CappuccinoandArtJournal

Mostly postal but art and other things of interest too.
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Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Little of This and Some of That....

Incoming
Some lovely incoming mail with Valentine themes and Typewriter themes.....
Fabulous Valentine mail from Dori Singh, mail artist and pal extraordinaire!
Bet you didn't know there is another mail artist in my family -- my sweetie! He hand lettered this envelope and made the heart out of torn chopstick wrappers -- what a guy!

From Tough City Writer I got a fabulous tri-old card with tattooed and half dressed guys inside!
More Valentines.......love that bikini gal on the card from Garci and the heart made of cancelled stamps she tucked inside.
Maybe next year I should make some Valentine cards....since everyone was so creative in the ones they made for me. 

A-mazing mail from Liz in New Zealand. I know some of you don't like FaceBook but I really have fun with it. Liz posted on her FB page that she was sending out 49 pieces of mail art -- no strings attached -- to the first 49 folks who asked for it. Well, of course, I asked -- and got this fabulous piece of sewn, painted, stamped, collaged mail art a couple of weeks later.
And inside were two little sewn pouches with tiny books inside with watercolored pages.
Now that is the true spirit of mail art -- just send it out and make someone really happy.

Here's the back of the envelope -- i would sure like to know how she did it -- it seems like she gessoed paper ??? Liz -- feel free to leave a comment and tell all.
Check out
Book Art Studios
to see some of Liz's work. And if you happen to live in New Zealand you can go see the art exhibit Project 49.
She is on Facebook too --
facebook.com/BookArtStudios
VERY cool -- many thanks, Liz and I will be putting something in the mail to you very soon.

Another surprise in the mail -- from Sharon. Sharon reads the blog and saw the post about the Vintage Paper Fair where I was drooling over the Japanese First Day Covers I couldn't afford to buy..she emailed me and asked if I would like her to send me a little packet and of course I said yes!
She sent a whole set of wonderful First day Covers postcard from Japan with drawing, a stamp and beautiful red cancellations of them.
And this one is of Japanese postal workers.
How cool is that? What a fun surprise to get in the mail -- just because someone was being nice and generous. Many thanks, Sharon.

A creative Valentine mailing from Niko who does bad things in the name of art --
see for yourself
Philatelic Atrocities
He started the PDX Mail Art Group too, just so you know. He set three different sheets of artistamps he made.....

OK, now this is what I'm doing......
Vintage Book
Have you seen those little secretive nooks for "Free Books" tucked away in your neighborhood?
There seems to be a movement going on of sharing books -- and I like it! I found this old book tucked into a little nook today and figured it is just what I needed to make an altered book like the one my pal Barb showed at the last co-op meeting. I loved that cover of the woman cooking. I kind of like to cook myself. When I'm in the mood. And, when I'm not busy with art projects. I think it is Swedish.....(anybody?).
I buy those cheapo sets of ABC stamps at Michaels and store them in a box. They aren't the greatest stamps. The rubber falls off sometimes. But hey -- they are cheap and fun to mix and match and sometimes sort......


I finished up some little RAM booklets and a NYC book....just puttering at the work table...

And I've been making some nice origami folders for friends.....you remember, I did a tutorial on how to make them a while back. The tutorial on how to make the origami folders is right here on "Most Popular Posts". I actually saw an online class on how to do it and you had a PAY. Mine is free! 
I made four....and one for me too....


I love the way the look all stacked up and filled with little surprises. They are six pockets in each one that you can fill....

Put a Bird on it!

OK, kids, that's it for now. We are having crazy warm weather in SF right now. It feels like summer and I am not liking it at all.
So I have to go in my studio and make stuff to cheer up.
I know...I know...those of you in the snow (Hello Boston) probably think I'm crazy but I just don't like 75 degrees in February. I don't like snow either.
But I do like mail art!

Many thanks to all of you who have sent me great mail lately. If you don't see yours here you might see it on the blog's FaceBook page.
I enjoy and appreciate every piece of mail I get.

And if you want to see Cappuccino & Art on FB look HERE

Hope you all are having a good day and making some good mail.
No Mail Monday = No Fun

But at least it gives me a chance to catch up. What are you all making? Sending? Doing?

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Fun Little Tutorial

Would you like to make some sweet little books?

Start with a 12x12 piece of paper. You can use double sided scrapbook paper or cut up your own paper....

Since the paper I used for this one was white on the back (and no fun), I gave it a watercolor wash, dripped some paint on it and hit it with a gold dabber.....I let it dry on wax paper under some heavy books so the paper would stay flat...

