postcards

Hello lovellie people!

In my first post I told you that I collect (old) postcards. As you can tell from the title of this post, it's all about postcards this time. But not the ones I collect, more of the ones I make myself.

On a rainy day last October (aka one year ago) I decided to start making my own postcards. That was because I had heard of some 'create and sell your own postcards'-event that was about to start in my hometown, Basel (Switzerland). They named it 'postkartenfestival' (which I hope you understand since I have no clue how to translate it, if not word by word).

The hosts basically encouraged people to let go of any doubts they may have (head) and start getting as creative as possible (heart). And that's what I liked about it so much.

The only thing you needed to do before starting to live your creativity to the fullest, was read through the rules, accept them and sign in with your name, email address and website (if existing). Also they demanded for 20 Swiss francs (which is about 16 euros, 22 US dollars or 14 pounds, just in case you were wondering) and 20 percent of the total price (which you were able to decide on yourself, btw) of every postcard you sold to someone. That's a pretty good deal if you take account of the fact that everyone - independent of age, job or any other characteristics - could join the event and no one (except for the hosts) had to mind any kind of advertising or exhibition room organisation. You could completely focus on your creative work - the postcards.

And great news! The best part about the whole post: The exact same event is planned to take place again in a restaurant/cafe called 'Unternehmen Mitte' (in Basel) on the 2nd of November this year. In fact it's the eighth event hosted by the same lovely people. Same event - same conditions.

So, if you live in Switzerland (preferably in Basel or at least nearby), you should definitely sign up on their website and start making your own creations - today! It's loads of fun, I promise. And to those who don't consider themselves as creative people (you all are though. Deep inside. I know it! ;)): There's still the option of simply coming around, enjoying the postcards other people created and maybe even buying one or two.

note: Even though the whole event seems to be about common postcards, always remember that people actually made all of them themselves, probably investing a lot of time. Therefore the postcards are more like tiny works of art. That means you get to buy unique copies, which you can frame and put up on your wall, next to some black'n'white photographs or whatever floats your boat, for very little money.

Please, check out their website for more information HERE and read through the instruction paper HERE, if you want to join the event (you only need to sign up if you actually want to make postcards, of course). Both is written in german, so... I'm afraid, I won't be able to translate everything on there for you.

Well, back to the first lines of the second paragraph - the postcards I make.

just a few of the postcards I made last year due to the event

1. That weird-looking paper thing is actually the inside part of an envelope I found on my mum's desk. The pair of eyes was cut out of a fashion magazine.

2. The heart right in the centre of the postcard was printed out of the computer (no, I wasn't able to simply cut it out of a coloured paper that precisely ;)). The objects around it were cut out of a few fashion magazines and newspapers, I think.

3. Look out, this might sound a bit weird, but I tend to always divide the human face into three groups (only in my head, of course): eyes, nose and mouth. Whenever I'll meet someone new, I most likely won't just look at them and see the face as one 'thing'.

Well, that's how this postcard and a few of the followings came into existence.

4. Same story as in number three basically.

5. This one's a little different to all the others. It kind of stands out, I find. It's made out of a ton of mouths I cut out of a magazine. Just in case you haven't figured out yet, the letters are meant to say 'LAUGH'.

6. Same story as in number three and four. Plus, if you look closely, you'll figure that some parts of the background are the same paper as in number one.

7. Best. By far my favourite postcard out of the ones I've made so far. Let me tell you, cutting out all the words and short phrases wasn't the easiest thing to do.

8. Totally oppositional to the last one, since this one's probably my least favourite postcard. Same story as in number three, four and six.

9. I made this one out of the words and phrases, which were left from creating number seven. The main letters, which are apart from the rest, form the word 'SMILE' (diagonally), which I later on marked by adding neonish colours to it.

10. Hi. There's nothing much to say about this one, I think. I just felt like making it. Bye.

Well, those were the postcards I've picked to show you. Go ahead and tell me what you think about them in the comments below! I'm amenable for advice. Also try to find out whose eyes, nose and mouth I've picked to work with in number three, four, six and eight, if you want to :)

If you're wondering, if I'll be handing in any (new) postcards to join the event this year, I'll have to disappoint you. I will surely be there, but I won't sell any postcards. But my mum will! She's a very creative and - most important - talented person. Her postcards are completely different to mine. She works with collages too though, so that's what makes me like them so much, I guess. You should definitely sneak in and have a look! They're worth it a hundred, if not a thousand times :)

And if you live in Switzerland (or you just love travelling very much) and you've decided to join the event too, then that makes me even more happy! I'd be absolutely thrilled if you showed me some of your work or told me about it in the comments below. Even if you don't make postcards due to the event I've been talking about throughout the entire post (sorry about that, btw).

Without further ado, have fun making postcards! :)
xx Ellie