Mail and Moomin: Places to find peace

Hey there everybody! 

I've been upset and angry at developments from the White House these days, and though I'm trying to keep up with everything that's going on, I also need to step back and find peace and enjoyment in life to keep my head and not get bogged down or hopeless.

 For me, making mail is part of that peace.

In January I kept making snowy wintry mail, which in some ways feels unseasonal. It's like, Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring!

We did have some really unseasonably warm days here too. On the day of the Women's March (we had 5,000 people show up in our town!) it was like 60 degrees!

But it's gotten cold again, and there were flurries on and off all day yesterday. I'm really rather grateful for it, as the mud was getting intolerable. We had to put Hubble in the bath to wash off his paws every time he had to go outside. 

 So I've kept on with winter, sending the last of my beautiful quilt cards that I love so much, and using snowy scenes from all the children's book dust jackets that my library was giving away.

Here's a fun Christmas gift from my sister-in-law:

 A handmade solar system coffee coozy! I love it!

And here's that monstrous pup:

 He was sleeping like this, I don't know how he kept his legs that straight while asleep. 

And bar art from trivia night:

And another place I'm finding peace and happiness these days: Moomins!

 

I'd heard of Moomins before but had never read a book until now. I am two chapters in and I just love it so much. It's like a Scandinavian Winnie the Pooh. It's funny and cute and peaceful and a little bit weird.

I highly recommend it!

Getting back to drawing

Yesterday I had a very fruitful internet dally... I'm going to lift a few lines off of something Tara over at dactyl life posted yesterday:

"I've been really into sending quality mail lately. It's super easy to stray away from packing an envelope full of random paper bits, weird stickers, zines and other oddities. I find that the more things I stuff into an envelope, the more I fall in love with sending mail." 

There certainly is a thrill in getting an envelope packed with bits and pieces.

I know the feeling Tara is talking about. I enjoy sending out any mail, but I feel sometimes like I'm not giving it what I could.  Like I'm stuck in the routine of making an envelope out of some page of a book, adding a label, some washi tape and a stamp and I'm done.* I sometimes feel like washi tape is a crutch.

There was a time when I would sketch on my mail frequently. I miss drawing.

Drawing makes me feel at peace when I'm doing it, and filled with accomplishment and pride when I'm finished.

With more time on my hands now that it's summer I've been wanting to get back to drawing, but just wasn't managing to get out the materials and get on it.

Yesterday I found a lovely trail of inspiration: 

Mary England of Uncustomary Art posted on facebook about this self love bible by Caylee Grey. And that linked to Mary's self love bible. And that linked to Marielle's self love bible.

I explored her blog a bit and found this:

Illustrate your love history

"The challenge: Every day, illustrate an experience you've shared with a loved one."

This idea excited me so much! It was just the impetus I needed to get out my watercolors and start sketching.

I made this this morning:

I'm really happy with how it turned out. Yes the line drawing is a little wonky, but I always find that when you add watercolors things just magically become cute.

I'm really looking forward to continuing with this series. It has a very social aspect to it that I like a lot. I personally am drawn to artwork (get it? heh heh) that is social- mail art being a very important part!

These sketches are in a notebook, but I'm also looking forward to starting to sketch and watercolor more on my mailart.


*Also I want to say that in my words above, I am not disparaging anyone's letters, envelopes or mailart. All mail is good mail!! I just missed drawing and have felt like I'm in a mail art rut of sameness.  :-)

Hubble Hump Day!

My big lump of a dog

Hubble Hump Day

It's Hubble Hump Day again!
Or should I just call it Humple Day?

Here's an adorable pic of the pup with our kitty, Ms. Bea.

They vie for sun spots in the house.

Hubble Hump Day

Possibly the start of a new tradition on the blog: 

Hubble Hump Day

It's half-way through the work week! 

Could there be a better time to share a ridiculous photo of my dog?

 He's kind of a monster.

My Saturday

dogsitting Madison

Just call me the Pie Master

Blackberry cheesecake pie- using The Brown Eyed Baker's recipe for Blueberry cheesecake pie

 

 nom nom nom

When I saw blackberries on sale for $1 for 6 oz. I knew I had to make some delicious pie thing.

I had a piece for breakfast this morning- before I even drank my coffee... and I never eat anything before I drink my coffee. I just wanted it so much.

Plans for today : grading tests, wedding invitation stuff, going to the gym, make yams & ? for dinner

time for joy and time for cheer

 Christmas, Christmas time is here! (or past)

I've had the Chipmunks Christmas song stuck in my head for a while now and I learned that my fiancé hates it! Not like I think it's the greatest song, but I'm attached to it from childhood.

In any case, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Anyway, I thought I'd take some mail photos with my fir tree candle as a prop. It smells so wonderful!

 Received from Taradactyl

 sent to Taradactyl

 two outgoing Xmas postcards- made from a box of green Christmas lights I got at Goodwill, sticker selvage, washi tape and a couple old stamps.

and Christmas puppy gets a treat!

We've been traveling for the holidays and this is my mailart travel pack.

Inside are : stamps, gluestick, scissors, red and green markers, pens, address book, address labels, Xmas washi tapes, a box of assorted holiday cards, and a big batch of mail to respond to!

I really love the gingerbread house stamps this year!

Oh! For Christmas one of my gifts was the Harry Potter stamps!!

I wish that instead of stills from the movie the USPS had chosen to use illustrations, but maybe it only happened because of the movie tie-in. Anyway, they are still really fun and I'm so glad I have some!

Recently...

 I made a key lime pie to celebrate the end of summer,

 I received my first definitely autumn themed mail,

and other pretty mail as well, (I LOVE the Mary Cassatt stamp!)

 and I've been enjoying the company of my snuggle loving pup.

"Each bird keeps singing his own song"

I'm listening to the song "It's a beautiful morning" by the Rascals....


Some Hubble/Ms. Bea photos.  :-D

I am so so so happy that they are cuddling sometimes!
 

Other times, it's chasing and swatting and spitting, but we are making progress.
 

 

And now for some mail.

Received from Limner

Such cute correspondence cards. They remind me of Moby Dick.
 

A lovely letter and lovely stamps from Rusty.  This is a Missive Maven card and I just love it! Great quality, bright colors and such a great image.

 

 

Sent Mail

 A very cute postcard I've had for a while. The back is blank and where you write the message.

And finally, an awesome fortune!

I put it on my fridge. :-D

More incoming Christmas mail

I love these old fashioned looking cards.

This card was sent to me by a dear friend. It's an illustration from a set of children's books that she got me into. Can anyone guess what books?  First person to get it right gets a Valentine from me!

Becky sent me this card saying that I look like someone who enjoyed glitter. :D I certainly do!

one of the Missive Maven's designs

 

A couple days ago I had a few friends over to make Valentines. I taught them how to make envelopes, we had cupcakes, tacos, and pink cocktails and wine!

I only took one photo while it was going on, just of the mess we made on the table. I'll be sharing that and some of the Valentines I made soon. 

Also, my friend Caitlin made a gif on her blog of Hubble, my puppy! It's pretty cute, even if I do say so myself.