WORKS OF ART FROM OUR WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS

Chances are, if you have gotten to this page, you have actually been spending some time here. Of course, that being the case, you probably have realized that we are not your average retailer. Well, our fine customers are not your average retail customers either. We like to think they look at life a bit differently as well which is why they seem to be drawn to us (pun intended).
This page simply celebrates those wonderful, if a bit strange, people who send their business our way. Okay, everyone else out there likes to post letters from their customers telling the world what a wonderful product they make. We get those letters too but that is too easy to fake, isn't it? There is no faking these fine examples of people who have "caught our bug". Life is just way too short to be so stressed out about everything from profits to shopping. Sit back and take some time to join with us in a celebration of what it means to be human in a world where you have been relegated to a simple data stream. Some of us keep up the good fight and some examples are shown here. When was the last time you put this much creativity into placing an order with "Eddie Bean's End"? (Even that lovely little quip is from a customer.) If the artist's initials are in BLUE and underlined, that means they have a web page or web site that you can visit so please do click and see.

We are currently separating the art work into three categories. Mail Art, which is shared along its path by all those overstressed Post Office folks and much enjoyed by our local USPS staff; Foot/Hand Art (that's a new one) where some folks have decided to dress up those tracings just a bit; and General Art, which is simply a contribution from the heart and soul of good folks we have done business with. ("I did this piece awhile back, it just seems right that you should have it.") Like, WOW!
Please note that because of space limitations, varying download speeds, etc. we have done some manipulating of what we have received and will be quite up front about what we have done as you view the art that follows. Some pieces should be so much bigger to be appreciated. We retain every piece that is sent us and it will be up to our sons to decide what to do with it all when they inherit our estate (which is mostly stuff like pictures from customers, magazine articles, and a host of other things we just haven't been able to bring ourselves to throw out). Oh, not everyone makes it onto our page. Inclusion is based both on the art and the attitude of the individual. We do try to be fair but we honestly look at the thought and the attitude behind the piece of art. Who knew we would have to make such decisions?

And, the fine print, if you decide to send something in to us, well, we are afraid that it becomes our property. We ask permission of everyone for publication if they sent along their email address but if you don't want it published, don't send it. In the extremely unlikely event that we should ever profit from it (Ha, Ha!) well, it will help pay the health insurance bills. 

Note that 2011 gave us many more items to post. We will post them but we are also looking at a way to make the page a bit more user friendly. Since we are old, this takes a lot of time/effort/brain power which we just do not have right now. :)

MAIL ART

Contributed by AS of Pennsylvania
Our first piece of Mail Art which was featured on our cartoon page for years. The first piece has the back of the envelope superimposed on the front. The second piece, well, she spelled our name wrong but who really cares? It is the thought that counts.

Contributed by AJ of New York
Sometimes simple goes a long way and we do appreciate it since neither one of us can draw squat.

Contributed by AW of Illinois
A collage is certainly art by most definitions we have read. It is even better when the subject matter is so obvious. No questioning what the artist was trying to say here. Our good old friend Esheep should be proud. (Okay, are we showing our age, does this remind you of Pac Man with a wool twist?) The front and back of the envelope have been fused together as one image.

Contributed by BG of California
We understand BG's frustration, we couldn't draw a sheep either. But, there was definitely a lot of effort put in here and complementing one of our contributors, well that shows some respect that one doesn't experience much anymore. Thanks for taking the time to create this for us even if it isn't a "sheep" and for the kind statements about Lisa's work. The text was rearranged to create a more compact image.

Contributed by CF from our home state of Vermont
This is a much appreciated work. We wish we could be leaning up against a tree like that ovine in the picture, nice warm feet, not a care in the world. There are two different envelope backs fused together here, side by side. In case you can't read the stamp, it says, "Life Is A Dream, Realize It." The ear muffs on the chicken were a real nice touch.

Contributed by GH of California
We have a great deal of respect for such wonderful calligraphy. All you have to do is look at the hand written "order slip" that comes with your purchase to understand why. Heck, Rick's handwriting has gotten so bad he can't even read it. At least he can identify the numbers so he can call if he can't make out the address (which is why phone numbers are so important). The back was combined with the front to make one image.

Contributed by LA of California
The back and the front of the envelope were fused side by side to make one image. It is nice to be loved. There was a very nice note from her child inside the envelope. Be sure and see some of her general art  later down the page.

