For a Teach Me Kanji handmade postcard swap on Swapbot.

The Kanji I chose is Sakura.

For a Stencil Postcard Swap. On Swapbot.

An attempt at Jackson Pollock for this handmade postcard. For a swap on Swapbot.

This is an etegami I did for a swap on Swapbot.

“Etegami literally means “picture letter”. It is a picture and a message. There are really no rigid rules on how to draw etegami. Everything is freestyle. Just draw and write what you feel. No practice drawings, no rough drafts…lest you lose that moment of inspiration. The typical etegami usually consists of a drawing of something mundane, trivial…something you see in everyday life but normally take for granted. Take a closer look at the things you touch or see everyday. Find that most beautiful angle and draw it! The accompanying message is also up to you. It could be a proverb, an original poem, a straight sentence, or a wisecrack. Say whatever it is that is bursting out of you. Etegami is normally done on postcards. And, they are meant to be posted… the whole idea is you are sending a message straight from the heart.”

The Japanese writing is translated into: “My wings want to soar and land where you are.” From the song entitled: “You” by Yukino Satsuki.

For the I <3 Swapbot Swap.

Here’s a package I sent to my swap partner for the I <3 Swapbot Swap. The swap required participants to make an ATC, handmade postcard and an altered matchbox incorporating Swapbot’s Ernie the Envie character. It was quite fun.

My handmade postcard for a swap at Swapbot.

For A Lady Handmade Postcard Swap at Swapbot. I used Glimmer Mists for the background.

After the plates were developed, I moved on to the intimidating Chandler and Price press. The turning wheel on that thing can hurt people and the plate will crush the bones of your hands if you happen to not pay attention. Ah what a wonderful Victorian contraption. Here are some pics from class - my instructor and classmates at work.

It was interesting making the plates. Our instructor showed us how to do it, but it’s like a trial-and-error thing. You have to be precise from prepping the image to be transferred to the plate down to developing it.