dear diary: part 9 – post haste

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27/01/20
I sent this postcard for a swap on the theme of “Yellow and Orange” and it has arrived with it’s recipient. Note the letterbox stamps, swanky, eh?

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Here’s another swap I did, the theme was “Sender’s Choice”, I made it using recycled packaging , old stamps, a photo from a photo book, and some doodling. An eclectic mix of postage stamps on the back.

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Here’s the great card I received in the swap

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Another swap, this time I had to make 2 decorated envelopes. I used paper and tissue paper that I painted and stencilled, and some washi tape.

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Another postcard swap : I had to use “Junk Mail” that came through my door.

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29/01/20
For this swap I had to include a map.

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Here’s the card I received for the map theme swap.

A few weeks ago myself and Jane Chipp arranged a postcard swap between ourselves. The original plan was that we sent each other a prepared background and a few pieces that we could use in our postcards. We were to use a 60s theme.
I sent Jane this background

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and these bits and pieces..

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Jane messaged me a bit apologetically to say that she had covered up all of my background, and did I mind, but I minded not a jot, to me it’s all just part of the story of the card. I messaged her to say I was struggling with the 60’s theme and could we go freestyle. She readily agreed. I was happy to take part in an exchange with an artist whose work I admire, even if we did go a bit off piste! Here’s what Jane made, a postcard with a tropical cruise theme.

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Here’s the background Jane sent me..

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and the bits she sent..

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and here’s what I came up with..

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30/01/20
It might appear that all I do with my time nowadays is make postcards for swaps, but that’s not true, I actually also contribute to textile art collaborations as well. Tonight I did 5 out of 6 of my contributions to these spheres. Just one more to go and then I will send them to the next participant, there are 4 more to go, after me.

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31/01/20
Today a parcel arrived with these buttons.

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I confess that when I bought them I had imagined I would be putting them on a jacket, but turns out they are much smaller than I thought. The jackets loss is the spheres gain, and hopefully tonight I will add them to the 6th one. When I’ve done all 6 I shall share photos with you.
That wasn’t all the postie delivered , I also got this fantastic package as part of a swap of upcycled hearts in a Facebook group

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This is the heart I sent as part of the swap, made from a charity shop embroidered napkin that I tea dyed.

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These swaps and collaborations I take part in make every postie visit a potential source of excitement.
Right I’m off to sew some unexpectedly small buttons on to a sphere, as one does.