Mailart: Imagine Peace Chain Letter

I received my first mail art chain letter from Mary Has Sound last week.

"Send a piece of artwork, something made by you, to the first person on the list below, then remove or cross out the first name on the list and add your own name and address at the bottom. Make 10 copies of the new letter that includes your name and address and send it out to people who will keep the idea growing."

I used the "Imagine Peace" as my inspiration, and I created this 5 x 7 inch collage on board to send off to #81 on the list Haddock in Oregon, USA. I'm mailing it naked, so I hope I chose my adhesives wisely. Now I have to figure out 10 folks who won't mind receiving a copy of the letter. (Please let me know if you want one! I promise to send other fun stuff along with it!)

I was on a roll, so I created two 4 x 6 inch cards in the same style, sending one to Valentine Mark Herman and one to Samuel Montalvettti and Sol Pedrosa for their mail art call "Grafismos del Bajo." Since these are traveling internationally, I packaged them in circus-themed party favor bag envelopes. I discovered I like creating mirror image pairs of cards.

Found Friday: Yarn Bombing

This is the first yarn bombing I've been lucky enough to find in Lancaster City. 

Found it right in front of my favorite boutiques, Mommalicious and My Aunt Debbie, and just across the street from my favorite eatery, Rachel's Cafe & Creperie.

Check out this yarn bombing by my pen pal Mary Has Sound. 

(Thank you to my husband for snapping photos for me!)

11 Questions

I was tagged by Mary for a list Q&A game, so here I go.

The Rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

(Very hard to find a decent photo of me without a kiddo in it too.)

Mary's Questions
1. What color was your room when you were a child?
White, until high school when my parents finally gave in, and my dad and I painted it sea mist green.

2. If you had to live in another country, which would it be?
If I HAD to live in another country, I would probably choose the UK. If it was all my choosing, I'd try France, though the little French I know comes out with a Spanish accent!

3. What snack or drink would you be ecstatic about a vending machine company carrying regularly?
I can't resist Orangina, and it's not so easy to find anymore. I discovered I can mix Five Alive with seltzer water for a tasty substitute.

4. What two colors should your birthday observe (ex: Christmas--red & green)
It's hard to choose just two, but I guess chocolate brown and frosting pink!

5. What's the most annoying thing to you about the internet?
Searching and finding too much.

6. What's your favorite type of chair?
An overstuffed armchair for reading, napping, and generally being cozy.

7. When was the last time you were on a trampoline?
Was I ever on a trampoline? It's been awhile (or I hit my head.)

8. What's your favorite animal print?
Not a big fan, but I'd choose zebra; black and white strip is a classic.

9. What's your favorite Arcade or Chuck E. Cheese game?
Skeeball, no contest.

10. How long was your longest romantic relationship?
13+ years and counting.

11. What's the most beautiful thing you've seen today?
Daffodils blooming in the backyard and then a few arranged in a chipped pitcher by my youngest daughter.

My Questions
1. What would your theme song be to the current period of your life?
2. What was the most unusual collection you had as a child?
3. How do you relax after a long day?
4. For what do you wish to be remembered after you are gone?
5. What is your favorite food to prepare and share with others?
6. If you could instantly acquire one talent or skill, what would it be?
7. Who is your favorite Muppet character?
8. If you had a day completely to yourself, how would you spend it?
9. What colors have you dyed your hair in your lifetime?
10. What books have you enjoyed so much that you reread them?
11. What was your most memorable vacation?

I tagged The Pen Thief, Becky the Snailmailer, and Lauren Nicole.

Of course I was a bit skeptical at first, that's just how I am, but I'm so glad I played. I hope you have as much fun as I did!

Mail Art Answered

Some wonderful mail art I received in December but never posted.
I'm finally getting around to sending proper thank yous!
From Wenchkin, Angie & Snooky, and Mary Has Sound

A few altered postcards I created while cleaning off my desk
and a recycled printing sample collage in a CD envelope.
All will ship out tomorrow!

Old-Fashioned Christmas Cards

A lovely vintage postcard greeting from Mary Has Sound,
"Winter in the Country" by Courier and Ives

My take on an old CPS sketch (#235), with a vintage playing card image
"The Road--Winter" by Courier and Ives

Aspiration

Oh, give me an old-fashioned Christmas card,
With hostlers hostling in an old inn yard,
With church bells chiming their silver notes,
And jolly red squires in their jolly red coats,
And a good fat goose by the fire that dangles,
And a few more angels and a few less angles,
Turn backward, Time, to please this bard,
And give me an old-fashioned Christmas card.

-Ogden Nash

(From Epstein, Spare That Yule Log, copyright 1933, 1961,
found in The Gift of Christmas, copyright 1965)

USPS 2002

I believe it was also Ogden Nash who said,
"Merry Christmas, nearly everyone!"