26 Boxes, an Envelope &

15, Carien, yes!

25 please

Ah, Yvonne, together we have created a complication. This is very pleasing to me.

? Is it about the message in my inbox?

Yes, Yvonne; or rather, it is the timing of your request for 25!

We Speak Yellow has been received. So, the boxes are in play. Something has happened.

Sign me up for Box 21, magnify.

I've sent 21 out this morning, Carmela. But you can have it too! :-)

I have declared a first position. Full update on the 5ft Storyhouse blog where I am documenting the process:

Delivery has been taken

I have received a parcel of sunsent mail :) and checked out the first dancemoves on th 5ft Storyhouse!

Oh yippee, Francis; wishing you lots of bop, pop, and chasse on this grey sun-day.

Twelve boxes have been received. Some are stuck in Germany or maybe on a boat. Another is still with me, wavering. And the first two - they're going nowhere.

A rambunctious jack-in-the-box! You'll probably go wherever you want! I'll send you Box 11, Robin, Poeme.

Poeme is the last one I'm sending out. Anyone who hasn't requested a box - and who hasn't received a surprise one (though some are still in transit) - please feel free to contact me and I'll see what I can do. Or, just pick your own box number, and mail me something (if you want).

Today, the last box went out and the first two responses came in. Thank you, Carmela Rizzuto for your first contribution for Box 18, and to NSB (not IUOMA) for Box 12.  I have raised my arms together, but now I have lowered them because they will get heavy and I have to

Sent 'herbal 15' today.

Thanks, Carien :)

So far, I have received a shoe and a box. I tried to put the shoe in the box but it didn't fit. But, I was trying to put the wrong box on the shoe. Then I paused

Herbal 15; thank you Carien van Hest.

Blog update: Herbal 15

I sincerely thank You for your trust in me! I got the twenty-second box. Unfortunately, I don't understand the rules of collaboration. Please provide me with step-by-step instructions on what I need to do.

Thank you Lone Ant and Katerina Nikoltsou for your box mail. I have started playing. Updated it on my blog. Still only showing fragments. I realised it's a masked ball. https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/02/04/26-threes/

Mel Anie's corresponse on my Herbal 15: (loved that little stamp bookie!)

Oh it arrived already, Carien; wonderful. So pleased you like die klein boekie. I am enjoying this dance very much. Thank you to everyone who is helping it along its way. I am twisting and turning; maybe I'm at a pivot point now? (PS.  I think you posted a photo? Haha, I still can't see them. Now I'm the one who is masked.)

#16 Blue me...butterflies, too! Thanks, Mel Anie!

Yours arrived already, Katerina! You're welcome, but goodness me, what has happened to these postal services? It can't make up its mind. But I like the way they are currently behaving for Greece and UK. And from your photo, Katerina, I don't remember sending a white square with a blue question mark (! hahahahaha).

Thank you, Susan Weisberg, for your contributions to Box 6. 

https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/26-hexed/

Thank you, Ilya, for your very fine contribution to Silver Forest. The link is to my ongoing  co-respon-dan-se to the envelope's exterior. https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/02/11/26-straight-lines/

Dear Mel Anie, I am very pleased with Your message. The Silver Forest that was sent to You was made from advertisements that I bought at an auction.

Thank you, Ilya, for that extra bit of information. I love the little bits of story that you add to your mail art once we receive it.

And the herbal dance continues. Thank you for your mail, MelAnie!

You're welcome, Carien, and it got to you fast! 

At this point, 14 boxes are back, and at least 5 of those have become ongoing correspondances.  It is invigorating fun. Thank you to all who are participating in what, so far, is a masked ball.

Thank you Katerina and Carmela for your co-responses that I received in the last couple of days. And thank you Jennifer for your World Book Day mailing! This dance is getting busy and it is definitely starting to twist and turn now.

Hoola. 

Latest update: https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/03/07/26-boxes-world-book-...

Awesome sauce from Francis Lamme: https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/03/10/26-boxes-awesome-sauce/

The Bath House envelope from Yvonne Kettner. https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/03/21/26-boxes-oyster/

And thank you Carien van Hest for continuing our Herbal 15 Dance. An advantage of being close neighbours is that we end up doing some kind of postal 'quickstep'. 

2nd half starts today. It's all organic and spontaneous so don't ask me what it looks like. But you can come and dance with me if you like.

3 boxes are currently in absentia: i.e. they may never come back.  If you would like to help fill one of these boxes, please send me mail before 28 June 2021.

The boxes are:

Number 10: Heaven is body

Number 11: Poeme

Number 20: Miracle

Other than this information, you have a la carte with how you want to play this. Documentation is online, there will be a physical spectacle, and any continued correspondence will be at my discretion, time and finances permitting. Sweet talk usually works with me.

I have an update regarding this project so I have sent a secret message to the members of this group.

I said I was going to take the masks off - and I haven't. I've broken my word but not the spell (that I never cast). The partygoers sent me lots of dresses and someone has arrived at the dance with a POEME - after pumpkin time.

So now it's shoe-fitting time. Thank you Cascadia Artpost for ton poeme.

And I'm going to figure out how to untangle all the threads that I knotted for the masks.

Glee (thanks to Cascadia Artpost)

https://5ftstoryhouse.wordpress.com/2021/04/08/26-boxes-2nd-half-op...

I am delighted to tell you that this project has received local arts funding so that I am able to put on a real live 'exhibition' within the next 18 months! 26 Boxes will go to the ball. Maybe the envelope & something else will too. Thank you to all who have participated so far. 

Congrats Mel Anie!

Thank you, Yvonne, it is very exciting now.

Wow, that's wonderful! Congratulations!

26 weeks after boxing day and 2 days before the end of this part of the project, I found a rabbit - and I'm going to follow it. 

The first part of this project has ended. Thank you to everyone who contributed to it. Your correspon-dancing has been marvellous and I am still spinning. I have mailed unique project assemblings to each of you (except, Box 21 went astray so that's been sent to somewhere else).  

Now, I am following the rabbit - because that's where this has led me. The website will continue to be updated - when relevant. I have secured some funding for an exhibition or performance.

Greetings Mel anie

Participating in the 26 Boxes project has been so exciting for me. I'm looking forward to receiving the next installment. Thank you again for your labor of love. Best wishes for the future of the project.

Hello Mel Anie,

The next step in the correspon--dance arrived on Tuesday. I will post soon--thank you!

Hi Carmela, It arrived on a Tuesday! Woohoo! Tuesday is Melanie's Ruby day. ;)

I look forward to anything you are posting in this next step-phase. Your multi-layered correspondancing has been greatly enjoyed and appreciated by me. Thank you.

Hi Mel Anie.

I digress a little from the site and the project, and now I see that things are going fast and you have achieved impressive success! If box number 22 comes to me, I will be happy. What's my next step? What should I do?

Hello Ilya, thank you, and digressions are most welcome in this dance: they add a lovely rhythm! I often digress too. Box 22 is back on its way to you. This time, I have provided even fewer instructions than the first time. But, once you receive it, if you still feel inclined to seek a step-by-step progression, please do contact me. I am already in discussions with theatrical artistes to organise what I have already received from everybody into the shape of a real live dance as well as a physical 'exhibition' of all the artefacts received. Fingers crossed. Thank you very much for your poetic contributions that you already sent in cor-response.

Hello, Mel Anie.

I got it. Thank you!