Gratitude

When I first started thinking about this postcard project, I intended it to be a way to connect with old friends whom I haven't been in touch with for a while. People I have met in different phases of my life and on different continents. My old address book was going to be my reference guide and I planned to go through each and every entry in this book. Low and behold, I soon noticed that a number of addresses where outdated and the people have long moved on from student housing to more permanent homes. I had to realize that I had lost track of old friends. It was at that point that the purpose of my 365 postcards shifted. It became a project of gratitude. I began looking at my every day life and the people I am touched by and found myself searching for future recipients of postcards. Soon there was the bus driver of my children's school bus, who earned a thank you note for driving them safely to and from school every day. Then there was the family in need for whom we cooked a dinner and the meal had to be accompanied by a card. And then there was the music teacher who spent hours with my kids investing in their musical education. Of course doctors, who are always willing to give the greatest medical care and advice.  And last but not least friends, who haven't been told enough times how much they are appreciated. I love thinking about my project in that way - as another way to count my blessings.
109/365, delivered within Seattle

110/365, delivered to Bothell, WA

111/365, sent to Giessen, Germany

112/365, sent to Seattle, WA

113/365, sent to Seattle, WA

material

For my birthday a few weeks ago, I received three large sets of art pens and colored pencils (thank you, dear family).  I love the special containers the pens and pencils live in - each pen has a place on its own.  So far I have been careful enough to place each pencil back to where it belongs.  I can't believe what difference it makes to use quality art materials.  The images are brighter and it is so much more fun to be able to differentiate between different shades of greens, blues and yellows.  At the same time, I feel that the bar is raised and that my personal expectations are higher than they have been in the past.  Does better supplies always mean higher expectations or better art?  

104/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

105/365, sent to Seattle, WA

106/365, sent to ....Germany

107/365, sent to  ... Ontario

108/365, sent to Sammamish, WA

travels

We spent the nicest week traveling in warm and sunny California visiting with family in Los Angeles and exploring Santa Barbara.  I was not sure if I was ready for the challenge to travel and still continue creating my cards.  I must admit that I worked ahead a bit - just to not run behind during our trip.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find that while I had limited supplies at hand, I experienced no lack of stimulation.  When you are on vacation your eyes open up in a different way.  Curiosity takes the place of boredom.  You can see like a child once more, your eyes wide open taking everything in as if you had never seen it before.  Time also shifts as every day demands dissipate.  The time spent waiting at the airport or for the family to get ready, is conveniently used pulling out pens and drawing something that spikes my interest. 

99/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

100/365, sent to Braunfels, Germany, guest artist Yonah

101/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

102/365, sent to Seattle, WA

103/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

tooth fairy

These days it seems that my youngest is losing teeth by the week. There is nothing worse than staying up at night and working on the nicest letter in the name of the tooth fairy and your child then saying in the morning that the handwriting looks awfully like your own. Wouldn't it be great to have a clearing house of images of tooth fairies so that parents could truthfully claim that the letter deposited under the pillow in the middle of the night was truly written by the fairy herself? That might just be my next project!

94/365, delivered by the tooth fairy to Seattle

95/365, sent to Braunfels, Germany

96/365, sent to Braunfels, Germany

97/365, sent to Seattle, Washington

98/365, sent to Venice, California

collaboration

It seems that most of my cards are made in collaboration with children. It has always given me the greatest pleasure to sit around our dining room table and do arts and crafts with my kids. I find that I am inspired by their uninhibited creativity and fantasy. Two of the cards below incorporate drawings by my six year old son - the postcards would loose their charm without his input. On the same note, I was so pleased to receive my first home-made postcard. The daughter of a friend designed her own card and sent it to me. What a treat! I hope there are more to come! As an incentive, I will return the favor and send you an art card as well.

89/365, sent to Potsdam, Germany

90/365, sent to Jever, Germany

91/365, sent to Jever, Germany

92/365, received from Potsdam, Germany

93/365, sent to Koenigswinter, Germany