Okay, no skinny dipping,

That seems to be the message from Shay in Hawaii who has sent me some thongs (AKA flip flops, zoris) to go with the Hawaiian shirt she sent me earlier. I am almost dressed for the beach, now I need the swimmers! (that's Australian for bathers or swimming costume).
She has kindly included a frangipani (plumeria) for my hair so I should cut a fine figure this year. Thanks Shay, I love your very distinctive style.

FANtastic!

Sorry, couldn't help myself but who wouldn't love this fan shaped etegami of an ear of corn in a handmade frame from Debbie in Hokkaido? Not only that but also a few of the fan shaped washi cards to try for myself..how good is that?
The other thing in my surprise package is a truly lovely drawing of wolves with accompanying quote. I wonder if this may be a comment on life in Japan where conformity is seen to be the answer? Just a thought.
Debbie has a talent for making animals appear soft and furry without delineating the hair or feathers, awesome.

The corn has a light wash of gold paint which does not show up in the scan but animates the whole thing.
Thank you Debbie.

A loaf of Bread, a jug of wine and...

Oh wait, in this case it is a fish and a nice warm comfy place to snooze!
The simple life is many things to many people, for me at the moment it is pottering in my miniscule veggie garden. However it is nice to be able to rush inside and Google up that pesky orange bug that is sucking the life out of your tomatoes. Not such a simple life perhaps but clearly Linda's cats in Hawaii have nailed it! Of course they have servants to attend to the menial tasks like earning money and cleaning out the litter trays!

As may be evident, I love handmade stamps and this is so fun.
Thanks Linda.

Fumiko, the generous!

Fumiko has sent me not only this lovely cut paper card (Kirie-E) but some of her precious handmade postcards to use. Our last collaboration using her cut paper flowers was a lot of fun and  now I have to think of worthy ways to use these cards.

 Thanks Fumiko.

Where are my castanets?

This card from Patricia in California had me dancing right into the kitchen to make some "Gwaka-mole".
Funnily enough, my first taste of avocado was in California in the 1960's and I really loved it. Coming back to Australia they were almost unobtainable and then very expensive but now they are a part of most people's diet.
Good one Patricia and thank you for the message on the back.

Thank you Australia Post! NOT!

A lovely delicate card from Lisa in Western Australia which unfortunately bears the Australia Post trademark of an orange stripe.
On any other card it would not matter so much but I really like the delicacy of this one and the orange just does not add anything to it. Never mind, just part of the "mailing it thing".

Thank you Lisa for the card and the kind words on the back.

Swanning around.

Its a very feathery place the Etegami Fun Club page on Facebook at the moment, swans and owls abound and Fumiko has sent me this lovely cut paper swan. It is layered with a sparkly background simulating water...very nice!

Thank you Fumiko.

The Owl meme.

There is a bit of an Owl theme going around at the moment and Shungo has sent me a beauty!!

Thanks Shungo.

Cockle shells from Brittany.

Corinne wishes me a happy Summer as she goes into Autumn. I shall certainly try to make the most of it and although I am not a "Beach Babe" I do enjoy the seashore and looking at the tidal pools to see the shells and crabs and other creepy crawlies. I will prop this card up on my desk to remind me to "take five" and drive the 5 minutes to the beach, something I do not do often enough. Thanks for reminding me Corinne.

Holy Hollyhocks Dude!

Yep, getting deep into pop culture of a former gentler time here with an aficionado of the genre. Dan the Dude who is slowly educating me in the way of Zen and Buddhist thinking  keeps a toe in the down and dirty world of movies and TV and has sent me this card which resonates with me. I do need to constantly, consciously relax and remember that there are people who love  me for who I am (well one long suffering individual at least!).
"Live long and prosper" Dude and congrats on that eight year anniversary you recently celebrated.

Thanks Dan.

Patricia.

Patricia's card of a fluffy cat who sinks luxuriantly into the  paper with all of the weight of it's inherent dignity is splendid. I am appreciative of it's majesty, even though I am really a confirmed dog person!

Thank you Patricia.

Yoshiko.

Two cards from Yoshiko today, a wonderful coffee cup with Rosellas illustrating the everydaymatters task,"your cup" and a delicate painting of crepe myrtle celebrating summer. Thank you so much Yoshiko san!

Fumiko

Fumiko's card is an illustration of the everydaymatters task, a "piece of (traditional) jewellery" which is local to her area. What is  not apparent from the scan is the glitter livening up this card, well done Fumiko!

The darkest hours...

The darkest hours can stand a little light, those with insomnia or pain will know how even a glimmer gives some hope of the dawn.
Debbie's illustration of a quote from Robert Frost has an interesting subtext, the use of a lamp associated in our minds with Biblical times. She has used the technique she has been experimenting this summer to good effect, the little lamp seems to glow. Thank  you Debbie.