RAK for my autistic friend

[lemurkat]

I have a good friend, called Matty, who is autistic. She is wonderfully creative and very sweet (although shy at first meeting) but because of her autism she cannot leave her house without a minder, and as such gets very lonely. She also suffers from depression and feels that she is a burden on the world. Recently she has suffered a huge setback to her self-esteem due to a friendship being abruptly cut-off. She is also having to deal with some pretty heavy and dark issues from her past. Despite this she retains a charming child-like innocence that I love her for. But, of course, this makes the hurt even harder when it happens.

It is her birthday in December, and she finds Christmas lonely, being enstranged from her family. I was suddenly struck by the inspiration that I would like to make her a book on friendship and love, and for this I would like your help.

The plan is to collect pages, one-sided, measuring 5x7 inches and on the theme of friendship, and bind them together into a book to present to her either for her birthday, or when she is feeling particularly down. If you are interested in contributing to this, please let me know. If you wish to send ATCs or something smaller instead, these will also be greatly appreciated - I will scrapbook them onto a page of the appropriate size.

Any pages created should be relatively sturdy. Please include your name and your state/country on the back, and leave a half-inch gap along the back, on the right-hand side for the binding. I believe these are called tip-in pages. Embellishments can be added, but because I will be binding these into a book, I would prefer that these be relatively flat, thanks.

If you wish to know more about Matty, she writes poetry and short stories, as well as sharing art in her blog: www.mattyangel.com

She likes: the colour pink; animals, especially cats; Pokemon, especially the first 150; Lego; kids cartoons; colourful and happy stuff. Quotes are OK too - she can write well, and is quite intelligent, but she is not-so-good at reading, so if you write her a message, please keep the language relatively simple (as though you were writing to a 10/11-year old or someone to whom English was a second language).

I will endeavour to send every contributor a "thank you" package which will include at least one original ATC (from my Animal-a-Day collection) and a couple of my postcards. So, when you send your contribution, please also let me know what themes you collect and what your favourite animals are.

[Hazartist1]

I'm in!

[kentuckydakota]

Oh I would like to try and make something for her.

[lemurkat]

Thanks guys!

[lemurkat]

Received from Kentuckydakota today - a gorgeous wee piece. I'll have your thank you piece in the mail soon.

Anyone else willing to send a little love in Matty's direction?

[angelmuz]

I am in too. But I am heading to Canada for a month. I think I can send one after that eh? since the deadline is a bit later in the year?

[lemurkat]

Yes Angelmuz, that would be fine!
So far I've received one, which I'm very grateful. May have to revise the "make a book" idea. I would offer this as a one-for-one trade - I've plenty of ATCs - but it would be an uneven one as it's a 5x7 for 1-3 ATCs, and I"m not sure if that's permitted.

[kwailin777]

I'm in too!

[vikinglady]

Hi Lemurkat! I'm in for this. Please don't feel you need to send me something though. You'll have enough to do with putting this book together for your friend. Please send me your mailing address when you have time. :)

[Tandy]

I'm in too!

[tealtornado]

I'm hoping to do something as well, is there a date by which you hope to receive them?

[Gemininorn]

Count me in, too! And I would like to know as well, what kind of deadline you were thinking of

[lemurkat]

Her birthday is mid-December, so maybe early November? Give me time to figure out how to make the book!
(if anyone can give me some tips, let me know -it's been a while. Elsewise I'll just google it and look for a step-by-step guide)

And thanks guys for all the offers - I appreciate it! I'll send out some addresses later. Gotta fly out now.

[ferretgirl]

So, let me know if this is correct? You'd basically be putting three ATCs on a page? I think I could spring for that=) Mine wouldn't be as pretty as everyone else that will be hand-drawing, hand-painting but hopefully she would still like them?

