FEB from Judi - squaring off - APR to Judi

 

This is a fun one from fairly new exchanger,  Judi. I keep reminding myself to stay focused on the original intent of the blog - which was to share ideas and inspire people to use what they have learned in classes to make things. Most of us are making things as a hobby, rather than a business. Also, some of us have not taken any classes. There are self taught people who are very interested in letterforms. Other people who do not have a background in art enjoy experimenting with colors and decorations....doodads. 

As someone who has relied on *just dots* to create a fun envelope, I am supportive of all skill levels. I am also hesitant to offer suggestions where I see how one more little detail would add to the overall design. I am very sensitive to how a kind suggestion can come across as critical rather than critique.

So -- I rarely offer suggestions. I think I've done it with some people I actually know. But, I've hesitated to do it with the majority of the exchangers who I do not know.

Judi and I corresponded about a couple things and I'm going to ask her if it's OK to use her envelope to add a *fun tip* to the blog. We'll see how it goes. 

***

Judi said it was fine for me to offer tips on her envelope. The tip is on the rays. I'm not sure how she decided to alternate the two sizes. If she did the bold ones and then didn't like the spacing and added the fine ones - I can see how that's a logical solution. I don't have a problem with the two sizes - I just wonder why. By the time you get to the end of these comments - you'll see that I end up liking the two sizes.

My tip of the day is squaring off the stokes - and on Judi's - it's such a minor detail - because it looks like she used a broad edge nib - so the only thing that bothers me is the way some of the strokes angle.

On my example - I made the rays with a chisel tip marker to make them more square and consistent in straightness. I like to look at the details and Keith's rays look like they are a little less square on the outer end. So on the envelope - I only squared the end next to the circle.

Then I scrutinized the space between the circle and the rays and that needed fixing. 

Above - I made this after the envelope - and you can see how I have a pencil line to make the space between the red and black more even. 

Below - you can see how inconsistent the spacing is - between the rays. That really bothers me. I should have slowed down. 

The lettering bothered me. Changing the J to lower case helped.

I let this project go until the last minute - so - in the end - I like Judi's rays better than mine.

And the only thing I would fix about Judi's is to have them all radiating from the same point and avoid those angles on the tips.

I haven't even mailed this yet - since I'm writing this on April 6.

If I have time, Judi will get a bonus envelope.

I like the border Judi put on the stamp.

FEB from Mary

This is adorable. It's in my stack of ideas to appropriate. It's now March 18th as I write this. One workman showed up and almost finished. He has to come back with one final piece. The other guy, an electrician, had to reschedule for today. He said he'd be here at 7:30. I survived the dental appointment. Then I had to just surf for a while to let the dust settle and see what kind of energy I could generate. I was supposed to make a lemon meringue pie for pi day - so I might get around to that.

During the surfing, the entities that read everything I type and then select items to toss in between the things I have chosen to view must have determined that my whining about a dental appointment indicated that I would be interested in a tsunami of people sharing things that are medical/dental related and they are mind-numbing on multiple levels. 

I'm regretting that I shared anything about being sick or going to the dentist - but, I do not allow myself to go back and rewrite my posts because I am on a mission. The mission is to not backtrack. Just toss things out and keep moving. 

***

Real time add-on. I had deep regret yesterday when I read the post. On the other hand - we all go through the ups and downs of maintaining our selves and our surroundings. Lucky for us we have our envelopes to offer bright spots in the midst of the chores.

 

FEB from Jacqueline - muttering

 Jacqueline used one of my all time favorite Love stamps. I wonder if I can find one of the envelopes I did. I can picture them in my mind. Should I go look for them - or should I just focus on some writing to fill up the last five days that need filling.

I am still waiting for the workers. It was suggested that I be here at 8 am. It is now 9 am. At what time do I start making calls. Why am in a bad mood? I don't think I do a lot of whining unless I can figure out a way to make it halfway humorous. I think it's because I'm cold. 

Being cold reminds me that I could warm up if I moved around. That reminds me that I have forgotten to do my PT exercises for my knee thing. I'll go do that and see if it warms me up. I also have a dentist appointment later today. I'm pretty sure I've already posted that it's starting to bother me that the dentist and the dental technician are always so perky. Don't they know that nobody likes them and nobody wants to be enduring a dental appointment. Maybe I'll ask them if they have ever encountered a person who loves to be at their appointment. 

***

I chickened out. I just turned up the politeness knob that dishes out generic comments about the weather.

