Customer Reviews

Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For a long time, I am aware that one general rule for getting good mail is to send your own. I used to write a lot of letters, and when the email technology came along, my letter-writing activity nearly died. One day as I was browsing through a shelf of books, the title, "Good Mail Day", caught my eyes, and I immediately pull it out. I quickly skimmed through the pages, and I knew that I had to buy it right away. This book is not a 'coffee-table' book full of professionally done art work nor is it a how-to-create-fantastic-art-in-no-time-at-all book. Instead, it contains a nice balance of tutorials, examples from mail art practitioners, historical backgrounds, mini-treatises on the correspondence art, advices & suggestions for finding penpals, and etiquette (i.e. how to be polite with postal workers). It also provides ideas and methods on how to think 'outside the box' and go beyond the confines of what constitutes a 'normal' (but boring) mail. Since I am a real pack rat, I have boxes and boxes of saved junk mails which could serve as fodder for creating new mail art and envelopes using the ideas and template from this book. The authors presented various documentation methods (logging is one of them) for keeping track of what was received and sent to help keep the whole mail art project manageable if it gets too big or overwhelming. There is a lot of visual candy in the photographs - the examples from the senders were beautifully arranged and displayed on the wall & shelves, and they did give me ideas for creating my own future "mail art gallery" on the wallspace above my desk. One chapter gave details on how to create a traveling kit ("portable toolbox") so that one can write/create on the spur of the moment anywhere and everywhere. The list of resources, books and websites provided by the authors is not necessarily exhautive but it did give me enough incentive to resurrect my nearly deceased letter-writing activity. At the back of the book are one full page of mail-related stickers, and four postcards with suggestions for writing or creating images on the back. With the help of this guide book, I am looking forward to renewing or creating new epistolary friendships. But, I must admit that I prefer to send only to the creative people (including the 'non-professional' ones) who are most likely to appreciate my artwork, and I'm sure they would like this book, too.

When I discovered Carolee & Jennie on the net a few years ago, I was astounded that there were people like me that LOVED mail. People that get a thrill out of receiving a special stamp, an airmail sticker, an unusual envelope along with real handwritten letter. When I read that they were making this book, I didn't realize exactly how cool it would be. Looking at the mail, postcards, letters, envelopes, special mailing stickers in this book is like porn for those that love mail. I was able to point at various stickers and rubber stamping and say 'Oh I have that one' or 'I want that one'. It inspired me to sit down that day and make some envelopes for mailing to my friends and penpals (yes I am 37 and still collecting penpals) with all my hoarded rubberstamps and stickers. These women are like me in that when they come back from Japan it is with a suitcase full of Japanese mailing labels, tape, envelopes, and pens instead of kimonos and plastic sushi from Kapabashi Dori. I already know that I will be giving this as a gift to a couple friends. This book is really good and by that I mean REALLY GOOD. Now if only my friends would be inspired enough to send me mail like this so I could have a Good Mail Day too...

I got this book last week and cannot put it down. It is literally crammed with information, ideas and inspiration for creating your own mail art. The art of letter writing is back and more fun than ever, thanks to the authors who share their passion for the written word, for documenting life in a non-electronic way, and for wrapping everything up in an interesting envelope.

Everything about mail art is covered, from surface design to working with templates to making faux postage. There's even "The Ten Commandments of Mail Art"! The step-by-step projects are clear and understandable and it's all doable. When was the last time you sent somebody a letter? Probably too long ago. Get this book, haul out some supplies and get started!

As I love mail art and a piece of my work is in this book... I probably cannot write an unbiased review. Still the book is beautifully illustrated and well-written. It gives enough rules to mail art without totally killing the medium. Mail art has suddenly become accessible to everyone. This is a slightly scary thought but then I realize that not everyone will even remotely have the drive or desire to do such work. Mail art is art for the masses and at no time in history is this concept more vital. Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler have done a FANTASTIC job with this book... they've covered the gamut of mail art and I'm proud of them and proud to be a part of such an excellent book. There are a lot of big named mail artists in this book so Good Mail Day is as much a documentary as a "How-To" book. If you've been wondering--"What is mail art and how do I do it?" Then this book is definatley for you. If you are a mail artist who collects work on mail art--then this book is for you too. If you think mail art should not have rules or be dictated--you should buy this book and see that it isn't that bad! Buy the book--you won't be let down!

