July from Juliana - Rob Arnold, beachcomber artist

JeanR sent me a message about how she made the card that appeared yesterday. It is a leaf print done by dying the paper. She stacks paper with leaves in between each sheet. Then she rolls the paper and ties it with a string. Then she cooks it in a big kettle with pieces of iron, aluminum, vinegar and onion skins. The iron leaves black imprints and the onion leaves provide the yellow. She boils it for about an hour and then leaves it overnight to cool down and then unwraps it in the morning. Thanks, JeanR for the recipe. I'm tempted to try it.....

This is from Juliana. I think she said she used the big PITT marker for the name. That stamp is so perfect. Repetition is one of my favorite design principles. Repeating the name - all the same - or variations is style and color is a lovely way to fill in spaces. She only used the blues and greens off the stamp and I think that was a good choice. I think pink would have been adding too much contrast. Tomorrow's envelope is from Juliana and clearly - is postmarked *Aug* - so I deduced that this was July and it took a long time to arrive - so it ended up in the August stack.

***

A recurring topic on my blog is the collecting of trash and then turning it into art. I spent a lot of time looking at this guy's work and it was hard to choose one example. 

That is not Easter Island -- it is his own Moai made from plastic that he found on the beach.

https://www.instagram.com/rob.arnold.art/

I Google his name and there are several articles about him. 

He's British

Here is just one of the articles - I did not read it before linking to it - might get around to it when this post pops up. Time flies - and I have 9 more posts to write to fill up this month.

https://www.lyfta.com/blog/post/beachcomber-united-kingdom

 

 

Aug from JeanR - fire tower lookout

I love these colors and will label this steal worthy. I even have some envelopes like those. The hard part will be finding the right stamps. I don't think the coffee stamps are available.

And how did she do that note card?

If you are reading this, JeanR, please let me know.

As we all know, the topics on the blog meander. We had that fun topic about how many different careers there were amongst our little tribe. I mentioned forest fire lookout - and I might have mentioned that JeanR was the one who spent time in a lookout tower. I think I even said that I would schedule a meetup with JeanR to find out more about what all was involved.

I wish I had taken notes during our conversation because there were more than these two things - but these are the ones that really stuck in my head. Her first experience was her honeymoon. I think it was 2 months. Doesn't that sound like a fun honeymoon - assuming both people liked the rustic ambiance.

Then, at the other end of the spectrum - I asked her what ages her kids were when the family spent time in the lookout tower. I think she said that one summer she had a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old and she was pregnant. OK - that sounds like way more challenge than the average mom would like. Although, I think the two kids were boys - so the part of me that had 2 boys can picture taking two boys to a forest for a couple months because they could entertain themselves endlessly. I can picture girls who like the forest - but my daughter would not have been a happy camper. She did embrace the wilderness later in life. And to be honest, my family did enough camping when I was a kid that I have never, ever had any inkling to camp.

The forest where Jean and family were stationed was in Idaho and the area was very rocky. I think Jean said that there was little danger of them being caught in any kind of fire. I welcome any corrections or additions that Jean cares to add.

 

Aug from Rachael - Line video

Rachael sent this in August and I immediately started working on one for her using the technique. I had so much fun that I might do lots more. It would be helpful to know how she approaches the lettering. I never use a light table and I recently gave mine away - and of course - I was thinking that a light table would be the best way to letter the name and then just color in all the white space. The other thing I was thinking about was a disappearing pen. I used to have one and am tempted to get another one. They are mostly used in sewing, but I think they work on paper. It probably depends on the paper.

***

I love, love, love this little video on lines. It reminds me that the simplest things are often the most fun and effective. I'm writing this on the day I finished up my Sept exchange envelopes and am tempted to start on October....

LINK to a 2min15sec video of lines

I like all that is written at the link as much as the video.

 

Aug from Jessica - Landsat

This one, from Jessica, reminds me of the sun. I know that Jessica has a son who is elementary school aged. I wonder if he is into NASA stuff. Or maybe just bird's eye views of the earth. I sent the link below to my grandson and am waiting to hear what he thinks. I wrote the blurb below before I added the envelope so it reflects that at first I did not notice that this was a NASA website and veered off into one of my sci-fi daydreams.

