Katerina Nikoltsou (34)

February is a month full of reasons to send mail. And Katerina did send mail for these!



~ 14 February: Valentine's Day ~



~ 16 February 2018: start of the Lunar new year, the Year of the Dog ~



~ 21 February: Banana Day! ~



Featuring artistamps by Anna Banana, accompanied by the 'What or whom is she staring at?' lady.



Thank you very much, Katerina!

Katerina Nikoltsou (33)

The New Year 2018 just has started. And in one and half month an other New Year will begin: the Year of the Dog.

The mail art Katerina has sent to me a few weeks ago, matches with both years, as you can see!



The front side of the Dog card shows blue:



And inside the envelope there is an other envelope, a red felt one meant for Santa, so to see. But first we park the Squirrels here!





On the back side of the outer envelope there are Katerina's famous stamp prints:



Thank you very much, Katerina, and happy New Years!

Ti Ar Raden (3)

This wonderful Goldfish, designed by Ti Ar Raden, was sent on a special day: 29th of February, also known as Leap Day ('Schrikkeldag' in Dutch). You can see this special date on the postmark, thanks to Ti Ar who went to the post office especially for this!

I am posting this Goldfish on an other special day. Today is the very first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere: the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day. This astronomical vernal or northward equinox marks the beginning of spring in our northern hemisphere.
For the ones who wonder what a Goldfish has to do with this: in exact the same time (this year on 20th of March, 4.30 am UTC or 5.30 am European time) Now Ruz starts, the Persian New Year!
Part of the celebrations is keeping or buying a goldfish (see for instance the Iranian movie 'The White Balloon'). The bowl of water with goldfish (Pisces) represents life within life.

Both in front and on the back Ti Ar added great clock stamps. Which makes the circle round: clocks also were exchanged by Ti Ar, me and a few more mail art colleagues: to celebrate New Year's Eve on 31th of December, so for the European New Year!



Thank you very much, trugarez bras, Ti Ar!

Pepijn de Jonge (2)

Few months ago I received wonderful artwork by Pepijn de Jonge.

And now I am surprised by another piece of mailed art, including a very original drawing of an extraordinary - and musical - animal. Who is wishing all of us a happy 2016!



Thank you very much, dankjewel, Pepijn!