More "hospital etegami".

Maria from Iceland has sent three very interesting works, thank  you Maria.

More "hospital etegami".

Blogger is being silly today or maybe I exceeded my limit on photos but I have had to split up the post...so onward and upward!
A surprise card from Yun in France who talks to the flowers! Thank you Yun, lovely to get a card from you.

Fumiko and her trusty sidekick Tororo have sent me a whole bunch of cards one of which will strike a chord with the patients in the hospital, Tororo delivering flowers and good wishes to anyone feeling poorly.

Thank you Fumiko! (and Tororo)

Mayumi has sent two of her delicately coloured cards to celebrate Spring, Thank you Mayumi.

Hospital etegami exhibition entries.

My lovely friends, some old, some new have sent me etegamis to put in the display in the hospital which will be on the walls in early May with an official opening on the 17th May. The exhibition will be in a very busy corridor in the hospital alongside the coffee shop and near the main entrance so many people will see it and I hope stop to look and read about etegami.
The  theme of Spring has given me some lovely cards and I will also include some that I already have.

This is a large scale work from Masuko who is a friend of Shungo's. Thank you Masuko.

These two are also large works from Shungo, unfortunately my scanner is too small and the edges are cut off so forgive me for that Shungo and Masuko.

Two postcards from Shungo, thank you Shungo!

Two cards from Debbie, one a double sized one of lovely cherry blossoms (still a little while away in Hokkaido!) Thank you Debbie.

Lisa has sent this pair of fuzzy ducklings to to remind us that Spring is a time of renewal and life, thank you Lisa.

Oh what a lovely bunch....

Of etegami!
I have been lax of late about posting the etagami I have received. I have them displayed in my home and I'm enjoying them a lot, now it is time to share the love!
Corinne has sent this harbinger of spring, a lovely delicate daffodil, Merci beaucoup Corinne.

I love the words on Lisa's card, a sentiment we all have when we see a whale I am sure, her free style is so appropriate to etegami and captures the spirit of it so well, Thanks Lisa.

Fumiko has sent this little work which folds into a  handmade origami book. She says it serves as a kind of business card describing her work in etegami and kiri-e (cut paper work) at which she excels. I notice that her little friend Tororo has insinuated himself into the card, reflecting the importance he has in her life. Arigato Fumiko chan!

The latest card from Mayumi is one of her delightful series of dolls, all done to mark Girl's Day in Japan. Dolls are set up on an altar like arrangement and are said to bring prosperity and good luck. Presided over by the Emperor and Empress they make a beautiful display. Perhaps this is the royal couple. Arigato Mayumi chan.

Poetry

My latest correspondent Ezra has sent me an etegam illustrating his own poem. The poem is a little melancholy ( ( hope it is not his usual state of mind) and reminds me greatly of Keats whose epitaph
THIS GRAVE CONTAINS
ALL THAT WAS MORTAL OF
A YOUNG ENGLISH POET
WHO
ON HIS DEATH-BED
IN THE BITTERNESS OF HIS HEART
at the malicious power of his enemies
desired these words to be engraved
on his tomstone
"HERE LIES ONE WHOSE NAME
WAS WRIT IN WATER"
FEB 24 1821
is on his grave which lies beneath a sombre Yew in the Protestant cemetary in Rome.
Thank you Ezra and welcome to the etegami community.

Love notes...and a poem.

The usual wonderful offering from Debbie, it is music to my eyes! (is that synaesthesia?) in honour of St Valentine (I'm still puzzling about how he came to be the patron saint of lovers and frankly it is hard to connect most of the lives and sometimes grisly deaths of the saints to what they partonize).
Anyway it is a good opportunity to get a bit soppy with the one you love and to remind friends that there is more than romantic love in the world, so "spread the love people",  as we used to say in the sixties!
Thanks Debbie.

Nengajou for the kangaroo!

What a joy to be able to exchange new year's greetings with new friends made through the magic of etegami.

This delightful offering comes from my most enthusiastic correspondents Fumiko and Tororo,it features a suitably fierce beast to herald in the year of the dragon, Thank you Fumiko.

A fish of a different colour comes from Krisztina my intense Hungarian friend, intent on the study of runes she has made room in her life for etegami, for which I am grateful. I shall indeed eat lots of fish and be richer (in spirit) this year, the fates will take care of the rest, thank you Krisz.

Mayumi has sent me a delightful daruma who wishes me happiness and good health, Mayumi's work is such that I long to read Japanese, an impossible wish I fear however Debbie the sensei of the group is always happy to oblige with translations to help one avoid  making a complete fool of oneself when trying through Google translate to figure out the message. Thank you Mayumi. PS. Mayumi says the words say "Not afraid to fall. Wake up so good!!!"

This beautiful flower is to wish me a year of peace and healing. In her new year's greetings Debbie has been very mindful of the tragedy that struck Japan in March and the suffering that continues for the people in the affected areas so there are no overt cheery wishes just a quiet hope for a better future. The image of course is gorgeous. Thank you Debbie.

May the new year be healthy and peaceful for all readers of this blog.