Contributed by RH of North Carolina
What can we say, family gets to participate as RH is Rick's sister in law. She too has an additional piece in general art. And, yes, when she sent this to us she was ordering a new pair of slippers. Got to keep the family happy as well.

Contributed by GK of Washington
More simplicity with heart.

Contributed by MG of South Carolina
Another wonderful simple piece that we are happy to display.

Contributed by LD of Arizona
This one is unique. Some would say it really doesn't fit as art but, art is in the eye of the beholder (and the webmaster). The old stamps (25 cents, how long ago was that?) and Christmas Seals from 1958 and 1962 meant someone did some work before they sent in the order. Part of the order form was superimposed on the envelope front.

Contributed by PF of California
Well, since you can't read them, the stamps, left to right, are Grenada, ?, Mexico, and the US. Since the envelope had the correct US postage that was all that it took to get it here. We did a double take when it arrived so we expect a few USPS folks did along the way as well. We get most of the meaning but we are still scratching our heads about the bacon. "Bringing home the bacon", maybe? The back of the envelope was fused to the front to make one image.

Contributed by NJ of PA via his mother :)
The winner of our Mail Art contest 2011. Did we ever mention how much we love youngsters? Looks like the future is in good hands.

Contributed by TJ of PA
Best wishes after the Hurricane Irene disaster. Thank you! This envelope was not allowed out of the PO door until it was seen by all and everyone needed a good smile. (PS, we received notes from a variety of people in a variety of manners just to check up on us after the situation. We thank everyone for their concern.)

Contributed by DS of VT
We had never come across that little saying before.

FOOT/HAND ART

Contributed by CW of North Carolina
This came in with an order for a pair of slippers for his mom. We have to display it on it's side just to conserve space but we don't think it detracts too much from the whimsy.

Contributed by LL of Pennsylvania
Any guess where this customer's head is at? We took a little artistic license here and gave the tracings some color. Okay, we don't know golf from skiing so we guessed a bit. None-the-less, the point is clear. As long as they reserve the slippers for the end of a hard day and don't wear them on the course we will all be happy campers.

Contributed by KD of Massachusetts
Sometimes you can tell a lot about a person based simply on how the order comes in. We do say we will take anything as long as it is legible. So, any guesses? Does this individual have at least one child? If so, any guesses at age of the child? The note down the side says, "Can you tell I'm doing this in the kitchen?" and the arrow points to a grease spot that didn't scan in.

Contributed by JK of Washington
So she sent in a hand tracing and commented that she had resisted the temptation to draw a turkey. So we picked on her a bit and noted that one should never resist the urge to do something creative. So, she emailed this "Local, Seattle, vegan, gluten free tofurkey."

Contributed by ML of Maryland
Two separate foot tracings of very happy feet that came in with a holiday order.

Contributed by JM of California
We did minor alterations to this one. The face was cut out so that we could flip the foot tracing on it's side and leave the face in the proper position for easy viewing. We also darkened it just a bit.

GENERAL ART

Contributed by LA of California
Lisa's little envelope was stuffed full of little goodies for us including a bit of dried sea weed from the California Coast. We were going to mail her some snow but we thought the folks at the Post Office would have gotten a little nervous.

Contributed by RH of North Carolina
This original piece is titled "Baa Baa Blue Sheep". This copy was taken from a letter that came with her order. Scanning an ink jet image we are sure doesn't do justice to the original.

Contributed by AW of New York
This came in with an order for a bunch of trooper hats. AW has outfitted every family member and we think quite a few friends in our trooper hats over the years. It was a full page work and it is regrettable that we had to down size so dramatically but everything is still fairly visible.

Contributed by DD of Vermont
This is a genuine painting. It was given to us by a local middle school student to help kick off the 2011 Mail Art contest. This is a "Worble". It already owns a pair of mittens and ear muffs and it is contemplating the purchase of a pair of slippers.

Contributed by WE and CE of Pennsylvainia
Again, some may debate the "art" question but that debate has been going on for centuries and we don't have time to waste until the "What is art?" question is solved. It is our page, we decide.
There is no way to describe the joy we felt when we received this. Art is creativity and this was creative at the very least.

Contributed by WS of ME via his mother :)
This piece is simply beautiful. Apparently is was drawn in France some years back.

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