Getting ready +

 I needed a new suitcase for our trip. I wanted something very light weight and lucky for me, someone did a lot of research and I happened on it. She bought three suitcases and reviewed them on a web site (wish I could remember which one.) She had certain criteria - like it won't tip over! a good one.  She did all the research and I used it. My suitcase arrived today. It's an Eagle Creek Hovercraft 2, 22" (no one is paying me to write this!)  I'm pleased. Thank you, Lady, whoever you are.

My friend Anke in Germany, sent out a holiday greeting which included this drawing by her son Lars. I love it! I just had to share it with you.

The geese are still in the park. I took that route home from Spanish class today, as usual, so I could check on them. I had to navigate my turn slowly, as several geese were crossing the road. I'm happy to see them there. A lot of people complain about them, but I'm thrilled to see wildlife, like this, just a few blocks from my house in the city.




Here are a couple of my African Violet plants. They are blooming beautifully. I've arranged for them to be cared for while I'm away. I'm very fond of them and have had them for awhile.

 Here are two pages from the booklet that I'm working on. I think the fan, with the piece of a photo I took in Venice, works really nicely.

 On this double-page spread, I adhered a small envelope that is transparent and put some scraps in it.  For the line that continues across all of the pages, I'm using an ink brush pen.

 Yesterday, I received mail from my friend Andrea in the U.K. You might remember her and her friend Beanie, whom I met while in London last spring. She used some kind of holographic tinsely pen, which I like a lot, and which doesn't show up on this scan. boo hoo. The musical holiday greeting is from Roberto in P.R.

I played around with watercolors today and made some mail art with it. I sent it unscanned and un-numbered!

More of London, an old friend, mail art #106, 107 & 108

#108

 It was such fun to take the Tube and we did mind the gap. It's quite easy to get around on the Tube and the buses. We bought  Oyster cards, which allowed us to get on without buying tickets each time. Very convenient. We felt like Londoners (well, not quite.)

 We'd arranged to meet my old friend Andrea and little Beanie mouse at the Tate Modern. Here we are after spending a good portion of the day together at the Tate, before Andrea and Beanie headed home to Hove. I've been corresponding with Andrea for a very long time, so it was like meeting an old friend though this is the first time we've met in person. You can read about their adventures here.

 We went to the Victoria and Albert to see their amazing ceramics collection. We were particularly interested in their contemporary ceramics. What a treat. We got to see the exhibit curated by Edmund de Waal (who wrote the book I read called The Hare with the Amber Eyes) of one of a kind contemporary ceramic works. We saw his installation of white ceramics on a red shelf set high up in a dome. You can see it on his site. I was really happy to be seeing this, since I'd read about it.

 The Victoria and Albert is a wonderful museum in a wonderful building.

#106

 Here are two more pieces of mail art that I made in London. You can see by the bits and pieces I used that they are place specific.

#107

Here are more Mail Art cards that I made while in London.












The card I made while having lunch with Andrea and Beanie at the Tate Modern is at the very top.