Sunday, July 2 July 2, 2006

Here’s another piece of Mail Art. Paint sample cards are one of my favorite things. I especially like the paint names that have nothing whatsoever to do with color: Stealth Bomber, Poison Pen, Windermere. Yeah, that really helps me paint my diningroom.

I’ve posted some more pictures from the June Mail Art Party on my website.

I’ve been putting together a zine for the Summer swap in the Gleaner Zine Yahoo group. This is not a DTZ (Destroy This Zine, my “other” zine), but a one-off for the swap. The topic is Mail Art, and I like the way it’s turning out. The swaps for the group always involve some fairly elaborate inclusions in the zines: ephemera, paper stuff, lots of extra goodies. It really is fun. But I think when the swap is concluded, I will make a simplified version of the zine (sans extras) for some as yet undetermined but not too big price. If you think you might be interested, watch this space for more information.

I’ve also been making Artistamps, both for the mail at and for the zine. I’ll try to get some scanned and posted here soon. I have a great little program that I bought online that lays out stamps for you and applies text and a faux-perforated border. Fun!

June 30, Day…??? June 30, 2006

So. Is it Day 3, because it’s the third time I posted? Or is it Day 11 because it’s 8 days since I posted last? I’m not so sure about this blogging thing today. How did I let a whole week slip by?

My mom has been having birthday parties this week; she was 89 on Monday. Last night the old craft group got together for cake, coffee and gifts. This is the group that used to meet on Tuesday evenings, and held a home show at Christmas for over 20 years until we all “retired” a while back. (Well, retired is a relative term.) The Misses Staggs, Muth and Quarterman were there, in addition to the birthday girl and yours truly, and we talked mail art and blogging, among other things.

Here’s a picture of the postcard I made for the MailMania2 Mail Art Show at the Victoria College of Art. Everyone at the June Mail Art Party in the studio made something for that call, and they’ll be on my website in a new Mail Art gallery sometime this weekend.

I haven’t forgotten that I said I’d post a picture of my latest treasure find, but I haven’t managed to get it and the camera together. I’ll tell you what it is: a little toy sewing machine from, I’m guessing, the fifties. It works via a hand crank..and it’s pink! And it was in a very nice pink sewing basket to boot.

See you soon

June, 22 — Day Two June 22, 2006

Well, I think I am ready to go public with this blog. Now to go on over to the website and write an announcement and create a link. My eyes are bugging out of my head after a day and a half on the computer but I'm having a good time.

I stopped by the studio only briefly today, had some other stuff to do. It was so peaceful and comfortable there, and still relatively tidy from last Friday's Mail Art get-together. Preparing for guests in the studio is always hairy, (I know, I know, if I didn't leave it until the last minute it wouldn't be!) but it's so worth it, not only to have the guests, but afterwards…at least until things collapse into chaos again. These regular, monthly Mail Art Parties may end up being my salvation from the chaos.

This is one of what I was working on a week or so ago, collages made of aluminum cans and other scraps of metal; I am eager to get back to them. The market near the studio has a lot of Asian foods, including locally made tofu in bulk and about a million varieties of Pocky! And lots of drinks in very unusual and attractive aluminum cans. I have drunk some exotic stuff lately, to get the cans.

I got something extremely cool last week at a little second hand store near my house. It's at the studio just now (and my computer is at home). But I'll take a picture and show you next time. HINT: It's pink.

Welcome to Room 206. June 21, 2006

It used to be Miss Shelton's 6th grade classroom, now it is my studio, my playroom, my oasis.

I'll be using this blog to share the everyday goings-on in Room 206; some non-studio news will find its way in as well, I suppose. If you'd like to visit my website, there's a link up above that will take you there.

I think I'm going to enjoy this.