 ***

This is a fun way to spell out names or words. You type the letters in and they are magically converted into images taken from Landsat. I would have to spend more time at this website to find out what Landsat is. It appears to be the same as Google Earth - but maybe not. Hopefully it is not a feature on the internet set up by aliens from other planets to infiltrate our lives. Yes, I am still pondering my science fiction book where all things electronic are actually aliens from other galaxies who are behind all this very clever stuff that we keep finding.

https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/apps/YourNameInLandsat-main/index.html

OK - the *sat* part of Landsat is for satellite - that should have been obvious.

OK, I did click back to *Camp Landset* and it looks like a fun place for kids and adults who are curious about things related to NASA.

Aug from C - Big stuff

This envelope is from a new exchanger who goes by C. She lives in New Mexico. And she included a nice double sided card. Welcome to the exchange C. I like that style of lettering - and the way it fills the side panel - and created interesting shapes.

 

***

Facebook offered another topic for an add-on. A friend of mine posted that she had seen an item on CBS Sunday morning in 2017 about Casey, IL - a town that has a lot of fun oversized items. She finally got around to visiting and it looks like it was worth the trip.

World's largest mailbox. 

I should send them the world's largest postcard or envelope.

Then I found the original program on CBS.

There is a brief commercial at the beginning.

I found some other photos - but they are not re-postable.

I wish it was somewhat closer to Des Moines. 

https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/9IVInT0NZo9KNVZu0hElrURDIlTwWaRj/

Aug from Carolyn - Penman mascot

 

I cropped this one from Carolyn to show that it is a good idea that would work on a variety of envelopes. It is probably going to work best with the short first names. I like the white space on the business sized envelope. You can see how it would work with a much longer last name. Of course - the dots are tried and true. 

***

It's mid afternoon on the day I was trying to do 15-20 posts. After chores and baking I did a quick check on Facebook to see if anyone is doing anything. I never post on FB - but find interesting tidbits once in a while. One of MrWilson's cousins (a first cousin, once removed - I like knowing the official terminology of cousins and the use of the word *removed* to indicate a step up or down in generations - one of those useless bits of information - but I digress) MrWilson's first cousin (the mom) posted a photo of the second cousin once removed at his college - Southern New Hampshire University - and she wrote "Go, Penmen!"

One would think that I'd have heard of a university having a penman mascot by now, but one would be mistaken. Here is the blurb on their website:

When SNHU opened its doors in 1932 as the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Commerce, we called ourselves “Penmen.” It was an homage to the accountants and clerks of Colonial New England, who bravely banded together to form a new nation. Alongside merchants, lawyers, farmers and physicians, they proved that the pen is mightier than the sword.

I could not find a good photo showing the full mascot. 

OK, this might be taking it a little too far. 

But, it was 1932 - so, it's a dated perspective.

I guess it's a metaphor and I guess *progress* has been dependent on our ability to write. 

Progress seems like a good idea - until the unintended consequences start popping up.

Maybe we should take a longer view - 

was written language a big turning point?

Aug from Cathy - My co-pilot

 

This stamp was so pretty - I think there was a block of 4 that fit together. I remember using it back at the turn of the century. Cathy had a humorous comment on the back of the envelope. I do not always post the cute things that people add on the backs - but just wanted to let the others know that we're often in the same frame of mind. 

***

I warned you that I was going to be writing 15-20 posts and I have written 7 and I am exhausted. Maybe exhausted isn't the right word. Maybe I feel like writing about something other than the items I found in my folder. 

I've been meaning to mention that I have a blog co-pilot lined up. It might sound strange to be pondering what would happen with the blog and/or the exchange if something catastrophic happened to me. Recently, I was talking to someone who belonged to a group and one of the members died suddenly and unexpectedly. Since none of the members of the group had any contact with the family, they were way out of the loop of information, etc, and it was a difficult situation for them. 

It's been three years since I had my traumatic brain injury. It conveniently occurred at a time that the blog was prescheduled for a month and I was able to update my pen pals and keep things going. I have residual issues with my working memory which are manageable - but it does keep me reminded that one's life can change in an instant and without warning.

Since I value my pen pals, I would not want to leave you hanging, if something happens to me - so I have everything lined up for my co-pilot to be notified by my family to take over. I've always been the type to take steps to cover potential catastrophes - because it seems like taking the time is like an insurance policy that nothing will happen. So, I'll probably be plugging along for a while. And if something does happen, nobody will be left hanging - and wondering what happened.

