Shinkansen Stamps

There's a lot of national pride in the continued development of Shinkansen trains and routes. Not long before I visited, they had opened a Hokuriku route, which has made Kanazawa, a formerly backwater town, a major destination. A route to Hokkaido is in the works. The rides are priced nearly as much as airlines tickets, which means, like airlines, JR has to offer discounts. They come in various forms such as sales of tickets through third party discount ticket brokers, block sales to businesses and travel agencies and rail passes for foreigners. The trains are filled to capacity during the holidays and rush hour, but at off-peak hours there are plenty of empty seats. Regardless of the economics, it's a marvel to travel like the wind on one of these trains. This sheet was issued in 2014.

Train Maxi Cards

On my recent trip to Japan I paid a visit to the Kitte Building across from the Tokyo train station. This used to be the main post office before privatization took over. Now it's a fancy office building with a small post office on the ground floor. But what a post office it is! In December the place was filled with customers picking out New Year cards and stamps. One of the positives of privatization is the proliferation of beautiful stamps and mailing items. And at this location, a large selection of stamps is available, along with gotochi cards, postcards, postal-themed stickers and folders, among other things. This collection of full frontal train imagery captured my attention.The postcards are paired with stamps for a Maxicard effect. 

Vanitas

A fabulous vanitas card from a postcrosser in Germany. She works in a pharmaceutical laboratory. The vanitas theme relates to decay and meaninglessness of life, yet this writer is longing for spring, the renewal of life.

Military Bombs and Flying Machines

Here's an interesting card about military intelligence from a postcrosser in Germany. 

Interesting Creatures

The crazy drunken bird was created by a postcrosser from Belarus. She is a first year student of architecture. 

A fun collage of buffalo, bird and wolf by a Polish postcrosser.

This UFO meets Loch Ness Monster was created by a German postcrosser.

Red Lips

Interesting collage of two different images. They work very well together. Work by postcrosser from Rotterdam, Netherlands. The eye goes immediately to the large red lips.

Ah Love!

This lovely altered card arrived from a postcrosser in Belarus. It was originally an ad card but with just a few words, the card became beautiful!

Love & Crime

Two collage cards on the subject of love and crime

Whimsical Alterations

A card from a Taiwanese postcrosser depicting a fisherman who has caught money, snacks and fruit along with fish.

 A Russian postcrosser purchased this card from an unusual store that combines a free library and lecture hall. She altered it by adding a few stickers and word bubbles.

A sweet card from a postcrosser in Japan. She explained that her favorite shape is a triangle. The alterations are the flying bread. She explained, rather mysteriously, that she does not bread being thrown into her house. I am not familiar with this practice.

Caffeinated

This heavily altered card has rose petals, coffee and sugar enclosed. Amazing it made it over here with just one stamp!

Inside and Out

Here is fun altered postcard from a Dutch postcrosser. She drew and cut out the woman and the cat so that we get a view of her from the front and behind. This alteration was made on a card with just the two windows. 

More Sheep

Sheep stamps from my mom!

CNY card from Susan

New Year card from Tomoe

A sheep handmade card from a Dutch postcrosser

Wonderful stamps and cards on the Year of Sheep (or lamb or ram or goat). I am glad to receive these wonderful cards on this year's zodiac beast.

Two Favorites Sent

I have treasured this card by Carmen Lomas Garza, a San Francisco artist. This is a painting of a healer curing an earache. It was mailed to a postcrosser in the Netherlands who is a physiotherapist.

This card was in a pack of movie cards I picked up at the White Elephant sale in January. It's going to a young woman in Poland who asked for a Marilyn Monroe card.

Recent Altered Cards from Postcrossers

Drawn by a young, ill child in Russia

Altered by someone in Russia who doesn't like fat women

Altered by a South African postcrosser. She removed half of the card, then reassembled it back.

A jolly card from Germany. Guys singing songs loudly on the First of May.

A daisy surrounded by lambswool from a postcrosser in Austria

A laced up altered card from Germany

An anti-gun postcard from Australia

An altered Eiffel Tower card from a photographer/artist in Russia

Toyama

Toyama is along the Sea of Japan and known for their hydroelectric business. I love the thatched roofed houses in this postcard. The postcrosser decorated the back of the card with ribbon and stickers. She used a beautiful stamp illustrating the ancient game of kai-awase.

WES

It's my annual treat and adventure to go to the Oakland Museum White Elephant Sale. For a good cause and great shopping!

Traveling Cards

Two cards from different parts of the world. The cactus is from Susan, who was visiting Tucson over New Year's She said it snowed there.
The card to the right that looks like a row of airport scanners is an art installation by Paola Pivi in China. These are supposed to dispense water, red wine, orange juice, ink, glycerin, mint syrup, espresso, almond syrup and facial tonic. Nauseating to list...

New Year Card in February

Friend Judy sent me a New Year card last week. She said it's a Happy New Year card as it isn't yet Valentines Day. That reminds me...I need to take down my New Year decorations and put up some hearts.

Kobe Daibutsu

Mom sent a retro card of the buddha statue in Kobe. It's still there but surrounded by factories and homes.

Women Do It!

Some of the lovely postcards that are arriving for the Women Do It! Postcard show. We are accepting all postcards on this theme. To apply, go to  http://wcainternationalcaucus.weebly.com/women-do-it-postcard-exhibition-2014-and-beyond.html#dashboard.

Two Whimseys

A German postcrosser created a cute story about a lonely Teddy Bear.

A Finnish postcrosser created characters out of buildings and the lake. I love her imagination!

Love to Read

Here's an altered card that speaks to the Portuguese postcrosser's love of reading. She explained the the quote means, "Great characters are more real than ourselves." Indeed, I love books that have good character development. 

Matryoshka Dolls

Anna, a prior postcrosser, sent a lovely altered card with Russian nested dolls. I love the way she decorated this card with markers and a pretty ornament on one edge. I will have to send her a nice altered card in return. 

Aloha!

 Three retro Hawaiian cards to postcrossers living in wintry conditions. The pineapple goes to Belarus, The surfer goes to Canada and the lei-maker goes to Germany. All cards from WES.

Lolita

Another find at the WES! This was in a box of movie poster cards from MOMA. It is going to a young postcrosser in Taiwan who is majored in radio, TV & film and now works in radio. Working in a slowing fading field, she may appreciate Nabokov's novel and the luscious image of this Stanley Kubrick-directed film. 

Supreme

Picked up this fabulous card yesterday at the White Elephant Sale. I had forgotten how svelte these women were back in the day. It is going out today to a Postcrosser in Belgium who likes Motown. I hope she enjoys this card as much as I do.

Daniel Green

Creativity Explored's announcement of Daniel Green's solo show. He makes meticlous lists remind me of the old TV Guide. I own several of his works. The opening reception is Jan 15, 7-9 pm at 3245 16th St, San Francisco.