Last Friday the USPS put the fourth in a series of six Flags of Our Nation stamps on sale. Montana is among the states to get a stamp in this series, and the post office asked me to design a cancel for them. I was honored. I decided to combine my love of map envelopes (read that MAIL ART) with my cachet business, and I was really happy to get the opportunity to offer my subscribers a nice cover to add to their collections.
I used a territorial map of Montana to create the envelopes from archival #70 paper, and then utilize the image from the Great Seal and flag of Montana to produce these little pieces of art.
The history part of how the flag came to be goes back to the Spanish American War when a unit of the Montana National Guard carried this flag into battle - not as it appears today, but the seal and flag were developed from the unit flag itself. The seal reflects the heritage of this great state - a pick and shovel (mining), a plow (agriculture), the Great Falls of the Missouri (first recorded by Lewis & Clark in 1805), and the majestic mountains for which Montana was named. The words on the scroll, ORO -Y-PLATA , mean Gold and Silver.
Oh yes, and Beth Niquette over at The Best Hearts are Crunchy is hosting Postcard Friendship Friday, if you're interested in looking at more great 'mail art'!
wow! congratulations are in order...what an honour! thank you for sharing this with us all on PFF!
ReplyDeleteOh my word! Congratulations! This is wonderful news...wow! Thank you for sharing this wonderful honor you've received, with PFF!
ReplyDeleteHave a perfectly wonderful weekend!
That's a beautiful cover. I love the way you used the map.
ReplyDeleteWOW... congrats what an honor. Thanks for sharing the history of the flag. PFF!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you! Wonderful. Beautiful art work (as usual)!!! Happy PFF!
ReplyDeleteGreat cover, maps are endlessly fascinating and love the contrast with the colourful seal.
ReplyDeleteI like this one a lot. I came across another file folder with a lot of envelopes in it. I will have to scan them one of these days.
ReplyDeleteDave, I'm glad I found you! :) See my blog, etc.
ReplyDeleteHowdy
ReplyDeleteA big hug and congratulations to you on such a wonderful honor .
Thank you so much for sharing with us here in blogland.
Your post was simply thrilling today.
Again thank you .
Oh yes Happy Postcard Friendship Friday :)
Happy Trails
Big Congratulations :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Congrats! That's a great piece.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - a well deserved honor to be sure. What a beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteHappy PFF!
To answer your question about how tall the Mugho Pine gets...
ReplyDeleteMine is about 20 years old. It has been trimmed so it grows long, along a walkway, instead of spreading out. But the height is never touched and is less than waist high.
Wow! I am so impressed! Many congratulations.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteMrCachet, I particularly like the way you designed the cancel with a notch for the stamp in the corner. The torn edge of the cancel is also a nice touch. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAnd I particularly like the way the Great Seal and flag image appears as if in a magnifying glass with a river-like handle. As always, your concept is matched only by the brilliant execution, and you never disappoint. I am so proud of you for being chosen for this honor. I hope they paid you in gold and silver.
ReplyDeleteHey Dave - a big congrats about the cancel design. Love all the little details in your artwork; as usual you have produced another fine bit of mail art.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to look at all the old postcards. And thank you for visiting my blog. If you would like to step inside Lawson's General Store just go to the August 18th 2009 post and I have a picture of the interior (including my little brother standing right in front) that would have been taken in the very late 30's or early 40's. You might enjoy that. Rome at that time had 7 taverns and one grocery store!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Wow, that is an honor and what a cool design!
ReplyDelete