Postcards from Japan

I dont often comment about postcards. though I do always like to recieve them. This one i saw today was posted on Missive Maven's Flickr gallery. It had been sent as part of a postcard swap and Maven has even gone on to blog about it here.
This is a very unusual postcard. Its a soft painting, part of me would like to say impressionist, but Im not sure if thats the right artistic term for it. Its Japanese and has a very soft quality to it. Im very taken by it. Certainly an image I would place on the wall in my room or add to my postcard collection thats for sure. Especially because the subject is a cat.

Go for a walk down Ladybird lane

They say that to just a piece of card stock with stickers attached to it, is not enough to constitute a good ATC. I have to agree with that statement. However there is a line and where as some people would say no stickers whatsoever Im open minded. And its for cards like this one I remain so.

Because although clearly the ladybirds that stalk around the window frame are stickers. They are used in an artistic and cool way.
So much so I thought they had earnt a mention for when someone uses stickers well on an Art card. I found it here on Imetty's Flickr gallery. It does have an pretty bow on the top too. (sorry it just had to be mentioned).

Her name is Lola the Rabbit

Lola the bunny. What an adorable little critter to make for a wish. I love the warm orange fabric this stuffie has been made from, it was what first caught my eye. Its not the spots, I just cant help it. Like a bee to honey I love orange its such a warm colour.
This bunny though looks so well made, she even has a pompom for a tail, which is a really nice tactile touch just like the button eyes and ribbon around her neck. I hope all goes well for this swap and the young girl she has been made for. What a surprize! thank you Flickr user Het_Kleine_Woud for sharing this and the other delightful pictures of your stuffies for me to oogle at and admire. They really are quite lovely to look at bobbing about in the grasses.

60 objects one matchbox!

I wonder whats inside this little match box. All wrapped up and ready to be posted by Flickr gallery owner lishmo123.
This apparently has inside it 60 objects. As part of a found object matchbox cram swap hosted on Swap-bot. Im not going to spoil whats inside but I do like some of the little metal shiney things that have gone into this. But I think the most special part is the tag and the lace ribbon that have it wrapped up securely. This really will be a treat to recieve, but Id never want to dismatle it, or take any of the careful packaged objects out from the match box.

Not my Fabergé egg

This is one of the most unusual things Ive seen posted through the surface mail service in along time. Its an actual egg, decorated and with a little clock face inside. I dont think its ticking though. (apparently your not allowed to send ticking things in the post).
There is a zipper around the middle to close the egg too. Its really preculiar but I like it. It sort of has that victorian, steam punk, egg theme. By making the ordinary thing here an egg into the extra-ordinary egg clock with zipper. I very much like it, it must have taken some pacients to pattern all those swirls onto the actual egg itself too. Not to mention adding the zip. Its not the only one either, its one of three that can be seen on indygirl-cp's Flickr gallery.

Inspired Tagging

In all my years of mail art this is something I have never seen before. This is what creator CraftyAnnie who posted it on her flickr gallery today calls an inspiration tag. which I can only assume to mean its an tag thats been wrapped up especially with little nick nacks and wootley bits to provide inspiration to a swap partner.

I like the sort of eccentric mix of ticket stubs and collage bits, ribbons and buttons. I dont know about her partner but I certain get inspired by this, to bundle together a tag of my own for some swapper in the future. This is a really well made object. Though if I had recieved it. Im not sure where I would have put it.

It's Been 'sew' long...

In case anyone was in any doubt this ATC is the right size, how do you think i know, well it has a tape measure on it telling us all so. I do hope this is an ATC though, as there was no description of what it is.
Thats possibly one of the most creative uses of a tape measure on an art card ive seen. Not simply stuck to the card but woven through four simple holes. What a great idea to link it to the text on the card 'Its been sew long...' since its sewn onto the card.
But this isnt the only clever ATC posted by artist Fabricmom in her flickr gallery. There are a handful of other very delicate and lovely looking cards for us to admire.

Forky Trinket's

Nope its not melted and Im very sure you cant eat your dinner with it either, Nor would you want to. This here curved and twisty fork has been cleverly made into a piece of folk jewelry. with extra bits. Charms and a colourful ribbon on the end too. Im not certain Ive ever thought of making jewelry like this out of the silver ware but now Ive seen this the thought does cross my mind. Just what could you make from a fork? Im sure Ive got a set of plyers I could use to twist the forky bits.
Thank you Vendetti's who shared this photo on their Flickr gallery. Now Im going to have to go out there and ruin a few forks trying to emulate this charming braclet.

Piggy-gurumi

The art of crochet has never been cuter. In a very enviable way I just couldnt resist writing about this pink little piggy as I logged onto swap-bot this afternoon. And Im not usually a crochet fan (I tell a lie, I have quite a few cute crochetted goodies, I just cant make my own *shame face*).
I love the neatness of the finish especially the single wooly thread that marks out the line where the tiny trotters of the piggy are. Fabulous work, even more so because its on proudmama-77's Flickr gallery and as I write this actually up for trade! *gasp* If your curious go look for yourself, shes also made some absolutely fabulous hello kitty toys too.

