January Doings

January in San Francisco has been cold, dark and very wet. I love it! We need the rain and it is a good excuse to hang out in my studio and play.
I noticed there are a lot stamps in the studio and that got me thinking...well...about stamps.

These vintage Chinese beauties were included in a big batch of ephemera a friend gave me. I think I'm going to have a great year making collages and Rolodex cards and books and altered passports  with all the old paper....I can't wait. But, for right now, I am just enjoying looking at these.

I started noticing a lot of stamps on sheets of paper -- like these.

And like these......

 I got to thinking, it would be fun to sort some of my bags of stamps and stick them in a moleskin....
I find sorting stamps very calming.

I had sooooo many piles going.....I sorted by colors and subject.  And I stuck them in and didn't look back.
The book will be fun to flip through.

Handmade book by Christie J
This little beauty just showed up in the mail unexpectedly one day and what a delight.

Here's a look inside...

and, here's another......
Thank you, Christie! Love it.
(@christie_jz on IG)

More Good Mail
This arrived on another day from Dawn C. Also a handmade book filled with postal goodness and pages to write in.
Dawn knew I've been having some difficult times and thought I needed some cheering up.
How thoughtful!

Cheer me up it certainly did!

Thanks so very much, Dawn. I just love random acts of kindness , especially those sent through the mail.

And, speaking of random acts of kindness, a new Instagram pal, knew I have been looking for these Reader Digest covers to use for altered books and she just sent me a bunch.
I love them and I can't wait to get started making books.
Thanks, @sakameg (on IG)

Any of you make any resolutions? Art ones?

I have a list going.........
I'll tell you all soon. Happy 2017. Make all the art you can!

Travel Journal Prep

Part of the fun of travel is the anticipation...don't you think? I certainly do!
I go crazy getting ready to travel and then I fling myself on a plane and collapse.

I like to work on my travel journals  in stages--the pre-boarding stage (prepping the travel journal), the in-flight (in the country) stage and the after-party (when I'm back at home).
I start off by collecting ephemera before a trip as soon as I know where I'm going...
I filled up this plastic box with all kinds of good stuff -- vintage postcards, maps, language books, stamps....

Let the playing begin!

I hunt and gather stuff on my own but I also have good friends who give me things too. JU found a stash of old currency for me to play with. They are on the euro now...

$1 at the library book sale -- a great book of etchings -- including several of places where I'll be off too....

Vintage postcards from eBay and a cool stamp.

I found a few dictionaries and language books at the book sale to cut up and glue in...

Travel journal taking shape....arranging things on the inside front cover....

I covered both my big journal and a mini in a vintage map....this little one gets tucked into my bag for notes on the go and the big journal stays in the hotel rooms.

Found at the paper ephemera sale I went to in September...$1 also. This is definitely going into the travel journal.

Vintage postcards and stamps.

What cool writing! I am sure not going to be able to read any of that tho....

And I was very, very good and I prepped all the pages with watercolor wash. That took quite a bit of time but it will be nice not to face all white paper.

On the road I will write in it, paste as much stuff in there as possible, leave room to add some photos when I get home and I plan on hinging some pages into the journal because I just know I'm going to run out of room.
My travel journal and photos are always my most favorite souvenirs from every trip. I am thinking of various little arty projects on the go -- like bring a large size coin envelope booklet and collaging the pages and filling the sleeves with ephemera right while I'm away....and how about writing a vintage(or new) postcard every day and then punching holes and putting them on a ring when I get home?
What do you think?
When I travel I am out and on the go a lot but I love working on my journal with a coffee in the morning to start the day or maybe a bit in the evening before dinner. 
And, since dinner starts at 10PM in one of the spots I am going to I think I will have some time to create before going out.

Now where am I going?

You Have Got to See This

Do yourself a favor, if you like mail art and live in the SF Bay Area...go see this show.
Amazing. Delightful. Wonderful.

Letters to Myself
The Calligraphic First Day Covers of Alan A.Blackman. The show is an the Main Branch of our fabulous SF Public Library until Sunday, October 11.
Here is the link to click to check it out.

And, just in case you can't get over there, I am going to take you along for a little visit with me.
I will mostly leave it to the photos to show you this amazing collection.
There were a lot of squeals and cries of "Oh my God" yesterday when I saw the show...all coming from me....

OK, I just have to say -- look at that address he wrote like TRAIN TRACKS. Oh my God.
Can you imagine that getting delivered now?

(I can only keep quiet for so long....) Don't these look like artistamps???? Or is it just me?

Be Still My Heart....

OH! -- and this address written in the triangle like the stamp......

Yes, do -- here is the link for his website-- you only have to click --
Alan Blackman
And here is what really kills me -- I recognized him immediately from the video that is playing at the show -- and yes, he lived two blocks from my house. And I work for the neighborhood newspaper. WHY didn't we know about him and do a story?

The final envelope

I wish he had a book (let's all email him through his website and ask for one!). I couldn't photograph all the fabulous covers  and calligraphy in the show but I think you'll get the idea.
We have our mail art meeting right across the hall from this on Sunday so you know I'll be going back.
If you can visit I know you will enjoy it but if not, I hope you like seeing the show thru my blog and being introduced to Alan Blackman.

Why didn't I think of doing anything like this?

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