Get your grill on.

I have been loving this weather of late. Sunny days in May in San Francisco are rare. Let alone the ones in the 80s. Makes me want to drag out the old barbecue and start grilling.

Here is a sneaky peek at a couple of our brand spanking new designs for Summer. They'll be appearing in your friendly neighborhood stamp/scrap store any minute now.

Want to see more? Check out this groovy blog.

I'm it!

One of my fabulous DT members, Toni has tagged me, and given me 2 tasks.

Firstly, reveal seven random facts about yourself and then tag seven others...

1. I am a news junkie and have listened almost exclusively to the news on the radio for over 10 years. (Britney who?)

2. I am a voracious reader of murder mysteries written by women. I have every Agatha Christie and Nagio Marsh book written. Give me Elizabeth George and Patricia Cornwell any day and I'm a happy camper.

3. I adore watermelon. The smell, the taste, the color, the sound of the "thump, thump, thump"when you are looking for the most perfectly ripe one and the crunch your teeth make when biting into the crisp flesh. And I love the fact that I can eat as much as I want and not have to worry about too many calories.

4. I can eat a dozen doughnuts in one sitting. I guess it's a good thing I adore watermelon.

5. When I was younger I wanted to be Rhonda Morganstern on Mary Tyler Moore. I loved that she was a window dresser and wore such creative outfits. Her pink studio apartment fascinated me. I mean where was her kitchen?

7. I like plaid. There. I said it. After being garbed in Catholic school uniforms for 12 years I could not bring myself to even look at plaid for decades. Now I am strangely drawn to plaid whenever I see it in a store. Sometimes, I think it even whispers and nudges me to notice it.

Secondly: share some favorite blogs you visit for inspiration.

Jule Ebersole. Yeah, yeah, I know she is everyone's inspiration, but I just wanted to say that she is mine, too. I love her stamped designs, but even more, I love the way she writes.

Alicia Paulson. Alicia is not a stamper, but she is a creative soul. Creativity just oozes from this gal's pores. She lives a truly creative life. Plus I just love her mournful little pooch. Makes me want a doggie of my own.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Okay. Not a stamper again. But this girl can weave a story like a fine piece of fabric.

Claudine Hellmuth. Finally. Someone who stamps. I just love this woman's point of view and her bubbly personality. She actually makes money with her art. Who would've thunk it? It can really be done.

Kim Van der Sanden. She is my new hero. So enthusiastic about what she does and making her new business soar. Kudos to you Kim.

Okay that's enough about me. Get better soon, Toni!

It's Showtime!

While I was on vacation I took a couple of days off to help Robert from American Art Stamp do his MIT and demo at the Joan Mills vendor show. I got to hook up with the owners of a lot of my favorite companies. I don't know about you, but I tend to get a little starstruck when it comes to celebrities. And in my world the people who head up stamp companies I admire, are celebrities. Here is Robert and Helene from Magenta. She is absolutely charming. And I was humbled when she actually remembered my name from our last meeting a year ago.

The MIT had a hawaiian theme going. In the middle of it all, the doors closed and then swung open. Much to everyone's suprise, in walked four men (!?) all dressed in Hawaiian garb. Some even had the whole coconut bra thing happening. Don't believe me? Well, here is proof.

And for you Tim Holtz fans, he was dressed up too, sans coconut bra thing. He, alas, was not prone to posing for the cameras on my side of the room. So you just have to take my word that this was him. Note the distinctive hair and earring. Yup. Tim Holtz.

Good times.

Blah! Blah! Blah!

Did I mention that there is a new "Chat" in town?

It's called Rubber Stamp Chat and it is run by Amy from Beeswax Rubber Stamps

A chat built by a rubber stamper, for rubber stampers. Oh yeah, and the rest of you can come along for the ride. Just tell 'em Alma sent you!

Paper Garen Boutique

I have said many times that The Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento is the cutest store around. Painted in fresh spring green and white it has murals and inspirational sayings on the walls and fun paper flowers *growing* from the ceilings.

During my vacation I had to visit The Paper Garden Boutique again.

This time around I actually remembered to bring my camera and use it.
Luckily for me, I also brought my credit card, 'cause there was lots to buy.

