I'm Going Dotty

Hello everyone!
OK, someone on Instagram started doing this and then I started doing this.
Monkey See, monkey do.
But it really is cheap entertainment.

And FUN!!!!

So here's what you do......get out some Staz-On ink pads and some markers...

Go to the Dollar Tree if you live in the USA and get a whole bunch of little packets of DOTS.
Or, have your lovely and generous friend and a new mama to Cora, Jessica send you a bunch of them.....(thanks Jessica!)

Get out some rubber stamps.....
I know you're going to ask.....so these are from Casey's in NYC and yes they do mail order. And they only charge $4 to ship and no, Casey's isn't giving me anything but I wish they would...

I even like the out-takes.
The only tricky part (at least for me) was getting the paper surrounding the DOTS off the sheets. I found if I took one dot off I could easily peel off the sheets and then put the dot back on...if that makes sense...

So, besides making about a million DOTS I am packing my mail art  and collage kit up and taking it on the road.
I love that.

I've already put one page in the travel journal and yes, I most certainly do need a vacation.
And I need lobster.
Boston here I come. Just please please don't snow.

I am gathering up ephemera and sticking it inside my travel moleskin.....collaging will be happening...

I wonder if I will see Denise?

Moleskin and address book -- check! Maybe I should bring some DOTS.

A MYSTERY
I put this on Instagram and I've got a whole bunch of cool people trying to figure this out....and so far, no one has..
I found a secret message under a stamp on a very old postcard (not dated). I think the postmark is Vienna.
Was it a secret message during the war? Or a message between lovers?

This is very old German script and no longer used -- and it is TINY. It was under a stamp after all.
The IG crowd hasn't solved it -- how about you????
Can anybody read this?
Because I sure would like to know....

And, another mystery, does anyone know what happened to LIMNER? Her blog
Oh! Write Me has been taken down and she just disappeared. I am worried.

OK, so get going on those dots. And help me out with the mysteries. And have a GOOD MAIL DAY! And leave me a comment, please -- I miss you.
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Start and End with a Post Box

I've been editing my travel photos and adding them to my my travel journal so I thought you might like to come along with me......

Every day starts off with coffee.....I had an espresso and an Americano.....need a lot of energy to walk all day long..

The Flea Market in Lisbon -- artist selling hand painted postcards....

What a fun idea -- and she was doing a brisk business....

Coffee Break
I have never met a Pastis de Nata I haven't liked....(and check out that tile floor too).

When you're out and about in Lisbon be sure to look down -- the sidewalks are all amazing and made with beautiful tiles....

You never know what you might find around the corner....this street had a pop-up outdoor book sale...
And I found an amazing bookstore with beautiful old books and ephemera that deserves it's own post...

If I see a PO Box I will stop.

Touristy shopping is always fun...
you could buy sardines -- or you could buy chocolate sardines....

San Francisco has a lot of food trucks....but a cocktail truck? The alcohol flows very freely in Lisbon...

Gin & Tonic is a favorite there. I saw them at lunch spots and at dinner -- 4 euros.
I finally had to give in....

Love those big red PO Boxes....

Thanks for coming on a little Lisbon walk with me. Now, I think I will get back to working on finishing my travel journal up...

Marche aux Puces Paris

Marche aux Puces
Those old keys!

I am back from my travels and I don't want to be.....so, just to cheer me up, how about you come along to the marche aux puces avec moi......
I promise, you will have a great time.

When I move to Paris, I know where I can buy all my old flat wear...

I found some old French holy cards and postcards in this box..

Tres chic, wouldn't you say?

The flea market was huge....table after table after table....and I had to see them ALL.

These were tempting but I didn't buy...I think they are rollers for stamping...

I did buy some of these sweet old vintage bags .... I will find a way to include them in my altered book or travel journal.

Hummmmmmm, ant killer?

It was freezing cold and I didn't have warm enough clothes but I was so over-excited I managed to last till I saw everything...
I will show you what I bought in another post (if you want to see).
The Paris flea was great but I have to say I think the Lisbon flea market was better (and cheaper).
Want to see some photos of that?
Let me know in the comments if you do.

I have photos of castles and chateaux, food and outdoor markets, post boxes and post offices, Le Tampographe Sardon  Rubber Stamp Shop, the Musee de la Poste shop, flowers and parks and streets...
Well, let's just say I have A LOT of photos so if you guys are interested in anything special, let me know. I can't post them all.
I posted on Instagram and FaceBook the three weeks I was away but I hope some of these are new. I know a number of my blog readers aren't on IG or FB so I thought I'd share a little here.

What do I like about jet lag?
You're in your very own time zone.
I think I need to go lie down.....

Send Good Mail -- Get Good MailBien sur!

Long Weekend -- Why Not Come On Over?

It's a long holiday weekend for a lot of people here in the USA -- I cleaned up the studio and I'm inviting you to come on over for a visit.
It's nice and cool here in San Francisco and the sun is shining.

See? Cleaned up? (well, for the most part....)

You are welcome to look around all you want -- go ahead and open the cupboards....

There's art on the walls...

And lots of things on the bookshelves that aren't books....and there are loads of books too.
We can cut and paste.

And, if there is a container, you can bet it's filled with stamps or some other treasure...

What's inside these cigar boxes? I guess you will just have to come over to see for yourself.

I love to have an afternoon with friends playing at the art table. With enough warning I can actually clear it off so there is room to work.
Here's a little ATC and tag session that just happened...

And, my Portland Altered book is 99% finished! You can look at it if you feel like it...

Rolodex and ICad 2107 cards

Maybe you'll leave with a small gift bag?

I wish you could all come over and hang out with me. I've got snacks. And drinks. And lots and lots of things to look at.
I post on the Cappuccino And Art Journal page on Facebook and on Instagram (PamelaArtsinSF) and here and I try to post all different things to keep it interesting. But it can be a little tricky to keep track of everything so just come over and we'll talk.

Here's a question for you -- are there any mail artists in the Washington DC area who would be interested in a mail art group like the ones we have in Portland and San Francisco? I am trying to help an artist friend set something up. Let me know if you're interested and in that area.

OK, fire up the grill, chill the drinks and start cutting and pasting.
Happy Independence day to the USA.

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