Total Eclipse

Today is the big day, when the first total eclipse in to cross the continental USA in 99 years occurs, with a partial eclipse visible over the entire North American continent.

What better envelope to celebrate with than this excellent one from Cathy O.

The stamp shows the corona of the sun, only visible when the surface of the sun is blocked by the moon. USPS has really issued two stamps in one, as, when warmed, the thermochromic printing process reveals the ghostly surface of the moon.

The rest of the fun July envelopes came from...

 Jean - this one didn't scan well, it is bright pink in reality - and Troy - some stylish calligraphy.

Debbie made an envelope from a beautiful illustrated book page.

Amy put together this fascinating collage on her envelope.

And Tina used some sort of reveal-the-color technique. I am not 100% sure how she did it, as the black layer looks like it is stuck to the rainbow layer. Regardless, a great effect.

January exchange from Amy

I love the bubbles and the chemistry stamp - and even the balloon has a similar shape to the flasks.

Winter exchange to Amy and Maggie

Envelopes 762 and 764

And another animated December stamp that I didn't see last year.

Winter exchange from Amy (updated for Sunday Stamps).

This is a really cool idea for an envelope.

Updated for Sunday Stamps, where the theme is mountains (thanks for the hint, VioletSky!).

This stamp features a long exposure photo of the night sky over Mount Rainier, in the eponymous National Park which is in the US state of Washington.

For more links to mountainous postage, go to Sunday Stamps.

February exchange envelopes received

This lovely hand made envelope from Amy has wonderful vintage postage and got amazing cancels at the post office. Unfortunately, one of the postal machines must have thought the same thing, as there is a little bit nibbled away.

I love the way Carol C extended my surname onto the back. Clever!

Rehj played around with the computer to get a quilled effect on the letters to match the quilled heart stamp.

A classic  beauty from Lynne S.

I am saving the fifth envelope for later in the year - thanks, Rachael!

The rest of the incoming December exchange envelopes

One from Florence. I like the simplicity of this one, and the colors which go with the stamp.

One from Lynne - I love this idea for a modern take on a tree. Looks so cool, I need to remember this for next year.

Another clever tree, this time from Rehj.

Beautiful calligraphy from Karen. Karen always does such subtle, interesting things with her work. I love how she left off the 'rd' in 3rd, which would have interfered with the downstroke of the p.

An owl (from a calendar page) from Carroll, which came with a peace bird inside.

Vintage Christmas stamps from Amy S.

And last but not least, this one from Kate R.

It's been really great to receive so much beautiful mail over the holidays - thanks, everyone!

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Rehj has obviously been saving up her Christmas wreath global stamps - thanks for paying extra postage to get such a nice effect on the envelope. Which brings me to a bonus mini-rant today!

I buy most of my postage from usps.com as it is convenient and easier to browse than ask a busy postal clerk to browse through the filing cabinet of stamps for me. As of yesterday, there are currently NO Global Forever stamps available at the website. NO Christmas wreaths, NO multicolored oceans, nothing. I know a new issue is coming soon, but I think it is pretty bizarre to have so many options available for domestic postage, but none for international. 

Update 12 Feb: The new global stamps are finally available for preorder from USPS.com, with a 22 Feb release date.

Charley Harper to Amy