[lemurkat]

Basically Ferretgirl, I'm collecting anything anyone wishes to send for her - but I intend to bind it up into a book. Technically I am mainly collecting 5x7 inch pages - Tip-in pages - but if you would prefer to send ATCs, I will mount them on a page. Does that make sense? I will be sending at least one original ATC and a little "thank you" pack to every participant. The reason I'm not offering it as a straight trade is because I'm asking for 5x7 but sending back ATC/s, which is uneven and therefore may not be permitted.

[ferretgirl]

Yea, that makes sense. I don't know how well I'd do working on a tip-in & we just found out that my mom''s aggressive head/neck cancer is back so I am going to have to be cutting back on swaps & such but I feel that this would be a great "small" project to work on & I already have ATC ideas. Can you send me your addy info when you get a chance? I know, I should have it but you know how those kinds of things go!! So nice of you to work on this kind of project for a dear friend.

[vikinglady]

lemurkat, if you want to make a special journal cover for your friend may I suggest one of Jennibellie's online tutorials. Here is one that is very pretty and has beading on the binding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2oFxNcf2TE

[lemurkat]

Sorry to hear about your mum, Ferretgirl.

Thanks everyone! Yes Corazon, portrait orientated. But landscape would be OK too. I'm pretty open to anything!
Will look into that Vikinglady.

[lemurkat]

Painchri - Itrader doesn't matter for this - it is a random act of kindness and anyone can join! I would love to receive a page from you and I am sure Matty would too

[Lalka]

Would love to create a page for Matty's book! No need for pay-back, lemurkat... you're sure to have your hands full in assembling your book! Please PM mailing info! :)

[lemurkat]

Thanks guys!
I'll send through addresses later - I have to have breakfast and get to work :)

[Nancy]

I would looove to send you some for your friend. Please send addy.

[lemurkat]

Thanks Nancy for the super-cute kitties!

We had Matty over tonight for dinner and to watch Jupiter Ascending. Then she bet me at the Pokemon TCG. Total annihilation. It was lots of fun, I"d forgotten how much I enjoyed that game.

[lemurkat]

I've been a bit delayed with sending out the "thank you" packages - KentuckyDakota, I shall get to yours within the next couple of days. Nancy - what are your favourite animals?

[SunTrade]

Lemurkat I am in, and could I send more than 1 page? Is Bristol Paper ok?

[lemurkat]

Welcome Suntrade! The answers are YES and yes! :) I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[SunTrade]

Awesome! I will get busy!

[Lalka]

Just a quick note to say my page went to the P.O. today and it's on the way!:)

[lemurkat]

Thanks Lalka!

[SunTrade]

Mine is postal too :)

[kwailin777]

I'm ready for an addy too! :)

[Tandy]

Here is what I made for Matty. I already have your address. :)

http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/21438/large/1_Love-Birds-sm.jpg

[lemurkat]

Oh Tandy, that's gorgeous!
I think I've sent everyone who's asked the address. Let me know if you haven't received it.
Thanks everyone!

[Lalka]

Really beautiful page, Tandy!

[Nancy]

No need to send me a card...the ones I sent were gifts for Matty and I am blessed to already have one of your masterpieces in my collection! You are so special doing this for her!!

[SunTrade]

Ditto Nancy and Corazon!

[lemurkat]

Received lovely cards from Suntrade and Loretta today!
Thanks you guys.
I'm going to try and buy a small album to store them in. My efforts for designing a holder was rudimentary at best.

[Terri F]

Count me in please.

Send your addy when you can

So sweet of you to do this for her. :)

[Terri F]

Mailed today. I hope you like them and especially Matty. Hugs.

[Gemininorn]

Ready for mail, please send addy :wub:

[Gemininorn]

Will mail tomorrow, hope she will like it

http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/index.php?n=453491

[lemurkat]

Well, I love!
Thank you.

[lemurkat]

Got a whole bunch more of beauties!
Tandy - gorgeous
Kwailin777 - beautiful
Corazon - very sweet, especially love the message.

You guys are so generous!

