Mail-art and Postcards and Letters, Oh My!

I admit, I am hooked on receiving mail.

About 10 months ago, I joined an online group called "Postcrossing". The idea behind this is very simple. You sign up; then request to send a postcard to a random address that you are given somewhere in this big, ol' world. When it arrives at the said address, the receiver of the card registers it and then you receive a postcard in turn from someone else, but not necessarily the person you sent your card to. Being one who loves surprises, this really appealed to me and I found myself sending a postcard or two (or three) a week to someone in the world who I knew through a random address given to me and their profile page, when I requested it.
And, the best part, is that I would receive postcards in return. Really great postcards. With messages. Messages telling me about what was on front of the card; about the day they were having or a book they might be currently reading. And, great stamps. But, to be honest, I started looking for something more ( I still "Postcross", by the way.).

My next foray was when I had joined a pen-pal group on Steampunk Empire, where one would write letters in their "Steampunk Persona". It was quite the creative writing challenge, which I had enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, it was short lived as I can imagine it became more work then most who had joined realized. Pity.

Back in December, I was fortunate enough to find a link to the International Union of Mail-Artists site through the Ning network. I had read "Good Mail Day" (by Jennie Hinchcliff & Carolee Wheeler; an inspiration and epiphany for me.) and I had done some mail art in the past ( Many years before social networks were popular; I had been "invited" to participate on a few occasions.), so I had some inkling what it entailed; you need to send mail to get mail. So, I signed myself up and started sending handmade collaged postcards to anyone who "friended" me. I have sent off things to "mail calls" and have done group "mailers" (I have never received so many great Valentines in my life!). I must send out, on average, 5 to 10 pieces of mail and postcards a week (between that and Postcrossing, which I still enjoy.). Sometimes more (my mail out last week was 14 cards and then some.) The postal person at my local loves me.

But, don't get me wrong. The internet and social networking I will not knock. After all it has made the world smaller. But, receiving "snail-mail", to me anyway, still makes the world more human.




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Two Hands Good

It's amazing how much we use our non-dominant hands. Really.
Finally, after a bit more than a month off with tendinitis in my left hand, I can finally get back to the things I enjoy the most and will try guitar playing in the next week to see how that well goes. But what I was truly amazed at were all the little things I couldn't do because of it, like typing on my computer (sorry, one fingered typing does not cut it), opening a bottle or a jar, using a can opener (not electric), working on my assemblages and collages (a personal disaster I might add), cutting things with an exacto-knife or a kitchen knife (dangerous at the best of times), writing letters (hey, I still need one hand to hold the paper in place, right?), just to name a few things of which really require 2 mitts. Oh, and it was just irritating. Period.
But, that doesn't mean I didn't do anything. I continued my painting class (although making acrylic skins and transfers was a bit, mmm, difficult; fortunately my transfer mojo was working); I even got some mailart postcards/ATC's ready for a IUOMA mailer using my computer, a Wacom tablet and even one using an app on my IPhone (Really!) . So all was not a complete loss. As for my Artfire shop, you know, the one I had been blogging endlessly about? Well, the few items that were going to go in it actually sold (which is good), so I will need to make some more, but since it requires 2 good hands, they will just have to wait. But, I did eventually figure out an easier way to work out the shipping (also good).

So, there you have it. I didn't abandon you, my 10 (maybe 11) dear readers. I was just on a self imposed hiatus due to circumstance and that can sometimes be alright.


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