| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| abigail.maryjanesfarm |
Posted - Dec 01 2023 : 4:23:26 PM
Hello there! It’s finally time for more Mail Art. 
My name is Abigail; I’m taking over some things here at MaryJane’s Farm. I know it’s been a little bit since the last Mail Art; MaryJane is really excited to get it going again.
A little bit about me: I work as a math professor at one of the universities nearby, and I specialize in preparing future teachers. I started working at MaryJane’s Farm in April 2022. After the pandemic, I was desperate to find some summer work that did not involve staring at a screen, and MaryJane graciously hired me even though I had virtually no practical skills to speak of on my resumé . I love working here and have learned so much from the work here and from MaryJane.
I just got married this past August. MaryJane was very generous and let me and my girlfriends stay at the farm the night before the wedding. We had the most magical girls’ night. I put together personalized gifts for all the girls, including MaryJane. Planning a wedding really puts a strain on the finances, so I wanted to find a low-cost way of packaging the gifts that was still beautiful and special. I pulled out some paper bags I had been storing in a cupboard and my acrylic paints. I painted the same floral design on each bag and then added each girl’s name to her bag. When the girls arrived for the wedding-eve girls’ night, each girl’s bag was set out waiting for her. What started as a cost-saving strategy ended up being even more special than store-bought bags. MaryJane even told me her favorite part was the bag. In the end, I really only saved myself a few dollars, but I’m still glad I did it. The girls raved about the bags all weekend.
With this anecdote as inspiration, the theme for January’s Mail Art is “Paper Bags”. I encourage you to find creative and beautiful ways to make art out of ordinary paper bags. Of course, if you feel like following your own theme, you are welcome to create whatever theme feels right!
If this is your first time signing up for Mail Art, please visit the topic Farmgirl Mail Art to read our guidelines.
For January Mail Art, please leave a comment on this thread stating you'd like to join in. Sign-up is available through December 15th. If your comment appears after you've posted it, that means you're on the roster.
I’ll send an email with your partner to you by December 16th. Please send your Mail Art before January 31st and be sure to include enough postage for your Mail Art to reach its destination.
Please post a comment on this thread once you receive your mail art to let your sender know that you received their art. If you can add a picture, I’d love to see your mail art!
If you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email. I'm happy to help! My email is abigail@maryjanesfarm.org.
Happy creating and swapping!
Abigail
"Do you know how incredibly brave it is to say `I don't know' when you're pretty sure everyone else around you gets it?"
-Brené Brown
"Comparison is the thief of joy"
-attributed to Teddy Roosevelt
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Feb 09 2024 : 1:35:23 PM
Dianna, I did the same thing! For some reason I thought it still needed to be a functional bag lol! Your bag is adorable.
Krista |
| VT Oma |
Posted - Feb 09 2024 : 11:52:33 AM
Dianna, I truly love the gift bag you made me. When I posted that I received your bag, I forgot to mention I don't have a cell phone to take a picture so I am glad you did post the picture, I hope you saw the post. Your bag is sitting on my shelf in my art room and makes me smile seeing that cute Hedgehog you made on the bag. I also hope you liked the art on the bag I made and maybe you will be able to use it to put a gift in it for someone else. I had so much fun with this mail art.
VT Oma
Sheila
Farmgirl #5766
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| katmom |
Posted - Feb 07 2024 : 10:02:07 PM
Dianna and Sheila, both your bags are just Adorbs!!!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
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| suny58 |
Posted - Feb 07 2024 : 7:54:12 PM
Sheila, I hope you are feeling much better by now! I received your mail art today! Brought a smile to my face as I do so love mixed media/collage! Thankful for the paper gift bag, tea and easel as well. Yummy teas! The mail art so so cute, kitty and birds! Thanks so much!
I sure went in a different direction by just doing mail art right on your gift bag! Included a couple other things but I do so hope you liked your gift bag art! I incorporated the things you said you loved:D
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
| VT Oma |
Posted - Feb 07 2024 : 04:21:31 AM
Wow those flowers look so cool, very creative that's for sure and I love them in the spool too!
VT Oma
Sheila
Farmgirl #5766
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| Jokamartell |
Posted - Feb 05 2024 : 3:05:40 PM
Love the flowers in the spool! Those are so fun and I agree, Krista, the best thing is that they will never die or wither. :)
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Feb 05 2024 : 1:10:15 PM
My wonderful package arrived on Friday! Here’s the paper bag mail art my Auntie MJ made for me. She did an amazing job. I absolutely love it and now it has a permanent home on my counter. The best part aside from the fact I can't kill them, is that it smells just like her yummy food! (Which is one of my favorite smells ever.)
She also sent me a Kensington book, When the Jessamine Grows. I’ve been wanting to read another one of their books because I know she and Meg read lots of their books. The first book I read was The Lost Girls of Willowbrook and it was phenomenal. I have already started this new book. I am excited to see what it's all about.
She also pointed out to me a quick way to order direct from Kensington is now available from the farm’s website, under the main menu item SISTERHOOD. Here is the link if any of you are interested. https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/Kensington-Books. Most of their paperbacks are less than $20 and if you buy 3, you get free shipping. This one isn’t out yet but it appeals to me because my oldest loves the Titanic so much. We will be getting this book once it's out and reading it together.
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Thanks Auntie MJ for the beautiful flowers and exciting new book! I look forward to reading more of their books.
Krista
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Feb 05 2024 : 12:52:39 PM
Aww Auntie MaryJane, now you have me crying over here! Thank you for all the sweet things you said about me and grandma. I love that woman so much and miss her every day. There are so many things I wish I could ask her and show her. I am very proud to say that I am her family, as well as yours. Thank you so much!