FEB from Julie - My Indiana Muse

This is the first envelope from Julie in WA. She enclosed a nice note, introducing herself. I noticed that Julie is making digital art which has always been included as an acceptable medium for the exchange. Kathleen Rea (I think that was her name) exchanged for quite a while and then disappeared. As I recall, she was the only person who made digital art. I will continue to welcome digital art even though most of us are making things by hand. 

If you read the blog daily, you might recall that I am trying to discourage people from doing collage and using washi tape because the USPS sorting machines are aggressive and collage and tape tends to get shredded. I am also taking a stand against sealing wax. Most of the time, the envelopes arrive with a blot where there had been sealing wax. Yes, I know it's *cool* - please save it for the gorgeous envelopes that you deliver by hand.

***

I loved this movie. It's for people who like art and are intrigued by artists who find a muse. This is a very slow paced look into some old slides of unknown origin that mesmerized an artist and the amazing way he was able to track down the full story of the person who captured his attention. It's a lovely story. Although, if you are not an artist and you often think that artists are off their rockers - you might not like it - or you might feel validated in your perspective.

My Indiana Muse

 

FEB from MacKenzie - Pondering houses

 MacKenzie's idea for her envelope is one that I would steal in a minute. It's also one that I could start right now and have my April envelopes all ready to go. 

***

It is now a few days after I wrote the first part. I did not get around to appropriating this idea. It will go in the stack of ideas to refer to when I need an idea. Currently, I need to focus on filling in the blurbs on seven envelopes that are loaded.

I'm waiting for two work guys to show up and do some work. I am at my son's house. I'm happy to be the person who hangs out while things get done around his house and he's at work. He's lucky that he has someone like me who has spent the past 47 years dealing with the maintenance and renovations of a house. 

I've always wanted to figure out what kind of structural material, etc would be the most maintenance free for a dwelling. I think something very industrial would be the way to go. Also, if you live in a place where the weather goes from 10°below to over 100° - you'll want to adjust for that. Maybe metal - with insulation? 

Maybe Juliana will weigh in on this topic. Juliana is our architect. I'd like everyone to submit a job title, please and thank you. Feel free to use a very subtle way to word your job title. For example, if you are a lawyer, you could say *counselor* since *counselor-at-law* is a thing. My favorite job title for myself is *scribe.*

What's the most interesting job you've ever encountered?

FEB from Nicky

 

I think Nicky has done some blackletter - or gothic - on previous envelopes. Nicky is our printmaker friend who does mostly animal prints. I love the cats. While I have never had a pet - I have done some pet sitting and appreciate very much that pets are treasured members of families. 

***

The add-on today is just a quick note to fill in the blanks on my reference to physical therapy for six weeks and the reference to convalescence. I'm not dealing with knee replacements - just doing platelet injections which is a regenerative procedure. I did it ten years ago and had very good results. Hopefully I can escape the replacing of the joints by having a booster shot. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting to talk about tomorrow - even though it's going to be 30 seconds after I end this blurb when I start tomorrow's blurb.

FEB from Renee

Renee featured Abe Lincoln on her February envelope which was a lovely idea - and she included some nice quotes. The idea to write out a bunch of quotes on envelopes and have them ready to address is an idea that meanders through my mind quite often. I'm writing this on March 14th and I just mailed my envelopes this morning - which is late - for me. I don't really feel like starting the April envelopes. There's a ton of stuff on my to-do list. 

Blogger is doing something weird - so the blurb is going to stay up here. I rather doubt anyone pays attention to the order or how things are arranged on the page. I hope, if you pop by every day - it's just a quick stop and you know that the quality of the comments ebbs and flows. Maybe the comments are better when I get on a topic that lasts a few days. Maybe not. 

Whatever.

Let's all go do something productive.

Unless we are convalescing - then let's just be patient.

 

MAR from Maggie - APRIL sign-up

Dreamy pointed pen work from Maggie - and the envelope full of hearts - plus vintage stamps - and then the frosting on the cake - this pretty card. Sooooo pretty.

Today through April 4th is the window to sign-up. Lists are sent on the 5th.

If you participated in the MARCH exchange - just shoot me an email that says: SIGN ME UP - you do not need to retype your address and info.

Send your sign-up to:    PTEnvelopes-at-aol-dot-com

Let me know if it is your [Birthday] month or if you are willing to be on [2 Lists].

