When Jack and Theo visited Rebecca

Over the summer we had a visit from Theo and Jack, these young men are the sons of our dear friend Leila (and Merrick).  Leila (Jack and Theo's mum) is the daughter of our dear, dear friends Jacqueline and Blair. We knew them all in Singapore,  after a chance meeting at a swimming pool. 

If you know anything about me you will know that I have always loved working with children to make art. When Jack and Theo came to visit, we made some art, including some altered crumpled trash. This is the thank you mail art I received in reply.

FABULOUS! and thank you!

 

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...

 

Jupiter's beard and a view of the complexity of war.

Cascadia has continued to send me mail even though I have been a terrible correspondent. His postcards are a misture of joy in the garden and political commentary. I think he is reminding us that nothing is black and white, especially where war is concerned. He is sharing inforamtio I am not aware of so I will shre without comment.

 

Giant Whirlpool of the Mail Art Wave

For quite a few years I have been faithfully blogging wonderful mail art I receive.  I made lots of mail art too. Sometimes when I get a pile of mail art and don't manage to blog it for a little while, I can feel as if I am being swept away in a mail art wave. I think this is a positive idea, though.

Unknow artist
reproduction Sticker Dude

design: theo nelson
text: The Sticker Dude

Notice the stickers and stamps! Wonderful!

Stickers and stamps on back of envelope

Thank you Sticker Dude. peace!

~Gi

 

Self Portrait and Memories Kevin and James Gillen

Delighted to share this new mail art call, and beautiful mail art from Kevin and James Gillen.  But...sorry that I scanned it and haven't shared it until now.  I will participate, I feel terrible that this got lost in my summer chaos !

Thank you K and J!

Find out more:

https://www.facebook.com/MailArtWorldwide/

 

vergangenen tagen - bygone days

It's so interesting when a photo or a smell evoke something from childhood.  The word Leica has a history for me and this image of the child in the straw hat makes me think of the coppertone suntan lotion ad. It's the yellow, I think.

Herman is a master at evoking the past and that malachite green on the left of the collage is 'Herman green' in my mind. It always feels like I am coming home when I get mail art from Herman!

                                                     

One of the things I equate with the olden days is cinched waist skirts.  I wanted on,e but instead of an hourglass figure, I was shaped like a boy and drawing attention to the bit that didn't do what a woman's body was supposed to do would have been silly. I  learned to sew ad sewed some things that looked goodon the pattern but on me fell flat...

It is cherry season in the UK. In fact I baked a cherry pie this weekend. Now they evoke Ukraine for me, though. This is the sleeve in which all that follows is nested.

This ledger page is folded like a book. 

We went to Normandy for our son's 30th BD so this is not only exciting for the beautiful drawings exploring the dysmorphia some of us feel and doodle about but also becaue of the handwritings, the collged images and the FRENCH. The date is also fascinating.

And Herman's fabulous notebook drawings and photos from the past make this a VERY beautiful and generous mailing. Bygone days celebrated! Thank you!