thumbnail wien

A been-there-seen-that kind of card from an Austrian postcrosser.

united nations

A United Nations card and stamp from Mrpotani.

playing go

A classical take on playing go from a Chinese postcrosser.

pussy willows

A favorite pressed cardboard decoration from Germany is getting tattered, which prompted me to start using elements in making postcards. Pussy willows: another sign of spring amidst fields of snow.

double play ffrom belarus

A persevering postcrosser from Belarus sent the whimsical bottom card, with Chirstmas greetings, early last December. When she did not get a reply, she this year sent the striking anti-death penalty card. (What do the US, China, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia have in common?) Both cards arrived yesterday, both with variations of the stamps shown above.

polska

A student in Poland sent this gaily-decorated card.

manuel alvarez bravo: mexico

The Weinstein Gallery in Minneapolis is holding a solo exhibition of works by Mexican photographer Maneul Alarez Bravo from February 25 to April 23. Shown on this card is a 1935 photograph of Isabel Villasenor. www.weinstein-gallery.com

sonja deshalyt

The fabulous card above, from a postcrosser in Lviv, Ukraine, shows a magical Sonja Deshalyt watercolor called Walk. I love this painting, though I know nothing about the artist. Svitlana, the sender, said that she had tried to find a card with rabbit in it and challenged me to find it. I did. Can you? She also mentioned that she had been listening to the expressive and amazing band called Gogol Bordello. Wow! I have one of their CD's. Oh yeah, the stamps on the card were pretty special, too.

sweet valentine

The twins Alistair and Jonathan sent this surprise Valentine card from France, where they now live. Front and back, it is the sweetest!

the cousins

Sandy Sapienza made this pretty, and amusing, Valentine card. She wrote that the singing camel that has been appearing recently in her cards told her to send flamingoes instead. It turns out they are all 'cousins'. Sister Sledge sang it, "We are family."

happy, happy

A variation on the pitcher-and-catchers card I made a couple of weeks ago. I'm happy I know baseball fans! It's official: Pitchers and catchers report today to Clearwater.

waiting for spring

Old friend Jody sent this pensive card created by his daughter Vera, who is now in her first year at Vassar and on her way to Japan this summer.

art of tea

These days I've again been drinking lots of oolong tea, one of my favorites, and I very much enjoyed making this simple card. In Japan I now and again studied the Japanese version of this tea ceremony. It uses gyokuro, another favorite of mine, which is a special kind of green tea.

your dog

A British postcrosser sent this card showing an amusing installation, called Your Dog, of a big dog in Tompkins Square. I guess that is Tompkins Square Park in lower Manhattan, which is known for its dog run.

yay, finland!

The Finnish postcard I posted yesterday was the first postcrossing card to arrive with an ID# of one million plus. Yesterday I sent my first card with an ID# over one million. Finland was of course first to the million mark. Maybe the US was second. But really, the US wasn't even close. Just think about the populations of the two countries. Finland is far and away the postcrossing capital of the world. Here's to Finland--and to its always interesting stamps!

say spring

PostMuse throws out a warning about spring with this altered card. And reveals her Boston background.


A young Turkish postcrosser sent this Monet card, reminding me how refreshing it can be to see flowers, blue skies, sunlit towns, and blue seas.

opposites

Two postcards, here and below, from opposite sides of the earth. This stunning winter scene is from a Finnish postcrosser who is much enjoying the winter. Lots of snow means lots of skiing!

A Brazilian postcrosser sent this card of Liberdad Square in Belo Horizonte (the city with all the bars). She writes that the square is a favorite place for locals just to hang out, chat, and tell jokes. I'm getting a very good impression of this city. It seems to have its social priorites in order.

winter welwyn

Just when I was feeling gloomy about getting any more rabbit cards, this one came from friend Carolyn B., who lives in Welwyn Garden City, near London. Love the design. Carolyn wrote that the snowdrops are up and crocuses and anemones are on the way.

foreign love

A little bit of foreign fun prompted by junk mail from some credit card.

mailart 365

Here's another collaged card from PostMuse, who on December 1 plunged into making mail art for 365 days in a row. The project is open to all mail artists. Check it out: mailart365.blogspot.com