If you were not on a February list - or if you only sign up occasionally - or are a new exchanger - please send your information in the following format:

Jane Doe

123 Oak Street

Ames, IA 50010

janedoe@aol.com

[Birthday]  [2 Lists]  -- if those items apply

If you are new to the exchange - there are helpful details at this link:

https://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/p/rules-of-exchangement.html

 

FEB from JeanR

Here is another nice combo of stamp and cancel. I'm pretty sure I have almost a full sheet of the new love bird stamps. It just dawned on me that I have forgotten if *love birds* are actual birds. The popular source for questionably accurate information (PSQAI) says:

Yes, lovebirds are a real variety of small parrots belonging to the genus Agapornis. They are known for their strong pair bonds and affectionate nature, with nine species native to Africa and Madagascar

 

I don't think those birds on the new Love stamp are actual love birds - which is fine. 

This is drivel. I apologize. 

JeanR is migratory. 

I'm looking forward to seeing her when she gets back to Des Moines. 

***

Real time: That was a weird post yesterday and this one is lame. I'm currently working on the late April posts and am pretty excited about some of the topics that have popped up. They're better than this. Consistency is elusive.

FEB from Patty - poignant

This is from Patty. I don't think of Patty when I see a nice arrangement of vintage stamps. Is this something new? I like the cursive and I love the blues --- and I love-love-love the penguin. I like that bird on the head. There was a whole bird-on-the-head series quite a while ago. It included Finnbadger and Smash. In the olden days we had nicknames. Or maybe it was just those two. 

 

***

This morning I had some topic in mind and I needed a word - so I started this post - and then I was hungry and forgot to come back after I ate and now I have forgotten what I was going to write about. I seem to be in some kind of weird stupor after that whole virus ordeal. It seems to be gone - but, now I am in week one of a six week physical therapy ordeal on my knees.

poignant /poin′yənt/

adjective

1. Arousing deep emotion, especially pity or sorrow; touching: synonym: moving. 
   "a poignant memory; a poignant story."
   Similar: moving
2. Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings. 
   "poignant anxiety."
3. Physically painful.

I need a word that isn't this intense. Does anyone have one? 

Wistful is a nice word - but it's not intense enough and I'm not longing or yearning or desirous.

wistful /wĭst′fəl/

adjective

1. Full of melancholy longing or wishful yearning. 
2. Expressing sadness or yearning. 
3. Longing; wishful; desirous. 
   Similar: longingwishfuldesirous

FEB from Nanski - AI and Bob Ross

 Here is some additional info about mobile IV services because I've had a couple questions in emails. It was a nurse who came to the house to give me the IV. First she took my vitals and then communicated with a doctor and got the doctor's OK prior to starting the IV which included the prescription drug Zofran. She had a telescoping pole to hang the bag on and all the rest of her supplies fit in something similar to a rolling suitcase. It was a little larger than a carry-on size. 

I do not recall which service in Chicago we used, but added a link below to one of the services that popped up when I did a search for *Chicago mobile IV therapy.* They do not list Zofran on the website, but this one says the service is *Doctor owned.* I learned that the mobile IV service in Des Moines has Zofran - so it's probably available through most services - although I can see why they wouldn't be listing prescription drugs on a website. It's more of a hydration and wellness service. 

https://mobileivmedics.com/service-areas/illinois/chicago/  

Nanski had one of the Love stamps that came out a while ago. The rest of the envelope is a variation on the design she used with The Snowy Day stamp. I always an appreciate some variety in color palette with the Love stamps. Sticking to just red and pink is nice - which they do from time to time. There was also a nice insert. The cancel is pretty cute with the two birds peeking over the top of the stamp.

***Returning to the topic of why that style of illustration that AI offered when I asked it to make me a drawing of a portly cowboy at the airport. Side note: we do not have actual cowboys in Iowa. Some farmers lean towards what used to be called *western wear.* I can't imagine that actual cowboys wore bib overalls. The bib overall thing is much more of a farmer thing. And then there's Ralph Lauren. Cowboy chic. I'll always remember my cowboy uncle (an actual farmer/rancher in Montana) who had spilled battery acid on his denim jacket. He made a point of showing me that he had authentic *acid washed* denim apparel. Somehow he had heard about the latest trend in denim (at the time) which was distressing the clothing.

But, I digress. I said I would explain what I don't like about AI images - specifically the ones that popped up when I asked for one. Maybe there are other styles of AI illustration that are available somewhere - but I have only seen the one style that, to me, looks like Bob Ross paintings. They are realistic. However, they are lacking in an ineffable quality. Ineffable means there are no words - so we're in a bit of a bind here.

