My Latest Highline Magazine Blog Post - The Art of Snail Mail: Making the Internet Obsolete

 Mail Art postcard I made for my husband, for our anniversary, 

using a vintage postcard of the Canadian Rockies, and rub-on letters

My latest post on the Highline Magazine Blog is about Mail Art. We recently enjoyed an evening of creating snail mail at Craft Cafe. Want to learn more about this global, collaborative, art making and sharing movement, please read the Highline post here.

Using an analog typewriter I typed out a love note to my hubby...

Mail Art Fun at Craft Cafe

Claire Wilkinson of the Banff Snail Mail Society

On Friday night, we were lucky enough to have Claire Wilkinson, of the Banff Snail Mail Society, at Craft Cafe. The first time I heard of Claire was at the Banff Public Library, a place I am quite fond of. When I walked in and read a poster saying that on Thursday nights I could make mail art, using vintage typewriters, I was sold. But, at the time, I had a wee one, and evenings were difficult for activities. Fast forward to this summer, when I started to talk with Claire at the Banff Community Greenhouse, where we both have a plot. By the end of the conversation, I had figured out who she was. I asked her about an upcoming workshop she was holding, and about some supplies I was looking for, and she sweetly wrote back to me via Etsy, where I have a shop. Ever since then, I have been wanting to invite her to Craft Cafe. I finally did and was thrilled when she said, "YES!"

Mail Art by Sheena Miller

Mail art started in the 1960s, and is simply visual art that goes through the postal system. Here is a brief history.

I plan to write a blog post for Highline Magazine about Claire's evening at Craft Cafe, so I won't spill the beans here. Just wanted to share a couple of photos. And to say how pleased I am that Claire generously provided a little maintenance for my little gem of a typewriter. She gave me a new ribbon for it, is reinking my old one, and taught me that I have a highly sought after machine. It is from 1949 and they sell for up to a $1,000 completely refurbished!! I won't part with mine. I am thrilled! I won't even say how little I paid for it... ok, $25!! Amazing...

My lovely little Royal...

My favourite key... thank goodness, I have shift freedom ;)

Ok, I will be sure to keep you "posted" about my Highline blog post from Craft Cafe. In the meantime, please leave me a comment if you like to create and send mail art. Would you please share some links to your work or to any info you would like to share about this movement...

Invite to the Next Show at the Whyte Museum... or What Do You Mean I Need to be in Three Places At Once

This happens to me frequently... I need to be two or three (or more) places at once. I try to avoid it, but it does happen. I just realized it has happened again for this Saturday. I KNEW I wanted to be in two places at the same time, but I thought the third thing was at a different time than the first two. Now, it would be nice if I just WANTED to be at all of these things, but I am actually REQUIRED to be at two of them. Let me explain...

Ferntebrae

Original Polaroid Transfer by Tiffany Teske

Ferns

Original Polaroid Transfer by Tiffany Teske

I have always wanted to have my work in a show at the highly esteemed Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Last year, I was selected to take part in their Kaleidoscope of Crafts, which was a two day Christmas Sale. My friend and fellow artist, Barb Fyvie, alerted me to a call for work they had a few months ago, but I didn't have anything that fit the theme. Then, recently, I received their call for submission for a show called Blossoms and Botanicals. Right up my alley... so I submitted 5 pieces, as requested, and they selected two, which is the max they selected from each artist. I was thrilled to get the call. I dropped off my work yesterday, and told them I would be at the opening...

... the opening that I JUST noticed, because I opened the show invite to forward it to my list, is from 1 - 4 PM on Saturday!! OH NO!!!! I thought it would be in the evening... NOOOOOOO!!! I REALLY want to be at the Whyte for the opening and they EXPECT me to be there. But, I can't be. Why you ask?

Because I am facilitating an ongoing project on Saturday, from 11 - 4 PM, for Banff Heritage Tourism as part of Banff Culture Days. It is called Personalized Paddles and I have been excited about it ever since, John Bowden, asked me to lead it. There are actually 5 dates that this will be taking place and I missed the first one when we were in Yellowknife. My wonderful friend, Cheryl Ello, filled in for me, and I can only hope that maybe Cheryl can fill in for me from say, 1 - 2 PM this Saturday...

