OFFICIAL Card - USA

Linda lives outside of the Detroit area and says she has traveled to the area I live in several times. She sent me this card by artist Thomas Kinkade, titled "Pathway to Paradise". I think this was my first US Christmas stamp from 2014 too. Love the wreath!

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Spring is finally here!!! The thermometer hit 22C yesterday - yeah! These beautiful peonies arrived last week from Thumla who lives in Germany. The painting simply titled "Peonies" is by German painter Anselm Feuerbach, done in 1871. She writes that she grows them in her garden. I try too, although they don't quite look like this. Love the Easter stamps she chose for me too.

Random of Act of Smiliness - Lisa from Canada

This week has certainly had a Canadian feel to it! So far, two official cards, two RAS and a swap. Fun to connect with so many other Canadian Postcrossers. I belong to a few different Facebook groups too which are nice, some are very loose, fun and all about swapping and others a bit more disciplined. Either way it is nice to see more of my country and meet people who share the hobby - and the thought of cheap postage! Lisa was one of those who sent me a card. Here is a bit of background on our relationship - neat huh? She chose this painting by Henri Matisse for me. Her message was sweet - wishing me a Happy New Year. How kind! Funny thing that Lisa would never had known. I had a goldfish for a few years in my mid-twenties. I kept him in the biggest trifle bowl I could find. This painting reminds me of that bowl and my really loved fish, Silver.

OFFICIAL Card - China

YuTing sent this card with an ink painting which she describes as traditional Chinese painting. I remember having a painting done for me when I was in Qufu, pretty much the exact spot where the Wikipedia photo was taken.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Sandee lives in Rochester and sent this card showing an artist's drawing of the Minnesota State Fair. She wrote telling me she goes every year and at the time of mailing it was starting soon. Sounds very much like the The Ex or CNE in Toronto except that doesn't have Aretha Franklin! Would love to see that! The best part of Sandee's card was her sharing some of the "weird" food they serve on a stick. Even weirder, most of it sounded good! Enjoy!!!

OFFICIAL Card - Canada

This is such a beautiful card! Not something I think I might normally seek out, however her eyes just draw me in - love it! Wendy lives a smooth 40 kms away in Toronto and is here from China studying. On her card she shared with me that she had received a meet-up card earlier in the month that I had signed - small world!

Direct Swap - Willa from Toronto

Surfing through the gallery once I came across this postcard. The card caught my eye as I have the EXACT print hanging in my hallway. It has been in my family for as long as I can remember. The print is titled "Fish Market" by William Henry Bartlett. I messaged the sender and he told me he got the card at Toronto's First Post Office. At the beginning of June I was heading into Toronto and wanted to pick some up. Unfortunate timing for me it was out of stock at the time. Lucky for me, Willa who participates in one of the Facebook groups I belong too offered to pick two up for me on her next trip. She sent them in an envelope as I plan to send it to my sister to see if she remembers the print.  Love all of the cancellations Willa was able to obtain for me. One day I hope to make it down and cancel a few cards of my own.

Random Act of Smiliness - Haillie from USA

Hallie sent me this card from her cruise this past winter. I had a hard time deciding what to send her as a thank you. So, I decided to sent her a few! As a surprise she sent me this card from an exhibit she attended of glass artist Dale Chihuly. So thoughtful of her - thank you Hallie! The colours on the stamp seem to match the image perfectly.

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

Vika from Brest sent this illustration of her favourite city, Minsk, Belarus. She writes that music is her life and she plays the piano.

OFFICIAL Card - Canada

Kaily only lives 100kms from me - how neat is that! She is a supply teacher and works in a book store, she wrote me the most delightful message about her life. I just love when people share little tidbits of their day to day life (especially if they are a little wacky!) with me. This art card with some cute little sheep is an illustration by Simon Bening from this book.

