interviewed on postcrossing

I had the honor of being interviewed by Ana Campos on the Postcrossing blog, and the even greater honor of having other postcrossers actually read the article and comment on it. I'd been a little discouraged by all the postcrossing profiles that specifically state a reluctance to receive art cards or handmade cards. In fact, so many of the names that Postcrossing "picked out of the hat" for me were anti-art-card people, that I'd started having doubts about my fittedness for the group. But I was ENORmously encouraged to find out that there are more postcrossers who like art cards-- even handmade art cards-- than I had imagined. I'm feeling all motivated again and will be picking up my pace of sending out cards. Here's the link to the interview.

a present from the post office

When I was an active member of Postcrossing and the International Union of Mail Artists, I used to make a lot of mail box-themed collages, partly because I adore the old Japanese mail boxes of my childhood, and partly because I've collected more used and new postage stamps (going back 50 years) than I know what to do with.

Needless to say, I use a lot of postage stamps to send etegami and other mailart to destinations all over the world-- as many as 100 a month. It is a pleasure (but not a surprise) when the local post office shows its appreciation of my patronage with little gifts. Most often the gifts are useful items like a box of facial tissues or plastic wrap. And sometimes I get lucky and receive a really special item like this vintage-mailbox-shaped "piggy bank." (happy dance)