Pluk van de Petteflet by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-4028393
Country: Netherlands

Tow-Truck Pluck is a children's book by Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidt. First published in 1971, it remains in print and is one of the most popular Dutch books for children, and the second most popular book by Schmidt (after Jip and Janneke). A radio drama based on the book was produced in 2002, and a movie in 2004. The cover of Pluk (all drawings are by Schmidt's regular illustrator, Fiep Westendorp) is used to illustrate the article about Schmidt on the website of the "Canon of the Netherlands," and Pluk got his own stamp in 1999.

By the way, about stamps. Here we have 2 new stamps:

 * 2003. Water in Netherlands 

* 2004. Queen Beatrix

Books castle by Lena Gnedkova

Postcard ID: RU-4360892
Country: Russia

The card is absolutelu awesome! I like colours, I like the idea books+castle.

I googled some info about painter, it's Lena Gnedkova from Volgograd. It will be so nice to receive other cards she painted.

As far as I understand the picture on the card is called 'The tower of histories'. Actually feel free to find other her works. They are worth it ;)

Jip & Janneke with an elefant and a camel

Postcard ID: NL-3292476
Country: Netherlands

here is one more postcard with Jip and Janneke in addition to my small collection. All received card syou can check by the tag Jip%Janneke.

I receive such cards not so often, and each time I'm so happy to find them in my mailbox :)

A woman by Dave Thompson

Postcard ID: GB-628409
Country: United Kingdom

This is an orogonal illustartion painted by Dave Thompson. On the background everyone can see one of the most famous UK's symbols - Big Ben!

A woman also looks like a real Lady :)

Hope, I correctly identified the stamp. This is Queen Elizabeth II, stamp is issued in 2014:

 

Also here are some stickers with my lovely butterflies:

Jip and Janneke by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-2745039, NL-3139825
Country: Netherlands

Here is one more postcard painted by talented Dutch illustrator Fiep Westendorp. But the most interesting information for me was in the message. Do you know the reason why citizens of Zwolle are called like Bluefingers?)

Citizens of Zwolle are colloquially known as Blauwvingers (Bluefingers). This dates back to 1682, when the St.Michael's church tower collapsed. The authorities were strapped for cash and saw no option but to sell the church bells to neighbouring city Kampen. To make sure that Kampen would not make too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen accepted, yet after the arrival of the bells it became clear, they were too damaged to be played. In revenge, Kampen paid in copper coins of four duiten (the equivalent of 2-and-a-half cents). Zwolle distrusted Kampen and wanted to be sure they truly paid the entire price. After the rigorous counting of this vast amount of money, their fingers had turned blue from the copper

P.S. As I received duplicated card, I added Postcard ID of the second card at the top.

Here is the stamp from this card:

New day begun by Sasha Salmina

Postcard ID: RU-2803101
Country: Russia

Here is one more card painted by Sasha Salmina. So nice, so beautiful :)

Other cards of this artist that I received can be found by tag Sasha Salmina :)

On the back side I see quote of Tove Jansson, but in Russian. I'm sorry, however I've not found the exact quote in English, so here is just my translation:

New day has begun, when anything can happen if you do not have anything against it.

Jip and Janneke by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: GB-552485
Country: United Kingdom

When I saw this postcard in my mailbox, I was sure that this card came to from Netherlands. But no! This is the postcard from United Kingdom :)

It was sent to me by a woman that is Dutch but live in England. Manon grew up with lots of books illustrated by Fiep Westendorp. By the way, I've known about this author due to postcrossing activity :)

Two children from this card are Jip and Janneke. Every Dutch child knows them :)

Here is a UK stamp:

Illustration by Shiho Enta

Postcard ID: JP-539243
Country: Japan

This is so romantic and beautiful card came to me from Sawako. I like Japanese culture, however my husband is a real fan :)

So, we both really appreciate it.

Shiho Enta was born in Akita Prefecture in 1979. She graduated from the Faculty of Education and Culture of Akita University. After graduation, Shiho Enta worked as a teacher for three years, and in 2005, she got married and moved to Saitama Prefecture. After that, the artist started taking on illustration jobs little by little.

Her job until has mostly consisted of book covers for the bigger part, manga, illustrations, and others. Shiho Enta also covers a lot of genres, from common literature to children’s books and light novels.

Here is a postcard stamp and amazing scotch tape with butterflies:

Never stop smiling by Sasha Salmina

Postcard ID: RU-2609223
Country: Russia

Here is my second card painted by Sasha Salmina. I want to receive more and more of her works!

