It’s true confession time! I am addicted to postal art. Not just the postcards I’m seeing as I get things ready for the Liberate Your Art postcard swap or the lovely envelopes that a few participants have decorated. I also love the stamps that come off the envelopes. Each year, I watch for interesting stamps on the swap envelopes and cut them off of the envelopes. It doesn’t matter, international or domestic, I love them all. After the swap, I carefully soak off the backing and dry them flat. And then I pack them away. For what? I have no idea. I just can’t let these beautiful little pieces of postal art go to waste. I’ve been doing this for three years now! At some point, I’m sure I will be inspired to use them.
As of Wednesday, 185 swap envelopes from artists all over the world have been received. I’ll do a mail pick up after work today, and then check one more time on Saturday for the last few envelopes. This week has been a flurry of activity for the swap! Checking in envelopes and getting things ready with my volunteers for Swap Day. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to open the envelopes and find an extra card or a little note to me in there. What a bonus! I don’t ask for it, but when it comes I’m always filled with joy and gratitude for that little connection.
Since I was away so much in March, I haven’t had time to do as many posts of the beautiful art that’s coming through on the envelopes. I’ll catch you up on a few today!
This handmade envelope is from Terry, one of the few guys in the swap. I love the gorgeous blue and the matching blue butterfly stamp. Even matching blue in on the cancellation! That can’t have been by accident.
Here’s a hand-watercolored envelope from watercolor artist Mimi. I love the way the various stamps are spread out over the envelope, creating an interesting and unusual composition.
This envelope has texture! Katie added paint and hand carved stamps, turning a boring manilla envelope into a work of art with color and texture.
And finally, the highlight of the year is always receiving Amanda’s envelope. (Sorry, Amanda didn’t provide a link!) She’s a calligrapher, and the work she does is amazing. I love the sentiment too – we ARE saving the post office, one postcard at a time. I’m sure we are helping as I spent >$400 on international postage this week. 🙂
Two days until Swap Day!! The postcards will be liberated back out into the world next week.
(blush) thanks. It must be so exciting to be getting all those envelopes!
enjoy!
thanks for sharing – so looking forward to getting art in the mail soon!! love to all
Awww,thanks for posting all the gorgeous envelopes, and including mine. So glad you like it! can’t wait for the swap to start! And…we’re off!
Yay!!!! I’m so excited– thanks for sharing these little tidbits with us…
~Dawn
Reading this I realized that THIS is THE weekend – good luck with it. I am glad that you have some volunteers, I don’t know how you would do this all on your own. Make sure to take little breaks in between!
Indont think I could throw the stamps away either. They are for sure little masterpieces all on their own. I’ll be home next week after being away from home several weeks to hold some beautiful art in hands. Thank you Kat for doing this.
Love! Thanks for this and the updates, Kat. xo
Oh my…I am a postage stamp hoarder…I have so many old stamps from all over the world with very cool postmarks. I use them in art projects, altered books, mixed media collages…they are truly unique. Some of them may even be valuable for all I know. But I just love to look at them! My mailbox and postal workers are anxiously awaiting receipt of the decked out postcards.
THANK YOU KAT!!!
I use old postage stamps and ones that I save in my mixed media art. It’s great saving stamps and finding them in vintage shops at times!
I love that you showed us some of the wonderfully artistic envelopes. Early on I should have done mine because I ended up rushing at the end and didn’t have time. Maybe next year I’ll be better with my time management.
I love that you’re doing this Kat and am so excited.