Summer Stationery Haul

There are few things in life I hoard. I prefer minimal and organized living spaces. But, when it comes to books and stationery, I admit I am weak.

I do try to limit these items and keep them confined to my library and office. If they start to spill over into the rest of the house (nightstands, dining tables, living room), I take it as a sign to purge. But, so far, I have remained fairly disciplined. 

This summer I stocked up on some of my favorite stationery supplies. I allowed myself to fill a small box kept in my office. Once it was filled, I put a halt on purchases (at least until Fall). Here's a look at the items I picked up this summer. Links for all items listed below. 

Classiky Rubber Stamp 
J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor Ink
P.W. Ackerman Ink - Purchased at Miami Pen Show
Twsby Fountain Pen 
Tim Hotlz Tissue Paper 
Moleskine Notebook 
Glassine Envelopes 
Cello Envelopes 
Vintage Postage Stamps (From Letter Writers Alliance Member Shop) 
Life Paper 
Classiky Paper 
Pen to Paper Book 
 

Outgoing: Summer Splash

Summer is officially here and I'm playing around with color and acrylic paints. Since I'll be part of the upcoming Miami Pen Show, I feel like I need to incorporate some fun, hot colors into my mail art. So I'm jumping in and making a splash. Literally. 

This week I'm playing around with a technique that produces inkblots with colorful paints. You basically drip paint onto the envelope then squish it to make an image. To make the image pop, I first painted a layer of white gesso onto a kraft envelope. 

I love the results, but the drying time takes a while. Best to make at least a day ahead and allow to dry overnight. Happy Summer!

Outgoing: Mystical Romance

My paper crafts and mail art often reflect the things that are attracting me. It's no surprise I'm really loving collage these days. I'm using the technique in almost everything. There's something about the layers. I can't quite figure it out, but I'm exploring it and playing with images. 

The process I use is simple. I flip through various magazines, books and ephemera and just pull out images that attract me. I don't think about why they attract me too much at first. I just pull them out and scatter them on my work table. Then I step back and look for patterns. It's amazing what pops out. 

Currently, I'm attracted to things that are mystical and romantic. I don't know why, but I'm willing to dig deeper. It's an adventure to let the unconscious be your guide.