Europe in 3, 2, 1

I leave for Brussels in less than three days and I'm mostly ready to go. I've got plane, train and bus tickets, I've got places to stay and I'm almost finished packing. I still have some research I'd like to do before I go so that I'll be conducting interviews with as much back knowledge as possible.

My trip route is Brussels- Paris- Amsterdam- Nimes- Gap- Florence- Cesena- Milan. Eight cities in 24 days. To make all the moving around easier I'm packing super light. Everything is fitting in a carry-on wheeled suitcase and a small backpack.

I'm really excited about the people I'll get to meet and the old friends I get to see again!

Cyberspace Acquisitions

Before I left for Newfoundland I did some online shopping. I have practical applications in mind for each of the things I bought, but if I'm really honest with myself, I just plain like collecting. I also love a full mailbox, so knowing that these three parcels were waiting for me upon my return was very exciting.

Firstly I bought these vintage photobooth pictures of the same woman but taken on three different days (you have to look closely at her clothes to tell.) I bought them in order to digitally collage them for some promotional materials for a project... but also because they're great.

Secondly, I finally bought "Photobooth Dogs." I already have almost every other book published on photobooths and was holding out on buying this one because ... (I'm about to become very unlikeable) ... I don't like dogs. In fact I like dogs so little that I haven't actually opened this book yet, though hopefully it holds tidbits of information that will prove insightful while I'm researching my book. 

And lastly, I bought these envelopes (on the left) for my Mail Art recipients. I like them because they have no text and the planes are red and green, instead of red and blue. Both these facts make these envelopes particularly unique. I can't wait to start using them! On the right are some of the envelopes that I've gradually bought, mostly from Etsy and eBay over the year and a half.

Souvenirs from Newfoundland pt.2

I got back from Newfoundland two days ago, where I had a lovely vacation to the east and west coasts of the island. Along the way I collected some goodies at junk shops, tourists shops and of course, at photobooths. Here are some of my finds.

I really like the illustration style of this massive poster, intended for a child's room. It fits the colour scheme of my room perfectly so I decided to put it up to keep my room cheery, since I've already started to pack up my usual decor in preparation for my move to Chicago.

I bought these handmade mittens at the Newfoundland Crafts Council shop, which I was really impressed by. I love visiting the Crafts Council galleries in different provinces, it makes Canada feel so unified to me. I bought this deadstock stationary items and old house-letters at a few places but mostly at Blue Star Traders in North Sydney, Cape Breton. Blue Star was a small department store that closed in the 70s and recently reopened to liquidate the vintage stock. I spent a lot of time in there, mostly in awe at the polyester trends of yesteryear.  

 

In a specialty tea shop in St. John's I found this silkscreened tea towel with a message and theme that I truly take to heart. I also thought it made for a nice wall hanging while my bedroom is in transition mode. And lastly, I found and used four photobooths in Newfoundland and one in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. I documented the booths for Photobooth.net's Locator feature.

Souvenirs from Newfoundland

I've been in Newfoundland for a week now and I'm sure happy I came. The history of this province is sure amazing, and seeing as how they only joined Confederation in 1949, their ties to England and Ireland are stronger here than anywhere else in Canada. I'm a sucker for anything vintage with the British royal family on it and it's no surprise that I love the postal system - so naturally I instantly fell in love with these stamps! They are from 1949 and earlier, when the province was still the Republic of Newfoundland. I bought two packs, one of used stamps and another in mint condition. My heart melts for these things. I'm going antiquing in St. John's today, with any luck my heart will be a soupy mess in the bottom of my chest by the end of the day.

Krista Leger took this photo for me last year when she was helping me document some of my collections for a blog I was contributing to. I didn't buy these in NFLD, they're just evidence of my love for royal family memorabilia. (This photo is of George V, Edward VIII, George VI + Queen Mother and Elizabeth II.)

I also stumbled on this amazing shop, Our Humble Abode. It's filled with mostly goods for the home, some of which are made by local artists. I bought this mug to add to my collection of "cups-I-like-too-much-to-drink-out-of-so-I keep-pens-in-them-instead."

One Year of Mail Art - June

One of the perks of my Photobooth Expedition IndieGoGo campaign was to receive a year of Mail Art. Four people are receiving this perk, so in the first week of every month until next May I'll be putting together little themed packages filled with drawings, poems, photos, etc.

There are also two puzzles that span the year. The first is a large drawing I did and cut up into 24 pieces and the second are letters on the back of every envelope that once I give the recipients the key on the last month, they can arrange to spell out the secret message.

I'll share the contents of the previous month's Mail Arts every month here on the blog. Unfortunately in June I forgot to photograph all of the contents before I sealed the envelopes. These drawings were included as well as a photobooth picture and a letter written on my typewriter. Below shows this month's puzzle pieces. The theme was "Summer Treats."

This week, I also bought these beautiful $2 stamps and some vintage envelopes off Etsy that haven't arrived yet. I calculated that since December 2011 I have now sent about 205 pieces of mail.  My collection of vintage envelopes has grown so much that to justify having them I should probably send another 205 before the year is out.