I had such a great time shooting this week's episode of Look, Learn & Create with Jennie Hinchcliff at Maker Faire! She joined me in making a needle felted bookmark to go in my Makeready journal. If you want to make one too grab yourself a recycled wool felted sweater, Sizzix bird die, Clover needle felting tools and go to town with your creativity.
Check it out.
If you are wondering who Jennie Hinchcliff is and why she happened to be with me at Maker Faire, I'll tell you. Jennie is the co-author of the up-coming book:
Good Mail Day:
A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art
By
Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler
"What is a good mail day?" A good mail day is a day when, instead of just bills, catalogs, and advertisements, your postal carrier delivers artful, beautiful, personal mail from friends and acquaintances all over the world. Mail art is a collaborative art form with a long and fascinating history populated by famous artists as well as everyday practitioners.
The term "mail art" refers to pieces of art sent through the mail rather than displayed or sold in traditional venues. Mail artists often use inexpensive and recycled materials including postcards, collage, rubber stamps, and photocopied images. Mail art is a truly international activity and a fun way to connect with people in every corner of the globe. Readers will learn to create decorated and illustrated envelopes, faux postage and artistamps, find penpals, make a mail art kit, and much more!
Jennie Hinchcliff has been an active part of international mail art circles and communities for over a decade, has curated San Francisco mail art shows, and produces the quarterly mail art zine Red Letter Day. She teaches book arts and bookbinding at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Carolee Gilligan Wheeler teaches popular classes on bookbinding at the San Francisco Center for the Book.
And if you want more Sweater Surgery goodness grab yourself a copy of
Sweater Surgery
How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters or click on the link below for more free projects, patterns and ideas.
And today's question is:
Have you ever sent anything crazy through the mail or how do you put your special touch on mail?
As a thanks for answering you will be entered to win a free book.
I have made shaker cards with rubber stamps and beads and sent them through the mail in a clear envelope so that you could shake the card a fill up (in this case) a margarita glass. Thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Marci | July 21, 2009 at 02:45 PM
I tat up laces and mail them internationally for exchanges. I did consider sending them in clear envelopes, but is so afraid the postman likes them too much to deliver them! Well, I did occasionally decorate the envelopes, especially doodling and gluing simple & small tatted flowers.
Posted by: Ellen Lai | July 21, 2009 at 06:22 PM
I love sending birthday cards through the mail. I do often decorate the envelopes with stickers and such but I sometimes put a generous helping of glitter into the card so when it is opened the glitter flies all around. Just some extra fairy dust to help with the birthday wishes.
Posted by: Lynda Taylor | July 21, 2009 at 07:07 PM
i have RECEIVED a coconut through the mail. as far as sending anything, i used to participate in mail art. nothing earth-shattering at the time. also, when i make cards for someone else, i always put an image on the envelope that goes with the card - more of a personal touch.
Posted by: rush | July 21, 2009 at 08:11 PM
The craziest thing I've sent through the mail are fiber postcards. I made a bunch as a "trade" for Art & Soul when they were in Dallas and I had my "trade" partners address them and I mailed them from Dallas.
Posted by: Katina | July 21, 2009 at 09:33 PM
I've sent plastic soda bottles filled with collage ephemera through the mail and have also received the same. So much fun to send small gifts that way too.
Posted by: BrendaLea | July 22, 2009 at 09:44 AM
I've sent plastic piggy banks and clear boxes (like the ones that some stamps come in) full of goodies through the mail, without any outside wrapping. I always wondered what the postal workers thought about them ...
Posted by: wendy | July 31, 2009 at 06:24 AM