Let’s enjoy letters, postcards and dossiers in all their inky messy deliberate goodness – made with affection
Anchors aweigh! Another big stack into the postal wormhole / dispatch includes: Suez canal panoramas, evidence of being lost at sea (intentionally), a few new Gravelly Beach postcards, and *classic* Nepal post box. Oh yes, please note the 1¥ postal teddy bear stamps.
Special assistance from my diligent co-conspirator in the stroller who is the neighborhood rockstar. Everyone from the grandmas to the crossing guards to the elementary school kids to Shinogize PO staff want to say hello (and pinch those cheeks 😉).
After dropping a little dude off at nursery school this morning, rolled into the local post office (Shinogoze) with a big old Santa sack full of postcards, cards, letters, packages of various shapes, sizes and weights.
The diligent workers gamely accommodate my desire for awesome stamps (not seals) though they are surprised when I say I don’t mind paying a little bit extra when the stamp amounts and the weights/size don’t exactly match up.
They double check everything with calculators and rulers in beautiful analog fashion, then lay out the stamps on each letter and attach them professionally despite the fact that my big squiggly fountain pen writing leaves almost no space on the envelope for the multiple stamps. But they *get me* and know that I send these with affection, possibly to you.
Now I wait and some random afternoon I’ll get little messages of (hopefully) delight and amusement from adored ones near and far (mostly far) echo back.
Yes its magnificent, made in UK and available in Japan, about ¥79,000 for this extra large, extra secure model
PS (above) Some nearby folks have a really sweet post box at their house. Tempted to be the “curious foreign guy“ and knock on the door and ask where they purchased it. Also note mounted on a brick base. Clearly for professionals (like us).
Love when my desk looks like this: 3 bevvies, stacks of cards, fountain pens & ink, stationery ahoy! Swoon
Wife was at tea ceremony so headed into the barn for a session a few days back with a variety of special handmade postcards, my custom stationæry letterhead, fountain pens, various ink colours, three beverages, and assortment of addresses all combined to send musings, sentiments and artistic ephemera to lovely correspondents in locales close and far with affection.
Oh and: In other “not surprising at all“ update, another new record. The Beatles, Abbey Road / Japanese pressing. The original price – back in the day – was ¥2500 (as listed on the “obi” sleeve wrap) >> I paid a little less than that for it by post (along with some other gym. The liner notes have the lyrics in original English with a Japanese translation as well.
Note: i rock discogs.com {not even close to complete collection} and filter by “ships from Japan” and find all kinds of treasures from dozens of different stores and sellers. Always arrive well packed, cleaned and great condition. Finding some great bargains too!
put on a record, take a snooze, enjoy the cool, dark, quiet – sigh
PS Camping Cot added to kura barn studio/lounge for relaxing times when construction noise and commotion over-stims me. Such luxury!
Are you in the Daveo postal club? Get on the list… You’re smart, you’ll figure out how to get in on the good times.
DaveO Postcards on offer at Rural Caprine Farm, Okayama, Japan
DaveO postcards for sale / Yep, I’ve hit the big time, art available at goat farms and displayed on refrigerators around the world. Note the promotional photo with Ichiro on my back.
Haiku postbox at Rural Caprine Farm, Okayama, painted Nov 2020
The “other side of the Post box“ ~ you’ve seen this before but ya know, the other side with yes, another haiku 5-7-5 (as is the tradition established by Kobayashi Issa) at Rural Caprine (goat) Farm, in Okayama Japan run by Mac Kobayashi.
Tending to tasks >> dropping letters in a boxes at Yubara hot springs village & Edo-period town of Katsuyama, Okayama.
Such fun to amuse the postal workers with my decorations and insistence on the most interesting stamps squeezed onto the scribbled envelopes and postcards.
Classic postbox in Katsuyama (classic main street trading town)
Yes, I do get rather excited every time I send these dispatches out to you and others (but especially you, really). You can get in on the fun at DaveO Shop.
PS Keen-eyed friends have probably already noticed the Nepal flag patch ^^
Story: A distinguished gentleman on a small Salish Sea Island was smart/kind enough to order a packet of my custom postcards & shared snaps so you know when you order my art postcards you’re not just getting some mass-produced nonsense in the mail.
Each one authenticated with a special stamp so it’s like an analog “NFT”… Just being on trend here PS If you wanna hook up a set for yourself (to mail to your friends or keep – either is fine) track me down
“Psyched to receive this piece of creativity in the mail from @uncleweed in Japan. It’s all constructed with style and great care. Nice work, Dave Olson”
A little stack of letters for the post including three of condolences of loss, and two of thanks for contributions to my “stamps and ink” fund via buy me coffee – all of them are written on my [exciting] new homemade letterhead with my engraved 50th birthday present fountain pen.
{I even tried some cursive writing which rendered my already squiggly writing as almost incomprehensible but hey, something about the thought matters…}
Noting not really sending festive cards per se but I’m *always* sending cards and letters so every day is festive, right?
Fondly from Tsuchida cottage
PS eventually you might see what’s in the “Kraft Scrap Note“ book or maybe that will be my special reservation only… It’s kind of special #Mom
Hopefully made the 2PM cutoff time (was a few minutes late but ya never know…)
Still life with postcards, inky stamps, cup of tea, bowl of nuts / was making up for some poor decisions at the time by (trying to) spread love out into the world. Hope it worked. Did you receive one of these treats?
PS I enjoy this sort of activity on many levels for sure, i.e.: find playing with scissors and glue and pens very pleasant and, like the thought of spreading a little bit of goodness to various places around the world and, going to the post office gives me a little manageable errand.
I have a hard time getting “out and about” and really have to minimize screen time so this allows me to communicate and create and keep my brain active.
In these dossiers, i included prints of my paintings, bits of poetry, various insta snapshots, and letters on expired aerograms etc.
Enjoy the goodness / (of course) my address is available and you can sign up for Postal Club. I hope you hang on your fridge or put in a shoebox.
Pen Pal Intro letter (example, results vary of course)
Making dossiers for other children (and their parents of course) who are cohorts of “generation quarantine” in order to build a community of penpal kids for Ichiro (& us).
Parents with kids born in these recent times are welcome to send me a note to get on the list via “postal club” form here at web archive… (add your kiddo’s name in the notes)
Besides the letter, i include a print of Gravelly Beach # 4 (Sakura) painting and a few other odds and ends for archival purposes.
No big deal. Kind folks only please. Just funtimes from mah wee heart for fostering global friendships analog-style.
