Project Dissimulation Update

When my mum came to visit last week, she brought with her a sheet of Chinese ‘lovebird’ stamps cut from a bubble envelope, which they had clearly very nearly covered.

She had found them when sorting through some of my dad’s effects, and was happy to donate them to Project Dissimulation – it seemed about as fitting as could be!

Today, I discovered they were perfectly sized for upcycling as badges, so that was indeed their destiny.  I feel like I have made hundreds of badges for the Project so far (although it is possibly not quite so many), but these particular ones definitely hold a special kind of piquancy for me, and I will definitely be keeping one for myself, as well as sending one each home for my mum & sister.

If you would love a lovebird, too, you know where to find them…  (As always, all proceeds will be donated to Beating Bowel Cancer.)

Postage stamps for charity

Earlier this year, a lot of kind people helped me out when I made a plea for used postage stamps featuring birds for Project Dissimulation (in aid of bowel cancer awareness, following my dad’s diagnosis).  Well, it suddenly occurred to me that it was time to pay this thought forward.

I have accumulated far more stamps than I will ever be able to use over the last few years.  I’ve shared some recently with Britta/JaguarSnail (see below) and I am going to send a big batch off to the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) next week.  I’ve chosen this charity because it is based in Benfleet, where most of my dad’s family lives.  While I was growing up, we always saved our stamps (I had lots of penpals when I was at school, so this was an area I felt I could help!) and gave them to my great aunt Rene when we visited in the holidays – she passed away several years ago, but I know she would appreciate my carrying on the tradition.

Britta (/JaguarSnail) does amazing things as a volunteer for the Air Ambulance Service – her job is to creatively re-craft plain items that have been donated for sale, so that they can be sold at a higher value and raise a greater amount of money.  She does lots of postage stamp collages which appeal to me for obvious reasons…!

There are so many great causes out there that need our support, though, so here is a non-comprehensive list of UK charities that are currently appealing for used stamps – please help them out, if you can!  (If you know of any other charities collecting donations of used stamps, whether UK or overseas, please feel free to add the link in a comment.)

• Air Ambulance
• The Brittle Bone Society
• Cry (Care and Relief for the Young)
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
• Leukaemia Care
• Oxfam
• PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals)
• RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
• Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death)
• Save Used Stamps for Animal Charities (blog with multiple addresses & charity info)

Project Dissimulation Update

Since I listed the first mini zine and badges for Project Dissimulation, in aid of Beating Bowel Cancer, I have been able to make two donations to the charity:

• May 29th: £37.50
• August 21st: £21.25

It might not sound like a huge amount, but I’m really happy to be able to make a difference – however small – for this good cause.

Since I began this project, I have added a second zine (bird-themed artistamps) to the series, as well as some packets of used postage stamps for your own crafty creations.  Please stop by the TangleStore’s Project Dissimulation page to view all current offerings.  There are lots of Etsy sellers out there trying to make a difference, so if you want to help them out, too, see some of the stunning items available in the Delicious Ambiguity Treasury.

Project Dissimulation Update

I have just re-opened the TangleStore, although I will be unable to despatch any orders until I return home in a few weeks’ time.  I only closed the shop yesterday so apologies for see-sawing – but I realised that now is the time when Project Dissimulation matters the most, and I really want to make those items available.  If you prefer not to wait for your print copy of the zine, though, I am also making a PDF edition available (just click on the pic):

If you enjoy this Project Dissimulation zine please make a donation directly to Beating Bowel Cancer, or a charity of your choice.