a trio from the Artist in Seine

 Some time ago I receieved a trio of mail art from our Artist in Seine.  I had sent made him a Colour of Mail art book and wanted to check on his address. He didn't know what I was sending him but, I guess he decided to front load me with mail art, just in case.  Last year I sent him a burnt and crumbling mince pie over the holiday period… As ever I got a real treat!

Artist in Seine is very good about labeling his work.  no 679, sent on 20th December, feels like a letter home from a soldier.  Are those the micro chips from the buried object left in the desert last year?  Artist in Seine has been 'disappeared' for some time.  Is this a clue to what he's been doing in his absence?

Number two (no 690) was completed on 26th December.  WHY NOT MAKE THIS A WINE TRAIL?
Still on the soldier theme, decisions are being made, man down and some scary guns.  Artist in Seine is making the most of his down time, though, it seems.  But what does a wine trail look like and does it take one to Pisa, Rome and the Middle East?

In the final piece, no 701,  'Headgear'  -  signed on January 1st -  I sense a fragmenting character, or else the evervescence of Christmas  has brightened and lightened him. Maybe the wine trail is a factor? maybe it's shrapnel.  Whatever, I love the metallic, graphic feel! And luckily the odd shaped postcard, the confusion of barcoades and the words: 'pigs in blanket, RockJock, headgear' didn't challenge the postman so much that it was lost in the mail.  Great to hear from Artist in Seine after so long, and he can expect somethings from me soon.

Daniel Flenley sends nature doodles

Daniel Flenley came to the pop up IUOMA 25 year Memories are Made of This exhibition.  I had a little 'workshop table' and after he'd had a look around, I encouraged him to discover the delights of making a piece of mail art.  He did, and we exhanged postal addresses. Daniel describes himself as: 'Danny Flenley, a wildlife writer based in beautiful Suffolk, UK,' in his blog: http://chipmunkkalahari.wordpress.com 

Really great to hear from Danny and delighted that I 'inspired' his creativity. Danny asks when I will have a new mail art call… there will be an exhibition this summer in Maine, maybe we should have a nature theme?

Blue onion mail art from Katerina in Greece

I love finding things after a random or intuitive process.  Kat's blue onion series is something of a frothy ink blot.  I love the trees in the distance!

Sue Marsdon sends poignant correspondence photos

Sue stays in our house sometimes and when she's there she sees our world through her camera lens.  Sue heard of our holiday mishap and sent me these photos of cherished items and indcluded some cherished words.  Thank you Sue!

New Year's Greetings from Marie wintzer

Fab card from Marie! As ever, just perfect, right down to the playful, joyful present quality on the back!

Braincell 876

I sent Ryosuke a copy of my little book, The Colour of Mail Art and a stamp.  He sent me Braincell 876 in reply but I fear my stamp was too lame to include in this braincell!  I don't blame him!  I had an idea and carved it three times and even then it wasn't quite right!

Dave the Rave - happy to be home in Blighty

My first question when I see the postcard is why are mostly purple clouds gathering over Istanbul?  Purple rain? Did it rain on Dave's holiday? Was there some interesting solar event?  Did they give Dave Crayons at the hotel?  

The next thing I notice is that it's a little difficult to read Dave's postcard because he's layered (and used plastic) to include and obscure what he'd written.  Is he afraid of being tracked down in his hotel room? 

Those of you who saw the haul of mail art I got over the holiday period know I am achingly behind in my blogging and this card from Dave required even more attention that most, pealing the plastic without removing the words took careful effort. So Dave's card languished in the pile, got lost for a while with Taidgh's and Mary's and has reappeared, ready for analysis. 

If I were a betting woman, I'd wager Dave isn't going back to Istanbul. I won't askhim to dog sit either...