up and coming: SFZF 2015!

It’s that time of year again: San Francisco Zine Fest time! Taking place September 6^th, 2015 at the SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park, this year’s DIY extravaganza is gearing up to be something else.

Just like last year, Miz Happenstance and I will be sharing a table! And also (just like last year) I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll have a riot of rubber stamps, postal mayhem, and brightly colored goodies for you to look through!

I’ve managed to put together full sets of issues 1-4 of Red Letter Day…

…as well as some new copies of Posted (a zine all about artistamps and why I make them.)

(I’ve got a couple new things I’m hoping to get put together before the event.)

I’ll also have a selection of Red Handed Rubber Stamps on the table for your delight and consideration! Pro tip: it’s NEVER too late to consider your rubber needs for Halloween and the holidays. Interested in a placing a “special order” and picking up at the Fest? Get in touch (redhandedrubber@gmail.com) and let me know what I can bring to SFZF especially for YOU!

Alrighty: it’s back to the studio for me – of course I’m burning the midnight oil for the next two weeks!

–JH

PS: details about SFZF 2015 can be found at their website: www.sfzinefest.org. Two items of note: 1) SFZF2015 is a ONE DAY EVENT this year and 2) BART will not be running the weekend of September 5^th and 6^th. You’ve been warned!

 

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faux postage & bookbinding & carousel books, oh my!

(above: samples from the “Introduction to Bookbinding” class taught by Red Letter Day)

It always seems weird to me, every single time: in the middle of summer (or fall or winter) I’m sitting down with my datebook to plan up a storm of teaching. Any workshop instructor knows that most classes are scheduled well in advance; that means I’m already well into the planning stages for holiday 2015 classes while most folks are packing the RV and heading off to Lake Tahoe.

(above: Non Adhesive Accordion Books, 09.23, SFCB)

(above: The Book of Flim Flam, 08.24, SFCB)

This year is no exception! If you’re here in the San Francisco bay area, I’d love to see you in one of my classes at the San Francisco Center for the Book.

(above: Creative Carousel Books, 10.11, SFCB)

I’ll be teaching plenty of favorites: “Faux Postage”, “Creative Carousel Books”, and “Non-Adhesive Accordion Books”…

(above: Fabulous Faux Postage, 11.18, SFCB)

…as well as a new class or two! (“The Book of Flim Flam” and “Single Signature Hardcover Binding”)

(above: student work from the Creative Carousel Books class)

Needless to say, there’s something for everyone, regardless of skill set! Just think: if you start planning now, you can give a handmade gift from the heart during the holiday season. Perhaps you’d like to design artistamps for your outgoing kringle mail; maybe Auntie Grace or a nephew would like a created-just-for-them journal. Whatever the case, I’ll be teaching a class that shows you how-to!

(above: “Introduction to Bookbinding” samples)

Dream it and DO it! (and I’ll see you in class!)

–JH

For more info, visit SF Center for the Book –> Workshops, and search by either “month” or “type”; my workshops fall under both “binding” and “arts”.

 

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highlighted artist: otto david sherman — NYC

At last year’s G.A. Cavallini show at San Francisco’s Italian Cultural Institute, you may have noticed an eye catching artistamp displayed alongside an autographed photo (to E.F. Higgins!) of GAC. This artistamp was fascinating to me, with its rocket bright colors and red-hot typography. After posting a photo of the stamp on the RLD blog, creator Otto David Sherman got in touch and mentioned that it was one of his.

Over the course of my mail art career, I’ve been the lucky recipient of many of Otto’s creations. It was a treat to meet the man-behind-the-artistamps when I was in NYC in 2011; Otto is just as bold, colorful, and creative as his stamp sheets.

Every time one of his envelopes arrives at the RLD P.O. box, I know I’m in for a roller coaster ride of pop culture references, eye-popping color, and in-my-face politics.

 I love it all.

In Otto’s world, there are no sacred cows; first world leaders share equal time with dictators of banana belt countries. Cardinal Dolan sports stiletto heels and Vladimir Putin puts on a top hat. Another day in paradise, right?

Even the inside of Otto’s envelopes are a sight to behold:

 

Interested in seeing more? Visit Otto’s IUOMA page. His mail art and artistamp philosophy is discussed over on the Mail Artist Index page.

–JH

PS: if making your own artistamps is something that you’d like to learn, I’ll be teaching a class on creating faux postage at the SF Center for the Book on January 22nd. Take a look!

