Hello 2016! Hello Peeps!

2015 -- It's a wrap!

I spent all day long in my studio today - January 1 - and what a wonderful way to start off the year.
I wrapped up my 2015 datebook and added it to the stack.

The 2016 datebooks are ready and waiting. Yup, two. I decided to make a larger one to record projects I work on and write down ideas....two is better than one, isn't it?
And a bird in the hand....

Here's the back of the larger book -- my pal Monica had sent me a thank-you card a while back and it is too good not to use for something....

Now THIS is what I have been wanting to see -- a blank calendar! I don't even know what day it is by this time of the year.....
OK, January isn't all a blank -- this IS San Francisco after all.....The Film Noir Festival, The ***Vintage Paper Fair***, a visit from a mail-art pal. and a SF Correspondence Co-Op meeting....oh...and work....but at the moment things are looking pretty calm.

One of my 2016 goals is to get myself up to Portland for a PDXCC mail art meeting.
I'm trying....

2016
And if you've got to have a list of goals, why not make them pretty? So many projects, so little time...but these are some things I really want to make happen.
What about you?
What projects do you want to work on this year? Skill you want to learn? Do tell. It's fun to hear what others are planning on working on...

Happy New Year/2016 to all my Peeps!
Thank you all for your lovely blog comments, for liking the Cappuccino&Art Facebook page, for sending me mail art and surprises in the mail.
So many of you have become "real life" friends and I'm hoping I will meet even more of you in the upcoming year.

Isn't it wonderful to have a brand new year?
Anything is possible.

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&
HAPPY NEW YEAR and BEST WISHES FOR A YEAR OF GOOD MAIL

Fun Little Tutorial

Would you like to make some sweet little books?

Start with a 12x12 piece of paper. You can use double sided scrapbook paper or cut up your own paper....

Since the paper I used for this one was white on the back (and no fun), I gave it a watercolor wash, dripped some paint on it and hit it with a gold dabber.....I let it dry on wax paper under some heavy books so the paper would stay flat...

Then just fold the paper in half --

and in half again......so you've got four quarters...

Measure up two-inches on top and bottom and fold up. These are going to be the pockets in the book......

Then fold each quarter to the center fold so you end up like this....
give it a good crease with a bone folder...

Now you will cut along that center fold from left to right -- cutting the first three sections on the middle fold and *important* leaving the forth section intact...(It kind of looks like I only cut two sections here but I cut three...right on the the crease....)

Then you just fold in half like this.....

You've got an accordion book.....just fold it open and fool around with it so you get the front and back covers without a pocket....it's easy to do but hard to explain....

I glue those little sections (above center of photo) closed so the pockets aren't opened like that...

You can glue a ribbon on the back cover of the little book and then tie it closed....rather charming...

Now the fun part -- filling the book up with tiny surprises and treasures for a friend....

I put stamps and stickers and little notes inside the pockets...

Themes are always good......how about an air mail theme?
Or birds? Or a Holiday theme?
Valentines Day is coming...I'm just sayin'.....

I had fun with this airmail theme...

And a bit of a Valentine theme...

You've got time! You can made some sweet little Valentine theme books too.
I think these have potential for all sorts of little projects, don't you?
I think a gift card would fit inside a pocket.....or a love note...I know I'd like to get one of these.....and I bet you all know someone who would too.
Now go forth and make some stuff and eat some chocolate and have some fun!

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This post is coming rather close to the last one but I thought it might be inspiration for making something for Valentine's Day.
Romance is on my mind since my wedding anniversary is a week later........

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I have been very good this year.
Really.
Well, I tried anyway...
And I would really like this Mr Zip comic book.
I didn't even know that there were Mr Zip comic books but I'd really like one now that I know.

...and the Zip Code family game would be very nice too.
My friends could come over and drink wine....I mean...milk...and play by the fireplace.

and, of course a Mr Zip lunch box would come in very handy too. I wouldn't put anything messy like lunch in it.
Maybe art supplies....

