On pins and needles

It's been 2 days since Project Runway and I am STILL recovering. I was so nervous for Michael and Uli that I had to pour myself a stiff one.

In the end I was really impressed with Uli. I thought she was going home for sure. But, she pulled in out in the end and produced a really modern fun dress. AND did you check out all the hand beading that went into this dress? I was so impress by her dress that I put down my martini and gave her a standing ovation.

Michael, on the other hand gave me a fright when he got his creative block. We all get them and it was refreshing to see that someone as creative as Michael gets them too.

But, his outfit scared me. The design was overworked and a little sleazy. Even his model didn't seem to like it. And what was with the HAIR. During the judging I was so sad when I thought he was going home.

This latest installment really shows the creative hole you can dig yourself into when you have too much time. Sometimes, it's best just to sit down and do something, like Uli did, and work through the block. Ideas start to flow freely and things come to you that never would have while hunched over a sketchbook. And sometimes, like Uli, you come up with a winner.

I love pattern

For several decades I hated pattern. I turned up my nose to anything with a dot or a little stripe. I only wore black. Perhaps it was my art student mentality, or the fact that I had to wear PLAID for 12 years. (Yes, I was in Catholic school). Give me a good set of monochromatic solids and I was a happy camper.

Growing up in the 80's I felt like an outcast. There was pattern everywhere, assaulting my eyes with polka dots and lace, patterned leather. Even big frosted hairstyles were sprayed in different colors and patterns using stencils and the like.

A college friend of mine told me her "interview outfit" was an crazy mix of blue and white check, stripe and polka dot. "Then," she said, "after I put it on, if I haven't thrown up yet, I put on the dotted stockings and polka dot shoes."

It wasn't until a stint as a textile librarian in a decorator showroom that I truly began to appreciate that the "clever little stripe" or that "funky pattern" really looked good together. So now I can't seem to help myself from mixing this pattern with that.

Like this card. If there were more room I'm sure I could stick in a couple more patterns.

P.S. Here is a peek at the new collection currently only available at a stamp store near you. Go and bug them to check into it.

Convention Fever

I love a convention!

When I lived in Southern California there seemed to be a stamp convention within driving distance every 2 months. And boy, did I take advantage of it. Meandering through the convention hall, visiting with vendors that soon became fast friends. The excitement of new techniques and products..... I've even been lucky enough to work a couple of conventions at American Art Stamp.

Lately, I've been toying with the idea of having my own booth. Perhaps, because Daisy at at Stamp on over put the idea in my head and it's had time to fester or because of the success of Just Johanna at the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Chicago. Or perhaps because I have always wanted to be a proprietress of a stamp store that the nagging in the back of my head started again. And, the idea has been buzzing around and around...

Shout out to Jessica!

I am so lucky. I have the most creative, crafty, talented designers around! Check out this uber cute sweatshirt that the fantasticasmagorically talented Jessica Ulery made for her oh-so lucky son using "Skully" as a base. I love that applique look and the modern look the stripes bring to the design.


Jessica tells me she took the stamp "and enlarged it on my copier 3 different times for the pattern. I used garage sale finds and hand sewed this sweatshirt for my son." Jessica, I bow down to your craftiness.

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?

Mocha 2

So we brought the kitty home and named her "Mocha". Like "Mocha Almond Fudge". She spent the day exploring and hiding underneath the couch.

Mocha, Part 1

Yes, I've been a bad blogger, but I'll try to be better.
When we moved into our house a year ago we were adopted by a couple of feral cats. One, affectionately called "Orange Bang!" and the other "White Kitty". Here is Orange Bang!

White Kitty had a sore on his nose that just wouldn't heal. When I came back from LA a couple of weeks back it had taken over one side of his nose. So I called around for a vet that would treat ferals and proceeded to try and catch him. Once caught, the vet took one look and pronounced cancer. Cancer, only treatable by treatments of chemo. And the cancer was making it hard for White Kitty to breathe. We knew we had to put White Kitty down.