 

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one hundred years in mail art, Cavellini-style!

envelope and artwork by Carl Chew…

The Italian Cultural Institute is currently hosting the exhibition “Guglielmo Achille Cavellini : 1914 – 2014” in San Francisco.

I stopped by last week to take a look.

title: “stamp homage to picasso”

title: “heirloom (text on felt)”

From the art-agenda website: “In 1971, Cavellini coined the term auto-storicizzazione (self-historicization) after he designed sixteen different museum posters each featuring the years “1914–2014″ and the date of a solo exhibition celebrating the centennial anniversary of his birth.”

Also: “On view are 14 pieces among which are two pivotal series “Crates with Destroyed Works” (1966–1970) and “From the Page of the Encyclopedia” (1973). “Crates with Destroyed Works” is a collection of works Cavellini made by destroying the pieces he was creating and subsequently encasing them into crates. These works originated from an internal and emotional source, revealing an attitude brought about by a deep and obsessive self-search.”

title: “int’l postage 33” (close up)

And: ” “From the Page of the Encyclopedia” is a series of works originating from a theoretical and linguistic code Cavellini invented as a direct consequence of self-historicization. Starting from actual biography, Cavellini expanded his own life story to temporal hyperbolic appropriations. Fabric, objects, clothing and living bodies would become a direct canvas for Cavellini to “paint” his story.”

GAC artistamp…

The works of Cavellini will be on display until June 8th; a comprehensive, 70 page catalog of the exhibition (published by Colpa Press) is available at the gallery. For more information visit the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.

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a girl (that’d be me), a guy (that’d be Mr. Zip!), the museum (you can see where this is going)…

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 22^nd, 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 22^nd? 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”…

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Ex Postal Facto is coming your way in 2014!

via the “head vs. heart” blog…

 

Red Letter readers, I have something unbelievably exciting to share with you! I know its Monday. I understand the weekend’s over (sniff). But this is really really good, so I’ll need your undivided attention.

Ok, good.

Ready, set, go:

EXTRA! EXTRA! read all about it!!!

I am thrilled that you, dear readers, are among the first folks to learn about the Ex Postal Facto Conference – you’re hearing it here FIRST! Taking place February 2014 in San Francisco, Ex Postal Facto promises to be a three day, fun-filled celebration of correspondence art, faux philatelics and all things postal.

comin’ right at’cha!

Venues include the SF Center for the Book, the historic SF Elks Lodge, and the SF Public Library. A major mail art exhibition (and opening reception), vendor expo, and afternoon of lectures are already on the docket for February 14^th – 16^th. Believe it or not, there’s more to come; I’m hard at work with the Ex Postal crew, fine tuning details for the weekend. (saying that we’re sorta like Santa’s elves would not be too far from the mark…)

hey look! it’s my palm pilot! (I NEVER get tired of that joke…)

So what does that mean? It means that I’m really, really, really hoping you’ll be able to join me and the Ex Postal crew here in San Francisco in February! This will be an historic gathering of new school and old school mail artists, artistamp makers and Networkers – in short: a MAJOR mail art congress will be taking place. And it’s really happening.

outgoing, with help from Neenah Papers…

There are many ways to get involved, even if you’re not local to San Francisco. Would you like some “save the date” postcards to send to your mailing list? I’m happy to send you some! Want to submit artwork for the “mail/art/book” show at SF Center for the Book? Take a look here. Are you a blogger or interested in writing about Ex Postal Facto for a print publication? By all means, send me an email (or a postcard, whichever strikes your fancy!)

dreamy…

An event is only as good as the people participating. I am so very fortunate to have an excellent crew, an incredible co-curator for the mail art exhibition and amazing friends who have helped out with venue space. Moving forward, the next part of the process is equally exciting: finding a way to make sure all of my postal pals from near and far (that’s YOU GUYS) can be in attendance!

I’m ready to go to Ex Postal Facto!!!

My fingers are crossed that we’ll all be in the same city next February. (that’s some pretty good news, huh? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!)

In all things postal –

–JH

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happy anniversary Mr. Rosback!

Ray Johnson, bunny heads, perforations — swoon!

 

June 1^st,  2012 will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the day that one of my long-held artistamp dreams came true.

