Asian Poste

Everyone needs a friend like Emily Pruitt, who I know from the Christian Paper Artists group (she doesn't have a blog, or I'd post her link). She recently did some deep cleaning, but instead of merely throwing things out, she emailed me and offered to mail me the booty if I was interested. Are you KIDDING? When she mentioned the words, "Asian stuff", I immediately said "YES!"

The flat rate box arrived today filled with everything from corporate holiday greeting cards (sumo wrestlers sent wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year) to a newspaper filled with great layouts like the top photo I posted. There was even an Artchix collage sheet of vintage geishas. Emily also thoughtfully included a bag of trinkety *bling* for Rebecca (not pictured). This afternoon Rebecca and I walked up to the Corder One Stop for a pack of Juicy Fruit Gum, my little shooper decked out in two twinkling bracelets and carrying her 23 cents in a roomy change purse with key chain attachment.

Some of my favorite things in Emily's box were the pop up cards like this one. Perfect, needs-no -further-altering-art, for a pop up page in an altered book.

There was also a catalog of mail order food gifts with gorgeous photos and page layouts. Wish I had some of the food wrappers pictured!

I am not normally into "cutes", but Chinese and Japanese cutes have a wonderful flat graphic quality that speaks to my designer soul.

China elephants and cartoon kids sending holiday greetings. I love how different the images are from American Christmas cards.

One of several menus displaying exotic dishes.

And the kind of art that once inspired the likes of Gaugin and Manet. I have been collecting Asian bits and pieces forever and not accumulating much, in the hopes of one day doing an Asian themed book. I think that day has come. And I've heard that I have more Asian stuff yet to come, from another source, so there will be more Asian eye candy in a future post.

Thank you, again, Emily!