R is for Red

Here is a set of stamps I used on a package with a red theme.

The stamps celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, the Year of the Rooster, Diwali, Summer Harvest, Forever Love and the 75th anniversary of Wonder Woman.

For more stamps with an R theme, check out the links at Sunday Stamps.

Banana from Dorothea

This unexpected banana arrived from Dorothea.

Inside this fun envelope.

Would you think it was strange if you received banana art in the mail?

Chevrons to Eva

Eva and I had had a small conversation about where the airmail edges on envelopes comes from. I always thought they were called chevrons, but they're actually not chevrons... and parallelograms just doesn't have the same ring.

Anyway, along my search for airmail chevrons and their source, I came across some printed envelopes by Alan B.

So I decided to print some chevrons on envelopes myself, and the Summer Harvest stamps seemed a good match.

Summer (Harvest) Solstice

I sent these two out to Keith and Honi a month ago on the solstice (you remember, the one with the full moon - something that won't happen again until 2062).

Who is Eduardo Munez part 6

The Who is Eduardo Munez? has already ended.

Here's one of the last I sent in. Any guesses (without cheating) what this is based on?

Answers in a few days.

Advent - summer harvest

The Summer Harvest stamps is one of my favorite sets from  USPS in 2015. They definitely influenced the creativity in envelope exchanges and other mail art. This one from Carol C blew me away when it arrived, not only for the great colors and composition, but also for the patience in getting these labels of fruit and containers so neatly.

Advent - retweets

In addition to her mail art blog, Eva also sends out mail art tweets. This envelope I sent her was retweeted by USPS! Next step, world domination.

Today is the 6th World Day of Faux Stamp Artists - 6ème Journée Mondiale du Faux Timbre d'Artiste

Every year for the last 6 years, Tony M, of Post Nomade, has been able to get La Poste, the French postal service, to allow artistamps or faux stamps to be used for one day as real postage. The mail has to go to a specific address. I have taken part for the last few years, and usually mail my envelope to Tony for him to post in France for me.

My stamps.

Real and faux stamps on the big envelope to Tony.

Smaller envelope for the special day.

You should be able to see other entries by clicking here.

Today is International Banana Appreciation Day

Here's a group shot of the banana mail I sent out to a group of banana mail lovers over at IUOMA, plus a few extras ;) Thanks to Linda F for the banana stamp she sent last year.

Banana mail went to the UK, Netherlands, Greece, France, Canada and the US.

October exchange - Halloween is coming!

Envelope  592 to Alyce

September exchange - awkward photo calendar envelopes part 2

To Shoshana

To Peggy

To Jean

From Chuck - wonderful art nouveau design in red and black.

August envelope exchange part 4

To Molly

I love the idea of up-cycling fruit/veg labels! They go perfectly with the Summer Harvest stamps. Carol C did a fantastic job with this one, and even sent me a bonus stamp.

August envelope exchange part 3

To Jean R.

A very creative design from Gina M to complement the great Summer Harvest stamp. This envelope has a texture to it as well. Love the ants.

Tomato retweet

Eva (of the mailadventures blog) tweeted the tomato envelope I sent her, and @USPSstamps retweeted it!

@USPSstamps homepage

The tomato retweet:

Jan and Jean's July exchange & Sunday Stamps

Today's Sunday Stamps theme is food and drink. Go here for links to more stamps with this theme.

USPS recently issued a set of four great Summer Harvest stamps. I decided to use them in Jean and Jan's latest envelope exchange, as well as a few bonus envelopes.

The five envelopes for the exchange, including one that was screaming for hand letters.

Bonus ones for Jean, Jan and Hester.

And extra tomatoes for Eva.

This set of stamps started out their design process more than a decade ago. Michael Doret, the designer, has a great two-part article on his website that is worth checking out if you would like to see the progression, as well as the fruits/vegetables that never made it.

Link to part 1

Link to part 2