Tales from Studio Mailbox

Eleven Eleven at Eleven Eleven

Today is the 11th day of the 11th month.  And at precisely 11:11 today is the official start of the Fasching season.  Fasching is the German equivalent to carnival or Mardi Gras.  A good historical explanation in English is here. 

Although most of the parades aren't until the end of February (they're scheduled to be the "last chance" to go wild before the start of Lent), today marks the begining of the club meetings and plans for the big event. 

Some of the hats and masks belonging to the clubs are so amazing (historically and artistically), I always look forward to fun photo opportunities.  I've often thought of finding one of these clubs and attempting to get some "behind-the-scenes" info and photos, perhaps learning their age-old secret knock and such...

Here is a canvas I did over the summer, spray painting pretzels over a collage of German playing cards, adhering a sewn photographic digital collage as well as felt dots for confetti.  Although I was really happy with this and can completely and fully transport myself to the filthy street and loud atmosphere, this canvas got less that favorable reactions from my loved ones.  :(

Polar Fleece Duvet Cover

Our internet router crashed and I've been offline for a few days.  Our heating crashed too and instead of calling the German heating/plumbing man, I first went downstairs and finally slapped together two huge pieces of polar fleece to cover my 2yo's down comforter.  Nothing like motivation to learn how to sew a zipper.

Can I just say that polar fleece with appliques all over it is really difficult to cut squarely?  OMG.  Something that should be so simple was sort of a nightmare.  I knew enough to make sure I cut the front side with the "stretch" going one way, and the backside with the stretchiness going in the other direction, yet I really struggled to get straight edges. And despite using my machine's largest stitches, the fabric is so stretchy the thread just wants to break (even after sewing it pulled a bit taught).  Grr.

Whatever the trials, the end result was a happy, warm, boy.  And never fear dear readers; both the heat and the internet are back on.  But then the dishwasher didn't drain, a light bulb blew and I've just kind of laid low and stuck my nose in a book!

Pulsatilla ATC

I made an ATC for a homeopath at my local pharmacy... it made me think I should hang all kinds of cards from my twisty sticks!

When I presented this to the pharmacist she asked if I was interested in dressing one of her shop windows after the holidays. 

I was so pleased by her offer and grateful for her gesture to help integrate me in the community.

I've already hatched a design plan...

Allerheiligentag

 Just to clarify, the Germans do not traditionally celebrate Halloween.  However the first of November is "Allerheiligen," (the equivalent to All Saint's Day).  There is a good summary of November German holidays here.

The cemetery in our little village is amazing right now.  Despite pouring rain, the graves are immaculate.    Not only are weeds and leaves absent, but fresh flowers and plants are everywhere as well as lit memorial candles flickering and sputtering in the elements. 

I know live people who are not taken care of so well.  This kind of remembrance is a beautiful sight.  

 

Our German Halloween

Woke up and quickly realized that I had forgotten to move my car away from the house for the crew of German painters who wanted to get cracking at 7:00 am.  Strolled out of the house in slippers, sweats and bed-head babbling away in English.  Couldn't find a scraper to remove frost from car windows and had to use a hockey stick in front of the impatient yet amused fellas.

Despite a view of scaffolding and and lots of noise, am still determined to gear up for an afternoon kids party!  Our very first attempt to entertain my little village with an authentic American experience...

Used up some Halloween material from one of my mail art friends for the bean bag toss.  Check out my ghostly clothes-pin drop creation! And Thank goodness for good neighbors.  One mom helping with the sugar cookies yesterday afternoon and the 1st Lady making a paper bag drop of decorations.  (An extra dose of gratitude for a teacher's stash of pipe-cleaner spiders)!  If one of the moms brings a jug of Schnapps we just might survive the day...!!!

 

 

Iron Recognition

We were looking at some flashcards the other day and came to one of a bear ironing.  My son responded with, "Boat.  Grandpa's fast boat!" 

Umm, I suppose the jeans kind of do look like water. 

It occurred to me that my child has never seen me iron.  Ever.  I thought, "C'mon you know this tool sweetie!!!  The hot one that mommy uses downstairs to make her linoleum warm so it cuts better.  The one that transfers melty crayon or blue carbon onto daddy's white shirts if we don't get to the dry cleaners..."

