hedgehogs

It's been a while since I added to my animal groups series, but I recently received a request for hedgehogs, so here they are. When there is more than one choice for the collective noun, I use the one with the most interesting sound. "A prickle of hedgehogs" seems almost too good to be true, but I LOVE the expression, don't you?

To see the other etegami in my animal groups series, type "animal groups" into the Search This Blog box in the right column. You can order the tote bag here.

 

more cross-inspiration

My last post was about the rare pleasure of receiving mailart that is a specific response to an etegami the sender has received from me, a mailart dialogue that I hope to develop further in my next etegami to the same person.

In the meantime, however, I received this art card (above) from Fumiko Koga, a different mailart friend whose signature style is cut-paper art. It, too, is a specific response to an etegami she received from me just a week earlier, one from my whimsical house series (see below). You can see how she converted my image to suit her own medium and sense of whimsy. The accompanying words, too, are a Japanese version of the same Irish blessing that I quoted on my card.

Whether intentional or not, borrowing and lending is always going on among us. The honor is greater, of course, when the borrower recognizes and acknowledges the debt of inspiration. This is not limited to art, but extends to just about everything. Can you think of an example in your life?