I’ll take a dozen! (recipe and photo via the “Hoosier Homemade” blog…)
September is one of those months I get really excited about: new school supplies in the aisles, warmer weather takes over (note: SF’s “summer season” has arrived!), and Halloween is right around the corner.
september =’s mt. correspondence?
Filling the last of my pre-“back to school” days, I’ve been working on a project for friend and postal correspondent extraordinaire, Alyson Kuhn. Let’s just say the project involves Mr. Zip, perforations, and a trip to the National Postal Museum this week!
such a fabulous new space for philatelics!
Here’s the skinny: this coming Sunday, September 22nd, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum is unveiling the William H. Gross Gallery – home to the largest and most complete collection of philatelic treasures in the world.
and get an eyeful of those AMAZING stain glass windows!
Exciting, right? But things got even more exciting when I found out that Alyson was organizing a Correspondence Salon for Ladies and Gentlemen on the day of the event. The more I heard about the Salon (correspondence kits, letterpress blotters, a selection of themed postage) the more I wanted to be involved. “I could design a commemorative Cinderella for the occasion, something to go along with the Correspondence Kits,” I suggested (with fingers crossed); Alyson thought it was a great idea and work got underway, right away!
laptops were involved, as well as pantone swatchbooks…
Rolling up my sleeves, I settled down to design some Zippy cinderellas. When completed (and printed!) it was time to step away from the computer and move into the studio.
it seems like I’m always posting photos of the messy studio!
(but I obviously had to clear some table space first!)
looking in the rear view mirror to see where I’m going…
Imagine: when you get behind the wheel of a car and head out to a place you’ve never been before, you usually consult a map of some sort, whether digital or paper. Perforating a big job is kinda the same: I usually print up a “road map” of guidelines that tell me where to perf and where to trim…
good to go!
Then it’s show time! Each artistamp sheet had twelve rows of perf-ing per sheet. Did I mention that I was putting together four hundred of these guys? No? Well…
perforated “snow”…
But here’s the tricky part: after everything gets perforated, it has to be trimmed down. Did you see that narrow horizontal space between two perfed rows, in the center of the paper (previous photo, above)? That’s where I had to make my first horizontal trim. I held my breath every time I made a cut!
on to the next part of the process…
The next-to-last part of the process involved hand stamping each Cinderella sheet. I decided to use primary color (ink pads) since I didn’t want to distract from the overall design – and you can never go wrong with blue, red, and black, right? Small sized cancellation stamps came in handy for this part of the process, as well as my trusty date stamper (which I used to number each sheet).
awaiting glassine envelopes…
Overall, the project took about a month to put together, from start (initial design) to finish (shipping it off to the museum). And what a dream project: creating a set of artistamps for an event taking place at the National Postal Museum, while working with one of my favorite philatelist friends.
I’m hoping I meet these guys at the shindig!
The dream gets even better: I’ll be attending the event at the National Postal Museum in person! It will be my first time at the museum and I’m overjoyed to be present for such an auspicious occasion. I expect the weekend will be somewhere along the lines of “Christmas-Day-combined-with-everything-you’ve-ever-hoped-for”, in relation to my mood.
on a recent visit to sf’s coit tower…
So here’s a question for you, dear RLD readers! Will anyone else be stopping by the NPM on September 22nd? If the answer is “yes”, we should have a get together! I hear that America’s first Postmaster (Ben Franklin) is going to put in an appearance, and possibly Mr. Zip (gasp!). And then there’s that whole “special cancellation of the day” thing…you better believe I’m bringing handfuls of mail art to send out with THAT special postmark.
Hoping to cross paths postally or in person!
–JH
PS: now I’ve gone and done it – that’s right. Red Letter Day is on Instagram and I’ll be sending out photos from the event! If interested, you can find me by searching “red letter day zine”…
Everyday should be a Red Letter Day... 
OM_G, Jennie. So jealous that I was there 4 months too early, when they had to turn me away at the entrance of the new exhibit and said, “But you can come back in September for the big opening…!” I wish! Try not to hyperventilate while taking part in such an amazing part of history…. Congratulations!!!
Gina Visione —
Thanks so much for the well wishes! I wish we could be tooling around the museum together, giggling and exclaiming over all of the treasures on display. (perhaps a Co-op field trip?)
Here’s something that I’m thinking you got to see that I’ll be missing: the Alphabetilately exhibit/display. That particular section of the museum will be closed, for an unnamed reason that I have yet to realize. Unfortunate, but definitely a reason to go back to DC, methinks!
–JH
Aaaaaaugh!! I want to be there! And while I’m being wishful, I want those awesome stamps, and a letterpress blotter, and a correspondence kit, and a pony of very my own, and….
CMN —
The pony, we can do. The Correspondence Kits, well… 🙂
–> your awesome mail arrived at my PO box last week, both the letter (which made me laugh outloud) and the Penny Black postcard from the UK; thank you for both. Am putting together a little something to go back to you, in the near future! (i.e. once I return from DC…)
–JH
I’ll be there! Hopefully I can convince my daughter to come along; sometimes she comes to First Day ceremonies with me.
