In last week’s Mail Art post, Jessica Gowling commented that she had created a MA Monster, and judging by the amount of art that’s stuffed into my weekly posts she might be right! The past week has seen some more postcards, embroidered photographs and Arty Slides arrive at their destinations, and I’ve had a couple of great mail days myself!

OUTGOING

I’m still getting such wonderful feedback on the embroidered postcard I did a few weeks ago that I figured I should continue the ‘series’ for as long as my eyes and fingers will let me. Using photographs from old magazines I managed to (unwittingly) create a set of girls with different coloured hair to go with the orange of the last one. These three went out to (L-R) Lisa (Skybridge Studios), Thom Courcelle and Theresa Williams, all in the USA. Lisa coined the phrase ’Stitch Sisters Series’ for these, and I think that’s the perfect name for them!

I couldn’t help feeling rather lucky that the last embroidered postcard arrived unscathed, so I’ve decided to take precautions from now on.

I’ve discovered that clear plastic CD wallets are the perfect size for my almost square postcards. I’ve mentioned before that I’m using card and foam wastage from an industrial cleaning machine, so they’re already cut to size. The never ending supply of the stuff means that I will almost definitely be making postcards at this size for a long while yet, so I’d better stock up on CD wallets! I’m still writing my message and the address on the back of the postcard, but of course making sure that the stamps are on the outside of the wallets. Don’t think they’d get very far otherwise!

Vizma Bruns in Australia received these two slides. The back of the ‘Jack in the box’ slide has a sticker of a little giftbox, and the comic book is another of my little mirrors.

Lilian Mariutti in Brazil received a spring themed slide, and, deviating from the comic books, I used an old stamp for the outer-space slide.

Postie must be lagging a bit this week, because I have at least 6 cards that should have arrived with new friends by now. Hopefully I’ll be able to share them with you next week.

INCOMING

Last week I mentioned how much I love getting surprise Mail Art, especially from ‘strangers’ in the IUOMA community. This week I received this wonderful surprise Picnic Blanket postcard from Anna Micciulla in the US. The front had a little accident on its way to me, but I think it adds to its charm! Maybe the ants got a little peckish on their trip. Anna, a reply is already in the post.
Katerina Nikolstou replied to my Hen Party Spanish collage with this ‘Tall Greek Blue Grass and Green, Too’ painted postcard. Katerina sends Greek ‘bits of blue’ to all her MA friends, and this one is #928 of her 365 challenge. That’s a lot of Mail Art! It puts my 20 into perspective, but I only joined the group on the 16th March, so I don’t think I’m doing too badly. I’ll be catching her up in no time! Ha!

Carina Granlund, who sent me my very first piece of IUOMA mail art, has sent her second piece to me already! This ’1962 Warning from the Wall Street Journal’ is simple yet so visually appealing, and totally different from the last card I received from Carina (here). Her dedication made me want to send her something a little different, and I’ll be posting that ‘something’ later today.

My first Arty Slides arrived this weekend! They came all the way from Lilian Mariutti (our slides must have passed each other on the way!), and were accompanied by an interesting ‘Questions’ postcard, covered in dozens of little questions.

I also received my first card from Michalis Kotsaris in Greece. There’s a lovely sense of movement in the lines on both sides of this piece, with ‘Groove ‘n’ Soul’ on one side, and simply ‘Dance’ on the other. I have a reply ready to be on its way to Michalis today.

Last, but definitelynot least into my mailbox this weekend was a rather wonderful package from Thom Courcelle. I sent Thom an embroidered postcard, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, and I’m not sure if this is a reply or if we were synchronised in our posting?! Super speedy if it is a reply.

I first contacted Thom on IUOMA because I totally fell in love with his use of knitting in his Mail Art, which isn’t that far removed from the embroidery that I enjoy. He didn’t disappoint.

Inside a clear cello wrapper, decorated with stickers and artistamps, I found a wonderfully bright piece made my both knitting and weaving ribbon. The textile work has been sewed to a piece of card (some old packaging, maybe?) with the neatest blanket stitch. There was also a magazine clipping that matches the colours and the style of the main piece perfectly. The lovely little details continued as I discovered the little ‘man’ folded out to deliver Thom’s message to me. I am in love with this piece, and I hope we can trade more Mail Art in the future.

I’ve found such wonderful pieces of art waiting for me in my Mail Box. I’m excited every time I get home and check the post, and as I make even more Mail Art friends, the days of being disapointed are rapidly being outnumbered by the days of hoarding my finds into a quiet corner and poring over the details. Only time will tell if I can keep up the enthusiasm as I progress with my 365 challenge. 20 pieces sent in 10 days, so far…