Stephanie, the proprietress, has the most exquisite taste and a great eye for stamps. Of course, she carries TCP! (She is also a fellow SJSU alum. Go Spartans!)

The Paper Garden Boutique specializes in stamps and gift ware. Not only does she carry the full line of my absolute favorite paper, but her selection of unique, original handmade gifts is delightful. She chooses from many artists I have not seen before.

Check out the mod colored sock monkey. FABULOUS! (yes, I still buy other peoples' stamps. I'm a stamper first, dotcha know.)

From San Francisco, if I don't get lost, it takes and hour and a half to get there. But once I do it is well worth it. It is a comfortable place to hang out and chat and shop and just be.

Did I mention they give classes? I may just have to make my way out there soon to take one.

Home again

Are you still there?

Sorry I didn't post that I was going on vacation for 2 weeks, but I didn't realize I didn't until we were on the road in the middle of the desert.

Anthony and I decided to take advantage of the slowest month of the year (otherwise known as tax month) and celebrate 10 years of being together and go to Vegas. NO! WE DID NOT GET MARRIED! Sheeesh!

After we got back, I had one day of rest before the Joan Mills show in lovely Sacramento. I was incognito again working with Robert from American Art Stamp. I got to see many of TCP's clients and even got visit at The Paper Garden Boutique. Still the cutest store I've seen in a long while. And yes, I have pictures this time. I'll share them with you soon.

Once back in windy San Francisco, I was treated to a wonderful day of sun that was soon eclipsed by several terrible allergy filled days. I'm hoping to clear up before TCP officially reopens on Monday. Taaa!

And the winner is......

Matt, on Top Design.

I loved Clarisa's Black and White and Fuchsia loft I could just not see me living there.

The shiny black floor with no rugs just means lots and lots of sweeping and mopping. Not to mention that it would be too cold on my little kitty's tootsies. And I won't even go into what her green bathroom would to to my complexion. I shudder to think..Instead I loved Matt's aubergine bathroom. Very glam and morning-riser friendly. I love the thought of taking a shower while looking out on a beautiful skyline. With the blinds in place there would be no peepers.


This hall gallery is something I've always wanted to showcase my art and was delighted to see the idea here.
And I dig Matt's kitchen. Very chic AND practical. Marble tiles on the walls for easy clean up and stainless counters for food prep. LOVE it.

Matt also featured a curtain to section off the bedroom from the living area. The curtain could be pulled back to view the skyline from bed. Very romantic.
So while I loved Clarisa's bold style, Matt's was practical and well thought out, and chic all at the same time. Clarissa's room shouted at me, and Matt's tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear. I'd move in in a hot second.

Matt: Top Designer!

It's not Thanksgiving, but...

...I am thankful, nonetheless.

I am thankful that I finished entering all the data into Quickbooks AND saving the info to a separate hard drive before one of the hard drives in my 8-year old computer died this week.

I am thankful that my old company let me have the computer that I had when I worked there instead of tossing it.

I am thankful that we were able to switch out the drives in that computer, saving me from having to buy a new computer and giving me more room on both my disks.

I am thankful for the Data Rescue program that helped me retrieve ALL the data on my fried disk.

I am thankful for backups.

I am thankful for patient customers who don't yell.

Most of all I am thankful for my sweetie, Anthony, who did all the data retrieval, disk stuff and info reconnection, so I didn't have to pull my hair out and throw a tantrum on the ground. All the while working on his own projects and filling stamp orders. He's good.

Everyone should have an Anthony. I'm thankful I've got mine.

Oh where, oh where could they be?

HALT!

For the last month or so, we've been chugging along and chugging along getting the Spring Designs out and the Summer Designs ready for our Design Team to play with. I've managed to go to Boston and work on a super secret project and even work on a new catalog! (really). And this weekend it has all come to a grinding halt.

Why? Taxes, of course. All those receipts and things that I've been packing away in those files need to be entered and all the little things that need to be figured away. So I am holed up in my little cave, destined not to see the light of day until the files are cleared. Then I'll crawl into bed and feel much better that it is done.

Still sleepy

Just flew back from a whirlwind trip to Boston this weekend. I did a MIT for American Art Stamp and worked their booth at a vendor show. I love these things 'cause not only do I get to see great new products, and get to meet some of TCP's very own fabulous customers up close and personal, but I get to meet the wonderful owners and designers of some companies that I have admired for years.

