Cascadia's mail got caught in the rain… I guess

It is very rare for me to receive mail that is anything but pristine. This is the second time (this year) that Cascadia's envelope has arrived damaged. The first time the seeds he lovingly collected and mailed to me had poured out from a hole created in transit.  This time the letter was sodden. As a result, my Walmarth stamps have stuck themselves together. And it wasn't even raining when they arrived.  Did the postman tip his water bottle into the mail bag? Was there a waterspout on the Stowmarket road that poured in Rob's window? (My postman and my milkman are both called Rob). 

Still these problems are nothing compared to the shenanigans (no! much worse than shenanigans) going on in the States with the postal service!

Cascadia wrote a proper letter to me too.  Luckily I could read it even though the ink had run… He told me more details about Ticket! Ticket! I had sent him some stuff, including a bespoke mask made with images of some of his Ticket! Ticket! stamps . Cascadia calls Ticket! Ticket! a 'self-renewing collaborative project'. I'm excited.  What a lot of work for Cascadia, though! Thank you in anticipation.

It sounds like the UK and the USA are similar in how those of us who follow rules are wearing masks.  We are also worrying about the economy in sync.  Like Cascadia, here in Stowmarket and I guess in Washington, the impact of the virus isn't so bad. We are both gardening and cooking our produce, enjoying our flowers.  Cascadia is also involved with his diorama project and International Clown Week.  Below you will see the postcard, celebrating International Clown Week which arrived a few days later.  Thank you. Brilliant!

You take care and remain healthy too.

 

Ragged Edge in Exile

This envelope from the Sticker Dude was not only stuffed full with stickers, ATCs, postcards, stamps, an add and pass, and a book, In this envelope, Joel had affixed a few sticky notes to explain things and he send me a sourdough recipe. HOW DID HE KNOW?

ATC

ATC (actually a playing card!)

sticker

As I make my way through Sticker Dude's envelope, I notice a mini-theme - sensory pleasures and perhaps less pleasant sensory events.  They have been muck-spreading around Nayland Farm today.  There is pervasive rank smell.  but atl least I'm not down a man hole or having to drink koolaid?

I suppose we have all been paying more attention to all things sensory because we haven't had the opportunity to do so many other things.  Like Sticker dude, I bake bread and I make sour dought, so very excited to try out a new recipe!

The book below is roughly 4 x 6 inches. SD tells me that it was made by Diane Bertrand using many of his stickers and mail art envelopes.  He thought it should go into my files and I think he's right!  Thank you.

Time to finish off another add and pass!

 

Finishing off with a quintessential SD envelope. 

Eye Spy Topsy Turvy Things

Great to receive this from Carmen quite a while ago.  I had a stack of mail to blog and lots going on.  Then my touch pad started flashing and it was week long trip to the apple store.  So, finally back and now can thank Carmen properly for this exciting mail.  

What I notice first is the magical feeling of Carmen's work.  It suggests a place at the edge of memory and yearning. It is a world populated by things we understand but somehow they aren't doing exactly what we imagine they should be doing.  I guess this coul be a nod to the 'topsy turvy' nature of the world right now.  I love Carmen's aesthetic and her fantastic stamps! I file everything I receive but I might have to photcopy the stamps to use a copy on some mail I promise to send out soon!

If you want to know more about Carmen you can visit her blog Carmen's art website.