Via Airmail

University of Tempere Library

I once had a penpal from Tempere, Finland, so it was very cool when I found this postcard in my mailbox which shows the main library of the University of Tempere.  Alas, it did not come from my former penpal, but it did bring back happy memories.  And with the hot weather we've been having the piles of snow in the photo look kind of refreshing to me!

And is this not the coolest stamp?  I don't see many round ones, but this one is quite nice. 

{FI-1471871}

Postcrossing card #84

Boys Playing, 1884

I love getting postcards of artwork, especially when the image introduces me to someone new.  This is "Boys Playing" by Albert Edelfelt painted in 1884.  Edelfelt was a Swedish speaking Finnish painter and one of the first Finnish painters to achieve international fame.

It's a lovely image and brings to mind summer holidays spent at the seaside. 

According to the Postcrosser who sent me the card the stamp is of Helene Schjerfbeck, who is another Finnish painter working in the realist style.  The stamp is one of her self-portraits.  I love when the stamp and card match in theme!  And I see also that she has a "Girl Reading" painting.  Perhaps someday I'll come across a postcard of it.

{FI-1387597}

Postcrossing card #24

The Lady in Black

Earlier this week I found this lovely art card in my mailbox which arrived all the way from Finland after traveling nine days and more than 4,600 miles.  It's hard to tell from my scan, but her gloves and dress have glittery accents that shine when held up to the light.  She's very elegant.

The stamp is actually very nice, but the scan is pretty awful--too much contrast.  The symbol in the middle is really silver.  I love the shape.  I'm not sure if I've ever seen a round one before.  Finland is one of about 40 countries to issue stamps in 2009 concerning climate change.  You can see some of them here.  Sadly the US did not issue one (not all of us here like to ignore these problems, I assure you), though there are the Go Green series of stamps which are nice.  

{FI-1370123}

Postcrossing card #17

Two Art Cards

I feel like an official Postcrosser now.  A few of my postcards have arrived at their destinations and yesterday I came home to not one but two official postcards from fellow postcrossers in Germany and Finland.  I really love this card.  It reminds me of the silhouettes you see in papercutting.  For more on the art form, take a look at the gorgeous work of this papercutting artist.

On the flip side is this stamp and logo of the artist perhaps?  The design is by Dutch artist Jan H. J. Willemsen.  As I am an avid reader and have asked for book suggestions or favorite books, the postcrosser who send the card kindly shared a couple with me: Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso  Falcones and Tonio by A.F. Th. van der Heijden.

{DE-1240855}

Postcrossing card #1

Isn't this a sweet image?  It is by Finnish artist Helja Liukko-Sundstrom who is a ceramist.  See more images of her work here.

And on the stamp on the flip side are sea creatures and fish.

{FI-1332328}

Postcrossing card #2

No mail tomorrow, so will have to be patient and hope for extra cards in my mailbox on Tuesday.