I met Kim from My Favorite Things, Judy and Rob from Judikins, the crew from Printworks, Tinkering Ink, and Stephanie from Kodomo. And had dinner with the former owners of Stamps Happen. Met so many people I forgot their names. And, of course, I forgot my camera.

We did a massive MIT frenzy on Saturday night and afterwards we noticed that it was snowing! Let me tell you the last time we had snow in San Francisco was in 1976. So to see real snow falling was a real treat. We rushed outside and made snow angels in front of the hotel. Good times.

Good Times

We just had the garage door repairman over the other day. After chatting with him a bit it was funny to find out that he was from "the neighborhood". He grew up a couple of blocks away and went to the public schools in the area. Though he was a bit older we reminisced a bit and talked about the houses in the area.

Our house was built by Henry Doelger. His houses all tended to look the same and were built right next to each other. And I mean right next to each other. I can hear anything louder than a door slam at my next door neighbor's house. The houses were built to accomodate the need for inexpensive homes before and after World War II for The City's growing middle class. The majority of the houses were called "Junior Fives". They had 2 bedrooms and one bath and room downstairs for a mother-in-law apartment. They were well-built, with details like crown molding and hardwood floors and fireplaces, with small lawns in front. And were perfect for remodeling and adding on to, which is what many of the carpenters, and plumbers who lived there did.

Doleger was a prolific builder, building as many as 71 homes at a time, finishing 2 a day. He planned the look of each block, placing different house variations here and there like an artist carefully crafting a masterpiece.

The houses on each block looked the same, but had slight differences. So if you lived here you thought in blocks. Your best friend's house was one block down, 3 blocks up. Your aunt's house was one block over. The corner store was 4 blocks up and 2 blocks over. And the directions all started with your own block. Because somehow that block didn't look like all the rest. It was different and special. It was your block.

Brrr!

The balmy, warm weather has left San Francisco. I was getting used to the constant sunshine. Even though I know it's because of Global Warming, I must guiltily admit I enjoyed it. Now the temperature is back in the 4o's I am feeling less guilty and preparing for my trip to Boston where the temperature is 36 degrees. 36 degrees? Do I even have a winter coat?

*An aside: I can't believe this! Is it rumor? Or is it true? Say it isn't so, Emma.

Somewhere along the way

WARNING: Sad musings below.

This week Anthony and I went to see Zodiac. Few people know that I love mysteries. Unfortunately, the mystery of the Zodiac killer is a true one. And because the killings happened so close to home, the killings changed us.

Growing up in the seventies in the Sunset District in San Francisco, my childhood was, I suppose, just like any other. We joyfully rode our bikes, had soapbox races on the hill in front of my house and sat on the street curbs chatting about which way to wear our hair or what we would say to that cute boy. I spent endless hours on the radio listener lines waiting to make a heart-felt song request to the top AM stations, KYA and KFRC.

We spent our days outdoors, laughing and giggling behind fanned fingers to hide our heavy metal braces. We walked everywhere. 10 blocks to the beach and ice skating rink. 3 blocks to the playground. 4 blocks to the 5 and dime. 10 blocks to Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park to watch the boys play soccer in the swirling fog.

Then somewhere along the way it changed.

On our TV, the six o'clock news, a staple for dinnertime viewing, was now tuned to a game show, and then eventually turned off. There were whisperings of the "Zodiac Killer" and somehow I knew to be afraid. I wasn't allowed out after 4:00. And then sometimes not at all. The soapboxes no longer clunked their way down my street and slowly the bikes stopped coming around. The street curbs were empty.

I would hear my mother warning my license wielding sister not to do this and not to do that. And then it was my brother's and my turn to hear what to do and what not to do. We were taught to be wary of anyone and everyone.

Eventually, it got better, but it was never the same. We were never the same. Somewhere along the way we had lost a part of our youth and innocence. We could never have them back again.

Spring Forward

Daylight Savings Time is almost here and I've been diligently working on a new catalog! And, of course, the new Spring Stamps. They'll be up on the website tonight at Midnightish, but for those who can't wait, here is a sneak peek! OLÉ!

