Craft book delivers interesting ideas

Published 3:29 pm Thursday, May 6, 2010

Remember mail? Real letters with stamps that come through that little slot in the front door?

Two authors think a good day brings good mail (not that junk stuff) or, better, artsy envelopes.

Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler’s “Good Mail Day” ($19.99) is subtitled “a primer for making eye-popping postal art.”

“For the majority of people, the art of mail is all but forgotten,” the authors write in their introduction.

“Writing anything beyond a stock ‘thinking of you’ phrase inside a birthday card can be difficult enough.”

Hinchcliff and Wheeler, both teachers of book arts, such as binding, help crafters think of postcards and envelopes as canvases for personal expression. Their book includes an array of inspiring, four-color examples., turning simple letter writing into an art form.

They also include stories — of creative types who artfully keep the thrill of “good mail” circulating.

The authors’ ideas may translate into other paper arts, such as scrapbooking and journaling.