I Think You're Going to Want This

If you follow this blog I know you like postage stamps -- and mail and collage -- and looking at inspiring photos.
So, I must share with you, my friend Margarete's new and charming little book --
One Stamp at a Time.
I just bet you're going to want a copy too.....

This book is filled with lovely collages with postage stamps as a element.  That's right up my alley.
It's the perfect size to tuck in a bag and take with you to browse through on the streetcar or in a cafe...

I still can't get over Margarete found this giant BEE stamp at Scrap before me. Good thing I like her so much.

Aren't you getting inspired?

I love the faux postamrls she often includes too....if you have stamps you need postmarks, right?

The mail art and collages Margarete sends me are some of my favorite things. This a sheet of rolodex cards I haven't been able to bring myself to separate. I like them just the way they are.

Here are some collages ATC's she made me...also unseparated...

So, if you wan t to get your hot little hands on this cool book, here you go--
One Stamp at a Time
(you know you want it)
And, if you order, would you do me favor and tell her you heard about the book here?
I'd appreciate it.
And let me know what you think, ok?

SEND GOOD MAIL --GET GOOD MAIL

(and go make some collages too)

And To All A Good Night!

You've been wondering what I've been doing? Well, I know some of you have because I've been getting emails. You might want to grab a cup of tea...or coffee...or wine because this one is going to be long.

"The Holidays".....you know how busy it is and I don't even do that much....I did take a day off to play tourist in my own town. San Francisco is a great place to do that. Isn't the Palace hotel pretty?

And Chinatown....always a favorite spot of mine. I have been roaming around the streets and alleys there for years but I had never been to this place. I passed it by lots of ties thinking it was a tourist trap and it kind of is BUT it just looks so cool...
The Far East Cafe on Grant Avenue

And I can recommend the wonton/noodles/BBQ pork soup for sure.

Another favorite spot to hang out is my studio. One of my happiest places to be and there is always so much to do there...
and, I like company too, so come on in.

My pal Margarete brought me some great boxes of stamps and I spent quite a lot of time happily sorting them and playing with them...

I wrapped quite a few presents in my studio too...

And I made a bunch of Christmas accordion fold books but having gotten into the holiday spirit too late I still have them all. But the good news is they are all ready for NEXT Christmas. If I can remember where I put them.
I just don't get in the mood for Xmas till about a week before. As I was making things I was thinking what a good blog post it would be to show you but by then it was too late...
DOES THAT HAPPEN TO YOU?

I worked on finishing up my NYC travel journal. I had fun making tabs and then sticking stamps on them..

Don't they look cool? Well, I think so...

I made a very small, almost square altered book for a good friend  who loves Japan.

Also busy making envelopes and sending out some good mail.

Yes, another lunch out - this one in Japantown. 

Spend some nice time by my pretty Christmas tree....read a lot of books, baked a lot of cookies and made pies, took packages to the post office, worked, cooked, went to our mail art group's Xmas party.....
OK, SO here's what I want to know from YOU --
What would you like to see on the blog? What interests you? Just Art? Food? San Francisco?
I need to know if there is enough interest to continue and what you'd like to see more/less of.
And, c'mon  -- you can post anonymous comments easily - I know because I get A LOT of spam comments. You can do it!
Let's start the new year together.

In the meantime, if you are looking for me, I'm having a cocktail.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a Very Happy 2109!
SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Anybody miss me?

It's been a while, hasn't it? Funny how things get busy. And I seem to enjoy posting to Instagram these days.
But I thought I'd pop in to the blog and say hello and tell you some of the things I've been up to.
Grab a nice cappuccino and have a visit.

Since my last post of our mail art meeting, there's been another mail art meeting. We had some new visitors and all the usual fun of stamping artistamp passports and making things and finding treasures on the swap table.

There has been A LOT of hanging out and making things in my studio. I have been making lots of little origami folders and decorating them and filling them and mailing them off. It is really fun to make them. I even cleaned up and for a few days you could actually see the top of my work table. See?
Maybe not now though....

Of course I have been playing with stamps....

And, playing with rubber stamps too...

I stamped twenty pages for a FeMail rubber stamp art call and my ink pad ran dry..
By the way, anyone have a recommendation for the best stamp pads? I seem to buy cheap ones or even (gasp) pick them up at Scrap, and they really aren't any good...but no way am I paying $10 for a stamp pad...
What do you all use?

I have been sending out a lot of mail, if I do say so myself...

I made a pal an altered book a while back..(here are some pages). And, I have started a couple for myself. So many ideas...

Driving around San Francisco exploring all my favorite neighborhoods. Or walking. Or taking public transit.
Places to go and people to see.

One place I went was SFmoma - a favorite hang out of mine. If you are ever visiting San Francisco, don't miss it. Always something good to see there.
I loved the Walker Evans show and it made me wonder about the state of fine art photography these days. I went to the SF Art Institute and got a degree in Fine Art Photography but I wonder if people are still doing that....and if there are people like Walker Evans who spent his entire life following his muse and making wonderful photographs.

Lunar New Year is BIG in SF and I love it. I mean, who can resist all those lucky red envelopes and the outdoor flower market and the lion dancers....not to mention Chinese food? Not I.

There was Valentine's Day -- and a week later, our wedding anniversary. I still am crazy over my guy.  I was a child bride. Ok, maybe not....but I was very young...

Lots of flowers all around our house. Those plum blossoms are from our own tree in the backyard.

You all know me, of course there have been lots (and lots) of lunches,. I can't help myself. And a mail art pal from the east coast flew into town and we met up for lunch -- how fun.
And next week another mail art pal is coming and a group of her correspondents are meeting up for lunch at the The Slanted Door. I love when mail artists meet up.

You know it.

So, art and mail and romance and SF and food and fun ..... watching the figure skating at the Olympics too. Did you know I am married to a former figure skater?
I didn't think so. There are many mysteries still to be revealed (or not).

So, that's the news that's fit to print. Yes, there is bad stuff and average stuff too but no need to write about that. We all know about some of it and we all have some of it.

What have you guys been up to? I hope you are all well out there in cyberspace -- and making mail art -- and having good lunches.

XOXOXO
See you in the mail? Or in the comments.

Lisbon Flea

You all said you want to visit the flea market in Lisbon with me....so, today we are going....wear comfortable shoes because it is a big one.....

I am really drawn to to the metal......shame it is so heavy....

And KEYS!!!!!!

And, I love religious statues like these....

and these......
I couldn't find any Portuguese holy cards though, except for a few vintage ones....

And, this is Lisbon so yes, there are lots of lovely tiles....

Fado? Si!!!! I loved the music and have a few Fado cd's to prove it...

Yep, stamp bundles!!!
I told you that I find stamp bundles in European flea markets......

15 euros each -- too much I think.....a photo will have to do...

Those cats again -- I think I probably should have bought them....too late now...

I want it ALL......
But, I actually didn't buy nearly as much as you'd think.......I did get four Portuguese passports and some official papers....but sometimes a picture is all I need to be happy. 
We spend hours walking around and looking at everything -- it was so much fun!
So, what would YOU buy?
If you visit Lisbon I highly recommend the flea market there....bring a bag and wear comfy shoes and carry a camera and have some fun!

SEND GOOD MAIL --- GET GOOD MAIL!!!