Outgoing Mail

This seems appropriate...it isn't an eclipse but close...

Little folders

Brown paper tied up in string...

Little folder with die cut tag from a vintage postcard

Black & White

...and vellum...

Photo postcards I made after our last mail art meet-up..

Some postcards collages -- anyone remember Magic Markers?

Doesn't it feel good to take a nice little stack and drop it in a PO box?

Little folder

With the world in the horrible state it is in lately art gives comfort.

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL
LOVE -- NOT HATE 

Feast Your Eyes -- Dori Singh Mail

I get some of the BEST MAIL EVER and some of the best of the best is
DORI SINGH MAIL

It is too good not to share with with the world -- well, at least my blog readers -- her work should be in a mail art museum if you ask me.

These are pages from an altered book Dori made me for my birthday last year....

Each and every page is delightful. And varied. And creative. 

But then, everything she sends me is the same -- beautiful and creative.
Here's a tiny book with painted and stamped pages and an airmail envelope cover.

Dori Singh Mail

Inside the envelope was a wonderful sewn little folder with ephemera tucked inside....

Lots of hand painted and stamped tags show up too...

And when Dori trades ATC"s with you, you get them tucked in a beautiful sewn folder.....

Sacred ATC's by Dori Singh

Dori went on a trip which included Prague and she found this magazine...and she brought home the cover and made it into a sweet little pouch for me....
who thinks of this?

Pouch opened up....and of course, there were treats inside as well..

See? A Magazine cover......

And then there was a menu from Cafe Louvre (also in Prague) -- I suggested she go there for breakfast -- and she sewed me another folder from the large placemat on the table...

Dori Sign Mail
An inside-out security envelope -- rubber stamped and painted

Another little booklet

And another folder....Dori knows I could have a million of these and I would still want them...

Folder opened up...

Tiny Booklet

And she still sends me more pages to add to that beautiful altered book she made me...

Page added to Altered Book....

This isn't even all of the beautiful mail from Dori....Can you see why I am so happy every time I see something from her in my mailbox?
Best. Mail. Ever.
She really inspires me. It isn't easy to think up things to send her back in return ..... but I sure do try hard.
That is one of the nice things about trading mail art -- the inspiration from looking at amazing works .....

THE MAIL BOX IS A MUSEUM

That is a rubber stamp I have -- and it's so true!
Hope you all enjoy the wonderful Dori Singh mail -- and many thanks to you, Dori, for making me and my mail box so happy.

Bits & Bobs

So many people have generously given or mailed me bits of ephemera....a lot of it was sitting on my work table and I challenged myself to use it for mail art....
I had 8x8 decorative paper squares, plain library pockets, pieces of paper from India, some stickers..
(thanks to Harriet, JU, Connie, Monica and Jessica for the ephemera)

First thing I watercolored on the library pockets -- they were just a little too plain...and  after that I rubber stamped on them..

I had some library catalog cards too so I sponged watercolors and stamped those too and typed some lists on them..you gotta put something in those pockets!

I like making little bundles of things to mail off...

I folded up that 8x8 paper into little folders and put letters inside. Tucked them into the library pockets.
I'd like to get this in the mail, wouldn't you?

I tucked everything into envelopes I made from paper I got at the Co-Op's swap table and off it goes to cheer up some mailboxes.

I confess - I had to keep this little cutie for myself. I love the colors and the roses and I think it would be perfect to tuck some stamps into and put in my bag.....

And now I've got to get back to making things....see you....

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