July from Cathy - Vanilla Frosting font

 Good news regarding yesterday's concern that Amy might be a weed-aficionado. She assured me that she, too, has been fighting the battle. Whew.

Cathy's July envelope snuck in with the August envelopes. I hope I remember to steal this idea. Although the success is a function of letting the stamp inform the colors and then also repeating the sketchy quality of the image on the stamp. Simple can be stunning. There's a nice notecard inside - which reminds us how lovely summer was. Thank you to the USPS for leaving the postmark off.

***

Here is a font that one could use if they needed more ideas to go with the one that we call Mish-Mash. You can type in whatever name or words you want to get some ideas. Or you could buy the font. Or you could type the alphabet into the sample feature and make yourself write each letter and create your own exemplar. Or you could shoot screen shots - but I highly recommend making yourself write what you see because that's good practice.

https://creativemarket.com/Nickylaatz/107845-Vanilla-Frosting-Typeface

Aug from Amy - Stitching words

 

Amy had a clever way of repeating the butterfly. The J is lovely - but to be honest - that split butterfly made me wince. Amy doesn't seem like the type to rip butterflies in half.  Then I realized that it was two butterflies in the position where the wings are folded together and the viewer sees them in profile. Whew. Crisis averted. I'm curious about the large drawing and how it evolved. It's interesting the way the butterfly morphs into a plant or maybe it's the other way around. The plant reminds me of my battle to the death with morning glory weeds. Grrrrrrrr. And then - another weed inside. I guess Amy is one of those open minded people who finds beauty in weeds. I won't hold it against her. Although, I have her address and if I am ever out her her way - I might drive by and check out her yard. 

***

From my bookmarked folder - something for those of you who are interested in stitching and/or straight-jackets.

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/04/19th-century-embroidered-straightjacket/

The description raises so many questions, but time does not allow for further research into Agnes. 

August to JeanR and Irene - Cursive

 

Here are two more Chuckerish designs. Or should that be Chuckeresque? I like how Chuck gets credit for the entire Arts and Crafts movement. There's another name used for that style and I can never remember what it is. I'm sure someone will remember and send me an email. 

I like comparing the two variations and can't say that I prefer one over the other. I'm annoyed that I forgot to add the squares to Irene's - but, I like the colors a lot. Maybe I didn't add the squares because the flowers are a bit larger and there really isn't enough space for them. I think Jean's squares should have been a little lighter. I could have lightened them with white colored pencil.

***

I apologize if this is not interesting. It's an article - How the ballpoint pen killed cursive -  from 2015 and I have no idea when I bookmarked it.

I did not re-read it when I found it in my folder of items to share on the blog. This year the Des Moines public schools are going to teach cursive again - which makes me happy. I don't put too much stock in any of the opinions about cursive. It's one of those topics that is deeply personal and there are so many different ways to teach reading and writing that cursive is bound to be controversial. Nuf said.

How the ballpoint pen killed cursive 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-the-ballpoint-pen-killed-cursive?utm_source=pocket-newtab

August from Leslie - Paper cutter

We are jumping ahead to an envelope that arrived in August because it features some masterful paper cutting. Leslie cut those little circles by hand - she did not have a long arm paper punch. I will repost this one when I do all the envelopes that arrived in August (there's fun stuff inside the envelope) - but, I really love this one and thought it would be fun to post it with the adorable paper cutting add-on. 

Leslie's come up with some really good ideas since I have added my middle name. I'm wondering if anyone else would like to add their middle name to the exchange - just to see what happens.

***

More masterful paper cutting. The little people are just the tip of the iceberg.

LINK to Laura K Sayers

August to Janet - Paula Kovarik

 

This looks like something that Chuck might have done - or maybe I found it on Pinterest. Obviously, I did not have a stamp in mind. I'm writing this on Sept 4th and will start my Sept envelopes tomorrow. I'm going to be vigilant about coordinating the envelope design with the stamp. 

***

From my stash of bookmarked items - this is just one image off the site and I did not re-surf to see what else she has posted. I'm itching to try something like this. Hopefully there are some stamps that want to join forces.

LINK to paula's website

August to Cathy, Christy, Leslie & Mia - yawning

Below is the inspiration envelope that I posted in December of 2014. It is from Alyce. I need to email Alyce and find out how she is doing. If you want to see how much I have deteriorated, you can go to the post via the link I have provided. I used to have all kinds of things to say about design. Maybe I feel like I am being redundant after so many years of saying the same things. It's not like anyone is going to come up with new elements and principles of design. Maybe once in a while - but they are like the tools in your tool box. Clearly I strayed pretty far from Alyce's design. Cathy's seems better with more curve. I'm tempted to do a few more of these and keep them closer to Alyce's.

http://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/2014/12/alyces-exchange-envelope.html

I got a kick out of reading the comments that people left.