Matches in Matches

Not just a match box but this one has been upsized just for the lovely lady who recieved it and posted it up on their Flickr gallery here. Thank you gemgirlart.
What caught my eye though with this one, was look there in the middle, the little yellow box. Its actually a teeny tiny matchbox. With teeny tiny matches!
I am most pleased by this. I like teeny things, holding them makes me feel like a giant and thats cool. But I also like the fact that because this box was upsized it made room for so much more, not just beads and buttons but tiny stamps and flowers. Must have been quite a squeeze though to get them all in though.

Hold on. thats a bookmark

Not just any ordinary bookmark. I couldnt help but notice where this fabulous Alice in wonderland themed bookmark came from. It was made by a swapper named Naurwen. From the group, I love to swap. One of the first ladys on the swap-bot site I ever had the pleasure of swapping with.
Im very glad to see shes still making delightful pieces of mail art for folks to show on their flicker gallerys. Just like lildamselfly has with this. This is certainly a book make though Id find too special to use, I must be a meanie and abuse my bookmarks to death. Id want to keep it special in the draw with my other mail art.

and if your curious take a peek here for the swap that made this possible.

I cant believe its not Jam?

In the past I have tried my hand at doing faeries in jars, I wasnt very good at it and found the whole process a bit too fiddly (this is from the woman who spends hours on a single ATC). It wasnt to my liking. However I am producing Envy rays when I see this fine jar with its captured faerie. Not only is this picture of it fabulously taken and edited, but the jar itself is something anyone would be well happy to have in their mail art collection. even if they arent a massive fan of Faeries and captured critters in jars.
I love the netting over the top. It makes you feel like there could be rare jam involved, and who doesnt like Jam? Have a look here at Debapaka's Flickr gallery for more lovely pictures and some sent swaps. Gosh what a great surprize this jar must have been for her partner for the, Captured Creature Bottles Swap at swap-bot.com.

Springy Mouse Matchbox

A spring themed match box caught my eye this afternoon. Mostly for the attention to detail it has springing about ontop of it. Spring + Springs. tee hee. AND! with mouses. whats not to like about that. As soon here on Christie1981's Flicker gallery.
I mean goodies aside I really do like the little mice ontop, which are made from Polymer clay. But I also like all the little extras with this swap. As well as a nicely written little. I cant express how much it is appreciated when a partner takes a little time to write a note to explain about what just arrived through my post box. Boo! to the people who just send little post its. A letter like this one is far far more friendly and nice to recieve.... and springy mice too.

Simply Pleasurable Art Book

Couldnt help but notice this treasure this evening as I was pootling about the forums. What a delightful Art book made by Flickr user: girl_with_the_glasses. Made for another swapper for a simple pleasures swap over on Swap-bot. I can only wonder what her partner put for their likes and simple happy things. Bunting?
Isnt everyone a fan of it in some way, even the people who live in houses where bunting wouldnt match the decoration. Like mine *sad face* well at least it can be appreciated from afar, while looking at art like this. What a wonder this must have been to recieve.

An ATC everyday of the year

Thats right, an ATC every day of the year, 365 days of art cards. Nope not posted and sent by kind friends and swappers but each made by artist Jenny and her charming new blog. Here. Where she intends to complete a project which will mean she has to make a card a day for an entire year.
And its already begun. this card here on the left is from day 1 of the endevor. I cant help but wish anyone good luck with any project of this nature, as I have tried to reinspire myself in the past with similar and gotten about a month in before other ideas have whisked me away from continueing. Im a butterfly in a flowerbed when it comes to that sort of thing. But gosh I would love to see this project of Jenny's finished. 365 cards is no small feat and they are going to look absolutely spiffing together.

Return of the Mermaid

As with all crafting things, you take a break then one day. Its like. I need to check in today just to see how things are ticking over. Well I did that today and was astounded by the new talent that has found its way over to Swap-bot, especially when I saw this delightful mermaid.
As seen on Mafiosagrrl's Flicker gallery along with a dozen other delightful artistic treats.
I mean what I like about this image is not only does this ATC use a mixture of a hand drawn image but also texture in the woobly weedy stuff in the background. Just the right balence of the two. Though Mafiosagrrl worries about the fact the mermaids hands and tail go over the ATC's edge. I think that only adds character to the card, as if shes swimming right off the card!

Panda Burns Paper?

Im still and always will be a huge fan of ATC's so its no surprize that one of the first posts this year is ATC related. And I just couldnt miss this oppertunity out to mention how much I liked this pair of key ATC's.
I love the paper in the background, the shades of burnt music sheet paper that matches the brown colour on the old key (at least I hope its an old key and not the lost key to the artists loft eek!). Thank you Shanda Panda for sharing these very well taken photos on your flickr gallery for everyone to see.

Delightful Patterns

When I saw this I thought it was a stand alone ATC, but ah no no. Surprize to me its not. Its actually a sheet of patterned card made for making other things out of.
Take a moment to consider, what a fabulous idea that is. Rather than popping out to the shop for papers to stick to the back of decorated art objects. Flicker Gallery owner: Jenawin has opted for the ultimate make your own. It looks fantastic.

Have a look at her gallery, theres several more delightfully hand made sheets. Great idea. I think once I get enough space in my craft room, this is something Id love to have a go at making my own. If only so I can give sheets of paper a sort of feel to them, that nothing store bought can give.