collage envelope #2: a black swan in italy

Cut-&-paste collage on a business-size envelope, front (above) & back (below). I made 4 in all for a swap partner. She likes birds, especially crows/ravens, swans & peacocks, so I went with a swan theme on the second one. Swans aren't native to either Europe or the U.S, but for some reason the image of a swan gliding across a lake makes me think of Old World elegance. Hence: a black swan in Italy.

Swan image & info from the Smithsonian's Natural History tome. Lake & trees from magazine ads. Pasta & large Italian (Pegasus) stamp from Rossi papers. Calligraphy by Arthur Baker. Geese eating breakfast in bed from wackystuff's fabulous stream. Postal cancellation & small Italian (Espresso) stamp from Cavallini. Martini from Gama-Go. Rubber stamps from Meer Image. I don't know the source for the map of Italy, nor do I know the artist who made the delightfully strange sun. (If you do, please tell me.) Plus my own Pisceana artistamp.

Another person who was in this swap had the great idea of adding the postage to the envelopes. I wish I'd thought of that, because I would've liked to incorporate real stamps into the design! Next time...