My Favorite Birthday Card

"We didn't come here to fit in.
We came here to be who we are.
We didn't come here to work.
We came here to live our dreams.
We didn't come here for the stuff.
We came here to love each other.
We didn't come here by accident.
We each came here with a purpose
that is uniquely our own.

Be
Dream
Love
Thrive

Always."

I received many beautiful birthday cards this year, but this is my favorite.
It almost made me cry. Thank you, Karen.

Arte Correo

Textured collage and envelope from Cernjul Viviana
Traveled from Argentina 12 Jan 2012 to USA 13 Feb 2012

Fluxus collage and envelope from Cernjul Viviana
Traveled from Argentina 11 Feb 2012 to USA 22 Feb 2012

Muchas gracias, mi amiga de correo.
Espero que reciba pronto mi primera respuesta.

I am, as always, late in posting most of the wonderful mail I receive. I replied to the first collage on February 18, and then another beautiful work arrived in my mailbox today. The travel time of mail fascinates me. I suppose its variability is part of the mystery and allure of corresponding by post, particularly overseas. (Unfortunately, this phenomena does not excuse the irregularity of my blog posts!)

Blue ATC Buddy Jam

C.Z., a new mail art friend, introduced me to ATC Buddy Jams, where two artists collaborate to create two identical artist trading cards and each keeps one finished card. I wanted to try my hand at ATCs for some time, but this was the nudge I needed to get started. (Sometimes getting started is the hardest part!)


C.Z. sent the above cards with the mason jar stamped in blue, and I filled them with blue bits from my overflowing workspace. I like that they are mirror images. I returned the card shown on the left to C.Z. and kept the one on the right (I had to fudge the plastic tag; I colored a white one with a blue Sharpie.) I was pleased with the results and so was C.Z. We're working on another set.

Many thanks to new friends for new ideas and inspiration!

Mail From the Heart

My love notes are all buttoned up,

hand-stitched with love,

and they make my heart sing.

Happy Valentine's Day!
May it be filled with sweet mail and semi-sweet chocolate!

Found & Shared: Vintage Valentine

I couldn't resist this lovely vintage Valentine, slightly used, from Creative Reuse. I sent it down under to someone special who posted about her vintage Valentine project the very day I found this card. I think the girl on the card bears a resemblance to that sweet someone!

(Looking at the card again got me thinking: I don't think I have ever dropped anything heart-shaped directly in the mail! I should give it a try!)

Big Postal Love

Six--yes, six--beautiful pieces of personal and artistic mail in my postbox today, from as near as my home state of PA and as far as Argentina. Thank you, my friends, for your postal love! All is quiet here now, so I will carefully open them and savor each Real Mail moment! Truly, the mailbox is the museum. Thank you for sending the world to my door.

A Happy Little Card

I managed to start this post months ago but never published it.
Not exactly a valentine, but here's a little bit of cheer on a blustery evening.

Created especially for Emma

I still have a few more purchased valentines I hope to send. I can't decide if I will write them tonight or just curl up with one of the books from my ever-growing pile.

I just received two unexpected gifts of books by post, and I really want to read at least bits of them before I respond to the generous senders. These books are the sort to be savored...PJs, a warm blanket, a cup of tea; this sounds like the way to go. It's a good night to be cozy!