Mail art packages arrived this week from two very generous artist. A gorgeous vintage nautical postcard and handmade watercolour paper made me extra happy on my birthday week.
Carol Whitley wrapped her amazing package with a beach scene on one side and a sailing ship on the other. Inside, I found another tropic clipping and several pages of a photocopied vintage bee story with a simple and beautiful illustration. There were also many wonderful bits of paper including flower patterns, a music sheet and what I think is some handmade paper. There were several postcards including an art card and two ship postcards. The silver one is an antique. It looks as though it was mailed (there's a 1 cent, cancelled stamp on the back) but there isn't a written message. A dragonfly artist's trading card was included. I can't recall if I ever mentioned my special connection to dragonflies. My wedding ceremony was outdoors and during the vows a very large dragonfly perched on my arm for a few seconds. I've since learned that they are a symbol of good luck.
Carol has a new blog up and running featuring her '3' project. She might be accepting more participants, if you're interested.
Slightly off topic but also somewhat related... It looks as though the large tree we moved is going to live! There are buds forming all over the branches. I'm really looking forward to the bee swarm this spring!
Jill Griffin decorated her package with a washi tape Union Jack!! After carefully opening it, I found a wealth of beauty. A Japanese woodcut print, an original chicken illustration, several landscape photos of her area, paper letters, space-themed postage stamps, an art postcard and several bits of doily printed paper. She also included several sheets handmade watercolour paper. I'm eager to try them out on several of the upcoming projects I have lined up.
A flurry of mail art replies this week turned my studio into a disaster. I'm beginning to feel weighed down by the amount of stuff in my studio and so a solid sort and recycle is in order. The stacks of magazines and books I never use need to be repurposed or tossed and the items that inspire me need a proper place on the wall rather than tucked away in a corner. Are you thinking of or doing a clear out of your creative space?
...J
The dragonfly can also mean that someone far away is thinking of you. I like to think that that was Mum and Dad.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and yeah! so glad to hear about your tree! We moved our one and only tree in the fall, but I'll have to wait a few more months to see if it survived... your story gives me hope! : )
ReplyDeleteSooo many treats! love love love!
ReplyDeleteAwe, that's right! I think you mentioned that before. I like how that sounds too. :D
ReplyDeleteI mentioned on Twitter about the 1 year life. I also hope that the wee fellow we moved does well next year. I think we'll give it plenty of TLC this year and wait to prune it until the year after. Poor, beautiful tree was planted right under an awning right beside the structure of the house. If I think about it too much it makes me really angry. I tend to become a little too emotional over trees and plants that aren't well cared for.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rhya!!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually in the middle of a huge studio sort...it's so big, I'm starting to get discouraged, thinking it'll never be done! But that's just silly--soon!
ReplyDeleteI love dragonfly's, but who doesn't?
Always good to read yr blog!
Thank you, Kye! My major sort turned out to be a small puff. I've sorted some kids clothes for sale and recycled a few magazines. I need to get back to it with more gusto.
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