Interview with a Chicago Mail carrier

Hello! Remember, almost a year ago, when I did an interview with John "the mailman" in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?  Since then, he and I have become great friends, and exchanged lots of mail.  If you missed his interview, you can read it here.

 I have been wanting to find new mail carriers to interview, and especially a woman. As it turns out, one of our talented blog friends is a mail carrier in Chicago, who happily answered my questions! And, she has some great answers!

She is also an amazing art quilter, fiber artist, and photographer.

 Stop by her blog, Threadstory, and learn more about Karen's artistic side.

Karen's all ready for her day!

Here goes!! Let's meet Karen.....another fabulous mail carrier, working the zip 60656-60706, Chicago, Illinois.

How long have you been a mail carrier and what did you do before this?

I have been a letter carrier for 23 years. Right before this I worked in a photo lab.

What's the most interesting or unusual thing you've delivered

That's a hard one. There have been the coconuts from Hawaii, beach balls, baby bottles with shower invitations, A tire, And once a beautifully wrapped hockey stick. But nothing comes to mind as having been really unusual.

( And those items were not in boxes--I asked! I'd love to get a loose coconut!)

What's the nicest thing someone on your route has done for you?

People are amazing. They hand out cold water during the hot summer days. Offer umbrellas when it rains ( I have to say no to that as I just do not have enough hands! ) Gifts of gloves,scarfs, and pocket hand warmer packets. Once I was given a teddy bear in a postal uniform as thanks for all I do. The best days are the ones when you see someone excited and smiling because you just gave them the best letter or package ever!

What do you hate to deliver?

Mail that has been mangled by the machinery! The damaged pieces or magazines just make it look as if we don't care. Believe me, we care!

Do you have a favorite stamp that the USPS has issued?

The series of stamps with forest plants and animals from some years back. And of course the Gees Bend quilts!

Here's one of Gee's Bend quilt stamps

Have you ever been bitten by a dog (or person)?

Dog - yes. Bit me on the toe of my shoe and missed my toe thankfully. And once by a gargoyle...yes you read that right. A gargoyle. On a porch of a residence there was a big ceramic pot that had decorative gargoyles with gaping mouths full of fang like teeth poised along the upper edge. It had been near the mailbox and when I turned to go back down the steps I bumped into it and one of the gargoyles fangs jabbed my leg cutting me. Not deeply but a two inch gash and tore the slacks as well.

Anything about your uniform mail carriers wish they could change?

I would love to see them do away with polyester...

Has anything embarrassing ever happened on the job?

Of course! The slips and falls on snowy days where one pops back up and hopes no one saw.... Any time I make a miss-delivery ( only human after all ). But nothing that would make it to you-tube!!

And lastly, I always love to ask people this; What is something we can't tell by looking at you?

People have no idea that I am a fiber artist or that photography is something I have done for years. At work I am the 'mail lady' and while many of the people know me by my first name, that is just about all they do know about me. The conversations are usually short and consist of things like the weather and big headline news. They tell me of families and bits of their lives. For some people I may be the only person they talk with for days. I am always happy to listen for the few minutes it takes to make a better day for them. Many of the people on my route are elderly and I - as well as my co-workers - tend to watch out for them. Paying attention to mail not being taken out of the box etc. People have been saved by a carrier seeing that and notifying authorities so they can check on them if no one responds to the door bell. The people are the best part of this job.

Thank you so much Karen for answering my questions and letting us into the world of another mail carrier! Your answers made me laugh out loud at times! All the best and wishing you a long Spring!

Questions for the Mailman

Apartment mailbox from 1916

If you know me, you know I LOVE mail; letters, mail art, postcards, packages, quick hellos, fabric postcards, and anything you can put a stamp on. I am a little bit obsessed with mail. This all led to an idea to interview a mail carrier for my blog from time to time. As much mail as I send,  I have somehow never met my own mailman ( I blame this on those new neighborhood security mailboxes...not a fan), but I have befriended my best friend's mailman 1800 miles away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has had the same mailman for over 10 years and I have occasionally written a little "Hello" or "Thank you mailman" on letters and postcards, and last Christmas I figured he should get his own holiday card c/o Jodi.

