Mail Art Received

A couple of weeks ago, in the midst of Christmas cards, bills and advertisements in our mail box, was this beautiful mail art envelope from Lenna...


And inside, there were three gorgeous postcards from the Creative Swaps Mail Art Swap...


from Rita in Wisconsin...

from Rebecca in Australia...

and from Becky in Arkansas...

Lenna worked at swapping mail art to send back that she thought we would love. I'd say she was right on with her choices for me--it felt like Christmas had arrived early and I definitely love them!!

Thanks so very much for a great swap, Lenna;) And for your incredible art, big thank you's to Lenna, Rita, Rebecca and Becky!!!

Marilyn

Vintage Easter Postcard

(click image to enlarge)

I think vintage postcards have the most interesting images. This is one that I purchased about a year and a half ago. The postmark is from Columbus, Nebraska and dated April 14, 1911.

The postcard itself was printed in Germany and the squiggly lines are raised, but it was the image that attracted me. To me, it could be an illustration for a fairy tale--I'm sure there's a story in there someplace. It also reminds me of vintage images I've seen of children riding on the backs of turkeys or flying geese, etc.

I'd love to share this image with you. Please feel free to copy it and use in any of your artwork.

Marilyn

Girls just wanna have fun!

Don't these gals look like a fun-lovin' trio?! I bought this post card at a nearby antique mall. The postmark reads Kansas City, MO, October 15 , 1917. It was written by a woman, named Willie, to her "Homefolks" living in a rural town that is now about an hour's drive (on the interstate) from Kansas City. She notes that she is having a good time and will be coming home Tuesday night.

I started wondering about Willie's life and the lives of other midwest women in those days. I most often imagine it as one filled with work, work, work...and I don't doubt that it was. I do wonder, however, if those same hard working women took a break once in a while and just let loose! I'm guessing that they did. The times may have been different, but a woman's spirit couldn't have been so different just 90 years ago, could it?

Now, I'm not saying for sure that Willie was in Kansas City in October, 1917 letting loose. But she was having a good time and she bought a postcard with a picture of three free-spirited, tree-climbing women on the front. That's enough for me. Willie, you go girl!

Marilyn