Let's try comparing it to voices. There are many people whose voices we recognize in an instant. Think of a famous singer whose voice you'd recognize easily. To me - paintings often have a *look* where you can identify the artist without looking at the name. Frank Lloyd Wright is an example of someone whose work is quite easy to spot. 

If you love Bob Ross artwork and you love AI artwork - that's fine with me. I imagine there is artwork that I love that rubs a lot of people the wrong way. 

This concludes my comments on AI - hopefully, for good and always. Time will tell.

I have a LOT of posts to fill. Wish me luck that it's not a pile of drivel.

FEB from Amy - Patience

 

From time to time I get into conversations with people about drawing and what it takes to learn to draw. I think I've talked to Amy about drawing and I can't remember what she said about the thing that I had never heard of before - something about drawing something that you aren't looking at. But, clearly, if Amy is looking at something - she can do her own version. If you are re-drawing a drawing - that is still drawing. It is not *drawing from life* as in drawing a scene or a person or a still life. 

If I hear from anyone who is interested in more jabbering about how to draw, I will spend more time jabbering in that direction. Or if I run out of other things to jabber about, I might just jabber for my own amusement.

  This is so cute, it makes me want to draw it..... maybe I'll do a variation on Amy's March envelope.

***

This it the third part of my suggestions for enduring ordeals. Let's recap. Number one was to pray for the best and expect the worst. Number two was Zofran. Number three is patience. While the Zofran was an instant solution to the stomach virus, I was not out of the woods. These new viruses are very sneaky. The day before my stomach went berserk, my sinuses were attacked (without warning) by a space age version of the common cold. Normally, the worst cold in the world can feel like your sinuses have been filled with concrete. This was a whole other level of pain. What is the most dense material in the world?

The densest material found on earth is the metal osmium.

My sinuses were filled with osmium. I took Musinex and voila - I thought I was going to be fine - but then the space age virus switched to my stomach. After the Zofran, I was just a flimsy sack of flesh and bones and most of my brain had dissolved. 

I retired to my sleep chamber and started talking to the invaders. I explained that they could have three days, but after that I needed to return to Des Moines. The progress was slow - and I felt OK to fly - but I was too weak to manage the backpack - so I booked the wheelchair service - which had the added benefit of avoiding all the new problems with TSA - because wheel chairs have their own lane.

I've been home for a full week - and just barely feeling *normal* - I'm still talking to the space-invader-viruses - they do not respond with words - but, clearly they are not interested in letting me have my life back. I keep reassuring them that it is OK for them to hang out for a while - and that I am flattered that they are so fond of me. It never hurts to give MrWilson a little refresher course on being a caregiver. 

FEB from Juliana - Zofran

 

Juliana's FEB mailing is a-dor-a-ble.

Calling me jubilant is amusing. If that's what I project, I'm not going to argue with you - 

but, I assure you the people who know me in person wouldn't come up with that word.

***

Zofran. It's a drug to settle your stomach if you have one of those severe stomach situations. I do not know if it works on those situations where you are exploding at both ends. A couple years my daughter learned about Zofran from a friend who recommended getting it at one of those IV shops. All I remember her saying was that it was a miracle cure - considering how sick she had been.

If you live in a remote area you might not have an IV shop. We have them in Des Moines. To me, the claims seem overstated - other than assisting with hydration for a hangover. It seems harmless - and it's probably just the placebo effect making people feel better.

So, at 2 am, I was so sick, unable to keep even one sip of water down - and I didn't think I could handle a ride to an IV shop - so I Googled - and found home delivery IV. In Chicago - there are places that will come to your house....and guarantee they'll be there in one hour. My daughter had gotten home very late. I texted her around 6:30 am with my request and she texted back at 7 am that someone would be at the house by 8 am. 

A nurse (who mentioned that she'd been an EMT for 10 years showed up with a portable IV shop and started the IV. When she injected the Zofran, I literally felt a calmness wash over me. The nurse confirmed that it was not my imagination and that it really does work that fast.

So, I don't want to be dishing up medical advice -- but, since that experience, I have talked to a few people who knew about Zofran who have confirmed that it's a good drug to know about. Again, it is not for an upset stomach when a meal didn't agree with you - it is for one of those extreme bugs where you can't even tolerate water.

I'm still doing the research on whether or not it available over the counter. I read that it can be taken orally or as an injection - rather than an IV. 

