Orphaned PostCard Project

I was wandering around cyberspace and came across an intriguing site.  During travels, Post Muse collected postcards for many years.  It struck Muse as odd that this collection was just too darn blank on the back.  Now Muse is looking for willing participants who live where these postcards were purchased to help fill in the backs.

To read more about the Orphaned PostCard Project click this link.

Since Post Muse's address is posted on the blog, I have elected to send one of my cards to Muse.

This is a picture of the Oxtongue River, Muskoka Area, Ontario, Canada.  This would be about three hour drive from where I live.

Sending Quebec way Down Under

My niece, who is from New Zealand,  was living with us for six months last year.  During the summer, a friend of hers, Laura, came to stay for a short time.  They had wanted to go to Quebec for a few days, but couldn't work out the details of that trip.  While I was at the post office I found this very picturesque card, and knew that I had to send it off to Laura. The back of the card doesn't give any details of exactly where this is taken other than rural Quebec.  I like to imagine that in the spring, the building functions as a sugar shack.  The production of maple syrup is a huge industry in Quebec.  I did a quick Google search and found lots of images of sugaring off in Quebec.   On Saturday we'll be attending the Maple Syrup Festival in Elmira, Ontario.  Will post some pictures afterward.

Thank-you Note

A few weeks ago I had a contest on my other blog, http://www.heatherpearson.com/, and since the prize is being sent directly by the publisher, I wanted to send a personal thanks to the winner.

This picture is of the Wenasaga River, Red Lake District, Ontario, Canada.

Fabric Postcard: Images of Spring

Once again I had dug into my mother's collection of fabric postcards.

Both cards this week were made by Mary Ann from Ontario, Canada.

Spring can't be too far behind when you start seeing both this images in your own yard.

Angels

Last fall my friend Tory took me to a two day workshop given by the very kind Paxton Robey (http://www.notimeforkarma.com/) on Awakening 101, basically about finding your spiritual path. Attending this seminar was the most lovely lady named Cynthia Smith Stilbolt. Cynthia paints the most beautiful pictures of angels. She sells these wonder paintings at her studio in Santa Fe New Mexico. She told me that when people come to buy a painting they walk through the studio and the are drawn to the picture of the angel that speaks to them. These angels hanging in your house will bring you guidance and draw things into your life and watch over you.

Below is a quote from Cynthia's website. (http://www.cynthiasmithstibolt.com/) "Angels are showing themselves to us in new contemporary ways. They appear as light-filled, unique beings dressed in vibrant colors, ever-present and waiting for us to recognize them as true helpers and intermediaries. Working in a studio built in sacred geometry has enabled her to feel their presence.Cynthia believes these light beings are here now for the benefit of all mankind to impart hope, peace, healing and wisdom to the world. Most importantly, they are here to assure us that we are not alone."

Cynthia gave me some lovely postcards of her angel paintings. Since the seminar my friend Tory moved away to Vancouver so this postcard is going to her. There are days when i am down and Tory turns out to be my angel.

Speaking of Angels I sent this postcard to my friend Michelle here in Calgary. Michelle is my angel in Calgary. She watches over me whenever I am sick. I am lucky to have these kind of good friends.

She will be happy because she likes to receive REAL mail.

Who is the angel in your life, why not send them a pretty postcard in the mail and make their day :)

Post Card Friendship Friday - Win this Postcard - Now Closed

This gorgeous postcard is from Canada Post and was issued to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.  The stamp on the back is the same as the postcard image.

I wanted to do something a little bit different for Postcard Friendship Friday (PFF).  Instead of featuring a card that was sent to me, I am showing a brand new card that I want to send to you.  Leave a comment and next Friday I will select the name of one of the commenters to send the card to.

PFF is hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy.  I have enjoyed visiting the blog links as many of the bloggers also do much research about their selected postcard. 

Remember, leave a comment and this postcard could land in your mailbox.  International entries welcome.

Additional posts about Year of the Rabbit Postcards.
My Postcrossing Experience

Post Cards My Sister Sent - The Funnest Places on Earth

My sister loves roller coasters and along with that, amusement parks.