OFFICIAL Card - South Korea

I must admit if I drew my own name in Postcrossing I don't know if this would be a card I would select to send given my profile details. Having said that it is always good to expand your horizons, isn't it? The card shows the painting The Three Dancers by Pablo Picasso. It was sent by Ri from South Korea. She took a break from Postcrossing for 2 years and started back up the day she drew my name. That is a long time to break! Have you ever taken a break from Postcrossing? If so, how long?

OFFICIAL Card - China

Censhi sent this pretty illustration showing Beijing Normal University in the Fall. Other than "May" in the lower left there is no indication who did this drawing. Thank you Censhi!

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Two cards from the Netherlands from people named Jacqueline, two days in a row - what are the odds! This card is a sweet illustration of the letter "W", my son's initial. I couldn't quite make out the signature and did a "Google Image" search. Coolest thing ever! Look what I found!

Direct Swap - Nicole from Netherlands

At the end of the summer Nicole was offering arty alphabet cards to swap through the form. I was happy to hear the "S" was available and we agreed to a swap. She was looking for stamps showing cats and/or dogs. I was lucky to still have some of these stamps promoting pet adoption. My card arrived shortly after with another great Europa stamp. So far I have never heard from Nicole to see if my card arrived. I've sent a few messages and they have not been read nor responded to. I can assume she has or she would have been in touch. How long would you wait before you "close the file" so to speak?

USA from Michael

There are many reasons why I love my friend Michael. High on the list is his never ending thirst for learning and developing. He has gone back to school, again, this time for his PhD. Seriously. So excited for him and watching his journey unfold. He was in Virginia awhile back for something to do with his degree and visited the gallery of this artist, David Cochran.This picture sure has a whole lot going on. Don't know when I would have noticed the pig head on the side of the door if Michael hadn't pointed it out. Sure does keep you busy discovering new things.

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Sasha sent me this portrait card of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas. It is from a painting done by Valentin Serov in 1900. She included a stamp of the railway station in Sochi and asks if I will there for the games. Funny thing, my brother in law had just been hired for the games a few days before it arrived.

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Remember how I wrote receiving this card made me rethink what types of cards I would like in my collection? After I received it, I added sheep/rams to my wish list. Gerrie must have selected my name the same or next day. I was thrilled when this card arrived shortly after I made the change. Confirmed it was a good decision to add it. This card is an art card of a pastel drawing by Dutch artist Loes Botman. The little bit I especially like is the art work was done in 2003, the year my daughter who is also a sheep was born.

OFFICIAL Card - Japan

Miwa from Tokyo, Japan wrote me saying she had just visited the Imperial Palace Museum. She sent this fun art card showing the work of  Ito Jakuchu. The piece is called "White fowl and pine" and while I could not find much online about it, I was able to see there was an exhibit last year in Washington. J.J. any chance you saw this?

Random Act of Smiliness - Melanie from Canada

It was a nice surprise to find this in my mailbox last week. Melanie had followed-up with me on a Christmas card I had sent her. She emailed to say she reads my blog daily - yeah me & hello Melanie! She had a card she thought I would like based on my writings and was sending it along. She was right on in selecting this one for me! The card shows a painting by Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis. The piece is titled "Yellow Birds". This is an artist I was not familiar with and I really enjoyed learning more about her. Melanie tells me she has been to the gallery with her sons and they studied Maud Lewis in school. I think I what I like best about this painting is the bird on the right with the worm. I don't know how to describe it exactly but it looks like he is wearing a baseball hat the way his beak and "cap" are painted. Totally brings a smile to my face. Thank you Melanie! I hope 2013 brings you everything you hope for!

Random Act of Smiliness - J.J. from USA

What did I ever do to deserve such a thoughtful person like J.J. in my life? Another wonderful card was in my mailbox this past Monday from her - thank you!!! She had travelled the week before to Richmond, Virginia to see an exhibit by glass artist Dale Chihuy, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. She writes that she can't even find words to describe how amazing it was. I'll be honest, I've never heard of this artist but seeing his work on the card and the links I really hope J.J. send me the Flickr link when she posts her photos - hint hint!