Art Mail Archive: Diane Keys

 25 May 2012 from Diane Keys, IUOMA

 June 2012 from Diane Keys, IUOMA

June 2012 from Diane Keys, IUOMA

"Jiffypop" June 2012 from Diane Keys, IUOMA

Art Mail Archive: Valentine Mark Herman

 From Valentine Mark Herman, IUOMA

 25 May 2012 from Valentine Mark Herman, IUOMA

 Slide Art and "Derlo" from Valentine Mark Herman, IUOMA

29 June 2012 from Valentine Mark Herman, IUOMA

Art Mail Archive: C.Z. Lovecraft

My current obsession is Artist Trading Cards or ATCs for short. I have C.Z. to thank (blame?) for this fun new distraction. ATCs are fabulous little pieces of art for sending through the mail, though many of mine are lumpy like my greeting cards. Speaking of greeting cards, ATCs are the perfect size (2.5 x 3.5 inches) to be the focal point on a larger card. C.Z. sends great packets of collage bits, postcards, and ATCs in interesting envelopes. Thank you for your inspiration C.Z.!

 ATCs from C.Z. Lovecraft page 1

 ATCs from C.Z. Lovecraft page 2

ATCs from C.Z. Lovecraft page 3

 

ATC Buddy Jams with C.Z. Lovecraft page 1

Art Mail Archive: An Introduction

As I was sorting my mail art and letters recently, trying to work out a more organized and expandable storage system, I was also reviewing in my head the basic Rules of Mail Art (as described in Good Mail Day.)

1. Every piece receives some sort of acknowledgement. check

2. No money exchanged. check

3. No returns. check

4. Give as good as you get. check

5. Documentation to all. hmmm...

Or the short and sweet version seen on most mail art calls: 

"No rejections, no returns, documentation to all."

 21 November 2010 from Jennie Hinchcliff

Yes, let's face it, I do a horrible job of posting the mail art I receive here on my blog. I want to, I really do. Time (or lack thereof) is my main excuse. I receive beautiful, unusual, and fascinating items in my mailbox, and since I have a blog, I feel I should utilize it to recognize the senders and share their creations.

So, while I figure out how I can best to do that on a regular basis, I'm going to post my Art Mail Archive over the next few weeks. In no particular order, it will showcase correspondences both past and present, once-and-done and ongoing. I want to thank everyone for their patience, contributions, and continued inspiration. 

I hope you will enjoy this little mail art retrospective, as I have enjoyed revisiting the wonderful art I have received and remembering the people I've met through the mail as part of this Eternal Network.

Found: Heritage Press Museum

I was lucky to have a rare morning all to myself today, and I took the opportunity to run a few errands without help. Afterward, I decided to head Downtown to enjoy two of my favorite Queen Street shops, Creative Reuse and Mommalicious. I shop at the first and window-shop at the latter!

While walking from one to the other, I passed the Heritage Press Museum. I only recently learned of their existence through an article in the local paper. After visiting both my intended destinations, I determined I would have a bit more solo adventure before retrieving the baby for naptime.

 (I first saw this text on Felt & Wire, and I'm thrilled to have my own copy to post in my workshop, printed in Lancaster!)

I dropped in the Museum and was welcomed by Mike and Bill, two members of the .918 Club. With limited space in the small storefront, they currently have two presses in use. An expansion planned for the fall will allow them to set up and use additional presses from their collection. They provided me with my own private tour, including the history of printing and demonstrations. Fascinated as I am with paper and type, I learned quite a bit.

(Yup, I printed this one. It will make a great postcard!)

I even got to try my hand at printing before I had to say good-bye. I hope to visit again soon; perhaps I can convince my dad it is time for another artists' date. I look forward to attending printing workshops with the .918 Club in the future. If you find yourself in Lancaster this summer, visit the Heritage Press Museum, and tell them the tall letter-writing lady sent you!

Thrift: Ritz Cracker Box Envelope

 Most cardboard packages make good postcards, 

but this one cries out to be a cover. 

With a slogan like Open for fun, there should definitely be an envelope template printed on the inside of the box. 

I can't be the only one who thinks so, can I?

Now it's peeking at me!

(I don't play with my food, just the packaging.)

In Writing: Bunny Mail

I have enjoyed stories by Rosemary Wells since before I could read them myself. Growing up, it became a tradition to listen to Timothy Goes to School the night before the first day for school. 

We already have Morris's Disappearing Bag and Bunny Cakes in our home library, so I was thrilled to discover Bunny Mail (2004) to share with my little one.

 

"Max really wants a bright red motorcycle just like the one Wilma Warthog has. So he decides to write a letter asking for one. Unfortunately, the postman can't make heads or tails of it. Can Grandma decipher Max's letters and help make his wish come true? 

With flaps to open and letters to read, this heartwarming story will strike a chord with every young child who's ever struggled to get his message across."

This one happens to be a Christmas in July sort of story, but more importantly in my house, Max and Ruby are exchanging letters with their Grandma. My girls are playing mail tag with my mom this summer. My mom loves bunnies and Real Mail. In fact, she's the one who started sending me Real Mail when I was away at college and the name stuck. Thanks, Mom.