Dave the Rave and his stickerdoodle heart from Paris

This arrived today (so is out of order in terms of arrival to Nayland Farm) but I wanted to post it tonight as it may be the topic of conversation on a long drive down to the Southeast tomorrow, for some.

I had no idea who this was from… so the hint, 'Dave the Rave' was quite important; although if I'd considered, briefly, I might have remembered that one Dave the Rave was in Paris (with Lesley) so it was sort of obvious.  

I love the use of Le Tricolore colour in these stickerdoodles. Madame Parisienne  seems immune to the floral display that lights up the evening sky. 

 The clouds shift and become piratical.

 The women seem impervious to the commotion.

 A tower is tipped and the spectre looks quizzically on the tourists.

Inspite of various hold ups,  lost carnets, locked luggage, a petrol-less moped… the post takes flight over the channel. 

All of France looks on, full of hope and ardour.

Immune to terror plots, low fuel prices and even over-trekked destinations, the letter sails away.

And I unhinge the flap, sniff, sniff to find that it all worked out and everyone had  joyeuse fetes.

Artist in Seine puts a fizz in the January drizzle

While I consider myself a proficient multi-tasker, when it comes to being home with family, I try to pour all my energy into being with them and all the work that goes along with their visits. I pretty much stop all creative endeavours. So it took considerable discipline not to open my mail art until now.  I didn't get scads because I have been something of a 'missing mail artist' for months, but what I did get looks fabulous, so I will be opening it, and blogging it when I get a moment between the after-christmas jobs, as the family depart over the next few days.  

But this is about DEAN and the cheer he sent me and how it's cheering me up as I lug the champagne bottles to the bottle bank and sigh.

It's truly amazing that Dean, having never been to Nayland Farm, knows how we celebrate, the toasts, the cakes, the candles, the decorations - it's uncanny. The only way we differ from the oppulent lifestyle that Dean depicts is that Dean's world looks so orderly… Now where did we put the extra wine glasses? 'The timer's going off, whose timing something?' WE need another chair…

We have an annual gathering a few days after Christmas (because I never know what else to do with my birthday) and I have to admit to downright pandemonium as the first guests arrived. We don't have chandeliers either.  

Dean's card folds open to the two page spread below.  It is made of heavy card and looks to be a repurposed piece. I recognise the spent sticker page from years gone by and again it makes a wonderfully festive impression! 

Dean's firework display, (complete with Christmas full moon) is also similar to what we had around here in Battisford Tye. Huge thanks to the Artist In Seine for spreading the festive spirit into January. I will eat a few black-eyed peas for him so it's a lucky 2016 and get my mail art ledger out to decide which of the many, many international mail artists I owe mail to will be first on my list!

Christmas Mail Art Time - Katerina Nikoltsou

Katerina's hallmark stamps announce the contents.  I consider what Christmas Mail Art Time means to me and mostly it means less time to do mail art, but of course I wouldn't have it any other way...

 That reminds me, I have been examining the burgeoning boxes of Chritmas rapper, considering the cost alongside the number of family members - 8, and keep putting them back.  I wonder if it's better value, more fun to get the ones with the kazoos or the ones with the mini golf game.  Why do they show the prizes on the back? and we better get our tree up.  I doubt Patrick would go for a cracker one!

also in the package is a TLP collab featuring John Bennett and Katerina! 

Many thanks.  This is a slick production!

Cheery holiday greetings from Heather Hodgson

Heather is a local Suffolk artist/friend and I was delighted to receive this beautiful handmade card with cheery good wishes.

Diane sends backorder - Trashquilt and Doodles

What a glorious trash quilt! I feel the waves washing over me.  Not sure if I need some motion sickness tablets or if I am becalmed. It is very affecting whatever it is!  I love it.

Amy and Diane do colourful doodles

So great to get all this material from Diane. Clearly this is the Peter Max edition of Dkult Doodle Therapy.  Amy and Diane have a psychadelic style that needs no embellishing, although I will find it difficult to refrain, just so I can bask int he glory of collaboration!  Many thanks and give me minute to send it back in some form!

Happy New Year Snow View - Meral Aǧar

So pleased to have this beautifully broken up snow space from Meral.  I long for snow and the altered view that she has provided!

Meral has a new mail art call.  Meral curates beautiful exhibits and exercises a keen attention to detail:
http://mailartprojects.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/masculine-violence.html

And had you saved your bouffant? - David Stafford

David has collaged with words, dreams and imagery to create a hilarious and suspenseful vignette. I want to understand his process… were the words 'recycled', he says ALL MAILART 100% RECYCLED (does that make it trashpo?), or did he write the words from the imagery? Whose imagery is it? Did David find it or create it with this just in mind? Do people really use the word bouffant and does leatherette really creak audibly? Does anyone remember the David Johannsen song, Frenchette…

"I get all the love I need in a luncheonette

In just one glance, so let's just dance"

Guido V. used to send me dreams, recorded and sometimes illustrated. Was this a dream David really had? Is it magical realism?

However it was made, it was made for me!  and I am delighted to have received it.  Thank you David.