Art Days on Vancouver Island!

I have never been to Vancouver Island but I did spend a night in a tent in the Hoh Rain Forest which isn't that far. It was beautiful, if wet.

I love the sound of art days on Vancouver island.  Tonia, are you aware of the tradition of mail art meet-ups? I have had a few mail artists to stay at Nayland Farm and been invited to various events in London. It's a little far for me, but I can imagine you, your sister and some femails making beautiful mail art together!

In England it is colder for a few days.  We aren't giving in and moving back to our indoor kitchen (from our 'outdoor kitchen') We are wandering around inside in hats because our aga (which is off) keeps our house warm. Hot chocolate all around.  Thank you for your lovely postcard.  I will try to reply to both your pieces.

 

Spring sprung and now it's autumn!

I NEVER OPEN MAIL ART UNTIL I SIT DOWN TO BLOG IT.   Sometimes the pile gets mixed up and for sure that happened this summer when I carried my mail art back to the US for our annual trip to Maine.  I had hoped to catch up on my blogging.  That turned out to be wishful thinking, though. I can't believe Tonia sent me this in MAY.  I feel terrible, but in a way seeing it now makes it even more wonderful.

I wish I could see the beautiful greens of vancouver island, I wish i coud step back in time and plant my flower and vegetable seeds again and wait for them to emerge.  Alas, it is autumn and time to cut back, down and pull up.  Patrick re-seeded the grass - it had disappeared in the drought

Toni's beautiful tribute to spring is joyful and delightful and I will slip my new, beautiful bookmark into my current book and dream about next year's spring.

Thank you,

I owe a lot of mail but I will try...

 

Be More Delighted

Well I was certainly delighted to receive this mail art from Pat Bingham in Idaho! The juxtaposition of beautiful watercolour and collage is stunning, personal and joyful.  Although I don't know Pat, I am convinced of her affinity for nature and happy to spend time looking at her wonderful creations.  Thank you. 

 

Loved up by Birthday Mail Art

Caroline Fish

I turned sixty at the end of December and some of my wonderful Suffolk artist friends sent me exquisite pieces of their work to cheer me through my tier four 'special day. Aren't I lucky!

Jo Hollis

Jane Lewis

Jane has given me many cards over the years.  This one was actually for Patrick's birthday and our anniversary (October). Jane posted another beautiful card (below) on my facebook page which was remarkably in sync with the kitchen festivities I awoke to!

Panic Attack and Guarding the Nest

My brother in law has had vertigo and David's panic attack makes me dizzy. I love the way the PO stamped this to.  the lines seem to add to the energy and strong linear mood. I know what he means.  We are all off balance.  when has this ever happened before… that no matter where you live you are touched by Covid 19.

Here at Nayland farm we are at the sharp end of wildlife.  We have barn owls, a buzzard, ducks, chickens, magpies, moorhens.  To date I have not seen any barbed wire but when the squirrels threaten the owl eggs I know a trigger happy hunter who would pick off any intruderds. 

Thank you David.  Brilliant!

Hanner Postcard Swap: Kathy

Kathy McIntire's zentangle & watercolour lost a tiny bit of its washi tape in transit from South Carolina, but that hasn't marred its beauty one little bit.  I am a zentangle neophyte; my sister is an official zentangle teacher, but I can't identify the tangles Kathy has used, whatever they are claled they are wonderful. I think this dream is the kind you have when you are deeply asleep. It's intoxicating.  Thank you Kathy.

This is what Mail art looks like ...

…when it takes 27 years to make!

've known Jacquie since our son (now in his late twenties) with a babe in arms.  We have shared three countries  and she visited my mother on Cranberry Island when i wasn't there once. Until now, Jacquie has never exchanged mail art with me. To receive this postcard, so full of the joys of spring, it's light, abundance and temperature was a truly special surprise. Jacquie tells me this is her first foray with watercolours in fifteen years. If I'd known she could do this, I would have demanded a correspondence, long ago. 

May in the UK is a very special time and perhaps we are noticing it more now, confined to a small space. I don't know if Jacquie was looking at this or if she has conjured the image but it speaks to me of the stillness of this May.  I also see cultures merging and if you listen, I'm sure you can hear a great spotted woodpecker!

Thank you, Jacquie. Yes, it IS mail art.

Made in Marseille

 Richard Baudet's aesthetic envelopes are carefully crafted with lettering, text and graphic details.  This time Richard's design has no up or down.  The stamps must be 'north' but my name is rotated vertically.
The words of the text run different directions making them more than words. I love the watercolour (turned on its side in thei image) Happy valentines day, a day late!

Mail art from Malaysia

I received this delicate watercolour from Sarah who lives in KL in Malaysia.  I don't think I can find Sarah on IUOMA.  If you know Sarah, please thank her for me. I took the night train to KL when we lived in Singapore and the flower motif is one I recognise from the Far East. Lovely. I will be writing back to her soon.