She never misses a chance to visit a Disney location.

She visited Tokyo Disneyland while she was living in Japan and teaching English.

I knew she couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit with Belle, Esmeralda and Snow White.

She sent this card to my children.

She must have really loved it as she sent them this second card a week later.

I don't know anything about Odaiba.  I found an article on Wikipedia.  It is an artificial island that was built in Tokyo Bay.  On the back of the postcard my sister wrote about a big Ferris wheel that is covered with flashing and changing lights.  If you  scroll down on the wikipedia article, you will see a good image of the area at night and this Ferris wheel clearly shows.  She said that there is also a 'Where the Wild Things are' play land with giant characters of Max and Maxi walking around.

Now we travel half way around the world, almost to my backyard.  Canada's Wonderland  has some fantastic world class roller coasters.  Not surprising that my sister would visit there.  She started the writing on the back of the postcard with "Dearest Heather, my rainbow sister", so of course she had to send this postcard of the entrance to Happy Land. 

Hope that you have had as much fun as I have visiting and re-visiting these fun locations.

I am left wondering why I don't have a postcard from Paris Disney?

Tree Planting

When I was in University a popular summer job in Ontario was to go to Northern Ontario and plant trees for a summer. We were told you could make a lot of money.

My friend Julie and I needed money to pay for our french immersion course in the South of France in the coming fall. SO we both got hired on at a tree planting company.

It was really hard work, carrying around about 50 pounds of little saplings all day. You were giving a section of land that you had to cover. A tree should be planted every 6 feet in each direction. At first we really cared that the tree was planted well and would survive and grow into maturity. But that caring took too much time and we would be making negative money in a day after they deducted the room and board.

Our environmental concern were soon out the window all we cared was that the tree was planted well enough so the inspector would pass it.

Every 10 seconds or so you could plant a tree once you got good.

Even though the work was hard we had so much fun that summer. Our crew was fabulous. It was like being at summer camp, food fights and pranks played on each other. Like the time they put the dead snake in my lunch bag , it is funny now but believe you me it wasn't at the time.

I found this postcard in a stand of free postcards in a restaurant and thought of my friend Julie that planted trees with me. So off it goes to Vancouver to her mailbox.

Fabric Postcards - Fly Away Home

With the promise of spring returning, I thought I would share some spring images.

 Birds (and a butterfly)  in flight and where ever else you might find them.

Made by my mother Elaine, for hubby and myself for our wedding anniversary.

Made by my mother for my birthday two years ago.

You can see the postal marks along the bottom of the postcard.

/This started out as a quilt block for a quilt that was being made and donated to raise funds for breast cancer patients.  This extra block was pieced by Stella in British Columbia, Canada and Cheryl in Ontario, Canada turned it into a postcard.

Made by Monica in Spain. 

Made by Gail in Ontario, Canada

Post Card Friendship Friday - Image of Spring

This is my entry for Postcard Friendship Friday. 

My mother received this card from Beth, in London, Ontario.  It is made from layers of fabric fused and stitched together.  It was then sent through the mail in a clear plastic evelope (to keep the glitter from going everywhere).  The stamp was afixed to the fabric backing and hand cancelled before it was put in the envelope.

Perhaps spring really is just around the corner.

This post is part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts of Crunchy.  (I'll update the link to the current post when it is available).

On it's Way

This handsome fella will be heading south to New Zealand.  Hope he doesn't get air sick.

Post Cards My Sister Sent

My sister Nancy, the other participant in this blog, has been sending me postcards since her university years.  I have kept most of them and am planning to share them here with you.  Since she loves to travel, they are from all sorts of places. 

Winter is giving a valiant effort at trying to convince me that I like it, and want it to stay winter and snowy forever.  These are my last hurrah to the white stuff.  I hope.

 

This was sent to my son.  I believe Nancy was in Colorado as part of a wedding party.  Always time to hit the slopes for a few runs.

This was mailed at the same time to my daughter.

Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Icefield.  Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

This card was bought in Chamonix, France. 