In the vet's waiting room we noticed a flyer for a "Free Cat". The cat was a siamese mix that had been hanging around the finder's house for 2 months. It had a license, but the number did not match a cat in the counties database. The finder had also looked through the "lost pet" postings at all the counties shelters, but no one was looking for this kitty.

The kitty, it turns out, had been living back and forth between 2 neighbor's houses. One had a dog and the other had recently lost a beloved cat and wasn't ready to take on a new one. And she was a sweetie. You could tell that she had charmed the menfolk and one had tears in his eyes as we put the kitty in her carrier. The other asked if I would call once in a while to let him know how she was doing.

Sacramento Convention

Yesterday was the Sacramento Stamp Convention put on by A Stamp in the Hand. It was the first time I had ever gone and it was a treat. I love a convention. After I finally reached the convention after getting lost a couple of times I finally entered the doors and entered a magic stamping world. Magenta was there. Leavenworth Jackson, Yvonne Albritton, A Muse, and Memory Box, to name a few.

I love going to conventions I haven't been to because I tend to find stamp companies that I don't usually find at my LSS. And the companies are able to bring much more of their stock that our LSS are able to buy.

I was working at the American Art Stamp booth so I made my way over there. I've worked their booth a number of times and there are always fun and whimsical stamps that I MUST HAVE. Plus, they always have the greatest prices on ink. This show was no exception. They showed their newest Christmas and Fall Stick Chix stamps. And even though the weather outside (and inside) was over a hundred degrees, the stamps put ME in the Holiday spirit.

Magenta has come out with some really great puzzle stamp sets. These are stamps that can work together or by themselves. They are closely trimmed so that you can better judge placement and they are sold on cling cushion for easier storage and better pricing. I got 12 stamps for $16.00, plus an extra one as a goodie! This is a great alternative to the clear polymer stamps. And because the stamps are deeply-etched rubber they'll produce a sharp image and won't break down in a couple of years like polymer. Viva La Magenta!

Yvonne Albritton had packets of pre-flattened bottle caps and alphabets stamps and punches that perfectly fit the top of the cap. She also had brand-new chalk palettes in aluminum trays. Not only were the palettes quite stunning, but you got a lot of chalk in them.

A Muse and Memory Box were there, brought to convention by Stamp On Over, one of my LSS. I just love A Muse's cute, funny designs and Memory Box's witty take on the world. These companies are just too hip.

There was plenty more to be seen, and this convention was very HOT. Hot in both the stamping companies there and the weather. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was sweltering. At one point in time I was told it was 107 degrees. This was about 11:00 am. I am not sure how the locals do it. But, I'm hoping that I lost a couple of pounds.

Who said anything about being a morning person?

For the last couple of days I have set the alarm clock to go off at 6:00am. Not that I get up at that time or anything. But after a couple of swipes at the alarm clock I am up and at 'em.

The sun is up at that time and the light is just beautiful, streaming through my front windows onto the hardwood floors. I make coffee and put out the food for the 2 feral cats that adopted us shortly after we moved in. Several days after our move we discovered that our precious Sprinkle had cancer and then she left us alone, each in our own way, and missing her desperately. The cats, (who I originally thought of as one, were, and are very skittery and don't let us get within 5 feet of them) helped me get through my loss. They are really quite the silly creatures and make us smile and sigh in delight whenever we see them.

So after I put their food down I stand at the window and wait for one of them to silently enter the garden on their silent cat feet, and watch them from behind a curtain to start my day. I feel blessed just to be able to share this time with them, even if they don't even know I'm there.

Hot Dog!

I just LURV summer. It's the only time that the sun really comes out in San Francisco. And for the first time in years I can actually go out without bringing some sort of sweater or something with. Of course, this hot weather comes at a price. The air is much thicker with dirt and smog and there is that global warming to worry about. But for now I'll just enjoy the hot weather and the summertime food that comes along with it.

I did this card for the Summer Samplers that were offered to the retail stores this season. It's a fun design based on an original design by one of the Cat's Pajamas Design Team, the talented Toni Armstrong.

Sprinkle's got a posse

My oh so talented boyfriend put together this great little movie featuring Sprinkle and Poochie. It's very good I think. He's very clever.