Jo Urbani: Stitchie Swap!

So lovely to find lots of stitchies for the swap landing in my mailbox now! I did a happy dance when my friend Jo Urbani's arrived from the UK this past weekend. :o) 

There are 4 because she made an extra one for me! Only 3 are required.

Thanks so much, JO! 

Ocean/Sunset ATCs: Jo Urbani

From my friend and partner in Mail Art - Jo Urbani, we have 6 fishy, Ocean-y blue/green ATCs. I can't believe Jo has just moved house! I am delighted she was able to squeeze these in before she left town for her new digs! If I remember correctly, she described making them as her "art therapy" in-between packing up those last boxes. I am happy that in a week and a half or so I can send her an envelope of beautiful return ATCs to her new home. Yay!

  All the added paint is great . . . I love splatters.

All the postage stamps are awesome. 

I did not take a scan, but the backs of Jo's ATCs feature a title

that I believe is the name of the Fish on the postage stamp :)

Fab, Jo!! 

Jo Urbani - Inspiration Collage

Jo's collages have made it from the UK, hooray! I am so happy to share them with you.

I really love all of her cards!

Begin the game :O)

This one is especially cool the way she took the Dove candy wrapper & used it! 

 I've been trying to keep it simple and just share the 3 cards,

but I must share Jo's envelope with you . . . swoon! 

Thank you SO much my friend! 

Joanna Urbani - prayer Flag swap!

From my friend Joanna in the UK - hip hip hooray! Her prayer flags have made it on time even though she was sending from "across the pond". Joanna so kindly made 4 flags, which means she made one flag as a gift for me! I am so happy. I'm going to have a very long string of prayer flags to share with you when the swap concludes! In fact, we can all share, as I will add a Link-up Tool at that time for sharing photos, that will be fun!

Jo made her flags out of a tan, plain linen-like fabric combined with swatches of her daughter Hope's old plaid school dress!! You can read more about it on Jo's blog, Fiddlesnips.

She hand embroidered all 4 flags very nicely. I would say her embroidery looks a lot better than what I did on one of my flags! Jo's flags are basically the same with a few variations in her embroidery and trims. I adore the frayed edges and think that will look very nice blowing in the wind, spreading the thought of 'learn from nature'. ; 0 )

thank you so much, Jo!! 

Joanna Urbani: haiku ATC swap

Joanna's beautiful haiku ATCs arrived from Kent, UK and I feel so lucky to be able to hold them in my hands. The only way I could give you an indication of how beautifully iridescent they are was to photograph them. Please right-click for the largest view.

Then I scanned them for details.

Joanna's husband helped her with a few of the words . . . 

like surveying ; ^)

Please read more on Joanna's blog!

I think I may be making another set of these if I can. Have fun! 

Due October 8th -still time to join.

Joanna Urbani: postcard mail art swap!!

Oh my, what layered beauties my friend Joanna has sent in for our postcard mail art swap - so yummy! They are delectable, in my opinion . . . Joanna most have known I'd fall in love with them as she enclosed an extra postcard for me!

Joanna enclosed the postcards in plastic sleeves with a single piece of waxed paper over the gel medium to protect them on their journey.

Here is one postcard, fully revealed in all it's beauty! 

don't you just love it? mmmmmm!

Obviously, I adore Joanna's style. I have many mail art envelopes she's created on display in my studio. I think I will mail these postcards in the plastic sleeves to protect them, putting the postage on the outside of the clear sleeve so the postman can cancel it. Thanks for not sealing them so I could take one out to scan!  Below is the postcard back. Joanna shares a bit more on how she created these on her blog. Enjoy!!

love these! 

#19.Joanna Urbani ~ little book swap!

From my friend Joanna who lives in the garden of England: Kent, UK, we have 3 lovely and Royal little books! One she wants me to keep as a gift -- thank you so much, Joanna! She enclosed a letter with her books saying, "I've gone Royal Wedding Crazy -as has most of the UK over the past few weeks (!) and my books are all about another Royal Wedding . . . " ~ I love Joanna's little books. She has little bits of paper of all sizes and appropriate Royal words, pictures and even snippets of fabric! Let me show you:

click on any photo for more details . . . 

Joanna has a fabulous blog I visit all the time. Here is a direct link to the post she wrote about creating her Royal Wedding Books and just click on the title of her blog, Fiddlesnips if you want to go to the most recent post. Have fun visiting her -she's a hoot, and thank you, Joanna!!! I love your books and I am quite "chuffed" you made one for me!! xo lenna

Joanna Urbani: vintage note card swap!

Joanna's note cards took a little while to get here from the UK, I think because of the huge amount of snow they had? Her package spent 11 or 12 days traveling instead of the usual 5-7. But what a delight when the cards arrived yesterday! I must share the mail art envelope Joanna sent them in, as I love it so much. Click for detail.

Thanks so much, Joanna!

And here are the lovely cards and envelopes that were wrapped up inside . . . .

The back of the envelopes and cards, below

I love the thumbprint seal on the back of the envelopes.
Joanna labeled her cards very nicely too. 

Beautiful Note Cards!

Joanna explains how she made her note cards and tells us some of the materials she used on her blog, Fiddlesnips! Go give her a visit : ^ )

Joanna Urbani: mail art swap!!

Joanna Urbani from Kent, UK, sent in 4 envelopes that are so appealing to me. I know Jo from being in Mary Green's vintage collage classes and have always admired her collage art. Her blog, Fiddlesnips is funny and delightful too! I am so tickled that Joanna joined my swap and I adore her envelopes!

The pussycat did get lost visiting the queen on the way to see me!!

love this "sorry nothing inside" on the back! 

You Rock, joanna!!