Since you brought me a real typewriter last Xmas, Santa, a Junior Typewriter  would make a very nice gift for me this year.

The Typewriter -- a new book FINALLY coming out from UpperCase in January 2015
I chipped in to get this baby in print way back when....and have eagerly been waiting for it to be published so I am very excited.
Santa--I am getting my copy but I bet some other folks would love a copy of
The Typewriter
You can click the link, Santa, and send copies to all the typewriter lovers you know out there.

Hum........there were postal nerds back in the day too......someone stuck all the Mr Zippy stuff they found on pages in a notebook....

100 PROOF PRESS
And I would really like every single fabulous rubber stamp from the
100 Proof Press catalog. My copy of the catalog is completely marked up with stickers of what I want that I think I want them ALL!
In fact, I know I want them all.

who would want this? A mail artist? A postal nerd?
I would like to give it a good home.

Maybe if you are feeling flush, Santa, you could get me this real, official, vintage US Post Box that is on eBay for only (only?) $795.00.
(I notice is hasn't sold in months -- price might be a little steep)

And, not only is it super-cool, but there is a Mr Zip sticker on the side!
I could store my mail in it....or maybe wine bottles for a wet bar? I'm sure I could think of something wonderful to do with it.
Please, Santa?

Actually, Santa, when you come right down to it, I would like anything that has Mr Zip on it.
That makes it easy for you.

Mr Zip Rocks!

Maybe this will give you a few ideas for some of the mail art nerds on YOUR list!

What I'd really like, Santa, is lots and lots of mail art all year long from my wonderful mail art friends.
What a terrific community the mail art community is!
I am so happy to be included.
And, I think Santa gets a lot of mail too -- and he doesn't do e-mail. Trust me, kids -- you've got to write a letter to Santa if you want him to read it.
Have you sent Santa your letter?

What's on you wish list?

Send Good Mail -- Maybe Santa will deliver?

Hoping you all have a very Happy Holiday and lots of great mail in 2015!

All In A Day's Work...

MR ZIP UPDATE!

We have Cal in Rhode Island to thank for this very interesting update on the USPS and Mr Zip.
She wrote me that right after reading my blog post on bringing back Mr Zip, she walked into her local post office in Rhode Island and spotted THIS!
Can you believe it?
Cal is going to ask if the USPS is bringing Mr Zip back or if this is a special banner commissioned by her PO. And I am sure going to ask the folks at my PO about it too.
The Return of Mr Zip?
Let's hope so -- and a big thank you to Cal for sending me this photo.

Outgoing

Outgoing

Outgoing to Finland

Outgoing Collaged Postcards

Outgoing

Outgoing
(Can you see the vintage mailman peeking out through the vellum envelope?)

Outgoing to Seth

Handmade envelope to the UK

I've been busy with lots of outgoing -- handmade and painted envelopes, a zine edition, art projects....
and I had a really wonderful incoming mail week too -- wanna see a few?

(Some of these have been posted on the Cappuccino & Art Facebook page but since you aren't all on FB here's another look.....)
and, by the way, if you ARE on Facebook, how about LIKING the blog's FaceBook page?
There is quite a lot on there that never shows up on the blog.

Incoming
Dori Singh mail, beautiful as it always is.....

INCOMING
Wednesday was a GREAT mail day.....

My NYC pal C.S. sent me two incredibly wonderful handmade, postal zippered bags.
They are already in use.

And -- surprise!!! - Judi, who found my blog from
Seth Apter's Sunday Links Post
and enjoyed the blog post on rubber stamps, sent me an entire box of fabulous rubber stamps.
Just because.
Because she is wonderfully generous and especially nice!
(And thanks to Seth Apter for including my blog in his Sunday links)

Tomorrow is an art field trip. Packing up my art bag.
Details to follow.

Now I've got to get busy on some thank you's for the wonderful gifts and great mail.
I better make some GOOD MAIL thank you's.
Thanks to all of you who have sent mail, e-mailed and sent surprises.
Everything is much appreciated.

Now....on to the work table...

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