Smurfs from Europe

Postcard sent by John (the UK).

However little you know about me, you know I am very fond of Smurfs. I used to play with these figurines as a child, and Smurf comics were among my favourites. As an adult, I started a new collection because the old ones had got lost. And I need to mention that recently the Smurfs have the main responsibility in the start of one amazing friendship.

I had to left  my little blue friends in Spain when I move into Morocco. I mean... this is not the kind of stuff that you put into your backpack when you move to a new country!

But, since then, I have received (and sent of course) some Smurfmail. I have even got four real Smurfs! In case you wonder why they are so different in size... Well, they arrived from the UK, the Netherlands and Hungary inside different packets. So I guess they are but cousins, not siblings.

The Slow Side

Altered postcard sent to Gina (UK).

The envelope:

World Stamp

How cool is this decoration? Made of stamps from different countries (in their right place) by Ben Everitt. Taken from here.

Music & Mail

Letter sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).

Reused envelope and reused stamps (as they were not postmarked during their first trip).

Walking with the Mailman

At any rate, I feel pretty confident that we mailmen experience a lot of things that most people just don't have the luxury of experience.

Walking with the mailman by Austin Brown couldn't have a better title. Literally, through the different chapter you are walking with the author dealing with dogs, kids, your supervisor, the weather, the elderly people...

It isn't a novel, but a collection of anecdotes. Most of the stories are funny and related with sense of humour. And readers can learn how the postal service works in the United States.

Paper Tea

Envelope sent to Alan (the UK). Design of illustrator Ben Javens (I just attempted to copy it...).

Cup of tea shaped letter inside:

I tea, and you?

Postcards from Catalonia

Today they are holding a popular consultation on the political future of Catalonia. So the best day to show to two postcards received from there. This is a beautiful country, isn't it?

Postcard sent by my sister and my nieces, showing the town of Cambrils.

Postcard sent by Xiruquero-kumbaià from Tossa de Mar.

At What Time Mail Arrives?

«Feia molt de temps que no apostava amb algú a quina hora arribaria el correu. Ho solia fer amb Rune quan tenien vacances, a l'estiu. Ho feien amb tanta freqüència que desenvoluparen un sistema de zones marginals i fraccions de minut per establir que s'hi havia acostat més. En aquella època, el correu solia arribar a les dotze, i els marges eren importants per decidir qui havia encertat. Ara ja no és així. Ara el correu pot arribar a la tarda, o quan sigui, de fet. Com si el repartís quan li surt dels nassos a l'oficina de Correus i com si el qui rep les cartes hagués d'alegrar-se'n a sobre.»

Fredrik Backman, Un home anomenat Ove

La Selva dei Colori

Jo visc al bosc dels colors / I live in the Wood of Colours
Io vivo nella Selva dei Colori / أنا أسكن في غابة الألوان

Sent to Angela (Italy) for La Selva dei Colori. I used a press cutting and stickers, and I drew the colourful snail. 

Colour Queen

Incoming stamps from the UK. Maybe I have left out one or two... I wonder in how many colours/values/versions I'm going to receive this stamp...

Souriez

Envelope made of a page of a magazine, sent to Christophe (France), for his mail art call about... teeth! The postcard inside:

Smile, life is smiling to you!

Also published here. And this was my first contribution to the project.

The Motorbike

I receive the mail in a post office box, as most of my neighbours do. So it isn't usual to see the motorbike of the postman from my balcony...

Some Rubber Stamps

Collage with R

Collage sent to Raphael'L (France), made on a reused cover of an old notebook. I thought I could make more of these collages but... I spent almost the whole afternoon.

I am afraid the envelope is more spring-like than autumnal... (I know the picture is awful, sorry!).

Halloween Mail

Some terrifying handmade mail (using these suggestions). Sent to Keith and Bryon in the United States (but not sure it has arrived on time).

(Ed Emberley inspired, as you can see)