So, when I decided to do my questionnaire, "John the mailman" was my first choice! And, to my surprise, he didn't even think I was crazy, and he graciously agreed to answer my questions ( written out properly, stamped, and pop it in the mailbox!).

Here is a little bit about John

Milwaukee, WI 53208

John with a friendly cat on his route

How long have you been a mailman and what did you do before this?

I've been a mailman for 21 years now, as of Feb. 10th. I graduated from Marquette University with a liberal arts/ English degree in 1981. Bad time to leave college with a recession and all. My first job out of college was as a claims adjuster, a job I hated.

What's the most interesting or unusual thing you've delivered?

It's hard to say what the most unusual thing I've delivered might be. I'm a romantic, and I'd like to think that on any given day, I'm delivering letters from one star-crossed, dewy-eyed lover to another. As to the stuff I've knowingly delivered, I suppose it was an urn of a customer's father's ashes. That was a heavy package too.

What's the nicest thing someone on your route has done for you?

There are a lot of nice things people do and have done for me. There's one woman whose dad was a mailman, and he always got cookies and baked goods from the retired ladies on his route. So when she retired she started baking stuff for me. And her stuff is really GOOD! I've started recommending her chocolate chip cookies as an all-natural cure for the blues.

( And my Christmas card made the list!)

One of John's favorites

What do you hate to deliver?

I hate to deliver accountable mail- certified and registered mail- to people whose houses are being forclosed. You can feel the despair.

Do you have a favorite stamp that the USPS has issued?

I like the new puppy and kitty ones. I also liked the "Letter Carriers- We Deliver" ones from 15-20 years ago. I think the old ones- the 3 and 4 centers from the 1950s and 60s are the ones I most like to see. Of course, there were also some Green Bay Packers Commemoratives from '97 and '99 that I liked so much I got First Day Issue for each.
(Green Bay is my hometown!)

Have you ever been bitten by a dog (or person)?

I got bit by one dog-on my stomach of all places. Big target, I guess. If that stupid dog only knew how much I like dogs, maybe he wouldn't have done it!

Anything about your uniform mail carriers wish they could change?

I posed this question to the assembled masses out on the dock having a smoke before work. Most people wouldn't change a thing because, well, we're guys- and since it's a uniform we don't worry about picking stuff out and making it match and all that- we're just not that picky. I actually think the uniform one of the things the Post Office got right.

(hmmm,I will have to find a woman to ask in the future.)

Has anything embarrassing ever happened on the job?
Well, there was one day when I was delivering to a neighborhood, and noticed a huge number of greeting cards for one address,  and said to the woman who came to the door, "Looks like it's somebody's birthday!" Pause. "Actually," she said, "My husband just died." Now, I've said a lot of stupid things over the years, but I've never wanted to take one back nearly as fast as that one.
There was also the time a woman said she'd introduce me to someone she thought I'd like- and it turned out to be her brother. She assumed because I was still single and never married at 40+ that I must be gay.

And lastly, I always love to ask people this; What is something we can't tell by looking at you?

One of the many things you can't tell by looking at me is that I am NOT an idiot. So many people get the impression that mail carriers may be nice, but not so smart. If I had a dime for every person who treated me like I couldn't spell "cat" if I were spotted the "c" and the "a", I'd be retired already with a lake home and a time share in Ireland.

A big "Thank you", John, for taking time to mail these, put up with follow-up emails, and email some pictures from your Milwaukee route. If anyone has a question for the mailman, feel free to leave it in the comments.... I think we could convince John to answer some more! :0)

apartments along the way

And everyone go bake some goodies for your dedicated mail carriers! I know mine deserves it- what goes through his head when he sees another stack of fabric postcards and crazy mail art? Also, according to John, make sure your mailbox is emptied while traveling so they can still fit all your mail goodies (and junk) in there!