I also acquired an album - it's got monochrome butterflies on it and holds up to 24 "photos". I've coloured in the laminate with fake-sharpies.

These are so beautiful it's going to be hard parting with them. I might have to keep some scans of them myself. If that's OK?

[Gemininorn]

of course ;-)

[lemurkat]

Received from Gemininorn and Shawnicaitlin!
Lovely the both of them!

We will be moving house at the end of the month (we bought one!!!) and I'm going to probably throw myself into getting the "thank you"s done then. With everything going on at present: official work, the house buying process, unofficial work and keeping up with my animal-a-day project, I'm pretty much snowed under with stuff and have been slacking on these - for which I apologise. I am taking a week or two off the animal-a-day project in order to a, deal with moving house and b, clear-up commitments, also so that the 700th animal-a-day is uploaded on the 2-year anniversary of the project (October 16th). Who can guess what it will be? It starts with "S" and is something that is very special to me.

[ferretgirl]

So how long do we have left to send something in, lemurkat?

[lemurkat]

Mattie's birthday is early December, so another two months or so.

Please note that the address I am giving people IS NOT CHANGING. It's my parents' address and I'm going to continue sending my mail there - our new house is on a street not far from a bus stop and gets a fair amount of foot traffic past it. So, don't worry about sending it the wrong address - as long as you've got the "Harewood" one, you're all good :)

[ferretgirl]

Great, thanks for the info!!

[angelmuz]

I am back from Canada so will get going on my little card finally. So glad you are getting lots of art for Matty! wonderful! Looks like you are too busy though! Buying houses, moving..not easy at all. And for the guess of that animal... I have absolutely no idea. You know more about animals than anyone I have ever met. But I am sure its a cool one! Snail? ha ha!

[Wysteriavine]

Ok, I feel silly I missed this! I would love to contribute. :) I will start on an idea I have rolling around in my noggin.

[lemurkat]

Awesome! Thanks Wysteriavine :)
And THANK YOU to everyone who has participated so far.

[Gemininorn]

I have no idea on the animal, either, my guess would be some kind of bird?

[Wysteriavine]

Ok, just finished it. It's a 5x7 gouache painting of a tuxedo cat. :) I will be mailing it shortly.


http://www.atcsforall.com/forum/gallery/images/33376/small/1_IMG_4547.jpg

[lemurkat]

AW gorgeous! Even looks a bit like her kitty.

Nope, not a bird, I'll give you a hint - what animals do I love as much as I love birds? What's one of them that starts with "S"?

[kentuckydakota]

Is it a silky lemur?

[lemurkat]

Silky Sifaka, yes indeedy!

[lemurkat]

Received from hazartist! Thank you.

[ferretgirl]

lemurkat, My contribution will be going out some time this week. Just wanted to give you a head's up=)

[lemurkat]

Thanks Ferretgirl!
Wysteriavine, have you posted yet? As I do not appear to have received it...

[Wysteriavine]

Yes, I did! :) I dropped it off last week. Sorry I forgot to mention the slow mailing!

[lemurkat]

That's cool - I'll let you know when it arrives :)

[lemurkat]

I will be getting onto sending out the "thank you"s shortly. I have emailed a couple of people to confirm their addresses. Those of you that said the mailed out "thank you" would not be necessary, if it is because you do not collect/are interested in animal cards/my cards (and were just being too polite to admit it), please note me so I don't send you one anyway (likewise, if you're absolutely adamant that you Don't Want Anything in return). I appreciate the effort everyone has put into this so far, and wish to offer you back a little something in gratitude.

Those of you that were thinking about doing something but haven't yet, there is still time, Matty's birthday is mid-December. So November is fine for posting too.

This weekend we are having a house-warming party and Matty is invited. It's going to be her first-ever actual party. She's 25 or so, and its sad she's never attended a proper party before. I hope she enjoys this one (and isn't overwhelmed by my husband's loud friends).

[valerie416]

I would like to send a page as well. Please send your address.

Valerie416

[lemurkat]

Wysteriavine - I have yours here! It really does look like her cat Princess Nomnoms!

Thanks Valerie, address on its way :)

[Wysteriavine]

Awesome, glad to hear it made it to you! :)

[lemurkat]

I have begun assembling the "thank you" packages. Two ready to go so far :)
Can those of you that have not yet let me know, can you post your favourite animals (birds, etc), and if you do not collect those themes, please inform me. Everyone will get one piece of art from me, but they are likely to be animals.

If you really, truly, have no preference, comment and I'll just select one randomly.
If you really, truly, don't want a card of mine for whatever reason, please inform me. I won't take it hard, OK :)

Currently I have information from Tandy, Shawnicaitlin, Wysteriavine. I've been checking out profiles, but the rest of you don't list animals, specific or non, under your preferred themes. So, I'd appreciate some help, please.

[Gemininorn]

If you truly want to make me a very happy camper indeed, I would be over the moon for your Queen of Peaks, with signature on the front. I purchased your beautiful Tarot deck around June and the Queen of Peaks/Swords kinda speaks to a part of me more than the others. If it is too much or if you get too busy with returns, I am a great fan of all your works (I also have your Zoo Trophy) and I would be delighted with anything you want to send me :rolleyes:

[lemurkat]

If you truly want to make me a very happy camper indeed, I would be over the moon for your Queen of Peaks, with signature on the front. I purchased your beautiful Tarot deck around June and the Queen of Peaks/Swords kinda speaks to a part of me more than the others. If it is too much or if you get too busy with returns, I am a great fan of all your works (I also have your Zoo Trophy) and I would be delighted with anything you want to send me :rolleyes:

I"m glad you have my cards! I hope you've played the game? I need to play it some more too, actually.

I no longer have the original Queen of Peaks, or pretty much any of those tarot cards. The originals are long traded. But I'll send you something nice. Promise :)

[Gemininorn]

Yay, I will be able to call a real "lemurkat" my own :notworthy:

[Spinnbabul]

I´ m in too.

[lemurkat]

Thank you Spinnbabul! I have messaged you my address.

Got a few envelopes packaged up and almost ready to post. Yay!

[valerie416]

I collect pictures of bighorn sheep so that would be awesome.

Valerie416

[lemurkat]

I don't have a bighorn - but I do have a dall:
http://zootrophy.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/695-sheep.html

[angelmuz]

My little page mailed out the other day. The page is bigger than you requested a bit, I think, as it leaves room for you to cut it down as needed for your book. Also put a couple of things in there for you as well. I think it is so nice that you are doing this for Matty. It is also kind of you to send us thank you cards, and I am thrilled to receive anything from you. I love your work so much! It is truly amazing how you know all the animals, so wonderful! I don't have any particular animal I collect, I do like color, thats about all I can tell you. I was just looking through your cards a bit. Can we buy them in the US? I might have been on a blog, I am not sure. It would be something I would like to give to my granddaughters when they get a bit older. A great way to learn about animals of the world. I have two out of the seven that look like they may end up being animal lovers!

[angelmuz]

Oh I found the right page where the game is sold. I guess my littles are still too small. They are all five and under, but in a couple of years! what a great set!

[lemurkat]

Thanks Angelmuz. At some point I might finish up the Happy Avian families deck I had planned. They're easier to buy in the States than NZ, as they're printed in the USA and the shipping is better. I cannot actually afford to import them here and then onsell them at a reasonable price :(

[Gemininorn]

Let me know if/when you finish them, you have one happy customer here that will aim for a complete "collection" of your works ;)

[valerie416]

The dall is perfect! That would be great!

valerie416

[vikinglady]

Hi Lemurkat! I have Matty's tipin ready to go out tomorrow. Just have to spray on some fixative and then lay down a coat or two of Sealant. I hope that she will like it. Everyone did such a nice job on their artwork for Matty. Please give us a peek once you've completed her book? :)

[lemurkat]

Aww, that's so sweet, thank you.

[vikinglady]

Aww, that's so sweet, thank you.

Last night I started looking at the tip in I did and promptly changed it. I am always doing that especially if the piece just isn't working for me. She'll get popped in the mail tomorrow. :)

Finally. I'm done. Here's the change I made to Matty's tip in.

[lemurkat]

Received from Spinnabul, Ferretgirl and Angelmuz.
Thank you all for your contributions! It's starting to look delightfully full now and I'm thinking I might have to revise my design ideas again, since I'm getting a few ATCs and so forth as well. Might have to get creative!

The first batch of "Thank you"s were sent out last friday, so hopefully should be starting to arrive soon? Please let me know when you receive yours.

So far I have posted "Thank you"s to:
KentuckyDakota (received)
Tandy (received)
Corazon (received)
Shawnicaitlin (received)
Gemininorn (received)
Wysteriavine (received)
Lalka (received)
Suntrade (received)
Hazartist (donkeys)(posting Feb22nd)
Ferretgirl (posting Feb 22nd)
Vikinglady (birds)(received)

Others on the list are:
Nancy
Kwailin777
Spinnabul
Angelmuz


Aside from Ferretgirl (whose name says it all), I'm not sure what animals the other folks might be interested in receiving - I'm essentially posting out as I determine what card to send to what person, NOT based on how much I like your card, when you sent to me, or any such thing. So, no-one will be forgotten.
(Unless you've posted to me and you're not on the list above, in which case please prod me, OK?)

[ferretgirl]

Ha Ha Ha Am I that easy?

[lemurkat]

Yeh, you and me Ferretgirl - they just have to look at the name to know what we like!

[Hazartist1]

I love donkeys!

[lemurkat]

Note Hazartist :)

So I've heard news two have arrived - any reports on the other four?

[Lalka]

Mine in the mailbox today! Happy dance all around! Thank you, lemurkat! So glad that you are getting a good response and that your little book for your friend will be overflowing with yummy artwork! :)

[lemurkat]

Received yours last week, Vikinglady! It is absolutely lovely.
Have any of the other "thank you"s come in yet?

[vikinglady]

Received yours last week, Vikinglady! It is absolutely lovely.
Have any of the other "thank you"s come in yet?

That's great! I am really looking forward to seeing Matty's journal once you bind her art book together. How many pieces of art have you received to date Lemurcat?

[lemurkat]

Quite a lot, Vikinglady! 17 pages worth :) I've actually got it in a 5x7 photo album. Not sure I trust my book binding abilities. I tried and it just looked not-great.

I'd love to make little pockets and things, but not sure how creative I can actually manage to be (plus I have quite a few things on my hands). So, the photo album is it for now.

[vikinglady]

lemurkat, it is quite understandable that you are using a photo album. Seventeen pages to tip into a handmade journal would test my bookmaking skills too!

[Gemininorn]

Yay, seventeen is a lot! Are you arting up the album or were you able to get a nice one as is?

[lemurkat]

it's not an especially fancy album, I should pimp it up. I'm just not so good at the whole craft side of things! Drawing yes, but crafting something worth gifting... not so much!

[Gemininorn]

Gosh, like me then, I just joined the pickle swap and now I am getting cold feet because I can't sculpt and such. I will figure something out. And you can always draw on an album cover with markers if need be. Or leave it as is ;) I am sure it is just perfect!

[lemurkat]

I did add some colour to it with markers! But its laminated so they're a bit washed out.

[Wysteriavine]

Many apologies, I received my thank you packet. THANK YOU Lemurat! The packet was absolutely lovely. I was sure I posted sooner, but I guess not. Again, sorry.

[lemurkat]

No worries, just relieved!
Btw, your cat avatar is cute.

[Gemininorn]

Hi, Lemurkat. I just read Matties new poem, it is so sad! She sure could use the album, you were right about that.

