Canadian Girl Scout

While walking around Chapters with my tall-nonfat-Tazo-chai, I happened upon this new book, released September 1, 2009. I sat down and became engrossed. Each page brought a new sense of excitement and an invigorated sense that, “I could do this!”, which is the precise aim of authors Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler. Hinchcliff and Wheeler entice with images of rough and tumbled envelopes lovingly scored, embossed, decoupaged, dipped, stained and stapled, while meticulously describing how you too can pick up pencil and postcard to create a piece of Mail Art in mere minutes. This is not a project-by-project how to description like a recipe or quilting book, but a “we dare you to try it” double-dare to pick up that scotch tape and scissor and send something unexpected to someone.

My favorite quote from the book is this: ‘To take the effort to write a letter (much less spend time on a piece of mail art) is to send a signal to someone that you want to go the extra mile for that person. It’s wooing your friends, charming strangers, and bringing joy to your acquaintances. Good mail is an affirmation: Yes, you ARE worth it.‘

Yes, my friends do deserve wooing. And now, I shall woo to my heart’s content; secure in the knowledge that although I can not draw a stick, I am still capable of sending and receiving ART in the mail. Hallelujah.

Good Mail Day by Jennie Hinchcliff & Carolee Gilligan Wheeler