*John, hope all your days are 65 degrees and full of sunshine!*

Interview with Sarah Faber from Black- Eyed Suzie

People always ask artists what inspires them. I am just as guilty of inquiring too. If someone asked me that question, Sarah Faber and her dolls would be included in my answer. I'm fascinated by dollmaking and admit I do like art with a melancholy side. Her dolls have such wonderful expressions, little handmade clothes with attention to detail, all combining to create a unique look that can only be Black- Eyed Suzie.

I was thrilled when Sarah agreed to take time for a blog interview. Between dollmaking, an Etsy shop, finishing a masters degree, writing a novel, and a baby on the way, it's amazing she has a moment left! I am glad to be able to share her work here with you.

Katie: I read you just returned from Cape Breton. Any special moments, places, things that really inspired you?

Sarah: Pretty much everything about Cape Breton is beautiful and important to me, but as far as dollmaking goes, there are a lot of old, falling-down houses that are still quite beautiful but spooky and haunted- looking. I'm always curious about those places.

Katie: Your first ball- jointed doll seems to be coming along nicely. What different types of doll techniques have you tried and which is your favorite?

Sarah:  I've worked with cloth, polymer clay, and Paperclay, and Paperclay is my favourite because the finish is so fine and lovely, and with it I can achieve the greatest detail. Also, I like that it's a natural material, whereas the plasticity of polymers has never sat really well with me. I really don't like getting it on my hands, whereas I feel fine about being covered in Paperclay. But I'm hoping to start working in porcelain within the next year- an expensive and somewhat scary media, but I'm really excited about it.

Katie:  Do you have a doll you're most proud of and maybe love a little more than others?

Sarah: Well, I'm pretty proud of my ball-jointed doll, even though she's full of flaws. She took me so long to make, and now I know I can do that, so I'm really excited about BJDs. I made a doll for my husband that was also a huge amount of work- an Elizabethan vampire- and I have very fond memories of working on her in his little cabin in Maine with the woodstove burning.

Octavia, first ball-jointed doll

Katie:  When did you decide to turn your love of dollmaking into a business and how did you get started? Any advice for folks trying to do the same?

Sarah:  I started on Etsy in 2006; I started very simply, by taking photos with a single point- and- shoot camera and posting them to Etsy, which was an easy platform for a low-tech girl like me. When I look at those photos now, I cringe. But as far as advice, I'd say take your time- don't get overwhelmed by all the many sites, social networking options, etc. I think having a blog really helps. Mostly, I would say trust yourself to do something unique. Sadly, there are a lot of really derivative dollmakers out there, and I think people quickly see through that.

Katie:  You were published in Art Doll Quarterly- How did that come about?

Sarah: The editor, Staci Dumoski, found my blog and contacted me- she asked me to send in some dolls and write an article to accompany the photos, all of which I was happy to do!

Katie:  What other art mediums do you wish you had more time to explore?

Sarah:  All of them! If I could live to be a thousand years old, I would learn everything. But in this lifetime, I'd like to learn more about photography, and - at the risk of sounding like an old lady- needlework. I don't really have the patience to knit, but I'd love to learn some ribbon embroidery/ stampwork. I also think handmade lace is gorgeous, but with my baby due in a couple months, I don't imagine I'll be churning out yards of lace any time soon.

Katie:  Tell us something about yourself people can't tell by looking at you.

Sarah:   I love Bruce Springsteen. I think he is one beautiful, sexy man and an incredible songwriter and I'll leave it at that because I'm sitting next to my beloved husband.

Octavia

I'd like to thank Sarah so much for sharing more about her work and life.

Check out Black- Eyed Suzie's blog and her Etsy shop to see more of her beautiful dolls.