These cards have its own atmosphere and cause a desire to have these cards in photo frames. Every card has a great quote on the backside. This card contain a quote of one from my favourite authors Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

Never stop smiling even when you’re sad. Someone may fall in love with your smile.

Mouses by Polina Yakovleva

Postcard ID: RU-2605912
Country: Russia

It's always nice to receive cards from your favourits! I'm so happy to be owner of this one. This is the second card made by Polina Yakovleva in my collection. Here is so wonderful enigmatic world!

Traditionally. backside contains a poem (originally, in Russian):

Snails froze at the gates of July,

Wet nut slams by sheets, 

Wind pulls the thread out of the rain , 

Sun pours glitter from cloud loopholes

Novella Matveeva

Also this card contains BIG amazing stamp:

Magic fairy tale

Postcard ID: RU-2077728
Country: Russia

This is one card from my collection of beautiful cards. I like cards with some magic on them. And I believe in fairy tales, yeah :)

I've tried to find some information about author of this card and discovered that this card is painted by Russian artis Polina Yakovleva.

The backside of the card contains a poem. As usual here is my amateur translation:

Night is deep. So far for the dawn.

Lights are burning dimly far away.

I lost the input keys.

The door will not be opened, knock in the door, do not knock in the door.

Happy Postcrossing!

Postcard ID: RU-2523080
Country: Russia

Hurraaaaay! Finally I have received this card!

When I only started my postcrossing adventure I saw this card in one article on Belarusian portal. Since that time I would like to have this postcard in my collection. And now it's done. 

By the way, 9 March I celebrated 2 years participating in this wonderful project :)

But back to the card - look carefully at the words on card. Dasha from Russia populated her own information on this card!

The card is painted by Belarusian artist Ksenia Belyaeva. 

Many-many thanks to this wonderful girl. You made my day, Dasha! 

I'm happy :)

Do english foxes drink tea?

Postcard ID: RU-2470164
Country: Russia

This cute fox came to me from Russia in 9 days! This card is painted by Russian illustrator Evgenia Golubeva.
For me this card is simple and beautiful. It corresponds to my mood :)
Hope, I'll receive some more cards of this illustrator in the future :)

Here is nice New Year stamp with rabbit:

Chocolate Ideal by Alphonse Mucha

Postcard ID: DE-2749656
Country: Germany

This card was sent to me by Roland. I'm a little wonder as its way took 61 days. Usually postcards from Germany to Belarus take about 14 days.

I like chocolate and all related to chocolate and sweets. So thank you :)

Alfons Maria Mucha often known in English and French as Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist, known best for his distinct style. He produced many paintings, illustrations, advertisements, postcards, and designs.

And this is a part of Deutschland on the stamp:

Love note by E. Gapchinska

Postcard ID: UA-949357
Country: Ukraine

This week I receved some really amazing cards. And this is one from them.

Evgenia Gapchinska is a Ukranian illustrator. I also have some cards painted by her in my collection to send.
As sender wrote on the card "Illustration of Evgenia is already quality assurance". For me this phrase is also valid.

"Ukrposhta" has released a series of 12 stamps 'Zodiac Signs' with Evgenia Gapchinska's illustrations in 2008 year.
However on this card I see another stamps and it's also beautiful:

Alice in Wonderland

Postcard ID: UA-884893
Country: Ukraine

I think that this is absolutely amazing card. I like Alice in Wonderland like a book and films, so like all connected with it :)

Alice in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.

Also this card contains amazing post stamps:

Illustration by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-2203925
Country: Netherlands

Sophia Maria "Fiep" Westendorp was a Dutch illustrator who became especially popular due to her long-term collaboration with writer Annie M.G. Schmidt. Three generations of Dutch people have grown up with her illustrations. The drawings she made for Jip en Janneke, a series of stories which ran in Dutch newspaper Het Parool from 1953 to 1957, now adorn a variety of items sold by Dutch department store HEMA. Since the regular Dutch awards for illustrations always eluded her, she was given a unique award for her entire oeuvre in 1997. Since 2007, the University of Amsterdam have an endowed chair for illustration in Westendorp's honor.

Jip and Janneke

Postcard ID: NL-2177420

Country: Netherlands

Jip and Janneke is a series of children's books in the Netherlands, written by Annie M.G. Schmidt and illustrated by Fiep Westendorp.

The series was originally written for Het Parool. Between 13 September 1952 and 7 September 1957 a weekly episode of no more than 250 words was published. Each episode is an independent story in itself. The stories were later collected and published as books.

I like this series of cards and already have a few postcards with Jip and Janneke.

Here is the Dutch stamp: