Meanwhile back at home....

What have I been up to?
Well, cleaning my studio for one thing....and it is a BIG job! A little daunting but once you start you have to keep at it, right?
I am making progress....
I will show you pictures when I'm finally done...

And, I've been whining a lot. San Francisco has been crazy hot.  And it isn't normal for us at all. My house has been so hot I haven't been able to sleep, or do much of anything.
But I see some fog rolling in now.....thank God.

I took a collage workshop with Molly Meng at SF Center for the Book. Lots of fun. She is a delightful instructor.

I went to a Typewriter Jam at SF Center for the Book too. TOO much fun. People came and brought their own typewriters and what beauties they were.
I think the biggest hot of the evening was the large type typewriter my friend Monica brought. SOOOOOOOOO cool. I sure would like one of those but it seems they are very hard to come by.

I've been making weekly trips to Scrap SF (the main reason my studio is in such dire need of cleaning and organizing). I found these old photo booklets and changed them up a little to make them Ephemera Sleeve Booklets. Pretty nifty way to organize you small bits for collage, don't you think?

OK, another reason for my overloaded studio is my trips to the SF Public Library book sales....I admit it....I don't usually buy bibles but when I opened it and found that hair inside....well, I could NOT resist. Don't you wonder about the story behind this? I sure do.

More from the library sale....I am repurposing books to make altered books and collages....I just love old, old papers.

Altered Book Show
The show closed and my piece sold.....I went up to Marin to see  the show....

Another wonderful collage workshop at Scrap SF taught by the  amazing Sally Wassink. Just look at those tables! We had such a great time and the hours just flew by.

I dragged out my old Big Shot and have been having fun with some creative die cutting....

My collages made at Sally's ScrapSF workshop

Sending out some mail art of course....

More die cutting (easy to do on a HOT day). I love using very old papers like these for the little bags...

OK, now I think I definitely deserve a gin and tonic....it's HOT and I have been SO good.
That's my story and I'n sticking to it.

SEND GOOD MAIL ---  GET GOOD MAIL

Just Walking Around (in Berlin)

Walking around Berlin on a COLD day we spotted this.....

Hummmm....what do we have here?

Some very intrepid vendors were out in the cold selling books and paper ephemera and , of course, we had to stop and look.

I am always happily surprised at how OLD the paper ephemera is in Europe. They were just around longer than we have been here in the US, especially here in California.

Right in the middle of everything it started SNOWING! Vendors were rushing around throwing tarps and plastic over their wares. Luckily I did manage to make a purchase or two before scurrying away to someplace warm.

That superman has nothing on my husband who continues to amaze me by Finding flea markets and street markets and stamp markets all over the world. And, he waits patiently for me to paw through everything or he pitches in to look for treasures for me.

I think I owe him a hot lunch -- and maybe a beer -- after hanging out with me on the streets of Berlin on such a chilly and rainy day.
We did have a blast!

Next stop -- Strasbourg, France!

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

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!!!