I Am The Urban Spaceman, Baby...

"I see Earth! It is so beautiful! "
-Yuri Gagarin, Cosmonaut



This month marked the 50th anniversary of the first man in space; him being Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who completed one rotation of the Earth in his Vostok spacecraft on April 12,1961.



14 artists from The IUOMA (International Union of Mail Artists) Postal History Boutique group created a special mailing to mark this historic event at the suggestion of one of it's members. There are still one or two cards to come, but April isn't over yet.

Over and out, Space Cadets!



Follow this link for film footage of this historic event:

http://m.boingboing.net/2011/04/12/video-footage-of-yur.html

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Doctor, Set The Way-back Machine For..."

1979. Or maybe 1980.
Tom Baker was still the Doctor. His companion was the very capable Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen) and "Doctor Who" was on TVOntario hosted by Science-Fiction writer Judith Merril (who I once had the privilege of being stuck in an elevator with.). The series was always a year or 2 behind what was being shown in the UK and the internet did not exist in the capacity as it does today (Feeling old yet?).



On my most recent move, I had rediscovered a pile of these fanzines in a box. I had made them with my brother and a group of like minded friends. We were all very young at the time; barely in our teens.

There were 4 issues created (although issue 3 is missing; hopefully to be found in another box somewhere), all painstakingly typewritten and Letrasetted. All, with the exception of #4, were photocopied and then hand-stapled. I even found a "fan-letter" that was written stuck in-between one of them. I sat back and flipped through them delighting in the enthusiasm that dripped from every page. Not great writing but heartfelt for something we cared about and took seriously at the time.

For me, I think I have just re-opened the Pandorica.




Addendum: I found I couldn't post this blog without mentioning how saddened I was about the passing of Elisabeth Sladen last week. She wrote the book for every one of the Doctor's companions who came after her and will be missed.

When Mail Goes Astray...

I received this lovely package back after it's 'round the world tour, courtesy of the Royal Mail. It was sent off to a mail call way back in February. As it never arrived at it's destination and had missed the deadline (I knew this, as the person who was running the Mail Call had kindly been in touch and was keeping me informed by email, of course!), I just resigned it to the Lost Mail Fates.

As you can see, it arrived home safely yesterday with some lovely new stickers ("no such address"). Upon closer inspection, I had indeed forgotten to write a number in the postal code portion of the address.

I guess the saying "measure twice, cut once" goes for sending mail as well.

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50th Anniversary of The First Man In Space

By the way, today marks the 50th Anniversary of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. Now that the "blackout" has been officially lifted by "mission control", I will now post these lovelies that I have received. Feast your eyes, folks, on this one by Carla:



More to come...

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I Do Like Surprises...

I definitely thought this day was going to be a total write off this morning when I found myself in the Pediatrician's office with the Boychild, who woke up with a sore throat. Fortunately, the day has gone rather more smoothly than expected due to the mail arriving with this lovely mail-art postcard from "Thom" of the "rainy Pacific Northwest":



It's amazing how something so simple can lift ones spirits.

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Mystery Mail.

After 2 days of just junk mail being delivered to me, I finally got a very cool piece of mail from a mystery someone, who is part of 50th Anniversary of the First Man in Space group mailing (or the "Spaced Out" mailing as I like to call it.). I know I said we were on a "blackout" on this one until April 13th, but a small taste of one of piece of work I've received couldn't really be too harmful, especially since it is mystery mail. And, it was too good to keep to myself. Sooo, here it is;



Notice, it's marked as non-machinable, which makes me wonder if it was hand cancelled? It's all a mystery.


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Listen To The Mail

Yesterday was truly a mail-art extravaganza as I received 4 pieces of excellent mail. Unfortunately, I can only share 2 of them due to The Postal History Boutique's "Space" mailer "blackout", which will be lifted April 13th. So, you'll just have to wait until then, but I promise, it will be worth it.
Onward.

From Lin:





And, a thank you postcard from Nikki who writes the blog "For The Love Of Cats~~Mail Art":





By the way, the "This Better Not Go in The Trash" stamp was on the back of Lin's card.
Wouldn't dare!
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