Innovative, bright ways to re-invent your junk mail and build relationships via the old-fashioned art of correspondence wait for you in this book. Gone are the days of the pony express, sadly. Yet we humans still loiter around the mailbox, rallying our hopes if the postal worker's bundle looks interesting. If I received any of the resourceful and occasionally stutter-inducing missives pictured in Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art, I'd probably give Phillip a hug. I'm not sure he would like it, but there it is. Mail as an art outlet is definitely the kind of mail you want to receive.

Enter this book. Authors Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler cover almost everything you might wish to know about paper salvaging and minimal skill, down-and-dirty crafting, leading into hardcore artistry. Included are tips for careful mailing, postal regulations that might affect your creative boundaries, guides for building envelopes and keeping your delivery person happy, even some starter postcards and "mailing seals" (I call 'em stickers) in the back. Those newly pondering a stamp-based relationship can even find a pen pal and kick-start a friendship by post, all within the bounds of this book.

Good Mail Day offers a scrapbook-style design, brightly-lighted photographs, scads of information and backstory, and puffy clouds of space to let the ideas drift straight off the page and into your brain. In back, a gallery by name, but, really, it's a museum of shiny ideas that didn't quite make it into the how-to section. Don't be frightened if there are umpteen things you want to make immediately.

What's fantastic about the book is how simple the ingredients are for such complex, memorable mail. Around 95% of the materials are free, gleaned from old cards, labels, catalogs, anything made of paper and then other things as well. Think of the book as a jumping-off point, portable inspiration for a lifetime of postal interchange. A primer indeed.

I am not a very creative person so this book worked like a personal muse for me. I have really enjoyed taking the time to create some interesting mail art. With email and technology it is easy to forget how awesome it feels to see a fun envelope in the mail and know immediately that it isn't a bill but rather something special from someone special. This book has been a great resource for me as I share that "I have mail!" feeling with others.

This book is also great for people who need to find activities for groups of all ages to do. If you have a group to entertain this book provides great ideas and everyone walks away with something to share!

I ordered this book with the hope of getting myself out of an art funk, and it worked! The ideas that are presented in the book are truly fantastic. The samples are nicely photographed, and the text is clearly written making the ideas real easy to comprehend. It's well worth the price for the great content you get!
Postal art is definitely in my future!

To be honest I had never even heard of this type of "craftiness" until I received this book for review. As I read and reviewed the book it really prompted me to think about the fact that due to how prolific email has become, the postal letter is all but dead.

I mean I'm not completely daft...I realize how much everybody emails each other day to day and that most people pays bills electronically. I just mean that the days of the pen pal, the old fashioned love letter and the "how are you doing" postal letters have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur. It's one of those things that you know, but don't really think about that much...like

It made me kind of depressed. Even to this very day if I see a envelope or package that is handwritten and addressed to me, I get excited! Seriously, does that ever get old? It's like Christmas, a present just for you that makes you feel good, all warm and fuzzy inside!

I had so much fun reading this book and looking at all the beautiful letters that you can create to send to someone you love or care for. Letters that are works of art! Its like sending a letter AND something they can frame all in one little letter!

Like the book states, Mail Art is something everyone can do...you don't have to be an "artist" to have fun with the ideas in this book you just have to want to have fun and be open minded about what art really is and can be.

There are great instructions and ideas and pictures and practically every page. There is also the history of Mail Art and some basic Mail Art rules you should follow...for example:

"Every piece of mail art that comes into your mailbox should receive some sort of acknowledgment in return."

The book also includes a list of basics for the mail art beginner and where to find inspirations for your mail art projects. Do's and don'ts, the "what's up" on postage and Artistamps and a whole lot more!

This book has definitely inspired me to get a pen pal, or start sending mail art letters to people on their birthdays and special occasions in addition to that Hallmark card. Great for all levels of wanna-be artists (I say that because really, you are an artist if you think you are, right?)

There are no actual projects in the book just plenty of inspirational pictures and some cool techniques to try. In addition there are also some blank postcards and stickers in the back of the book!

good mail day is chock full of wonderful visuals of mail art from around the world. there are pages of artfully arranged supplies and tools, tips on letter writing/mail art ettiquette as well as how tos on making your own envelopes and postcards with recycled and common household items. i can come back to this book again and again just for it's wonderful images, it's truly inspiring for any mail artist as well as those who want to re-discover the "lost" art of mail. this book really shows how mail, real mail really trumps e-mail with it's creativity and personal touches.

I love this book! This is an informational, yet easy to read book that encourages fun and creativity. No matter what media you are into - ink, collage, watercolors, etc - you will find inspiration. In addition, the book is very thorough, so you will be set to create simple or out of this world art mail. Anything goes! However, please be aware that your post office may NOT be ready for your art mail. That's part of the fun!