Dutch-themed mail art from Sirpa

The artistic, talented Sirpa is at it again! She and I both went to the Netherlands recently, and she used one of the very cute Delftware-themed gift bags to make a wonderful envelope. It also features photo stamps of her adorable kitty, Killi! As I told her in my response, this was the first time I had seen photo stamps from any country other than the USA. As always, leave it to Finland to make amazing stamps... I think her photo stamps are prettier, and the photo printing resolution is great. Ah, Finnish stamp envy...



Then, inside the letter, Sirpa really put her talent to use! That's a hand-painted cover to a letter book she wrote, showing a watercolor bouquet. Wow! Sirpa also blogged about this letter booklet; have a look at her post on it, too. Of course she beat me to it by a long shot... and she's already blogged about my response to that letter, which I'm pretty sure I didn't even photograph from my end.

Glorious glittering bird

Wow, was this ever a sight to behold! This fine pen pal is (obviously) a fabulous artist, and I've been treated to her wonderful artwork before. The explosion of color on this hand-painted stationery is so exciting!



I hope I am not misremembering, but I believe she called this bird a quetzal, a tropical bird with brilliantly colored plumage.



I know you wanted a closer look at those glittering feathers! Her use of glitter accents is ever so masterful.



This beauty came packaged in a handmade rose envelope. I could almost smell it...

Watercolor Soda by Sirpa

This amazing watercolor of my cat Soda came to me from Sirpa, a wonderful pen pal and mail artist from Finland. Sirpa's letters are always a work of art, with frequent hand-painted details, but this one captured my heart like no other!

Using a photo that I posted on this blog of Soda in a box, she painted this watercolor image of Soda! I need to get this framed.

The entire letter was beautiful, and she detailed it on her own blog - you should check it out, especially the whole sheet of fairy stamps used on the package!

Also after my own heart, the card that featured the watercolor of Soda was written TO Soda. Of course Soda appreciates that. (She is purring on the couch next to me as I type, of course.)

Sleepy watercolor kitty

This charming hand-painted watercolor cat envelope came to me from Sirpa in Finland. It is so evocative! The cat looks very content... I can almost hear him purring. This was a joy to receive, most particularly since the letter was just as lovely as the painting.

Sirpa wrote about it on her blog, too and there you can see photos of the inside of the letter, which include photos of a visiting cat in a sauna! I really thought I had taken photos of the inside of the letter, but now I can't find them, so I guess I didn't - glad you can see them on Sirpa's blog!

Watercolor letter

Here's proof that a Postcrossing card can turn into a pen pal! I got this artist's address for a Postcrossing postcard back in August, and she wrote me back the most beautiful letter, which she watercolored! Here on the envelope, she painted the same flower that she used on the stamp. What a lovely theme!



Wow. So gorgeous. Watercolor stationery. I am verklempt.



I like the little dots on the back of the envelope.

She blogged about this letter on her own blog, and in fact she was inspired by this here blog to start her own mail blog! Her fine mail art blog is at sfimail.blogspot.com.