My sister wrote that this card is from the Yellow Mountains in Wen Quan, China.

Front of the card says "Sea Exploring Pine".

Fabric Postcards - Green for St. Paddy's Day

This one is direct from Ireland.  It was made by Miriam.

There is a layer of tulle atop the applique shamrocks.

Made by Linda in Ontario.  The same Linda that made my quilted wallhanging.   Visit Linda's blog Living, Quilting, and Stuff and see what she's working on now.

Made by Mary Ann in Ontario, Canada

Made by Monica in Spain.  This is an 'inchie' postcard.  The little squares measure and inch.  They were made separately and then adhered to the front.

Hope that you have enjoyed my 'green' tribute to St. Patrick's Day.  Come back next Sunday and I'll feature additional fabric postcards from my mother's collection.

Post Card Friendship Friday - Thoughts of the Pacific

As did many others, I awoke to the news of a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan.  I have had the news on all morning

My heart goes out to all who have been affected.

My sister Nancy, the other contributor to this blog, sent me this post card from O'ahu when she visited there in 2002.  I believe this might have been on her way back home after working in Japan for a year.

 Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

Snow from Afar

When we are buried in snow here, I find it re-assuring to know that there are other places in the world that also receive snow.  This view is from Antalya, Turkey.  This was a record snowfall from 1993, which is unique, since this area rarely sees snow.

Linda over at Scrapmaster received a lovely snowflake fabric postcard in the mail Friday, March 11, 2011.

This is a postcard of the resort town of Banff Alberta Canada one of Canada's major destinations for tourists. Banff is located in Canada's first National Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff is well known for the Banff Springs Hotel established after the transcontinental railway line was built connecting all of Canada in the late 1800's.

This is a major destination for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter at the nearby Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise ski hills.
It's a beautiful town to spend a day in or for a weekend retreat. There are great restaurants, shopping, and yummy smelling and tasting chocolate shops.
I am sending this postcard to my favourite math teacher from highschool. We have kept in touch over the years and I am sure he will be delighted to find this postcard in his mailbox.
I will be heading to Banff myself Monday to meet up with the Wiens family from Ottawa who are coming to Alberta to visit family and to enjoy some skiing on REAL mountains.

Deltiologist

I recently learned a new word "DELTIOLOGIST": a person who collects postcards as a hobby. Apparently it's the third largest hobby after stamp collecting.
I love to get postcards and I keep them forever, but wouldn't have thought it was a hobby. I just think it is fun to see the sites around the world and of course the delight of receiving something in your mail box :)
I just sent the postcard of the buckets to my friend Hope Renee that I have known since we were 5 years old, many years ago, I am very sure in the day that we used to play with buckets just like this in the sandboxes that our dads built in our back yards. Every kid had one. We lived near Lake Ontario so the dads would go to the beach and fill bags with sand and bring it home to fill the wooden sandbox they had built. Many hours of fun were had in those boxes.

Fabric Postcards - All I ask is a Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her by

It was about two weeks ago that I decided I wanted to send out some more postcards via Postcrossing.  One of the names I drew was for a man in the Netherlands who collects nautical theme cards.  I couldn't find anything of that sort, so I sent him and email asking if it would be agreeable to him if I made him a card.  Fortunately he said yes, and I set off on my quest to create a card specially with him in mind.  Actually, I decided that I would make one for my father at the same time.  For inspiration I turned to the book 1000 Great Quilt Blocks by Maggi McCormick Gordon.

I gathered together a selection of fabrics and started playing.

The pattern showed the block at 4 x 4 inches and I needed 4 x 6, so I added one inch to each side of the block.  Also, the pattern was cut of 1 1/2 inch squares which added a lot of seams.  I removed as many seams as possible.

Finished block.  Next I layered it with a really stiff interfacing.  Next time I will remember to fuse it down.  Much easier to work with. I did a bit of quilting and some embellishing of stars and waves.  Final steps are to fuse on a backing fabric and then  stitch the outer edge.

Add a message and stamps to the back and ready to go in the mail.