1,000 patterns is crazy. We’ve been at this for a while. Each step up for the collection has involved the coordinated many people. This update is no different, I have got the pleasure to work with and meet a handful of new envelope collectors. Even got our first trade with someone overseas which is something I have been wanting to do for a long time.
This website got some new traffic due to online articles being written on security envelope patterns. Some have even reached out to me for comment, how exciting! It’s nice to see these articles being written on a topic that has never gotten a lot of attention.
I published some of my research back in 2023. At the time I wasn’t sure if this was a smart decision. But it looks like this research may have helped aid some of these recent articles that are now being written years later. Pretty cool.
Still no Wikipedia article but I’d say we are heading in that direction. I think there is A LOT still to be uncovered on the topic of security envelope patterns.
Do you work for a business that creates their own custom security envelope pattern? Or maybe you know someone who does?
I collect security envelope patterns. I’ve had the help of many incredible people. Some of those people I know personally and some I have never met. It’s all very overwhelming when I think of the support I have received.
Most of these patterns are patterns and shapes. Some of the most common patterns are confetti, linen, burlap, lines, crosshatch and so forth.
A smaller portion of the collection is unique patterns made by businesses such as Chase, ADP, Citibank who make branded a custom security envelope pattern. Here is a list of companies who are represented in the security envelope pattern collection. Some companies have many unique patterns that they have used over the years. One unique pattern is cool, more then that… well that is just stylin’ in my book.
I’m almost certain that I’m missing a ton of companies still. Regional/local, local banks, utility companies in different states, companies that have gone out of business, companies that don’t send out mail to the public but still have their own security envelopes, B2B companies, Fortune 500 companies and so forth.
If you’d like your company to be added to this list and the Security Envelope Pattern Collection please contact me. If you are already on the list but want to make sure I have all the patterns that you do, contact me. If your business is no longer operating but you have older and more historical envelope patterns I’d love those as well.
2023 Security Envelope Collection totals (current as of 10/26/23)
Company
Patterns
407 Express Toll Route
1
ADP
3
Allianz
3
Ally Bank
1
Altec
1
American Express
5
American Funds
1
Ameriprise
1
Banana Republic
1
Bankcard Services
1
Blue Shield of California
1
Capital One
4
CCB-T
1
Chase
1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
1
Citibank
3
Con Edison
1
Credit One Bank
1
Davis Bancorp
1
Discover
4
FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
1
Fidelity Investments
1
Fido
1
First Hawaiian Bank
1
First Primier Bank
1
ForwardLine Financial
1
franklintempleton
3
Genworth Financial
1
Hillsdale Collge
1
Hudson’s Bay
1
Hughes Net
1
Huntington
3
Ivy Funds
2
Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
1
Kohl’s
2
Lucent-Technologies-Bell-Labs-innovations
1
Mackenzie
1
Neiman Marcus
2
Nordstrom
3
Old Navy
1
OneMain Financial
1
Paralyzed Veterans of America
1
Paychex
2
Pharmacy
2
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
1
Prudential Financial
5
Safeco
1
Sears/Kmart
1
splendoress
1
Staples
1
State Farm
1
Target
3
TCF Bank
1
The Salvation Army
1
Topform Data Inc.
1
Toronto Revenue Services
1
Turner Vision
1
United Freedom Benefits Department
1
United Healthcare
2
Vanguard
3
Vista Print
1
Waste Management
1
Wells Fargo
3
Wildeboer Dellelce LLP
1
Ways to get in touch: Instagram: @abstract_collage Contact form: Contact
Hey everyone. I have updated the Snail Mail Security series here on the website. The most recent additions to the series have been added to the page. The online store has been updated as well with framed Snail Mail pieces, a new Print On Demand option, as well as a Security Envelope T-shirt.
Here is some Art Gallery Music to play at your next opening reception. This is an ongoing Spotify playlist of music I have played at art gallery openings. Tried and true music that keeps the energy up. Let me know if you have any suggestions! Thanks.
Hello everyone! My Etsy shop is restocked with fresh La Croix magnets. Made entirely with recycled materials, these really add a nice pop of color to your fridge. I have been racking my brain on different ways I can use La Croix boxes ever since I started making la croix greeting cards from the same boxes a few years back. The magnets are an extension of that project. I am sure these boxes can be used for even more things! To be continued. Enjoy.
I get asked all the time how I make my collages. The process is not too complex it is just a little unusual. Here is a security envelope collage video to help illustrate the process.
There is a physical component and a digital component. The computer is mainly used to manipulate the scale of the image. All the colors and patterns are not changed in the computer. Whenever you involve computers, especially nowadays, it can be difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not.
This video shows the entire physical process of an envelope collage. I am hoping this provides some insight to those familiar with the Snail Mail Security series. Also maybe this will give some artists some ideas on making similar projects. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.
Abstract Collage now uses HTTPS site-wide. Until recently only the checkout pages of the online store were HTTPS, the most important part of the site to have secured. But since Google started downgrading sites it seems that even normal pages can be penalized for not being HTTPS. That’s about it, but feel free to read on if you want more information on how to transition your WordPress site.
I personally used the “Really Simple SSL” WordPress plugin to transition the site to HTTPS. This particular site is very image heavy. It makes sense because it is a portfolio website. But that is a headache when switching all those HTTP urls to HTTPS. Luckily the “Really Simple SSL” plugin does all these redirects for you.
When I tried to manually switch the site to HTTPS last year I came across some huge errors, which is ultimately why I only transitioned the online checkout part of the website at the time. I had to give up on the rest of the site. So a was pleased to find “Really Simple SSL” plugin could help with transitioning established sites (like this one).
If you are creating a site from scratch I would just recommend starting with HTTPS. It can kind of be a pain to transition your site later on. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Thanks!
Abstract Collage website updated to Stratum theme for WordPress. Excited about the new features for the site. To name a few: a strong mobile browsing experience, iPad size browsing look, pertinent front page content, WooCommerce integration, and many others.
Prior to this I had been using Boomshaka. This was a theme created by Jordan Kanter and myself for artists over three years ago. It survived numerous WordPress and WooCommerce updates until recently breaking down slightly with the way images were displaying. Both Jordan and I have moved on to other projects so rather than try to update an old project I decided to check out some of the current WooCommerce supported themes for WordPress.
I have looked at many artist websites over the years and have developed strong opinions. I’ve written extensively about that. I have been particularly critical of the way WordPress handles images. The gallery features are clunky, awkward, and it is far too easy to have images stretched or resized improperly. That’s why when I found Stratum I was confused because there are very few themes that “have it all.” And so far I couldn’t be more happy!