Fred —
Hopefully our paths will cross on Sunday! I’ll be roaming the halls of the museum all day, and taking part in the 4:15 session of the Salon (the last one of the day) — say hello if you see me across the crowded room! 🙂 I’ll be carrying a Mr. Zip lunchpail.
–JH
one word: whooooooooooooopeeeeeeee!!!
Hello JenniePostMistress: oh how I envy you being there for the opening, and with Alyson and other postal pals. Your commemoratives are FABULOUS. Have a great time and we’ll catch up when you return.
Phyllis —
There you are! Here I am! You better believe I’m going to take you up on that offer to catch up; I’ve been missing you like crazy m’dear!
Keep an eye on your PO box; there’ll be a little something coming you way very, very soon… 🙂
–JH
Darn it! I wish Arkansas was not so far from DC! I would LOVE to go to the opening.
I have never been to Instragram – and I still don’t tweet – but since Red Letter Day is on Instragram – I will be following!
Pamela —
I have resisted the Instagram for quite sometime now…I’m not sure why, exactly. I think it had to do with “oh wait, do I -really- need to have yet another online thing to keep track of?” feeling. However, I’ve been using Instagram for a couple days now and realized something interesting: all of my visual artist friends LOVE using it, because you can snap-and-share photos of whatever it is you’re working on — quickly! No hassle with FB or dealing with stupid ads or scrolling through endless newsfeeds of youtube videos.
The one catch: you need a “smarty” phone with a camera, in order to use Instagram. The app cannot be accessed online, which is a drag in a way.
Let me know when you get to the Instagram “party” — I’ll give you a follow!
🙂
–JH
I know the Missive Maven, Post Muse, and Anne Elizabeth will be attending. (I also thing Melissa of Craftgasm might be there) I had to back at out the last mo and -sigh- now I am regretting it : (
Snail Mailer —
Oh darn! I’m sorry to hear that you won’t be able to make it. 😦 Would photos suffice? Written words on the page? I’ll happily send both of those things your way, if you send along your mailing addy…
Melissa is indeed helping out with the event! I just received a lovely email from her and it looks like we’ll be meeting up (which I’ll DEFINITELY be sure to tell you guys about!)
–JH
I reallly reallly wish that I could stow away in your suitcase for this whole weekend. The stamp is beautiful. You should be super proud!! You will have to have a ball for us all!!!
Seven Hens —
Aww shucks — thanks so much! You of all people know how much I labored over this particular project — from “printer” to “perf”. 🙂 I’ve already tucked a little something in my suitcase to mail back home to you…
–JH
I’m going!!! WooHoo!!!
Carrie —
Yay! Whoo hoo!!! Will you be attending the Salon? If so, what time? I’ll be there at the last session of the day… 🙂
–JH
I really wish I could be there to share in all the postal joy — and get my hands on those artistamps — amazing! I may not be there but i know of a number of people who will be going and i told them to say hello. Have a blast! (and report back)
Pamela —
You got it! There will be lots of photos which I’ll be sure to share. And mail! Lots and lots of mail that I’ll be sending from the NPM postal counter…
🙂
–JH
Oh how I wish I could go. I have the perfect outfit. Can’t wait to see all the pictures from the big event.
Miss Rose —
You are truly the girl with an outfit for every occasion! 😉 Tell me there’s something involving postage stamp fabric and airmail striped stockings…
–JH
I attended the salon this morning and I LOVED your artistamps, I admit I hoarded one for myself before sticking them on letters to friends… Thank you for putting in the time/thought for this, they were much appreciated 🙂
Michelle —
Yay!!! I’m so glad you were at one of the sessions. And I read your write up: fabby! Great photos too…:-)
No worries about the hoarding of extras — I’m sure you weren’t the only one!
–JH
Your post makes me wish I lived closer to that museum. Looks fabulous and those stained glass windows are to die for. Enjoyed finding your blog today as I too love all things stationery and letter writing. I gush over such things over at http://www.ritewhileucan.com Nice to meet a kindred spirit!
B. —
I’ve been saying for years “oh, one day I’ll get there…” — now I can hardly wait to go back! I barely scratched the surface of all the wonderful things at the Postal Museum and then (of course) there’s all of the other Smithsonian institutions…
Don’t hesitate! Start planning now! 🙂
–JH
The packages were glorious and I’m currently hoarding my artistamps because I have a problem. It was great to meet you!
Mary —
Problem? I don’t see a problem here. 🙂 And it was truly a treat to meet, hang out, and pounce on grown adults dressed up like fictional characters (see –> Ben Franklin/Mr. Zip). I’m hoping that our paths will cross in person next February, but I know for certain we’ll be seeing each other in the mail! 🙂
–JH
Wow, Jennie, thanks for describing your process…that’s all new to me. I read about the Correspondence event on Mary England’s blog just now. What an amazing space. And those stained glass postage stamp windows must be breathtaking!
Andria —
The stained glass windows are definitely a sight to behold, both during the day and at night! They look great in all directions — from outside the building or with the light shining through them as you stand in the new Gross Gallery. Overall, the design of the new space is bright, cheerful, and interactive: a perfect space for introducing kids to the world of postage or getting adults excited about the different aspects of postal culture.
–JH