Mail as Art

 While Mum and I were out running some errands last week downtown, we stopped at the new Chandler City Hall building, which is just gorgeous.  They have moved the Vision Gallery into the building and the current exhibit is, "Full Deck:  A Short History of Skate Art."  There is amazing art, all on skateboards!  Of course I really loved the one covered in postage stamps!

 

 I also spotted these small canvas pieces, with a postage/Southwestern theme:

 I looked around my house to see what artful things (besides books) that I have with a 

postal theme, and I see this shopping bag with faux postage stamps:

 And these goodies are a paperweight featuring Big Ben in London, a magnet 

with a Japanese postal box, and a tea tin of a British postal box:

(Sorry the photo came out sideways)

My favorite is this often-used zippered pouch that holds mail art supplies when I travel 

(click for details):

I would love to have this little bag (click for details):

 

What kind of postal art or goods do you have at home?

Be My Valentine

Hello lovelies!  wanted to share some pretty Valentine images with you.  Here's our 

February pinup calendar girl (Gil Elvgren), momentarily taken off our wall to scan.

 

 

 Everybody is familiar with these conversational candy hearts.  

But have you seen them in Spanish?   

Dulce - sweet/candy, Hola - hello, Beso -- kiss, Te Amo -- I love you  

I didn't realize I had so many vintage valentines ~ here are a few of my favorites:

 

 The backs of the vintage Valentines are always interesting.  You can tell they are vintage just by the old-fashioned names:  Ned, Fred, Esther, Thelma, Leo, Roy, and Shirley.

 Pink cupcakes are definitely perfect for your Valentine:

Mail Art Here

 I've been traveling a lot for work this year, usually gone five days a week, so it's fun to get home to a big pile of mail.  I received long-awaited letters from Julie and Ann-Catrin.  Julie always sends me postal goodness, and this time she included vintage Italian postcards.  I love.  She also sent me a zine about postal mail in France, which I was delighted to get since I am never able to get in on one of the coveted RSVP mailings from the Letter Writer's Alliance, and this was one of the items from one of the mailings.  Thanks, Julie!

Ann-Catrin always decorates her envies and I think she is really ready for Spring since it's a long winter in Finland.  Her envelope has the flowers on it.

 

Ann-Catrin sent me some wintery pictures from Finland and Sweden, and sent me two LOVELY postcards:

I was de-light-ed to see Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth, in my mailbox!  The lovely Ilona (The Missive Maven) sent her to me.

 Although I'm not participating in the MailArt365, I've been pretty busy creating:

  

The stamp collage postcards are very popular with postcrossers!  I've sent the two blue cards on the right already.  One to a Lithuanian postcrosser and one to Postcard Jim.  This next postcard is made entirely of stamps of Queen Elizabeth from the U.K., Canada and Hong Kong.  I would have to say it's a personal favorite.

 

I made these envelopes from old record album covers -- Barbra Streisand, a "mail" themed record album and Future Farmers of America (FFA), which is a school organization dedicated to teaching and developing farming/ranching skills.  The "Good Luck" cat envelopes were made from flyers from the annual Japanese Matsuri Festival in downtown Phoenix.

 I made some collage envelopes:

 And some outgoing mailart to California (the movie ticket stub is "The King's Speech"):

To Idaho (The movie ticket stub is "Red" and one of my gambling vouchers from Las Vegas!):

 

 I sent a large envelope of ephemera to Mary, to help keep her Mailart365 project going.  This was a large 9" by 11" envelope -- definitely the largest one I've done:

Things That Make Me Happy At The Moment

1. Valentine's decorations, especially vintage valentines.

2.  Big salads.

3.  Being the winner of a giveaway.
4.  Receiving cool mail art.
5.  Wearing snow boots when necessary (i.e., when in Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois).
6.  Upgrades to first class.
7.  Locally grown (and free!) citrus.
8.  The glow of one string of LED Christmas lights that are still hanging in the living room.
9.  Caudalie skincare and body products.
10.  Fountain pens.

Blogging for Choice

I am proud to be pro-choice and I support a woman's right to choose.  I believe in sex education in our schools and the right to accessible and affordable birth control.  At the same time, I respect that others may not agree with me.  

I was raised by a single mother who was conservatively raised in the 1950's, was a registered Republican, and yet she was acutely aware of woman's rights.  She taught me to be independent, empathetic, and never be a second class citizen because I am a female.  I think she has lovingly raised two awesome daughters (and plays a huge role in her granddaughter's life), and today, coincidentally, is her birthday.  

Happy Birthday, Mummy!

(Sorry I posted this a day late; I'm working this weekend)

Our Adventures in Japan -- blog

One of the blogs I follow, Our Adventures in Japan, is about Kat & Satoshi's eating and traveling adventures around Japan (and sometimes Hawaii).  Kat is from Hawaii and now living in Japan with her husband.  She is a foodie and posts often about the unusual foods found there.  I am very interested in Japanese culture, so this is a good resource for me.  Kat is having a giveaway via her blog and you can find out about it here.

Mailings

I was the lucky recipient of #8 of Mailart 365 by Pamela of Cappuccino and Art Journal.   

Next time I'm in San Francisco, I am eating at the Tamale Parlor Restaurant!

I may be old fashioned but I like to write thank you cards/letters when I receive a gift.  It's a pity how younger generations do not do this (unless their parents make them).  I barely get a verbal thank you when I give a gift most of the time!  However, I have got a thank you via text.  Does that count?  

Anyway, this thank you letter went to my pal in Canada.  The airmail sticker is artwork by Leila of Tattoo Tales.  On the back of the letter, I put a silver glittery letter "g" since we are Garci and Gayle.  And by the way, I did not win the Mega Millions lottery.

 A decorated letter with a travel theme: