Vera the mouse

While I was in Holland, I was searching for cards that showed a bit of my homecountry, but not the traditional houses, bikes and landscapes. There are so many quite famous Dutch artists out there that I am proud of and want to share with people. Then, when I was in Leiden, I stumbled upon some nice cards in a second hand shop.

This cute mouselady is called Vera and drawn by Marjolein Bastin.

A lot of her drawings are about food

A knitting Vera! I know quite some people who’ll drool over this.

Definately my favourite. Look at that cute Dutch flag.

Marjolein Bastin might be even more famous for her scetches of nature.

Shoeshopping/fitting Vera. In every inch a woman.

What I like best about Bastin’s pictures is the mess yet abundance of it all. A little sentimental and oldfashioned.

And last but not least, birthday Vera!
Stories and drawings of Vera were published in Hollands most famous woman’s magazine from 1985 till… as far as I know, now.

Emil

After a lovely little holiday in the Netherlands and catching up with my sister, I am back into postblogging again.

Yesterday the mailman made me extraordinary happy. I received my first Astrid Lindgren postcard ever! It came from 10 year old Lily from Hamburg, Germany. I think it’s great that people from all ages participate in Postcrossing.

The card shows Emil from the books “Emil i Lonneberga” playing with his sister Ida.
I have visited Emils Katthult (the filmset of the Emil movies) in Sweden several times now with my sister. We are both big fans of all the Astrid Lindgren books ánd movies, especially those made my Olle Hellblom.

But there was more sweetness from Lily:

Nice wishes on a stamp!

Vintage cartoons

I was at a fleamarket this weekend and managed to purchase 81 (!!!) vintage postcards from a dear old lady.
These cards will all be sent away in the next couple of months to other people who I hope will be just as happy I was this saturday. But before I do so, I scanned the best cards to share here.
I especially like a couple of 50′s cartoon cards among my big pile.

Classic British humour I’d say

I love the husband and wife stereotypes from and era that is no more

Card says: “And the flowers you gave me!!”

The fact that the husband is depicted as a fool in every card surprised me most!

Icons

When I opened up a profile at Postcrossing, I asked people to send me icons, saints and martyrs. I love little holy cards and in memoriam cards best. The older and more over the top, the better.

Ann from Belarus (we call it White Russia) surprised me by sending me my first icon.

It’s a very famous Madonna with Child from 1500 Minsk!
Maybe this card is the start of a great icon collection…

Magic Moscow

Sometimes I like viewcards, especially if they’re from Eastern Europe.
Olga from Novosibirsk (yes, that is a city, a huge one in fact) send met this Eastern Orthodox cathedral.

Oh the mix between East and West…. magic.

And as if she knew I am a stamplover too:

A handsome girl brushing her hair!
Thank you Olga.