Tales from Studio Mailbox

Hanging It Up

Michelle Ward's November Crusade #46 is about framing, hanging and displaying our artwork.  Although I should take this further and actually follow the advice and start putting stuff up in my house, I took this challenge and used it for a gift giving purpose.

Normally when it comes to special birthdays, anniversaries or weddings, I tend to give a small handmade token on the package or else present the gift with a handmade card.  I've always sort of thought that gifting a framed creation would be a bit presumptuous, as if I actually expect the recipient to hang it up on their wall.

But the perfect occasion arose to do just this.  A colleague of the hubby who I've known for years was turning 40.  This is the same guy who said he wished I would do the artwork for every room in their dreadfully decorated company after my hubby hung up my CMYK canvas in his office!  What artist would ever get tired of hearing a compliment like that?  These are the same guys who work with Roland, my friend who asked me to make the New York artwork for his wife's 40th.  Surely this was a sign...

So instead of my standard plain-old birthday card, I worked up an A4 journal page.  The German word for printing is "Druck" so I made up a hybrid of "print" and his actual last name.  So of course this really doesn't make sense unless you know him and then it's quirky and clever.  The other element that's meaningful is the use of the color bar from a printer's sheet. These are normally trimmed away from the pages but since these guys do color proofing it's an appropriate element for the office.  I bravely slapped it into a manly black frame and then I crossed my fingers in German.

The day after his party the hubs got a message, "tell your girl that I'm totally happy about the collage that's going up in my office!"  Greetings, Druckert

 

 

 

 

Stocking Stuffer Accessories

Well just because I can't partake in "Black Friday" doesn't mean I can't post a couple of terrific Germanic ideas for your Wunschzettel. (Wish list).

First, Spiegelburg came out with the sweetest little Edelweiss hairpins. (Bestell-Nr. 50072). I pretended to buy them for my own stocking but had them in my hair within 24 hours.  I am magnetically attracted to all things alpine, most especially the resilient flower of higher altitudes.  Please Santa, do bring more! 

Secondly, Escapulario has come out with this super cool bracelet of Lebkuchen hearts mounted on wooden beads.  (Lebkuchen is gingerbread, and I'm talking about those giant heart shaped cookies sold at fair grounds). A classic icon of Deutschland, all on a stretchy band just waiting to be worn by you.

My mother-in-law snatched the one and only from a store display, and allowed me to wear it immediately.  I'm am sooo spoiled.  Everyone knows you're not supposed to buy yourself anything from November onward to ensure great gifts.  Now I'm probably gonna get a lump of coal...

Come a Long Way

Oh it's cliche I know, but I can't help but be a little proud of the recent freshen up!  Studio Mailbox really has come a long way since the day I sat down and just decided to start from somewhere.

So here's what's changed the last few days:

There's a new banner (so come click inside if you're viewing this in a reader!).

The categories are cleaned and reorganized.

There's a new "ABOUT" page (I'd love feedback on that.  How does it look on PCs, etc? Does it have enough info?).

-and-

My 10 favorite posts are listed in the sidebar for those wanting a trip down memory lane, or for those who are new here.

So there you are.  Lift your glasses ladies and gentlemen!

Although it's not quite 100% where I want it to be, I feel like I've made some huge strides up the mountain. 

Hmm...and one last question:  what'd yall think about the gingerbready brown color behind the banner? You have to pick something that becomes the padding and I'm not sure about it.  When the page is loading you get this big brown brick of poo looking at you.  Thoughts...???

 

 

 

 

 

Merger and Re-Org

Ok there's nobody joining forces with us. (But sassy title for the post eh?)  Yet much like when it was time for me to evict the crafty squatter, it's now time to re-organize here at Studio Mailbox.

Things have evolved since it first started and like anything that begins small and keeps growing, it's time for a reassessment. 

I've recognized several places where things can be merged or transferred and sadly, even a few places that can be terminated.  Stuff usually needs to get to a really bad state before I'm willing to make any changes, but the biggest thing that's bothering me is that if new readers come to the site it's not really apparent what the categories are, what they mean or what I'm even all about.  (Thanks to a little nudge from Kirsty Hall to beef up my "About" page).

