Mary Anne's Blog (31)

I have had a sudden windfall - an embarrassment of riches from the  Postmaster General of Cascadia - enough to warrant a whole blog though I will only post a few images, partly because I am sure most of the stamps and cards will have already been noted and partly because I would rather be away from this infernal machine and busy on more mail.

First, I will post the envelopes because I think most stamp designers (or other mail artists too I dare say) have an interest in seeing how…

stamps from Mark Valentine and Thom Courcelle.

Bruce Grenville sent so many sheets, stamps, first day covers, announcements of issues and heaven knows what else that I don't realy know where to start.  Mark Valentine sent an explanation in a booklet.  I may soon need a bigger suitcase!…

Sorting through the pile of welcome mailart, I find several clusters of artistamps, and it occurs to me that this might be a good time to introduce my Artistamp Projection.

Some years ago, a chum gave me an old spring-back stamp album and I decided to use it for all the artistamps I had accumulated.  the idea (I call it a projection because it is part art project and part stamp collection) now lives in a small suitcase and includes four albums, stockbooks, bundles of envelopes,…

Several years ago I started a little project for no real reason except the fun of it, then I became ill and it got put by.  Luckily it had not been very popular but I have felt guilty about not having finished things off and sent the promised documentation.

Well, being more or less back now I decided that my first job was to bring the project to some sort of end.  this time round I have had more interest and it seems that, now I have the required ten stamps, I can get on with my part…

I'm certain that every one involved with this eternal network has their own way of doing things; that is one of the great joys of the thing. 

I have been busy for the last month doing acres (so it seems) of collage and dozens of envelopes so incoming mail has been largely put by until a more auspicious time.  Today was the day and I have just spent a delightful hour as a sort of island in a sea of post!  Wonder after wonder; generosity piled upon generosity! 

My September is…

Just returned from this week's traumatic trip to the Post Office.

There seems to always be a tussle between me and some of the staff about stamps and such. As soon as the cost of postage reaches a certain level, they use a label instead of stamps. Even though the Royal Mail churns out dozens of expensive new stamps, month after month, the post offices never use them, so I have to watch as my poor attempts at a decorative envelope is thoroughly disfigured.

Some do try their best…

I've been working hard on a new collage.  I covered a sheet of paper with random pieces of magazine, no real thought, just following the fancy.  I had three copies of the same issue of a supermarket give-away and, for some reason that I will probably never fully understand, a picture of a humble bath-brush caught both my eye and imagination.  I tore them out, halved each in a different way, then added them to the work in hand; and that was as far as it went.  The muse left me and my creation…

Does anyone else remember Rudd's search for new Fluxus words or the great Zalop! project?

I came across this advert. today and it reminded me . . .

https://youtu.be/kC03xAtk1DA

https://youtu.be/RHBw6VwY3Io

Tarraa ta ta tarraaah!  here goes nothing though I should say at first that I am not much in love with computers and only take to them as a last resort.  To me they are like saws or alarm clocks; merely a convenient tool.  Not that cutting something in half - or being on time - is without its pleasures but a blunt tooth or missed appointment will hardly ruin a life.

It has been a sunny morning and I have been multi-tasking (again) which is to say that I have been waiting for the…

 . . . so I am thinking, Ooh, Blog post, I can keep a journal about what I am up to and all the hows and whys and rambling thoughts but then I look about and see that most people seem to use it only as a 'thank-you card' for what they have received so I am thinking should I bother? Would anyone read it and would it be worth the effort and can I spare the time?  I could restrict the readership I suppose and run on silent mode so to speak but I ask again, why bother?  Perhaps I shall wait and…