Then just fold the paper in half --

and in half again......so you've got four quarters...

Measure up two-inches on top and bottom and fold up. These are going to be the pockets in the book......

Then fold each quarter to the center fold so you end up like this....
give it a good crease with a bone folder...

Now you will cut along that center fold from left to right -- cutting the first three sections on the middle fold and *important* leaving the forth section intact...(It kind of looks like I only cut two sections here but I cut three...right on the the crease....)

Then you just fold in half like this.....

You've got an accordion book.....just fold it open and fool around with it so you get the front and back covers without a pocket....it's easy to do but hard to explain....
I glue those little sections (above center of photo) closed so the pockets aren't opened like that...

You can glue a ribbon on the back cover of the little book and then tie it closed....rather charming...

Now the fun part -- filling the book up with tiny surprises and treasures for a friend....

I put stamps and stickers and little notes inside the pockets...

Themes are always good......how about an air mail theme?
Or birds? Or a Holiday theme?
Valentines Day is coming...I'm just sayin'.....

I had fun with this airmail theme...


And a bit of a Valentine theme...

You've got time! You can made some sweet little Valentine theme books too.
I think these have potential for all sorts of little projects, don't you?
I think a gift card would fit inside a pocket.....or a love note...I know I'd like to get one of these.....and I bet you all know someone who would too.
Now go forth and make some stuff and eat some chocolate and have some fun!

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

This post is coming rather close to the last one but I thought it might be inspiration for making something for Valentine's Day.
Romance is on my mind since my wedding anniversary is a week later........

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Rainy Days and Sundays....

SF Correspondence Co-Op Meet-up
A rainy (yay!) Sunday here in San Francisco and what better way to spend an afternoon than hanging out with mail art pals?

Co-op Passport
New artistamps for the royal passport!

And more stamps....these made by JC the Burning Man postmaster....

SWAP TABLE
There is always something fun on the swap table...this time I definitely brought more stuff than I took away....honest.

Gift Bags
We had a co-op members's birthday to celebrate and a couple of folks brought small gift bags.
A very sharing group of people.
There was some chocolate.

Show & Tell
There is always show-and-tell and BS brought two books she made.I had a great time fondling them and getting ideas I'm now inspired to try making a couple of new books myself myself.....

I packed up one of my wonderful Dori Singh zippered bags with glue sticks and tape and filled up my water bottle (yes...with water...) and I was good to go!

Now...can you think of a better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon?

I didn't think so.
Now if I could just get that horrible song title out of my head it would be good.
I am totally going into my studio tomorrow to start making a couple of books, thanks to the inspiration today.
I highly suggest you start up a group like this in your area.
You can start with two people....
an afternoon of talking, sharing, looking and mail art is too good to to miss.

What did you do today?

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL
and
Make Things!

Monday, February 2, 2015

Can't Seem to Stop

I'm still in Lunar New Year/Joss paper mode and I can't seem to stop.

On Friday I took two of my mail art pals around Chinatown for a personal tour of my favorite joss shops.
One of my favorite spots is closing and I was sure to pick up some of the vintage papers they had sitting around....last call.....like these old and charming tiny red envelopes...
and a whole pack for .70 cents?
I don't even have to feel guilty.

I do have a rule though...if I buy stuff I've got to use it....

I added a few finishing touches to my little zine....I definitely think the face on the cover is a nice addition...

Worked on making more cards using my photos....

OUTGOING
Lots of mail going out. And not much coming in.
Ahem.

OUTGOING
Some collaged postcards...

I am getting lots of use out of my postage template from the USPS...

Yup -- this envelope makes the cut -- passes the minimum size test.

OUTGOING
I had twelve outgoing today and another thirteen went out on Friday....

I picked up this vintage Chinese ruler on Friday too....so cool. It is printed on cardboard.

The Studio Worktable
As soon as I clear a spot to work, it gets filled again...oh well....long as I am making things I guess it's all good.
I mean, really....how can I resist?

I break for cappuccino -- of course!

Next time I will post about something other than joss paper and lucky envelopes but I have a feeling I'll be playing with these papers for a while.



Oh -- and the name that got pulled out of the hat? That would be (drumroll)
cjsrq
Please leave me a comment with your address on that previous post (I won't publish it) and I will send you your copy of the zine.
Thanks and Happy NewYear to the rest of you too.
Some of you I already trade mail with and you'll be getting a copy too.

Now....what shall I work on next, I wonder?
Any ideas for me?
All you folks on the east coast (of the USA) stay warm. Looks like an awful lot of that white stuff you've got back there. 

SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL

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