OK - here's what I found: No, Zofran (ondansetron) is not available over-the-counter (OTC) and requires a prescription from a healthcare provider in the U.S.. It is a potent anti-nausea medication often used for chemotherapy, radiation, or post-surgery, and requires medical evaluation to avoid potential complications like heart rhythm issues. 

***

This is additional info that I added to the March 29th post - and am adding it here as well - 

It was a nurse who came to the house to give me the IV. First she took my vitals and then communicated with a doctor and got the doctor's OK prior to starting the IV which included the prescription drug Zofran. I do not recall which service in Chicago we used, but this is just one of the services that popped up when I did a search for *Chicago mobile IV therapy.* They do not list Zofran on the website, but this one says it is *Doctor owned.* I learned that the mobile IV service in Des Moines has Zofran - so it must be a widely available - although I can see why they wouldn't be listing prescription drugs on a website. These services are more of a hydration and wellness service. 

***

NOTE to my local penpals: If you want to drive over to Omaha - you can see some Dambo Trolls. They are at the Lauritzen Gardens. If you do a search on the blog, I've posted other photos of them. 

FEB from Janet -Ordeals pt 1

 

Nice one from Janet. Charming card - to my teacher. Technically, we met through my teaching adult classes in lettering. Janet arrived as a fully developed artist and I'm not sure I can detect a single thing in her work that was influenced by me. Since she lives 17 miles away, we sometimes get together - so next time I see you Janet, I'll ask her if she ever does something and thinks, "Oh, that's that thing I picked up from Jean." Or she might answer me in an April envelope. March sure flew by.

Janet's designs often wrap around - such a nice touch.

 

***

Three topics to cover - (1) getting ahead of the curve as soon as an ordeal starts (2) settling the stomach and (3) patience.

My daughter has been learning on all of her trips that the new normal for travel is that you might get one leg of the trip to go smoothly - but never both legs. An ordeal on both legs of a trip is not out of the ordinary - so just take each new ordeal as it comes - as if you were expecting it. Or as Mel Brooks suggests: Pray for the best, expect the worst.

Staying ahead of my illness ordeal that started while I was the adult on duty for 4 days - was calmly telling the grandkids that as 4th and 6th graders - they really didn't need me to do anything - they just needed to know that I was quarantined on the lower level and they could call for help if there was an actual emergency.

They were amazing. They didn't take advantage of the situation - unless a smoothie every day is against the house rules.

Getting ahead of the illness ordeal was only possible because my poor daughter who had told me about a miracle cure that followed her battle with a stomach *bug* a couple years ago. Maybe I'm the only person who has never heard of Zofran. Details tomorrow.

Feb from Christi - stamp-y fabric

Christi and I share a love of white space, black/red/white color schemes and whimsical designs. This is the first of the February envelopes. I had loaded a couple add ons and the following one seemed like a good pairing with this design. I would have done my version of this envelope in March - to Christi - but she did not sign up. Maybe I'll add this style to my chart and use it on some other envelopes.

***

Here's something for the quilters who read the blog - a link to some fun fabric with postage stamps. If you scroll down at the link there are lots more stamp themed fabrics.

LINK to stamp-y fabric

I'm on my seventh day of the mysterious virus and while I can eat and sleep, I am still way off with my  balance and clarity of thought. Delirium is probably an overstatement, but, I have lapsed into funeral planning. Seven days of illness is about 3 too many. When I look at fabric and start thinking what a fun death shroud it would make - it feels like I'm a bit off my rocker. 

***

Real time up-date - I'm back on my rocker - as long as I don't need to rock fast.

JAN from Nanski

This one took a while to arrive - probably because of the weather. See that stamp - The Snowy Day - I saw a blurb that the most frequently borrowed book from the NYC Library is The Snowy Day. Those were beautiful stamps. Now I'm curious about how many other books have been featured on stamps. The only one I can think of is Harry Potter. There must be some others....

Nanski did a card inside - observing the weather - all 20.2 inches of it.

 

***

I'm writing this on March 2nd. I've been home for 2 days from the trip to Chicago which turned into a bit of an ordeal. Lucky for me, I've had enough ordeals that the minute they start, I know how to adjust my perspective and be grateful that there are no floods, fires, plane crashes, lost limbs or even a trip to the hospital. February was a wild month for a lot of people. Weather - and all that other stuff. Shout out to anyone who had to put up with their own ordeal. 

My ordeal is mostly having some kind of sneaky bug that is lingering. Tomorrow I will start posting all the fun February mail that was waiting for me when I got home. There will also be a couple public service announcements on how to survive ordeals.