What is the third thing? The non-required thing I also wanted to go to on Saturday is a cyanotype making/ mail art workshop in the Bison Courtyard by Sarah Fuller. I have been wanting to meet Sarah. My friend, Claire Wilkinson of the Banff Snail Mail Society, will also be part of the workshop. Cyanotypes, vintage typewriters, the Bison Courtyard.... NOOOOOO!! It is from 11 AM - 3 PM. Well, at least I can send my hubby and kiddos.

When was the last time you couldn't be in three places at once?

365 Days With Kiddos - #5 - Write a Letter and MAIL It

In the digital age, how often do you sit down to write a letter to someone via snail mail? I have a couple of friends who take the time to write me an occasional letter, but my grandmother writes to me a couple of times a week. We all know how much fun it is to open the mailbox and find a letter from someone we love. We toss aside the bills and junk mail to rip open the letter and to devour what it says. It seems to me that our kids are going to be a lot less likely to write and mail letters. Since I love all things paper, and all things heartfelt, sentimental, and handwritten, I find that to be a shame. So, I try to have my daughter "write" to my grandmother once a week, to learn about letter writing in a fun way. She is only 4 but she "writes" on postcards with gel pens, paints with watercolor, and makes cards out of her tempera paintings from her easel. My grandmother proudly displays these letters in her home, and shows them to her visitors. I like to think of my grandmother, who is almost 90, walking to the mail room in her building, putting her key in the lock, and opening the little mailbox door to find a brighly colored little treasure in her box. At 89 she is still thrilled to get a letter. After all, it means someone who loves you is not only thinking about you but they took the time, in our busy world, to let you know. That is important, and priceless. Don't you love the simple things in life? Why not sit down with your child and write a letter to someone you love. Then address is, go to the post office and buy some pretty stamps, and put it in the big mailbox. I assure you it will be worth the time and effort, and the person you write to may even write back...

Ideas for letter writing...
1) Pick up stationary, blank cards, and post cards for a steal at yard sales and thrift stores.
2) Make some cards...
3) If you child gets really into letter writing, or if you get back into it, why not splurge on some amazing cards, like the ones at made by orsis on Etsy.
4) If you like vintage stationary and you don't get your fill from tag sales, you can search Etsy, where I found these fun retro mushroom fold-a-notes.

5) Go to the library and check out the charming little book The Long, Long Letter by Elizabeth Spurr. For more mail, post, and letter related books check out this link for an extensive list.

As always, I welcome your ideas and comments...

365 Days With Kiddos - #1 - Your Child's Drawings and Paintings - Repurposing Them Into Cards, Stationary, & Envelopes

Happy Labour Day! It seems like a good day to start my 365 posts. Each post is an idea from our home to yours on ways you and your children can live a more creative life each day. These are all ideas we have used or regularly use in our home. Some are simple and require just a few minutes and some are more complex, requiring an afternoon or weekend. Most do not require purchasing special items but instead focus on activities that are little or no cost, often recycling or repurposing (upcycling) items you already have or can find at thrift stores and yard sales. I don't know which one is the best one to start with so I am just going to dive right in... To enrich each post with ideas and inspiration, please feel free to add your comments, links, and ideas.

Most children produce a plethora of drawings, paintings, and other 2-D visual art pieces. Home, school, and daycare, are just a few of the many places our kids make art, and our homes become filled with these amazing creations. Over the next few days I will give you my ideas on ways to view, store, and repurpose these works of art.

