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.

Super Delicious Goodness

After reading Buzzville's account of her trip up to the SF Bay Area I had to make my way over to Daiso.

I want to say that it is in the same place that the old Farrell's but I would be lying. The old Farrell's building is long gone and so is my memory of where it stood. It was a crazy place where we would go after bowling, team championships and the Prom. Their menu had items like the "Zoo" (filled with a multitute of plastic animal toys), the "Volcano" and the "Pig's Trough."

The order of certain menu items would bring the staff hurtling through the restaurant with the item on a fringed "stretcher" with bells and whistles 'ablowin'. And did I mention the sirens? There were sirens , too!Then Farrell's was gone and another piece of my past disappeared with it. Happily, Farrell's is BACK. Making a triumphant return in Santa Clarita. I may just have to go the 316 miles and 5 hour drive to taste my favorite "Gibson Girl" sundae once again. It will be worth it, I know.

Robot love

Between filling orders (Thank you, everyone) and doing inventory. And prepping for the upcoming shows and the like I had yet to sit down and play with the stamps in the new line.

Since I design the images months in advance and tweak and pull and adjust each one many, many times by the time the images are actually born as stamps I am designing the next line without getting to play with them.

So this week I was inspired by Julie Ebersole. And came up with this little card.

I used my favorite paper, Perle that I got at the Paper Zone (This paper is so great because it is so dense that ink sits nicely on top and doesn't get sucked into it. Plus it has these purty gold sparkles in it for added bling.) Then I used Brilliance Platinum Planet and stamped Love Rocket, Small Whirlygig, and I see stars on it.

Love Robot came next, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, and then I used a black Marvy Marker to swipe the balloons from Tink with balloons and draw in the balloon strings. Punched out the little cutie and mounted him on a scalloped punchout. I used the Sakura glaze and glitter pens to color him in.

I used Versafine again to stamp You send me and used punches to create the holes for threading the ribbon which I fastened on itself with a spiffy red brad.

He's a cutie.

Are you feeling the Love, yet?

It must be love!

The new Love stamps are up on the website, all bright and shiny, and looking for love. There's something for everyone.

I've always found doing Valentine stamps really hard to do. This time the ideas just kept coming. (Maybe it's because my sweetie and I are celebrating our tenth year together.)

And, you got a little taste of some of the cute cards that our talented designers did in a previous post, but I've posted 16 new card designs in the gallery that will wow you. I must say, these ladies outdid themselves this time.

2 more days 'til Christmas

Well, 3, but since we are having Christmas dinner at my parent's house on Christmas Eve, it's only 2 days for me. The actual day will be spent at home cuddling with my sweetie and taking care of Mocha, who has a cold.

This Christmas season has just flow by. I have yet to decorate a tree. I have forgone Holiday cards (Merry, Happy everyone). This year we are doing a homemade Christmas and I can happily say that I only have 3 socks to knit AND two-thirds of a sweater to get done.

Winter 2007

You heard that right. Winter 2007. I'm working on the images for Winter 2007. After working on getting Valentine's day out and finishing of Summer and Cinco de Mayo images I'm finally able to work on images for the season I'm in. And I'm....blocked. Any thoughts?

Hero

Devastated over the death of James Kim. He was a true hero who, after nine days of being lost and weak from hunger, set out to find help for his young family. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Thankful Pt 2

I am thankful that Kati Kim of San Francisco and her 2 daughters have been found!
My prayers go out to finding James Kim, who set out 2 days ago to look for help and has not been found yet.

On Dasher....!

Feeling a bit under the weather for the past 2 weeks or so. But now I am working on Valentine's Day. Yup. I'm thinking hearts and flowers and other such love goodness. My design team has done a bang up job designing cards and the like that just made my jaw drop when I saw them. We are working on getting them in stores for right now, but I just thought I'd give you a peek at some of the cute cards Jessica, Toni, Tracy and Janis have done.

The images should be coming to the retail store near you! And if they aren't, tell your LSS you need these images. They won't be for sale online until after Christmas.