For years, I’d been on the hunt for a Rosback perforator – the “holy grail” of artistamp makers. Still in business today, the Rosback Company in St. Joseph, Michigan manufactures a range of equipment for binderies: perfect binders, paper drills, saddle stitchers, and yes – perforators.

this would have been my dream job, in 1932…

But my heart was set on one of their “old school” models: something foot operated, manufactured in the 1880’s (or there abouts). I knew other artistamp makers who had their own Rosbacks; they all told me different versions of the same stories: they’d inherited their perforators from other artistamp makers or looked for years to find such a machine, usually in a dusty warehouse or at an auction sale.

a careful observation of all items…

I took to combing Craig’s List at odd hours of the night, using search terms that were only vaguely related to printing equipment. And then one day in May, I received an email. There was a Rosback for sale, closer than I had dared to hope: a barn in Napa! Unbelievable.

a new model…and extra heavy!

More emails sent quickly back and forth — it was decided: I was the proud owner of a Rosback perforator, circa 1888!

That meant making space in the studio:

have I mentioned how much I disliked this part of the process?

And getting things out of the way:

…but somehow, space was acquired.

June 1^st : the big day had arrived. “Mr. Rosback” arrived in the neighborhood on the back of a liftgate truck, to the amazement of neighbors. I imagined the truck driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, freeway drivers catching a glimpse of this crazy looking machine and wondering to themselves “what the heck is THAT?!?”

like a parade float, but BETTER!

As it was, people walking past the studio stopped to ask that very question. “It’s a perforator,” I’d reply proudly. “for making postage stamps.” Incredulous, the neighbors wanted to know more, see how such a thing worked.

routine maintenance…

All told, the move was over and done with in a quick 45 minutes. After all the bustle had died down, I spent the rest of the day making friends with my new BFF. That meant disassembling all moving parts, tabletop to under-the-hood. Mr. Rosback was in good shape, but after living in a barn in Napa for well over a decade (or more), he was ready for a good scrubbing and oiling.

the happy couple!

I replaced some of the older perforating pins with nice sharp ones and refinished the work surface using linseed oil (as suggested by Nick Yeager of Biblioforge). Suddenly, the studio smelled like a painter’s atelier – which I loved. I imagined Mr. Rosback settling in to my cozy space, enjoying the garden outside and Oscar Peterson playing on the radio.

artistamp eyecandy…

One year later and we’ve created many stamp sheets together, Mr. Rosback and I.  With every artistamp project I pull together, I’m thankful we managed to find each other in the giant wilderness of printing and binding equipment. For my fine perforating friend I say this: happy anniversary to you  – and may this be the first of many years to come!

–JH

PS: interested in perforated sheets for your artistamps? Get in touch; I may have just the thing on hand!

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the RLD store is (once again) open for business!

this is the desk of a hardworking girl!

Great news for RLD readers: I’ve done a thorough dusting of the Red Letter Day store and taken the “gone fishing” sign off the front door – just in time for valentine’s day! Perhaps you’d like a special something-or-other for a postally-inclined person in your life; maybe you’d like to pick up a little goodie for yourself – I have the perfect solution!

it’s a little over a week away!

Treats galore await you at the RLD store: valentine’s day items, artistamp sheets, and zines are just a few of the things you’ll find. Each item is hand made by Jennie at the Red Letter Day studio in San Francisco. Quantities are limited, so be sure to make your purchases early in order to get the best selection.

yesterday was “super-correspondence sunday”!

Clicking right here (or on the “RLD store” link in the sidebar) will whisk you away to a papery postal paradise! Questions about specific items that you see for sale? Just send me an email at: redletterdayzine@gmail.com

In all things postal, I remain –

–JH

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“neither perfs nor paper nor lack of inspiration stays an artistamp maker from the swift completion of creating editions…” (apologies to Herodotus)

a smattering of artistamps…

It’s been quite some time since I’ve visited Seattle, but after this past weekend all of that may change.

did your mouth start watering, even just a little bit? Me too…

Regular readers of the RLD blog probably know that I spent this past weekend in Seattle, attending AARPEX (the Artistamp Reunion and Philatelic Expo). This was the “first time in a long time” that many of these original artistamp movers and shakers had been in the same room together. All things considered, it was a pretty historic event.

life without interns…

And what would a vendor expo or conference be, if I wasn’t putting things together at the last minute in the airport?

delicious, delicious, delicious…

AARPEX was organized by Carl Chew (Triangle Post) and Robert Rudine (Tui Tui); special guests of honor were Anna Banana (Banana Post) and EF Higgins (Dooda Post). While I’d heard Carl’s name around the Network for a long time, I’d hadn’t had the pleasure of corresponding with him until recently (for AARPEX).  With his hearty laugh and ready smile, Carl made all of the out-of-towners feel right at home.

would you let these two use your Rossbach perforator?…

If you’re one of those “why are things the way they are?” history nerds when it comes to mail art, you’ve probably seen the name James Felter (Postes Mraur) around the ‘Net. As one of the early advocates and creators of artistamps, his work is invaluable to anyone currently creating faux postage. Like Felter, EF Higgins (Dooda Post) has also been making artistamps since the late ‘70’s, incorporating a wide variety of techniques and processes into his work. As of 2009, he had created over 780 artistamp editions.

