Paper and Paint...Our Common Bond

I found another wonder package in my mailbox today.  In the last year I have made wonderful friends from around the world.  A year ago I would not have believed that I'd have friends that live in Scotland, Germany, Turkey, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Norway as well as all over the US. And I have a feeling I may have left out a few countries from that list.  

What brought us all together?  Paper and Paint.  Yep, that's what I said... paper and paint.  We are all artists. We all have a great fondness for paper in all its forms.  Art Journals, Card Making, Scrapbooks, Paper Napkins and Handmade Paper. Watercolors, Pens, Markers, Acrylic Paint and Colored Pencils will make us sigh.  We paint on just about anything that will stand still.

We love to recycle stuff into art. It's not uncommon for one of us to paint on the back of a cereal box or make a book out of a pasta box. We made journals with placemats for covers. All is fair game in our world.

It amazes me that we live on three different continents and we all look for the same things. Beautiful paper napkins, rubber stamps, stencils and the perfect waterproof pen to name just a few.  We speak different languages but I'm sure if we were in the same room together we could teach each other art techniques without any trouble at all.

The pictures here are just a few of the goodies I've received in the past year from some of the most caring and kind people I've ever met... Well actually I've not met any of them in person.  We live oceans apart but we are great friends.  We check on each other.  We encourage one another and when one of us is sick or having a hard time we pray for and comfort each other. I am so thankful for all these wonderful people who have come into my life.