Thom Courcelle's Blog (204)

First Exchange with IUOMA Member and Friend Robert Gregory

Robert hails from Kirkland, Washington—just a bridge drive across Lake Washington from where I used to live in Seattle. I'm always happy to correspond with folks from my former Pacific Northwest home, to hear news from the old "neighborhood."

You can compare Robert's "sent"  envelope here [link] ...with the envelope that I received at my home in Vermont after its long…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 10:33pm — No Comments

Adam Roussopoulos Scores Again with Winning Artistampery

In a rubber stamped envelope, which also, somehow, never fails to entertain...

One of the more creative of Adam's artistamp sheets is based on lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel...…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 10:09pm — 2 Comments

The Gift...from Awyn

A beautiful painted scene...

The essence of gratitude...the perfect prayer for any occasion.…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 9:46pm — 1 Comment

Carien van Hest Must be Working for the Tourism Bureau in The Netherlands!

Carien created this LARGE hand-made envelope with an Amsterdam scene so vibrant one might just leap right into the picture! The paper is quite thick and glossy...perhaps a repurposed book jacket from a coffee table book...

I can imagine riding my bicycle across one of Amsterdam's bridges or lounging on one of the passenger barges as it floats through…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 9:38pm — 1 Comment

An Avalanche of Art Stuff from Non-Local Variable (Including Survey Results!)

Not one, but TWO envelopes of goodies arriving from Oregon... one of which included survey results from the Mail Art Continuum Project—something I had been anxious to hear about...

One…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 9:22pm — No Comments

My Ticket to MailArt Bliss—from Hélène LaGache

Hélène sent an envelope with artworks that struck a blissful chord near my heart...

Inside is a collage that looks nothing if not like a travelers ticket...with its partial map of Bordeaux (?) sitting beside a blue azure sea, and a new imaginary train track route that will take me on an exotic and scenic ride through mystical terrain not even…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 10, 2024 at 8:45pm — No Comments

An Apex of Picturesque Postal Card Pleasantries

MailArt postal cards arrived from (clockwise from top): David Stafford of New Mexico, USA; David Stanley Aponte of New Jersey, USA; Susan Gnaedinger of Illinois, USA; and Stripygoose of England...

Your correspondence and artwork is appreciated!  Thanks to…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on February 9, 2024 at 5:22pm — 4 Comments

Counterfeit Stamp Scheme Nearly Derails a Vermont Nonprofit's Fundraising Campaign

This article appeared in Vermont's Alternative Newspaper Weekly, Seven Days, and I immediately felt it was appropriate news for the IUOMA community (particularly in the United States, where a majority of this scamming appears to be taking place).  I have, myself, actually come across these "discount" postage stamp websites that claim that they can sell postage stamps at a reduced rate (up to HALF-OFF!) because they purchase stamps in bulk. …

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 15, 2024 at 5:47pm — 1 Comment

A 'Zine for a 'Zine—The Brilliant Stamp Art of William Mellott in a Mini-Zine

I recently sent William a copy of the mini-zine I created called "FluxFish in the Year of the Rabbit," and he kindly countered with a mini-zine of his own, starring his amazing stamp artistry...…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 9:31pm — 2 Comments

Birthday Art "Polka" from Nancy Bell Scott

I celebrated another year around the Sun recently, and mailart pal Nancy Bell Scott honored the occasion with a most magnificent example of her artistry... She had actually sent me a personal electronic message with the image first...so it was a total surprise to receive the ACTUAL ARTWORK in the mail THE VERY NEXT DAY!!

Above is the image…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 9:07pm — 1 Comment

A Xanadu of eXcellent eXciting eXquisite eXpedited Postal eXpress from Dr. Zack

A recently received hand-made envelope from Dr. Zack revealed so many goodies that it felt like Santa had left me a MailArt Stocking stuffed with treasures!  They were even nicely gift-wrapped...

There…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 8:30pm — 3 Comments

Flowers and Kites—Earth and Air—from Debra Mulnick

A beautiful hand-folded envelope made of a luscious Baroque flower print paper, from Debra Mulnick...

...containing a Japanese block print that Debra has embellished and collaged with words to create a minimalist poem. A very nice personal note on the reverse.

Like Debra, I think that 2024 (a presidential election year…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 8:04pm — No Comments

A Little Devil Told Me The MailArt Revolution is ON!!

Here's the little devil (drawn by the hand of Jimmy Hackney)...

I love this graffito-like drawing with the young Basquiat gazing on!  ...The power of a few primary color pens can be amazing in the hands of a true artist!

I think this is my first exchange with Jimmy (aka "J.J. Hack").  And, I had already…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 7:51pm — 1 Comment

You Have to Wait Until Chapter 3 to Get to the Good Parts...

An excellent paint-and-Collage work by the amazing hand of Carien van Hest...

A closer view...

Thanks,…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 7:38pm — No Comments

Holiday Greetings Postcards from Stafford and Muchmore

Dave Stafford on the left, and Coco Muchmore on the right...

Added by Thom Courcelle on January 14, 2024 at 7:25pm — 2 Comments

Adam Roussopoulos Sends New Artistamps

Adam's commentary through his artistry and mastery of the Artistamp form is appreciated for its candor.  Some artists, I think, are afraid to say the thing that needs to be said in the face of global crises, but Adam isn't afraid to bring the crisis to our attention with alarming accuracy using popular contemporary imagery, bluntness, and a…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on December 12, 2023 at 6:55pm — 2 Comments

Anagrams for Miles from Rebecca Resinski

A very wonderful and pleasant surprise from artist Rebecca Resinski who sent a collage board postcard...

...and a super creative little folding boekie with anagrams the word "metamorphosis."   Who knew so much could be generated from that one little word??...…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on December 12, 2023 at 6:38pm — 1 Comment

Received from Katerina Nikoltsou—Holiday Wishes in a Unique Handmade Envelope

Beautiful handmade envelope and Greek postage stamps...

And some handmade up-cycled collage artistry in BLUE!! There's plenty of snow here in Vermont, Kat!  Just let me know if you want any sent your way!!  ;) …

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Added by Thom Courcelle on December 12, 2023 at 6:19pm — 1 Comment

Message in a Bottle from the Magnificent Mind of Kathy Barnett

Kathy recently sent a very attractive envelope with vintage bottle labels that hinted at the surprise inside...

Kathy is known for her creative "interactive" pieces, which often reveal her amazing sense of humor.

For instance, a gift of perfume or eau de toilette is always a classy present to gift someone. In the case of…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on November 29, 2023 at 5:02pm — No Comments

Goddesses Bestowing MailArt Gifts

Not one...but TWO Greek Goddesses descended upon my mail box to bestow blessings upon my household...

From Katerina Nikoltsou:

...And they brought some creative ephemera so that the blessed mailart cycle might continue...…

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Added by Thom Courcelle on November 24, 2023 at 4:22pm — 1 Comment

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