I might want, here is my list.
Well--MAIL, of course! Lots of mail art in my mail box all year long would be very nice.
And some little parcels too.
Just like in this picture. Did I mention how much I love mail?

And..oh! A nice little portable typewriter would be very. very welcome. I would like one to toss into my car when I go on road trips so I could type letters on the fly. Wouldn't that be nice?
I'd also like some vintage ads for typewriters to frame and hang in my studio.

I really wouldn't mind a pink typewriter if anyone has one sitting around that they might like to send me.

Mr Zip Anything -- thermos, lunch box, rubber stamps, buttons....I do have a little crush on Mr Zip!

Paper Ephemera? Bring it on! And free postal forms from post offices all over the world would  be great to find under my tree...

I love typing instruction manuals.....so many great photos and diagrams inside. And  the pages make great envelopes. I just might have gotten these two for myself in case Santa doesn't see this list.
I really have been good.
Well, pretty good.

I bet all of you have been good too. Now, tell me, what would YOU like for Christmas?

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate.

(a little note to my friends, believe it or not, I did not send out any Holiday cards this year. I decided to concentrate on mail art instead -- not to say the two can't be combined).
So, here is a little holiday card from Thelma instead.

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Making My List

Making my list and checking it twice...
Were you naughty or nice?

I always get in the holiday spirit a lot later than most people.
I'm starting to feel it....
Got the Christmas tree...got out the vintage cards...

SF Co-Op Holiday Party

I went to the SF Correspondence Co-Op Holiday party on Friday night
and that certainly helped with the holiday spirit.
I bought a whole lot of these raffle tickets....

Because I really, really wanted to win this Postal Vending Machine...

The lovely Miss Red Letter Day herself sold the raffle tickets but unfortunately I didn't win.

Typewriter Wine

Oh well, lots of fun anyway and some Typewriter wine to tide me over.

Making photo cards for a certain someone (hope she doesn't see this - I don't think she reads my blog). Photos of Italy and Istanbul on greeting cards ready to be wrapped and mailed off.

The traditional daily organizer - 2013 version to be made for me and another pal.
They start off kind of ugly and....

2013 Daily Planners

Viola - they look cool now...complete with rubber stamped decorations inside.
I use one to keep track of mail sent/received. Not too late to make some if you are so inclined.

Planners
I have them going back several years and they are fun mail diaries.

2012 Holiday Card-Making

Time to get cranking out those holiday cards. Yesterday in SF it was cold and rainy and a perfect afternoon to work on my cards.
Almost done.

Took me longer to figure out which combo of vintage stamps to use to get the correct postage than it took to make the cards.
Hope the folks who get these like them.

OUTGOING MAIL

SANTA

I hope I get lots of holiday mail-art too. And I don't know about all of you out there (in the USA) but the Postal Service here in SF is really trying this year -- I have had two mail
deliveries every day last week. My wonderful letter carrier, Anna, delivers mail and packages once during the day and she has been back every evening, about 6PM, to deliver any packages that came to the sorting room after the first mail delivery.
How's that for great Postal service?

What are you doing for your letter carrier this year?

Dear Santa:
I would like lots of mail for Christmas. And maybe some vintage office supplies and old air mail envelopes. I wouldn't mind some old correspondence that you might find in an attic.
I was very good.
Cappuccino & Art

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Red and What Goes With It

RED & WHITE & BLUE
I know many folks out there are thinking of RED & GREEN but lately I've been on a red, white  and blue kick. I don't know why but these things just happen sometimes.
I've really been working on a lot of mail art the last few weeks, trying to
catch up after having been away. Twice. After Turkey and Italy I went to LA.
There's an LA post coming up too....

OUTGOING
Having fun with vellum envelopes lately -- did you know vellum requires extra postage?
Now I know too....
That bottom envelope has a coffee theme for a certain person with the initials M.W. who loves a good cup of coffee. Or two.

OUTGOING
Another vellum going out -- and a cheesy envelope for a certain cheese-lover I know.
It's fun to customize envelopes to appeal to people's taste.
I like postal-themed envelopes in case you wondered.

OUTGOING

OUTGOING

Jon already gave a shout-out for the plane collage  

OUTGOING
This origami booklet went out...

OUTGOING

And something out to Planet Susannia -- who sent me the most fabulous mail art booklet --click here and take a look.

VINTAGE SUPPLIES
I think I'll start with some red and green now....got out the vintage Xmas stuff.....

Checking those vintage cards to see if the somewhat odd shape requires any extra postage..
(I hope not because I am sending an awful lots of stamps these days)

Got out the box of holiday rubber stamps....

I've been wrapping.....

...and boxing things up.....

Planning on standing in line at my favorite Post Office this week....maybe I'll bring some cookies..
for the postal clerks, not for me..
Actually, maybe I should bring some cookies to hand out to the usually grumpy folks waiting in line to spread a little cheer. And maybe they won't sigh too much when I get to the counter.
Because I have a lot to send.

INCOMING

The "Send Mail to Get Mail" rule still stands. I got some great mail this week --
from Planet Susannia (see above) and fabulous artistamps from Jack at
Cascadia Artpost and a tiny accordion booklet of photos of Turkey from a friend who also took a trip there..

LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK
The more mail you deposit the more mail you are likely to get!

Buddha's Hand infused vodka

Another little project I am working on...you can't do mail art ALL the time, or can you?

I know it is a crazy time of the year but have fun out there people!