[lemurkat]

She's been a bit reclusive of late :( I've been emailing her etc but she hasn't been responding with the speed in which she used to. I do worry about her.

I got the package from Teal Tornado yesterday (it's gorgeous!), so now the book is pretty-much full. I will work on finishing up the "thank you"s in the next couple of weeks, but December is a hellacious time for me - and anyone who works in retail.

Thank you all for your contributions!

[Gemininorn]

I am retail damaged, too! I know EXACTLY what it is like :eek:

[tealtornado]

Hope Matty enjoys her book! Glad my pages arrived in time.

[lemurkat]

I am having MAtty over in a couple of weeks. We're going to put up the Christmas tree. I'll give her the book then.
Guess I'd better get my A into G with drawing her as a pokemon trainer.

[vikinglady]

I am having MAtty over in a couple of weeks. We're going to put up the Christmas tree. I'll give her the book then.
Guess I'd better get my A into G with drawing her as a pokemon trainer.

Lemurkat,I'm happy to hear that you are having Matty over in a few weeks. I went to Matty's website and read a few of her more recent entries and she really does sound down right now. Autism is tough. Sometimes I think part of the problem is that as a society we put labels on everything. If we stopped trying to define what normal MUST look like then maybe we could accept those that are simply different. All human beings have worth and are a part of this tapestry called life. Sorry for the rant. We have a little one in the family with autism and I'm already seeing how difficult this is going to be for the family. Not because we can't accept this beautiful child just the way he is but how he is perceived by others really hurts his parents. :(

[lemurkat]

Agreed completely Vikinglady, the world is very hard to people who do not fit into the neat boxes.

[lemurkat]

Thank you all! I spend yesterday with Matty as an early birthday-celebration (since I'm busy from now until Christmas). She was a bit down at first, but quickly perked up :) We put the christmas tree up, made sandwiches and played with the neighbour's cat.

She is super-duper happy with the collection of art, and tweeted about it (@MattyAngelNZ). So, on her behalf, I would like to say a super-duper, massive THANK YOU, you are all such awesome people!

In other news... I wrote everyone's address down in a notebook which I seem to have temporarily misplaced. I shall get into continuing with the "thank you"s after I have found it. For those of you that have PMed me your addresses, I likely still have them and I still have the majority of the envelopes anyway but I am somewhat perplexed. Where the heck did I put it? It was sitting beside my computer for so long and now it's gone!

[tealtornado]

So glad Matty liked her art! Hope you find your notebook, do you any have pets? My daughter was looking all over for her wallet- she found it in one of the cats' beds, it seems they've been raiding her purse.

[lemurkat]

Well we don't exactly have any pets, the goldfish couldn't have taken it and the starlings are only able to get into the roof . I suppose it's possible the ants stole it. Or the visiting cat but she usually sleeps on the couch

[Gemininorn]

It might have been the vanishing slug. A common yet mostly unrecognised household pest that is impossible to exterminate once it has established itself in the house!

[lemurkat]

I found the notebook again, so I'll get onto those shortly - when I have a weekend free, it seems everything is all go at the moment... Anyhow, I did manage to post out a letter to Suntrade, so I hope she's received it?

[angelmuz]

I know what you mean about all go!! Good gracious, I almost want to sneak a day off just to catch up!

[vikinglady]

lemurkat,I received a RAK from YOU today! Thank you so much. You didn't have to do that as it was my pleasure to paint something for your friend. But OMGosh I love the postcards you sent. I still send post cards out to a few friends in Sweden and in the USA. They're older gals that I write to as they were friends of my mom's and we go back a long way. They are going to LOVE getting these postcards however, I will keep back one for me. :) Hope to see you at the AFA meet in Tasmania this year!

[ferretgirl]

I received a wonderful envelope, also. The postcards are beautiful & I love my little weasel. Your artwork is just so outstanding. And what a great thing to put together for your friend. You're a peach=)