Favorite ink

A lot of people have asked me what kind of ink I recommend for The Cat's Pajamas stamps.

That's easy. Currently I am using Versafine inks almost exclusively. The colors are really vibrant. (Except for Vintage Sepia, which is, you know, vintagey) The ink is great for showing fine detail and for laying down pretty even blocks of color. So not only do I get a really great solid Sprinkle, but her eyes and whiskers are crisp.

In addition, the inks last a really long time. The solvent based ink is easily cleaned up with soap and water while still wet, and when dry the ink is waterproof. So I can use watercolor pencils. Just one thing. The package says it is an instant dry ink. Wrong. It's best if you wait awhile or heatset.

Versafine ink. It's a good thing.

Project Runway

Last night was Project Runway, and boy were they into the drama. They had to create an outfit for the jetsetter: themselves. And in under 24 hours. The women had it easy, they could design sleeveless dresses and tops, but the guys had to do at least 2 pieces.

Then they had to do the runway and NOT get told who won, but rushed to pack and get to the airport in one hour. After flying 16 hours they reached Parsons, Paris, and a guest judge. What was so sad was that Angela was talking about how much she admired this judge and she got slammed in the critique. Then it was back on the plane to America. Another 16 hour flight.

Now, I am really happy that Jeffrey won one and Angela lost, but yikes was he mean. He called her a macaroni gluer.

I wonder how long it's going to take her to get over the jet-lag of 32 hours in the air.

Who wants to be a Superhero?

I've never been a really big fan of mega reality TV. "Survior" and "Fear Factor" left me cold. Even the Donald couldn't sway me in "The Apprentice." But lately, Bravo has me turned me into a reality show freak. From Bravo's Project Runway, to the now on hiatus "Top Chef", to the alway chipper Queer Eye these reality shows are a weeknight staples.
Now, a new favorite has appeared on the horizon. "Who wants to be a Superhero?" on the SciFi channel.

Now I know what you are thinking. But this reality show is so campy and well done and consistent that it has me tuning in every Thursday. Stan Lee, the creator of characters like Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men is looking for the next superhero.

Prospective superheros are tested each week in integrity, communication, honesty and other superhero qualities. There is even a failed superhero turned supervillian. Tune in next Thursday for the finale between "Fat Momma", whose catch phrase is "Saving the world one doughnut at a time and "Feedback" who absorbs energy from the video games he plays. I am.

I need more room!

Anthony and I spent most of the last couple of days trying to figure out where we are going to put the new stamps when they come in. Lots of sketches were drawn and tape measures pulled, tears were cried, feet were stamped, and still, we came to the same conclusion.

We are going to have to clean out the garage.

I have to preface the horror of that statement with some history. The house that we now live in is the same one that I grew up in, and we share the fully-furnished house with my brother. About 15 years ago my parents moved from San Francisco to Petulama. And rather than move 40 years of memories and furnishings, and frankly, trash, they took their clothes and bought all new everything. Much was stored in the garage. I shortly moved to Southern California.When my father heard that we were moving back, he decided to incorporate two of the rooms in the lower level into office space for us. All of the items that we had stored there were...moved to the garage.

So when Anthony and I decided to leave Marina del Rey where we had a one bedroom with dining room and patio and large storage space. What furniture we could incorporate into the house, we did. What we couldn't, we stored—in the garage.

It's almost too much to bear.

While shopping at Michael's...

The best thing about living in the Bay Area is that I am in close proximity to one of the most talented designers ever, Tracy Falco. (who does not have a blog). She steers me to the best craft items and places to buy them. Did I also mention that Tracy is one of the most talented shopping enablers, too?

She recently clued me into a new slab by Rob and Bob Studio at Michael's. Not only do I ADORE Rob and Bob, but they make it easy to use everything in their line, because it coordinates so nicely.... So I make my way down to Michael's, and what do I find? The American version of this.
Do you see it? Take a closer look. Do you think that anything looks close to one of The Cat's PJ's designs? Perhaps this one? Hmmm!?

Crafty!

This Sunday I went to Fort Mason Center. They were holding the The Fine Craft Show there. This is not the same as playing with macrame and paper mache at you kitchen table. This is fine craft. As in fine line between art and craft

It's been several years since I had gone and though I saw a lot of old favorites exhibiting there, there were some really fabulous newcomers. The art just blew me away. Some I even recognized from Carol Duvall and That's Clever!.

The great piece on the left is Thomas Mann.

Everything was really creative, but I tended to gravitate more toward the jewelry.
They tended to be more like sculpture, than jewelry. Check out this piece by Eric Silva Really fabulous. I was really tempted.... I didn't buy anything, but I did get their email info....for research.

Party Time!

Whew! I'm ready to celebrate! The designing part of Fall collection is done. I'm not sure if I should be calling it a Fall collection since I called the Halloween/Holiday designs, Fall/Winter collections. It's comprised of "Get Well", "Pirate" and "Knitting" images, and they are FUN! So maybe I should be calling it the "Get Well/Pirate/Knitting Collection".

In addition to the regular gang of Sprinkle and Poochie I've also done a couple of little boys. Twins, I think. I drew them in the retro style as well. I just have to come up with a couple of names.... Harry and Ronald? Simon and Sydney? Any suggestions?

I'll give you a sneak peek once I send the images off to the copyright office.

Tomorrow, it's all about sizing the stamps and then it's off to the engraver! Yay! And in a month or so...stamps!


UPDATE

Well I thought I was through. Until this morning, that is. Then I realized that I needed to squeeze in one more design...

Nothing doin' or doin' nothing

As you will notice in the section marked "So much to do" on the right STILL has "Finish designs for Fall collections and send to engravers.." Proudly displayed and not crossed out.

I had planned on finishing the last of the designs for fall done before today but the weather didn't cooperate. The weather was so unbelievably good that I just couldn't concentrate. It was hot enough to wear a light skirt and the breeze from the ocean kept it cool enough so that you didn't break a sweat.


Perfect.

I kept telling myself, "After this walk I'll work on the designs", "after I finish wriggling my toes in the grass...." "after this nap...." Well, of course I only finished about half the designs. Good news, though. I only have about 4 to go.

Parking Lot Sale

Did you hear? This just in from Shauna!

EVENT: One-day Parking Lot Sale! Up to 70% Off!
DATE: August 26, 2006
LOCATION: Stampington & Company . 22992 Mill Creek, Ste.B, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
DETAILS: Receive up to 70% off hundreds of back issues, art stamps, and crafting essentials from The Shoppe at Somerset!
Bring a friend or a few to enjoy the huge discounts and the fun! Refreshments and snacks will be made available to keep you energized; door prizes will be awarded every half hour; and you’ll even get a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate good towards Shoppe products, art stamps, or any publication/subscription from Stampington & Company! We’d love to see you! If you have any questions, please contact us at 1-877-STAMPER (877-782-6737).

My friend Janis says "I think you should plan on coming down for
that.... yep, yep" It's tempting, I must say...

Design Day 1

With just a couple of orders to fill and a quick trip to the Post Office my "work day" should be over by 12:00. Then I can buckle down and work on finishing up the last remaining designs for the fall. I try to block out large sections of time so that when I design I don't have to worry about the time, or having to make countless phone calls and such. To my little brain, working this way also allows a free-flowing way of designing which makes the creative process more enjoyable and productive. Blah! Blah! Blah...

I'm shooting for to be finished by Friday so I can send the plates out early next week and then later to be pressed.

By the way, Mocha seems to be settling quite nicely and was even playing a game of tag with Anthony this week. Tag! Who'd a thought?