Postcards for posties

A little while back when we were in Warrnambool, a woman at the post office did us a kind turn (explained above) by coming up with a creative solution when Scout was crying because she couldn't find a postcard to send to her friend.

It was a little thing, but it made the world of difference to my little girl. We were so touched at this woman's thoughtfulness and creativity that, when we got home the next day, I painted up a postcard of my own, and sent it to the Warrnambool post office, to say thank-you.

I'm thinking I should do this more often. There are plenty of other posties I could thank!

For example, at my local post office, I only recently learned that when I send mail-art, if the addressee's country is not written in the same section and colour as the rest of the address, the mail gets returned. But nothing has ever been returned to me and all my mail (as far as I know) has always made it to its destination, because the lovely couple who run the Carlton North post office handle the returns themselves, rather than passing them on to me, and draw circles around the countries to make sure they won't be missed again. I should make them a postcard to say thank-you.

When I sent out the mail-art invitations to my Dad's birthday party, a large number of them all went to the same country town where my Dad lives. Those must have been quite bulky and annoying, en masse, for the poor, hard-working, mountain postie to deliver. I should write him or her a postcard to say thank-you.

So many of our posties go above and beyond to deliver the mail on time. I reckon I could think of at least 10 other posties who deserve a thank-you postcard from me today. How about you?

Dad turns 70: the mail-art edition

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We have been on the road to celebrate my father's 70th birthday, in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, north-west of Sydney.

Mr B and I organised a party for my Dad and 74 of his nearest and dearest and, despite a Fawlty Towers-esque performance from the venue we had selected, it was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed themselves so much that three hours after our estimated "finish time," they were still kicking on. My brother and I were the party-poopers who eventually wound things up, and I want to say it was only because we were thinking of the needs of our children, who were drooping with weariness and plummeting blood sugars, but it was most likely also because we were both designated drivers and ready for a drop or two of leftover champagne once safely home.

I sent out little boxed surprises to all Dad's guests in lieu of invitations, and incorporated their addresses into painted pictures to make things a bit fun for them. In total, I think I sent about 55 painted boxes.

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We created some other fun little surprises, both in the invitations and for the party itself, which I'll share with you in another post.

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The Most Beautiful Letter You Have Ever Written

Come join me and a host of gentle, creative, like-minded people in my five-week letter-writing and mail-art course, delivered entirely online. This course is all about creativity, personal connections, and spreading joy to others through the old-fashioned postal service. Learn more or join in here.

Geometry + colour

I've been painting triangles. Scenes, events, glimpsed through thick-paned, antique windows. I'm not exactly sure what I'll make of them, yet. Perhaps I'll create prints: a set of postcards, maybe? Or some note cards?

ΔΔ Wet autumn watercolour, gouache and pen-and-ink on paper

ΔΔ Passing parade watercolour, gouache and pen-and-ink on paper

ΔΔ School fete watercolour, gouache and pen-and-ink on paper

ΔΔ Toy store watercolour, gouache and pen-and-ink on paper

ΔΔ Brush-fire watercolour, gouache and pen-and-ink on paper