I am happy you like the bag and will be able to use it for many years to come.
Thank you Grace! Hugs to you too!
Krista |
| VT Oma |
Posted - Feb 05 2024 : 08:05:22 AM
MaryJane, that was a very nice share of Krista and your family, I love hearing stories like that. It brings rays of sunshine out of all the cloudy weather I have been having here in Vermont.
VT Oma
Sheila
Farmgirl #5766
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| VT Oma |
Posted - Feb 05 2024 : 07:44:39 AM
Dianna, I am home sick yet again. Low and behold the mail lady brought my mail up to the house because your package would not fit in my mail box! I was so happy to receive it; I needed cheering up! I just love the cute Hedge Hog you created on the bag with the tree and the little mushrooms, I like the way you added dried moss and bark. It does make me smile. The cut out Hedge Hog from the UK is very nice and the sweets I had for my breakfast dessert (I just made that up but It is now a thing) LOL. Thank you so for putting a smile on my face.
Yours should arrive any day.
VT Oma
Sheila
Farmgirl #5766
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| katmom |
Posted - Feb 03 2024 : 1:59:55 PM
Oh MaryJane, what a sweet sharing... and we all LOVE Krista to the moon and back... Thank you for sharing her with us!
Hugz to you Krista and your Aunt, from all of us...
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
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| MaryJane |
Posted - Feb 03 2024 : 09:47:31 AM
I hadn't thought of it that way, Debbie, Farmgirl to Farmgirl to Farmgirl. I only wish my mother could pay Krista a visit and enjoy Krista's adorable family (her husband is a gem) and see her influence on her granddaughter ... Krista's passion for crochet, her cake decorating and baking, and her welcoming home.
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - Feb 03 2024 : 09:22:25 AM
Oh my goodness MaryJane you gave me goosebumps. Such a heartwarming story you shared about our Krista, her Grandmother and her Auntie.
Farmgirl to Farmgirl to Farmgirl. Thank you.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
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| MaryJane |
Posted - Feb 03 2024 : 09:11:18 AM
The mail art gift I received from my niece Krista is going to be sentimental for me for many Christmas celebrations to come.
Every year, I put my most precious memorabilia on my fireplace mantel. Next year and forever more, Krista's bag will get a quart canning jar filled with water put down inside it and then I'll keep the jar filled during the holidays with pine trimmings, maybe some poinsettia branches, maybe even some flocked Oregon grape cuttings. Or wild rose hip cuttings, something fresh.
When Krista was a baby and then a toddler, both her parents worked full time, so my mother stepped in, "Bring Krista here everyday--I'd love to take care of her!" My mother SO loved that time in her life with little Krista and Krista was of course the perfect child. So in a way, I'm honoring my mother's love for her granddaughter, because my mother also loved decorating and baking every Christmas.
So, thank you Krista!!!!
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| katmom |
Posted - Jan 31 2024 : 5:40:37 PM
Abigail and Karen... I am in awe! Awesome!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
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| suny58 |
Posted - Jan 31 2024 : 4:37:07 PM
Sheila??? Haven't you gotten yours by now??
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
| Blessed in Colorado |
Posted - Jan 31 2024 : 12:46:26 PM
Abigail and Karen that is so pretty. Like Krista I too wish I could draw.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012, February 2018, September 2022
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, I am Old now!!
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Jan 31 2024 : 12:41:14 PM
Wow, that is beautiful! Oh how I wish I could draw. And I never would have thought to frame my bag either. I will need to think more out of the box next time.
Krista |
| Jokamartell |
Posted - Jan 31 2024 : 11:37:35 AM
Here is the mail art I received from Abigail! Thank you so much!! I absolutely love it!! It’s so my decor style!! It’s so truly amazing! 
Karen :)
To quote one of my past preschoolers “Not one of those Karens, but a good Karen”! Haha |
| MaryJane |
Posted - Jan 29 2024 : 11:39:28 AM
Same here, only tomorrow late afternoon for mine coming to you!
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Jan 29 2024 : 11:29:37 AM
Auntie MaryJane, I will be taking yours to the post office first thing tomorrow morning.
Krista |
| suny58 |
Posted - Jan 27 2024 : 08:09:32 AM
Darling picture Grace!! I love it!! I sent Sheila's out last week. We both have so much going on in our lives but I can't WAIT till she gets hers!! :)
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
| katmom |
Posted - Jan 21 2024 : 7:51:38 PM
Looking forward to seeing what you ladies come up with...
I spotted this idea on a German website.. and thought I would share it with you ladies..
How fun to make for a child's birthday, ex: 6th birthday,,, 6 bags/sacks..and fill with goodies... or if a special friend needs cheering up, fill 1 bag for each letter of their name.. EX: MARY = 4 bags.. fill with lotion, nail polish, mints, body spritz..
Just thinking outside the Bag..
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
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| VT Oma |
Posted - Jan 11 2024 : 04:53:06 AM
Dianna I sent you a you an email a week ago I think it was. I am not on the computer much so not sure of the date. January always seems to be a busy month after all the holidays. But I am going to schedule myself to do some mail art over the weekend! I hope everyone is healthy and doing well.
VT Oma
Sheila
Farmgirl #5766
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| suny58 |
Posted - Jan 04 2024 : 5:49:42 PM
Shiela, I sent you a return response to your email a couple weeks ago and was hoping to hear from you soon please?? I'm ready to create!! :)
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