Alyce's bold black on the name is better - but I'm not sure it would have been better with longer names.

Leslie's - with a larger name is better - but it might have looked better to pick up the blue in the stamp.

I can live with the *Leslie* because the shapes refer to the shape of the petals. I deeply regret the way I wrote KANE. Pitiful.

Mia's might be my favorite - because it looks nice with the three stamps. I also prefer the paler pink.

It does not need a bolder name because the stamps take up so much space.

It's a steal worthy idea - maybe someone will do one on an exchange envelope to me.

***

I found a second folder with random items I had bookmarked to maybe add to the blog. Here's a short video with yawning (1 minute and 27 seconds) The babies are great - then the older people are less interesting, but the animals at the end are wonderful - and the punchline is cool.

LINK to yawning video

August to Lynne - Naive art

 So-so idea. So-so flowers. Sometimes I can toss off little drawings that look naive. Other times they are just clunky. These are clunky. So clunky, I only did one of these.

From my stash of links - here is someone who had nailed the *naive* style. She even has a ton of patterns for people to buy to copy her style. I wonder if people who buy patterns because they can't draw know that they could do really nice naive art if they just drew their own stuff. I wonder where I could get some non-drawers to try some experimenting. 

While I like this person's style - sometimes it gets too busy for me. Jessie Chorley - 44, lives in London.

https://www.jessiechorley.com

Her work in her studio

Items from her shop

Aug to Mary and Sharen

Two ho-hummers. As I recall, I did all the envelopes before sign up and then filled in names. Maybe that's what's caused all the ho-hummy-ness. Maybe I do better when the names are the feature.

Brace yourselves, there are only 7 posts scheduled - so I need to write 15-20 today and they might be complete duds. Or maybe this is the universe telling me that I should be writing posts that are more current. Does the universe talk to us? What do they call that voice in your head that asks questions?

Too many questions. At least we can switch to the August incoming mail tomorrow.
 

August to Kate and the K challenge

There will be more of these - and hopefully I'll find the inspiration envelope. I'm happy with the colors and the stamp. A non-streaky marker probably would have been better. Warming up so that the lettering did not look so labored would have been a good idea.

I LOVE this page I found on a website that I found in my stash. I LOVE the whole concept. If the website has 26 challenges - one for each letter - I might have to delve into it and see if it would provide some ideas that I would like better. I dug a little and did not find any other letters.

http://www.lettercult.com/archives/2050

It looks like the website has withered away -- but there's a ton of stuff if you want to excavate.

Just one of many:

 

Aug to Patty - Halloween ideas

Meh. Fun to do - but pretty ho-hum. I'm on my second round of envelopes using those stamps and they are beautiful - but, it's challenging to find good ideas when there is only one each of the designs. 

I think I've mentioned that it's time to come up with some Halloween ideas if you want to stay ahead of the curve. Here's a link from that stockpile of links I discovered. It looks like a plethora of ideas for elementary school teachers - with free downloads. Many categories. I clicked on Halloween - so feel free to surf around in other areas.

I think those stamps would be a good match with Halloween motifs.

https://pariscorp.com/product-category/printworks-papers/free-project-downloads/?s=halloween&action=search

 

Aug to Jessica - 2020 USPS thank you

I know I said yesterday that I was not going to do any surfing at the Cowboy Kimono website - but a USPS thank you caught my eye - so I clicked on it. It's a post from Oct 2020 - back in the olden days when we were coping with the pandemic. I say that as if 2024 is a walk in the park. Probably not - but 2020 gave us a little perspective.

Below is one of my ideas for August. I thought I did two of these - but only found one in my folder of photos. I was appropriating an idea and did not have a stamp in mind - it would have been a lot better if I had used something off the stamp instead of those little square designs. I think I added something to indicate birthday wishes. 

***

Rest in peace, Ward Dunham. 

The readers who are calligraphers will probably recognize his name. 

He was a big teddybear of a man - known for his blackletter. 

I met him at a couple conferences many years ago. 

More of his work pops up if you Google his name.