Are we a strange family?  He didn't know the "scrub" card either.   Ouch.

Owl Shrine

Using an owl image from my recently discovered old stamp stash, I made a bottle cap shrine for an artist I really admire.  I've written about how much iLove iHanna before and simply wanted to send her a little something as a token of gratitude for linking me to her blog. I continued to get traffic from her very popular site even through her summer hiatus.  She was one of the first people in the blog-o-sphere to really help me along. 

The shrine has a US stamp inside of a German bottle cap.  The brewery is named "Kauzen" which means owl.  Hanna seems to really like these birds and I figure that it's no better time than Halloween to send her surprise and give her a hoot! 

I'm very pleased with how the lobster clasp worked out (I managed not to get any glue on it so that the shrine dangles freely). The only hard part is getting a "nice" hole in the bottle cap.  I've tried both a drill and a dremel before.  This time I used a Fiskar's paper punch. I wouldn't recommend this tool however because now mine no longer wants to punch paper very nicely.  Any other ideas out there?

The really bizarre thing is that Hanna's town in Sweden apparently has the pretzel as it's mascot.  I am inwardly convinced that this has some kind of meaning!! 

RAK Grandma

Is RAK a noun or a verb?  Can I say "RAK Grandma?" Or should I say, "I've sent Grandmother a RAK?"

In any case, for mail art beginners, "RAK" is an acronym for a "Random Act of Kindness."  It's simply a little handmade token, usually sent through the mail for no particular reason except as a surprise for the recipient.

Sometimes I'm so busy coordinating mail outs for my arty friends, I forget some of the other important people in my life. 

In northern Minnesota I hear there's already snow on the ground.  My Gram is nestled into a new assisted living apartment, her cozy home has been winterized and shut tight against the coming blizzards.  I know the adjustment is not easy, and I need to get into a consistent habit of sending her little notes and letters so she knows we're thinking about her.

My favorite part about mail art is the envelope.  In this digitized mass-generated world I love the idea of a hand made envelope passing through the hands of mail carriers who just might pause to consider what it is.

Grandma's RAK was this printed, punched and sewn ATC.  And in case you don't know my BBF concept, get informed here.  That's right, the tiny pic is the backside of the card!  That paper was painted with an old German rubber wallpaper roller and stamped with my hand carved initial stamp.

Maybe for Christmas I will make her a little box to hold her ATCs and this will encourage me to create her an entire collection!

Fab Fabric Giveaway

I normally wouldn't post about something when I haven't yet transacted with the other artist(s) but in this case, there is a really nice etsy shop called Miss Matatabi that is full of fun Japanese fabric.  The Australian owner is having a big autumn sale before the birth of her child. 

What I liked was that not only the designer fabric was affordable, so was the shipping.

So I went online and placed a sizable order, including an antique Nani Iro print from Kokka as well as a Lecien print that strangely enough had animals with their German names beneath them!!  I will pounce on my postman the moment my package arrives!

Go here to sign up for a giveaway, hosted by the Sweet Tidings blog which I'm also happy to have found.  Everybody's a winner!!

September Daily Creative Action

In September I was a little challenged for my 15-minute daily creative action because I was on the road for most of the month.  I was out of my element and away from supplies.  The only chance I had to keep at my daily creative practice was to keep my camera at my side.

My old Fuji FinePix S5000 has seen better days.  This poor baby has not only been bounced around in countless purses, bags, backpacks, and strollers, it's been outright dropped on several occasions.  It's been to births, birthdays, pools, lakes and about a dozen different countries.  Let's just say having bought it over 6 years ago it's given me my money's worth.

So now that purple lines are showing up across some of my images and on occasion it can no longer focus or regulate light, I can't exactly complain.  It's days are simply numbered.  I dread the replacement of such an expensive accessory, but I do look forward to a nice upgrade with a better lens.

For now, some of the last images captured by my old loyal friend...

And how about this awesome old wooden block I found...what a funky way to share my initials!!  I have to figure out how to get a little icon of this in my side margin.  And speaking of images and margins, I have to get a copyright notice in there too.  For now, lets just think the best of everybody and trust we're not snatching one another's intellectual property!!