Toni Hanner -- tonipoet's Blog – April 2016 Archive (46)

You folks who know about postage stamps and first day covers and all that stuff, I think I made a horrible faux pas by opening the cellophane envelope that this really nice PC from Finnbadger came in. It was actually postmarked on the cellophane, even though the postage (Fire Monkey) was inside. I have a feeling this was a boo-boo, philatelically speaking.

Anyway, I kept the cellophane and so maybe all is not lost. And I LOVE the monkey!

Finnbadger also sent a…

So happy Mars Tokyo has returned from oral surgery Hell! Here is a big beautiful PC she sent me, vintage lingerie with great old postage stamps at the four corners. Welcome back Mars!…

Sheri makes wonderful ATC's -- she sent me two pairs, themed to go together. One set has the theme of time rushing by and how we are sort of stuck with the life we have, sometimes without seeming to have had much choice. Very poignant, especially the lady's face under the watch face on the "Time" card. That's real fabric with the fringe--it lends a very strong textural element and is exactly the right color and it looks old--just great. The other set is really sweet -- the bird one has a…

Received this wild PC from Amy -- it's got everything: sexy women (at least parts of them), big carnations with huge eyes, paint, paper, spots, and some interesting asemic writing at the bottom. Whew! The amazing thing is that all this made it through the PO, I think undamaged. Thanks Amy!…

Grace makes the most beautiful rubber stamps I've ever seen -- I totally love the triangular one on the back of the envelope that looks like a mystical symbol and indeed it is -- it says Mail Art! And inside was a lovely handprinted card and inside of that was my piece of a Trio Jam that I started, Mail Art Martha and Grace both added. It's one of my very favorites and makes me smile every time I see it on my bulletin board!…

My first Mail Art from Tic Tac -- and it's ARTISTAMPS! Of Cows! With Banana Horns! I can't tell you how Moooooch I Loooooove these ladies. I assume any cows as pretty as these are lady cows.

And she sends me a photo of the cows when they're relaxing, not posing for Artistamps with Banana Horns.

Thank you Tic Tac! Oh, and the envelope is pretty…

Tina is doing the 365 Postcard thing--and if I were doing that it would be pretty slapdash, but look at this! A beautiful altered postcard with, on the other side, fabulous hand made art with a tiny envelope attached. The envelope was so pretty I didn't want to open it but she said I should, so I very carefully peeled back the stuck flap and inside was a tiny copy of a Thomas Lux poem which PERFECTLY fits the front of the postcard. Amazing!  Thank you so much Tina. This will be a favorite of…

Here, belatedly, are some pics of the truly In Seine Banana Mail Dean sent me. These were tastefully packaged in battered celophane and staples. I'm afraid opening the mail pretty much destroyed the "envelope" but fortunately the contents were protected! Now I don't have to worry about my next Halloween costume, that is if I can just figure out a way to make this thing smell a little less awful! Dean, this thing is hilarious -- reminds me of the kind of junk they used to sell on the backs of…

The circus is back in town with this wonderful bit of whimsey from Kathy Barnett. The Man is big, about a foot tall, and his legs and arms move! He's going to live on the fridge for a while, next to the two-headed skeleton she sent earlier. The tent envelope is quite nice, too!…

MomKat's banana mail arrived right on time (early, actually, but I waited). My favorite part is the Banana Phone stamp! Now THAT'S absurd. (although my father gave me a telephone in the shape of a duck once). If I still had it I'd send it to one of you!…

I finally found out what these Minions are all about (thank god for Wikipedia) and now I'm going to watch the movie! Finnbadger sent me a paper towel with Stuart, Kevin, and half of Bob. I LOVE it! Even though it's a "Bounty" paper towel, it's never going to be a "quick picker-upper" in my house!

Very nice BananananananananaBatman envelope with matching stamp, too! …

I think this is my first piece by Helle, and I hope it won't be my last! I really love it. I hate to keep harping on "layers" but I guess that technique must be a favorite of mine because this just blows me away. So much to look at in this small piece. So colorful! There are representational "things" to rest your eye on, such as the bird, and then all the lovely chaos! Thanks Helle. Also I like the sort of 'poofiness' of the object. I don't know if the canvas came that way or if Helle…

Stripygoose's Banana Bird is so wonderful--what can you say other than it makes me smile! And the envelope has some very nice subtle banana work as well. Thanks Stripy!…

I just love the layered abstractions in this PC. It makes you peer into it as if you could see what was beneath the alterations, and then draw your focus back to what Terry's done because it's so cool! Thanks Terry, fellow Oregonian!

These artistamps are just amazing--Dada indadadeedee! I love them. Thanks Jay!

OMG Look at this banana! With quotes by Browning all over it! So clever! …

Clare, who calls herself etc etc here on IUOMA, made this beautiful feathery bookmark for me! Her envelope is quite nice as well. Rich red color -- I might have to appropriate that paper....…

MAM sent me this wonderful bunch of stuff -- first an envelope with her terrific snail and bunny stamps. Then inside a lovely copy of a piece she sold for charity -- I can understand why someone bought it, it's really nice, both in artistic merit and in the thoughts expressed. AND an adorable little puppy ATC -- I hope that is your doggie, Martha. AND "Rites of Spring!" another great bunny, running fast!

AND a buddy jam to play with! Whew! Thank you so much Martha--I love the warm…

William's envelopes are so delightful. Taiwan has the coolest postage stamps! And I am definitely going to peel off that Petit Skull Washi tape and save it. And inside this one were a bunch of ATC's -- a finished Buddy Jam, a quad jam for me to work on, and this sweet "Too Little Time" card which I so totally identify with! 

This PC arrived after a long trip, possibly to the Azores, and I love it -- the so-poignant story of Ken and Lonny. and on the other side, this poor kid's…

I sent Linda a cheapie little set of sparkly paints and in exchange she sent me a humongous bunch of gorgeous paper, and now, this little ATC made with said cheapie sparkly paints. I think it's lovely. And, she sent MORE gorgeous paper! …