Well, that was sure fun.....LWA Social in the Secret Alley

I saw THIS on The Letter Writers Alliance blog and of course I had to go....
(I am sure you all know about the LWA but on the remote chance you don't be sure to click the link and check it out).

We met outside....an unmarked door....and up the stairs and through this door....

....to The Secret Alley.....

This must be the place!!!!

Oh yes -- I spy Donovan up in a tree house -- so, I know I'm in the right place.
She's writing a letter, of course....

There were typewriters....

...and, invisible ink.....

......and LWA stationery and postcards....

And, there was lots of letter writing  and mail art lovers....

There was me.....
(thanks @DovBee for the Instagram photo)

Lots of friendly people, some from the SF Correspondence Co-op mail art group and others new people for me to meet...
(Hello @librarymail)

I'm quite sure a good time was had by all. Thank you, Donovan (@DovBee) and Carolee for such an entertaining afternoon.
What a fabulous place The Secret Alley is to make mail.
Yes, I know, we are so lucky to have such amazing mail art events here in SF. And thanks to Donovan and the Letter Writers Alliance for making this happen.
Some day I hope to make it to one of the LWA socials in Chicago.

And, no.....I didn't get too much letter writing done because...well...I had to meet people and take pictures and wander around and look at everything..but I did start a bunch of postcards and I promise to finish writing them tonight.

SEND GOOD MAIL --  GET GOOD MAIL
(and have fun doing it)

Maker Summer Camp

Don't you wish you could be a little kid and head off to summer camp? I sure do!
I am having a little summer art camp of my own with inspiration and help from some of my wonderful mail art pals.
Dori Singh Mail is some of the best mail to get and Dori has inspired me a lot.
She often sews on her work and she does a lot of cool folding.
So, inspired by Dori, I made this little folder to mail some things to a friend.

Gelli Printed cards and envelopes

After my play date with Leslie Sowden. I have been having a blast printing with my gelli plate.
I made a set of cards and envelopes.
It was more fun painting with Leslie but gelli printing is pretty fun no matter what.

Collaged Postcards

As usual, I am doing lots of collage cards to send out. I've started using some of my own family photos.
The originals!

OUTGOING

I have a continued love affair with vellum envelopes.

Another inspiration from Leslie.....
Get some of these rings and a hole punch and .....

Sort your postcards into landscape and portrait stacks.
Punch a hole in the corner and load them onto the ring. Great way to organize your postcards and have them available to look at (rather than ticked away inside boxes).
Thanks, Leslie!

I've got four rings of them so far.......

Envelopes/Letters on a ring

And since postcards worked so well on the rings, I thought, why not put envelopes on one too?
Doesn't this look cool?

And then there was the long stitch workshop at SFCB with the fabulous Jennie Hinchcliff.
Jennie is truly a wonderful instructor and I highly recommend taking a class with her if you ever get a chance.

The workshop was great and I have nailed the long stitch.

BUT....I need help and more practice with certain other aspects of making books.
The paper I choose wasn't strong enough for the stitches and ripped as you can see here.
And I made my spine too loose....
I am looking to see if Jennie is teaching a longer session on book making because I obviously need it.
Maybe I'll see some of you there!

OUTGOING MAIL

OUTGOING Collage postcard

Altered vintage postcard series

Summer Camp would be more fun with some play-mates so if anyone wants to come on over, please let me know.

Special thank you to Leslie and Dori for inspiration.
And to Jennie Hinchcliff for being an awesome instructor. (As they say in books, all mistakes are mine).

I am busy punching holes and gluing and cutting paper and generally having fun.
What are you all working on these summer days?
Lots of fun coming up here in San Francisco -- The fabulous Vintage Paper Fair is back on the weekend of July 26 and 27 and you KNOW I am going to be there.
Just being in a huge room filled with vintage paper makes me happy.
Renegade is coming to SF too -- and Donovan and Kathy from LWA -- so I will be there too.
And we are having a July Co-Op meeting too.
Lots of fun to be had. Who says summer vacation is just for kids?

SEND GOOD MAIL ---  GET GOOD MAIL

Lots to Do Around Town!

Look what I found!
No, I didn't buy it but I got a photo--
a small consolation.

Friday afternoon was a postcard swap hosted by
the lovely ladies of the LWA.
Here are my contributions--
the fronts.... 

And the backs....

Of course you all know about the LWA, right?
If not, get over there on the left and
click!
You have been missing a lot.

Kathy, Annie & Donovan on a warm San Francisco
afternoon (at Rare Device)

It's always fun to share.....

Magda the Mail Art Dog
accompanied by Catwrangler
(I just could not resist putting this on the blog)