Mailarta reigns supreme, with Aarpy at her side…

Dame Mailarta was in attendance, with a table full of brightly colored stamp sheets and a winning smile. It was an honor to meet one of my fellow “Women in the Artistamp Spotlight” creators! We talked millinery for a little bit, as I was entranced with her custom-created AARPEX chapeaux.

a table filled with wonderous artistamps…

Cascadia Artpost and I have been long time correspondents; it’s always a treat to see his crisp design and tongue-in-cheek humor grace my PO box. The day-long vending session passed quickly, as Cascadia regaled me with tales of artistamp adventures and mailings-of-days-gone-by…

Bugpost had an impeccable sense of style…

Bugpost gave me a lift to the event in the “purple swirl-mobile”; I was charmed from the moment I spied his yellow knit cap and lime green winklepicker shoes. With a table full of items culled from garage and basement, there was mail art treasure to discover under every scrap of paper and old envelope. Bug’s table was like Christmas to me; sifting through the bits and pieces was a great way to spend the time.

still life, at the MOA (Museum of Artistamps)…

And that was just the first day! After a night of not-alot-of-sleep (I was too jacked up on amazing graphic design possibilities and a whirled brain of everybody I’d just met), I piled into a car with Sally Wurlitzer and the Fabulous K. in order to attend the grand opening of the Museum of Artistamps (MOA).

would you let these two brandish rubber stamps in your presence?

Of course there were high jinks. And stories. Lots of laughter, and a slight twinge of sadness that we would have to part ways in a few hours. But for the most part, we didn’t let that stop us. There was a ribbon cutting to celebrate the museum’s opening, chocolate cake, and binder after binder of incredible artistamps to look at.

true or false, we’ve got patches to prove it.

An unbelievable weekend, spent in the presence of incredibly talented, warm hearted folks; even the Seattle weather (for the most part) cooperated. Taking part in AARPEX reminded me that some of the best people you can meet are the ones you correspond with; I was further reminded that when you meet those folks in person and everything is right, there’s nothing else like it in the world.

–JH

PS: I would like to specially thank Carl Chew, Robert Rudine, Jas Felter and Ed Varney for their generosity of spirit and unceasing graciousness. This was a magical weekend; it couldn’t have happened without you. Also: my thanks to RLD readers Lisa H., Millie, Sandi, and Debbie for coming by and saying “hello”! 🙂

PPS: a few more artistamp makers involved in the weekend (apologies to anyone who I may have missed!):

Steve Smith/Art Gone Postal

Harley/Terra Candella

Kathleen McHugh

Teesha Moore

Jere Smith

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hey Seattle folks! AARPEX is nearly here!!!…

what’s AARPEX stand for?…

I’m hard at work getting ready for this weekend’s AARPEX event (Artistamp Artists Reunion & Philatelic Expo) in Seattle; RLD readers and/or mail artists should clear their Saturday schedule come on over to University House!

check out that all-star line up of artistamp/mail art big wigs!

This promises to be an AMAZING event. Throughout the day I will be vending (as well as other artistamp creators); in the afternoon, Anna Banana (Vancouver BC) and EF Higgins (New York) will both give lectures on the history/lore of artistamps. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg; other artists include Cascadia Artpost, Triangle Post, Mailarta Queen of Poste and Teesha Moore.

SF Co-op passport page, filled with artistamps…

In addition to putting together a suitcase full of new goodies (a new zine! multiple artistamp sheets!), I’ll be bringing along parts of my archive to show-n-tell. Won’t you come by and say hello? It would be fabulous to see you!

don’t tell anyone, but this was dinner (the candy corn, not the glue stick!)

Details: AARPEX is free and open to the public on Saturday, November 10th, 2012. Hours run from 10:30am – 5:00pm.

Location: University House, 4400 Stone Way N. , Seattle WA, 98103 (map)

Schedule of events: 

• 10:30am: doors open to the public
• 1:30pm: lecture by Anna Banana
• 2:30pm: lecture by E.F. Higgins
• 5:30pm: event closes

(a full roster of participants can be found here.)

Hope to see you on Saturday!

–JH

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