Today is Australia day. It's like national BBQ day, in a country that already worships the BBQ.

When Estelle detailed the various spots on her favorite dress, she had no idea her dry cleaner was writing it all down. Or that he was such a gossip.

Estelle's second adventure is heading out to Paula.

message side

front side of the postcard

I recently went to urban outfitters and they have really cool tags on their clothing. So I recycled them to this postcard!

Acrylic paints, mixed with a glazing medium and an iridescent medium, then applied to a gessoed bristol card using sequin waste as a template.

Boy, it really pays to make your backgrounds ahead of time. It's 10:30 pm, we just had friends over for dinner and I realized I'd better not forget to make my MA for today and a quick few pictures thrown together will have to suffice. However, the watercolored backing I did ages ago makes it come much more alive.

#365.047

Had a crazy weekend, but got to send out all new stuff anyway! I used up my big mega gluestick though, so I'll have to go shopping tomorrow. But it was worth it! I got to utilize lots of scraps and pictures that I've been meaning to paste together. ^-^

No. 3 in the No Excuses series.

Another strong statement using a simple delivery format.

I wanted to make a deep statement in as simple a form as possible. What I wanted to say is, "I'm different, I like it, and I'm putting myself out there for all to see and accept -- or not!"

I went to Cup of Joe and decided to take their store card for one of my postcards... whoops. ahah least its free. put everything else is random findings :D

Sweet Travels

Back of envelope

Front... even bills can be pretty, right?

The return to sender sticker came from one of my first MA postcards that was returned to me because it was too small, and I am glad I can put it to further use! This one goes to my friend Nancy.

I have a really great vintage book called "The How And Why Wonder Book of Insects". Can't remember where it came from, but I think it once belonged to my older sister - who was a kid in the sixties. The price on the book is 59 cents! I find that the more popular that online books become, the more protective I am of printed books. I love them! How they feel in my hand, the experience of reading, the turning of the pages - I am not a fan of online books, hurts my eyes and the experience is not the same. Needless to say, I really struggled when deciding if I wanted to cut up the insect book for the greater good of mail art. Even though I had never read the book and likely kept it for the purpose of an art project, I felt very conflicted. Finally decided that it would just collect dust if I left it. Better to use it and put it's content out into the world of mail art. So this is the first card using the book's lovely illustrations. Sending it to my friend's mother, who is lovely in her own right.

front of envelope

back of envelope

inside of envelope

I used a free paint chip card for the background of this postcard. I love paint chip cards because they're free and at basically every hardware store or WalMart, etc. I sent this card to my friend in Florida who is going through a hard time right now. I hope she likes it! :)

Gandhi said "be the change." Lake Champlain chocolate says "let chocolate change your world." Ah ha! Eat chocolate, go in peace!

This will go to a Sendsomething mail enthusiast to whom I've owed a something for a long time.

Self with Mom's Patchwork Square Dance Skirt, 2008

Hi All:
I will be away for several days. My mom is dying. She is 89 and has Alzheimer's. If you are so inclined, send prayers her way for a peaceful, gentle passage. Her name is Edna.
Back soon,
Martha

This morning I found myself at the breakfast table with the Environmental report for Bangladesh and the 'society' page of the Sydney Morning Herald side by side. I'll just say it was a bit sobering and sad. I was immediately reminded of this great mantra from the 60's or 70's.

MailArt 365 / 55.  I wish you were sitting next to her with a cup of coffee and some strawberries.

23 JAN. 2011 Fabric PC for swap-bot Scrappy Fabric Postcard : required to use at least 3 different fabrics and send to 2 people. I have one more to make but will probably do something different.

22 Jan. 2011

This is an altered photograph of a country church. I added the 19th century figures to it from a painting.

Sew, sew, sew...