One Year Under My Belt...

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

FROM MY BLOG: https://mailartbyjayne.weebly.com/blog/one-year-under-my-belt

So over breakfast today I happened to mention to my hubby, "You know, two days ago (February 22) was the one year anniversary of my involvement with mail art!" After a moment Ed said, "Ahhh...so I guess you earned your union card!" We both chuckled at that.

Anyway...one year under my belt doesn't get me a union card - nor does it get me a blue ribbon, a pat on the back or an atta girl. What I do get though, is far more valuable. Over the twelve months I have made many new friends across the miles. For the most part, the people I've connected with (via the mail, IUOMA-ning and Facebook) have the same wacky and witty sense of humor as me. It certainly makes things fun!

I have come to realize that a number of mail art folks are very talented artists, and some are downright brilliant. The talented artists have inspired me to try new techniques, and to think outside the box. The brainy artists have shared their knowledge of the Eternal Network, and have giving me a great deal to think about. (Those who are both talented and brilliant?? fuhgettaboutit!! - they just blow my mind!) 

Early on I was all about the envelope art, and sending lengthy notes. As I joined various groups and started interacting with others, I discovered that m-a was much more than that. My vocabulary now includes: fluxus, dada, asemics, vispo, pataphysics, etc. Not to say I fully grasp these things...but I'm getting there.

What I've learned this past year is just the tip of the iceberg.

Anyway...

Here is how my first year panned out:

• 130 pieces of mail received in 2018
• 54 pieces of mail sent in 2018 (fyi - 46 pieces outgoing ytd '19)
• Participated in the 2018 Barfa Spewart Tacky Gift Exchange (Rudolph the Redneck Reindeer)
• Sent two different submissions to STAMPZINE (issue #14, and the upcoming #20)
• Started a m-a blog in August 2018 
• Created and circulated eight unique add & passes
• Created  and circulated a type of fluxus buck - SCAM CLAMS
• Created and circulated a few a&p books
• Created and circulated a couple of deco books
• Purchased mail art books by Welsh, Felter, Janssen - the Ray Johnson interviews book - and an art book by Jon Foster
• Got a post office box, and started using THE LYONS' DEN in my mailing address
• Participated in the iHanner Post Card Swap
• Actively involved in a&p's and decos
• A couple of asemic pieces / collabs
• I received an egghead rubber stamp from the great Ed Giecek

Well...you get the idea! I hope I didn't bore you with all of this, but just thought I'd jot down some of this before I forget. I don't expect to make this a yearly post. I'll probably wait until I'm ten years in before I post something similar.

Thanks friends! See you in the mail!!

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

Thank you, Carolyn! You are so kind!