The simplest way to repurpose your child's art work is to make cards, stationary, and envelopes out of them. We keep a stack of Quin's art just for this purpose. When it is time to give a birthday card, to send a thank you card, or to write to my grandmother, we go to the pile and select a drawing or painting. For stationary we cut the painting or drawing down to a managable size and then cut out sheets using our rotary cutter (since I am unable to draw and cut a straight line to save my life!). If you prefer, you can always trace a template piece of stationary or use a straight edge to mark off the larger sheet to the smaller size you want, then cut it all out with a scissor. For cards, we cut out the part of the painting we want to be on the card, then fold. Voila! I often use stray envelopes that I have from old card and stationary sets, but we also make envelopes that match the cards. A great place for envelope templates is Mirkwood Designs. The templates are free to use and there are so many of them that just browsing is sure to inspire you to try other projects. Ruthann, of Mirkwood Designs, also has a blog. Friends and family will be happy to receive a personal card from your child. Have fun!

Thank You, My Friend!

Oh, Robyn! The Lovely Robyn has once again caught me completely off guard and sent me something wonderful and generous in the mail. She is so kind and I really owe her at this point. She, like me, is an inspiration junkie, which is actually the name of her blog. I didn't even have a name for what I was until I met her. We are like two peas in a pod in many ways, too bad she lives in Illinois, instead of right next door.

So, one day, I was reading Robyn's blog, or maybe I was in her Flickr, and I saw one of her works of mail art that struck a nerve right away. It is this piece you see here, "I Have Everything I Need". My daughter had this beautiful way of declaring, "We have everything we need", usually in a very practical way, as we are readying to walk out the door, but I also swear that sometimes, she is uttering it in a wise way, in the same way that Robyn's piece is meaning it. I told Robyn I loved this piece, and wanted to know how much it is. She never responded. I meant to keep checking to see if she listed it in her Etsy shop, and did once or twice, not there, but then, being a mom and all, kinda had it slip from my mind. Although, once, I did email her about it again. Anyway, last weekend, when my father was visiting, my daughter, grandpa, and I went to collect the mail. Q reached into our PO Box, and lo and behold, Robyn's card was there. Q was all excited about it, and held if for the blocks we walked to have tea and cookies at a local shop. I was sure to put it away in a safe place in my book bag as soon as I was able, since Q is about to turn three, and sometimes isn't all that gentle... but boy does she love your work, Robyn, she gets all excited when she gets to hold it. Thank you, thank you, my friend. With friends like you, we have everything we need...


PS I asked Robyn's permission to post this personal note above. I LOVE everything about snail mail, the personal thought, the handwriting, the postmark. Robyn wrote such a thoughtful note. The part about "making people" made me teary! Click on the image to make it larger...

Thank You, My Friend!

Oh, Robyn! The Lovely Robyn has once again caught me completely off guard and sent me something wonderful and generous in the mail. She is so kind and I really owe her at this point. She, like me, is an inspiration junkie, which is actually the name of her blog. I didn't even have a name for what I was until I met her. We are like two peas in a pod in many ways, too bad she lives in Illinois, instead of right next door.

So, one day, I was reading Robyn's blog, or maybe I was in her Flickr, and I saw one of her works of mail art that struck a nerve right away. It is this piece you see here, "I Have Everything I Need". My daughter had this beautiful way of declaring, "We have everything we need", usually in a very practical way, as we are readying to walk out the door, but I also swear that sometimes, she is uttering it in a wise way, in the same way that Robyn's piece is meaning it. I told Robyn I loved this piece, and wanted to know how much it is. She never responded. I meant to keep checking to see if she listed it in her Etsy shop, and did once or twice, not there, but then, being a mom and all, kinda had it slip from my mind. Although, once, I did email her about it again. Anyway, last weekend, when my father was visiting, my daughter, grandpa, and I went to collect the mail. Q reached into our PO Box, and lo and behold, Robyn's card was there. Q was all excited about it, and held if for the blocks we walked to have tea and cookies at a local shop. I was sure to put it away in a safe place in my book bag as soon as I was able, since Q is about to turn three, and sometimes isn't all that gentle... but boy does she love your work, Robyn, she gets all excited when she gets to hold it. Thank you, thank you, my friend. With friends like you, we have everything we need...


PS I asked Robyn's permission to post this personal note above. I LOVE everything about snail mail, the personal thought, the handwriting, the postmark. Robyn wrote such a thoughtful note. The part about "making people" made me teary! Click on the image to make it larger...