So while I continue to wait for the camera to come back from service, I'm going to poke around and clean up some stuff around this dump.  I'm worried that this could mean that stuff gets re-posted to the feeders and that I might aggravate my small but dear subscribership.  I'm sorry in advance if it's a crappy mess for awhile, but please don't leave me just because I'm going through blog detox.  Usually, people come out stronger and wiser after this kind of thing...

I've got Monday through Thursday reserved to get this done.  So assuming the snuffles my child is having don't get worse, we'll be seeing eachother on the flip side this weekend all freshened up.  Have a great creative week and a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday!

 

Mail Art Love - RAKs

I've had some great mail lovin' lately and have been completely lax about posting these awesome postal surprises.  I was so busy photographing everything before I had to bring my camera into service that now I'm totally unorganized with all the photos.  

This wacky Day of the Dead ATC came from my girl over at Skytimes.  Skytimes is currently traipsing around the world on a long holiday that's been well deserved.  I'm looking forward to her return and hearing about her adventures. 

My friend Anne from Film and Thread sent me scraps of Alexander Henry fabric with various US states all over it.  I was so gaga over her quilt that I basically begged for any remnant of Minnesota or New Mexico.  Man did my heart melt when I opened an enveloped stuffed full and I was touched by the little black "film roll" scrapbooking ornament that just totally makes me think of my friend in Alabama and all her cameras. These groovy die cuts are going to be fun to use, I've never tried them before!

The last treasure pack came from Lay Hoon of MeScrap.  I won her Asian Tag giveaway but it felt more like I won the lottery because she also enclosed tons of sweet Asian treasures that I am going to have fun incorporating into upcoming journal pages and collages. 

All of these RAKs are major treats because they're simply things that aren't here in Germany AND they're sent from the hearts of other artists who are so talented and giving.

Frame in a Frame

  Man I'm all over the place!  There's so much going on out there and I'm loving all the cool blogs and people I'm finding through classes, mail art projects and (yes, i admit) even facebook!

One of the blogs I'm loving is The Kat Eye View of the World.  She's got some super photography going on over there and even a section for images she's taken in Germany!  (Lemme hear a *woot! woot!!*) So go check her out.

One of her recent posts was about a cool thing called frames within frames.  It's basically about finding shots where the subject somehow frames itself.  I've always been super attracted to window and doorways and I thought it was because they represent a change between interiors and exteriors.  Now I'm thinking it's also because they're just so compositionally interesting!  Go check out what other folks linked up to her post - awesome.

I'm a little hesitant to share my shots from my iPhone, (amongst real photographers) but my "real" camera is off for repairs.  Yet I thought of Kat immediately when I saw this little opening up in the woods where I work out.  So I wanted to share my "natural" frame too!

TJs Picasso Dog

Got a lot of emails after my griping the other day, tons of suggestions for entertaining me in English.  Thank you all so much.  One of the things I've really been enjoying are the Voo Doo Lounge Podcasts.  Rice (pronouced like "Lisa" 'cept with an "R") has published a bunch of cool creative interviews.

I'm finding that I'm having a little trouble journaling and listening though.  Before I thought it was only having the German TV or radio in the background that was short-wiring my brain, but it turns out I can't journal and listen to any conversation in any language.  I can doodle &  freestyle but can't actually formulate coherent writing while simultaneously tuned into something.  Anybody else struggle?  Or is it only my brain that's so cramped...?

One of Rice's podcasts has turned me onto Carla Sonheim.  She walks you through a project for a "Picasso Dog."  I thought this was fun because no matter how it turns out, you get what you get because you're simply following directions instead of instructing your hand according to your own ideas.  This is especially appealing to me because if you hate your dog, then you can always blame the exercise and not yourself.  Perfect!  Turns out I totally love my mutt.  And now I've got to figure out how to get Carla here in Germany so she can talk to me over walkie-talkies and tell me exactly how to draw stuff every day.  Genius!