Cute cards by Toni Armstrong and Tracy Falco.

Take Ten

So I opened my advance copy* of Take Ten and what do I see on page 71? Why it's a card by Kim Van der Sanden featuring Poochie in his little "LURV" balloon in our slanted frame. Sooo, cute!

I just love this color combination too! Pink, gray and black. So chic. Congrats Kim.

*And why did I get an advance copy of Take Ten? Because I'm in it TOO! Wheee! Not for The Cat's Pajamas, though. Poop! Ah well, maybe next time.

Big Sigh!

Well The Cat's Pajamas very first convention has come and gone. It was a lot of work, but so much fun!

Here I am on Friday, setting up. Looking around, confused, wondering what I should do next. Looking down the way a bit at all the other vendors. We were given tables at the very end, across from Polly's Pals, (Polly rocks!) and on the other side of Hanko Designs. (Hi Norman!)

Still fiddling around. Setting up the small accesories side of things.

After a couple of hours here is the booth in all its glory.

Here is a full booth shot on Saturday morning before we opened. Where am I? Having a last sit down before the doors open.


The fabulous Tracy worked the demo table like no one's business. Together with her oh-so-talented mother, Bin, they made a formidable team. Shoppers prepare to be awed. These ladies are demo goddesses.

See the red arrow? These stamper's pre-bought their tickets and were allowed in a half hour before the doors officially opened.


Soon they were at The Cat's Pajamas booth. Shopping. And shopping. And shopping.


I'm not ringing up yet, but I will be shortly, and non-stop for the rest of the day, I'll have you know.

Thank you all who came by and said "hi". Thank you to my great design team, Jessica, Toni, Janis and Tracy for all the great samples that people o0000-ed and ahhhhh-ed over and took photos of.

Thank you, Karrie, for sending in your inspiration cards which I had to plunk on the sample board, too. Thank you, Tracy, Bin and Anthony for all your help in making The Cat's Pajamas first convention a success.

Going to lie down now.

To do list

After working feverishly to get ready for my first convention ever, my "To Do" list looks like this. Just 3 things left and it's not even the middle of the week yet. I need to get a 10 or 12 gauge extension cord. Does anyone know what that looks like?

I'm woikin' ovah hea!

Yeah, yeah, I know. Bad blogger. STILL getting ready for the San Mateo Convention! So little to do, so much time to do it. Wait. Stop. Reverse that.

I spent all day traveling yesterday after I dropped Mocha off at the vet for her teeth cleaning at 9:30. I was hoping to make a quick trip to Sacramento to pick up some store fixtures and finally meet Stephanie and Kelly at The Paper Garden Boutique.

And, of course, I got lost. And it was raining. So an hour and a half jaunt took 3 hours! But let me tell you, meeting Stephanie and Kelly at The Paper Garden Boutique was worth it. What a cuuuute shop. So fresh and fun. And they are soooo nice. I really must learn to bring my camera with me because if anything was worth taking a picture of it was this shop.

I couldn't stay long, but it was a good thing I left when I did because with all the rain and the accidents on the road. I finally got back into the city at 6:00! That's just crazy, I think. Oh well, now I'm just hunkered in , ready to make more stamps.

We're Backkkkk!

We're back from the wild craziness that can only be called CHA. What a BLAST. I got to meet up with old friends and finally meet some new ones. Just part of the CPJ design team got together at Alcatraz Brewing Company (Missing you, Jessica) to chat and chat. And when we were done, we chatted some more. That's Toni, me, our friend Shauna, Traci and Janis.

I got to see many crafty celebs while I worked the American Art Stamp booth. Way too many to mention, though I finally got to meet up with Julie Ebersole and her gang. I've been a reader of her blog for many a month. I also got to meet many of my new clients. It's such a treat to finally put name to face.

The best part of CHA, besides the MITs, samples, meeting up with friends, doing the classes, is walking the show and seeing what is new in the world. Wow. So many great things.

The worst part of CHA is that after it is all over, I sleep. A lot. I nodded in and out during the 7 hour drive back. (When I wasn't driving) I got home and slept. Woke up and slept. Slept and slept. Still haven't recovered yet.

Whew! Even this is tiring......lids dropping.......zzzzzzzzzzzz.