Dear Everyone ~
I’m still mentally recovering & rejuvenating from my kit assembly marathon over the last two weeks for Introduction to Glueing Happiness & Gourmet Bookful of Delectable Edibles. In the last several days, I’ve received numerous heartwarming reports from students who are in receipt of their kit parcel. I admit, my heart smiles from ear to ear each and every time I receive such an email. For excellent example:
“ Dearest Bari — Just want to let you know that the kit for the glueing workshop arrived last week and the papers are so beautiful!! and the kit itself is a symphony of care and anticipation. Thank you so very much for making these workshops available-they’ve brought hope, respite and creative stimulation when I’ve felt deeply lacking in all three. Workshop therapy: I’m all in. ” With gratitude, Olwyn
“ Dear dear Bari, The most beautiful marbled green paper arrived in my thoughtfully packaged parcel today. Each carefully wrapped item arrived safe and sound and I must say that I’m feeling a little antsy (in a good way) for our class to begin. A big green thank you! See you soon! ” Warmly, Melanie
I’m also grateful that the Post Office continues to deliver with such speed, economy, and reliability.
Combined, the two kits totalled 27 pieces of papers & bookboards, all of different proportions & sizes. The longest were the five sheets of thick Stonehenge drawing paper, 6 x 44, which I rolled and wrapped to look like a party popper. Students in the Bookful workshop will use these for accordioning. The tiniest piece was the Cockerell hand-marbled paper, 1¼ x 1⅞, that students in the gluetorial used to cover a madame butterfly-clip. Naturally, I had ensconced it in a vintage petite glassine envelope sealed with washi tape.
As part of my recuperating, I was chatting with my postal muse, Alyson Kuhn, about recent stamp issues, and amusing ways to position or juxtaposition them on an envelope. They too range (Heritage Breed pun) from large to tiny in size. We became enveloped in examples.
Alyson has a philatelic friend & correspondent, Antonio Alcalá, who has designed many U.S. stamps. She asked him if he could send photos of envelopes she’s mailed him franked with stamps he has designed. He definitely earned an A+ on this little assignment. Here you see a pair of stamps of a painting by Cuban artist Emilio Sanchez (2021), joined by a perfect hand-cancellation.
In contrast, these John Lennon stamps (2018), which Antonio designed from a photograph taken by Bob Gruen in August 1974, have been boldly pen-cancelled by someone at Antonio’s local post office, to prevent re-use. This treatment seems a bit overzealous, given the Let’s Save the Post Office sticker.
And here is Antonio’s Hearts Blossom stamp (2019), with his “love” hand-lettering and a kiss of a hand cancel.
Alyson also likes to frame an address. Vintage stamps, such as this Christmas set (1964), are easy to tear along the perforations. The hand cancels on the stamps (totaling 60¢) are even a bit wreath-like. These particular stamps were the first U.S. setenants (from the French to join), meaning that the stamps on the sheet are not all the same.
Aside: Se-tenants are common today—including several recent issues: Emilio Sanchez, Heritage Breeds (You’ll squawk if you didn’t buy them before they sold out!), Western Wear, Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses, and Barns.
If you are careful, the selvages and other design elements of self-adhesive stamps can be peeled away from their backing sheet for decorative purposes. Alyson made this frame from part of the Classic Era souvenir sheet (2016).
The new Mystery Message stamp (also designed by Antonio) is more than eye-catching. It color coordinates with absolutely any envelope. Alyson rotated the stamp in 90º turns for her “corner treatment” to another correspondent, completed with a thoughtful hand cancel.
Closing musing: Alyson & I are endlessly fascinated by how much personality a tiny piece of paper can embody. Alyson has actually spoken about this to various audiences, including a seminar at the National Stationery Show (see one of her slides below) and a roomful of creatives at Hallmark in Kansas City.
Scraps of decorative papers are in themselves the stuff of memory and collage and gifts...and tiny butterfly-clips! As I assemble my packets of Extremely Exquisite Scraps, my mind goes back to the projects I’ve used these papers on as well as where I originally acquired them.
Wishing you many blissful moments whilst creating, collaging & corresponding.
May you be mused, Bari