 

 

 

Postcard Swap - Mail Out

I sent off my postcard to Brandi from Painted Rabbit several days ago but haven't been connecting to the other artists in the project because I ended up with a sick kid at home for several days. 

In any case, swaps are always a fun and good way to find new blogs and people.  I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody made.  And of course I have to admit that I'm anxiously awaiting whatever should be arriving in my post box.  A bonus prize is also on it's way -- check out what I won!  My poor German postal carriers are going to be so scared of me as I sit and stalk my kitchen window for their yellow delivery truck...(**thrashing head and letting out demented mail art laugh**).

A quick note to thank Beth for hosting this.  She was super organized, sending a very official message with clear instructions as to where to send and what to do.  Now I've just got to get my disorganized self pulled together and go figure out the Flikr step!  Another shout out to the 1st lady of my village who left a nice comment on this post, telling me what the equivalent to "Home Sweet Home" is in German.  She is such a great supporter and asset... there is nothing better than having an informant as your neighbor!

Here is a little peek at what I made.  The small inchie window opens through to the lucky tag I tucked inside that has a Schornsteinfeger.  Do you think I'm joking about the German equivalent to the leprechaun?  Here's another one of these strange fellas crawling on the 1st Lady's house!  This insures a huge dose of luck for Brandi and all those who view the postcard...

Cupboard Redo: Before and After Video

I think maybe it's viewable now that Germany worked it out with You Tube for me.  Thanks Germany, I always did love you.  Sorry I was a little mean for a minute there yesterday.

So here's the story of the finished old cupboard!  I've been busy trying to make movies which is super fun but extremely time consuming.  My dance moves and outfit are seriously horrifying, but this was so much work I feel compelled to share it anyway... (please please go easy on me)!  And spread the love... if you like it, post it and make fun of me when I'm not looking...??

 

 

 

 

 

Uncooperative Universe

Everything's going wrong around me.  The universe is not cooperating with me getting anything done creatively.  Just when I post about missing England I had a wonderful long weekend in Garmisch Partenkirchen which is one of the most famous ski resort towns in Germany.  Had the greatest weather imaginable, even got to journal outside on the hotel balcony overlooking the Alps.  Sighted tons of pretzels and German wonderfulness, but haven't been able to organize all the photos and plan out the posts.

The camera is broken.  At first it was only the lens that is so heavy it no longer can "stay put" when adjusted.  The weight of it pulls itself out into zoomed position.  So that's fun.  Then the camera itself has started giving me errors after nearly every photo taken.  Called Media Market and have to bring it all in.  Of course that can't be done until I find the boxes and receipts.  If I can't locate the receipt in the land of paperwork, I may as well pitch it in the local river and save for a new one.  I should've known better since I first had frustrations with the damn thing.

Germany is the last holdout with some copyright issue stuff with music used in You Tube.  So I've made an awesome cupboard refinishing video, but can't view it myself although everybody outside Germany probably can.  I don't really know.  It's pissing me off because I also can't watch any other videos that contain copywritten content.  For me, this is a travesty.  You might as well throw me in the cellar and blindfold me.  I hate German TV and my computer is my one outlet to the outside social world.  Whether or not this is pathetic is besides the point.  Now not only do I think I live in a craft deprevation zone, I also live in a social media black hole.  Get your shit together Germany.  I want You Tube back. 

To top it off, my child has not slept for days on end.  I'm so tired that now I'm not only the oddball foreign mother of the village, I'm also a vampire.  Headed to the pediatrician in 15 minutes to evaluate what is up with this 3 year old german hybrid organism that I call my son.

To quell my anxiety about photos, I've been playing with iPhone apps.  Really loving the "Sketch" app that allows very primitive graphic tools right on your phone.  It's sort of fun in an addictive puzzle-making way.  Quit laughing.  Yes, that is Kirstin Dunst in my world.  I sit around rubbing the screen and pretending I'm watching something good in You Tube.  Pray for me.