Paper Mania!

OMG! what a mess...and great fun! 20 Stampclub participants made close to 300 sheets of parchment paper!
will post the how to...and a video when I get it together!
wish you were here...

Waves up on the North Shore

Guess we're leaving Summer. In Hawaii, this means the waves move from the South Shore to the North Shore...and the lines at Aoki's and Matsumoto's get long. I think Kathy Aoki once told me that she makes 5-10 gallons of home made Shave Ice syrup 3-5 days a week. Often making more than one flavor batch per day! Amazing! I'll have to ask her again when I'm up in Haleiwa. Still haven't tried all the flavors. Great excuse to duck out and go for a drive!

Some of the new rubber stamps...Plumeria peace sign rubber stamp, Quan Yin & more...

The new tikis and peace signs seem to be flying out the door...I especially love "war is not healthy for children and other living things" with the Peace Turtle Stamp!

Stamps I'm working with today!

Today is play day for me at the workshop...working on projects for AB round robin, Chanukah menorah for Joy of Crafting filming on Friday, and samples for our Shimmering Papers workshop at Stampclub tomorrow nite.
Here's a peek in my basket of stamps...I'm particularly fond of the new Quan Yin Longevity collage stamp in the left bottom corner...guess I'm excited about the new designs!

Vintage Pendant-copper & mica frame

Marilyn is one of those great women who is often cranky, and always creative...She made this way cool pendant with patina'd copper, wrapped with wire. The vintage photo is one of Rubber Stamp Plantation's Aloha from Hawaii vintage stickers. She used mica as the "glass window", giving it a slightly textured antique look. I love this idea and her execution. You can find Marilyn every month in Kapiolani Park at the Handcrafters and Artisans Alliance Craft Fairs. In her booth you'll find art dolls, sterling flatware jewelry (I wear my demitasse earrings often), Raku perfume/oil amulets....

Plumeria wall hanging with new Craft Stencils

I was playing around with our new Tropical Craft Stencils.
I used the retro plumeria stencil and pressed it into terra cotta clay. I also used the monstera border stamp...one of my favorites. This was bisque ware that I colored with Radiant Rain misters. I used a protective coating to seal the piece.

This will also work nicely with polymer clay.

Our banana patch is taking off!

We planted a dwarf apple banana 2 yrs ago and harvested our first bananas in March. We were so excited, we looked out the window every day to see if the next keiki (baby plant) was ready to shoot off. Of course, we gave up...you know the watched pot story...
Welp...now 5 mos. later...we have new babies!
And...our original tree is now 7 trees (tho not bananas aren't really trees). These should take 6-8 months to ripen...

The Bucket List AB

In our Honolulu AB round robin...I had Lorena's book...The Bucket List. I love the way this one came out. In each house, I wrote places I'll be visiting, The rays of the sun are plans, goals, dreams.
Enjoy!

Mini Mask Altered Book project

Honolulu Altered Books meets 2nd Saturday of the month at Rubber Stamp Plantation. Debbie West has been facilitating our eclectic group of 10-14 for almost 5 yrs! It's a round robin...we each begin with our own books, set the parameters and theme...and then let go! Every month someone else creates a work of art in our book, then passes it along to the next in line. Here is a mini mask (less than 2 in) project for one of the books. Love to hear about your AB groups/projects! Also let us know if you want to join in the next round!

OK, I couldn't wait 'til Chanukah!

Ok...so Becky and I ducked out of work 'cause the beach was calling! In order to justify playing hooky we called it our "Chanukah Card Photo Shoot". In lieu of candles, still packed away from last yr, we scrounged up some drink umbrellas.
The life guard was truly entertained, and inquired whether it was "sacrilegious"...we thought not.
Will post more closer to the Festival of Lights!

Awaiting the perfect picture...Easel Mats

I adore these really well made mat frames. Awesome stamping/collage surface! I make them to sell at craft fairs, and they're a perfect make and take/class/stampclub project!
They have easels cut in the back that allows them to stand vertically, or horizontally. There are also 2 hang tabs for wall mounting.
colors are black or white, with 4x6 or 5x7 puka (opening).
Brilliance pads were my fancy for this one. Silver, copper, and gold ink pads with the Lau'ae fern , xlg tiare flower, xlg monstera leaf, postcard, and beach girl blanding stamps.
I know this will look much nicer once a picture inside, tho I just had to share! We'll have the Easel Mats for sale on our website soon! http://www.rubberstampplantation.com

No surface is safe...the mad stamper continues...

Sometimes I feel like a mad stamper! I have this black fabric ink pad on the table at all times...NOTHING is spared! I love this old monkey lamp that's been up front in the shop for eons... I pulled out timber and another brown stazon pad and sponged the background. I then added stamped images with my infamous black pad. I used my hand behind the shade for support against the rubber stamp.
I then stamped with the lg honu petro, petro panel, and gourd dancers stamps. All from Rubber Stamp Plantation Petroglyph collection.

Linda visits from Irving TX!

Linda had the grand walking tour of Honolulu today, trying to find Rubber Stamp Plantation. We loved having her, and look fwd to your visit as well. Let us know you're coming, and perhaps we'll set up a play date! David and Thomas gave her the 25cent tour...and pressed rubber just for her! Life is good!

Fancy File Folders! Great project for any age!

It's Aloha Week, and festivities/activities are happening throughout Hawaii. The NEX invited us to participate in celebrations under their Big Top. I needed to do something quick, super easy, easily contained that would appeal to all ages, girls, boys, men, and women...crafters and self described creatively challenged. The project needed to be successful for anyone!
Here's how they came out! At a small table with 2 chairs, 12 stampers were able to do the make and take!
This is Adrianna, who brought her preschool age daughter. They both went home with a designer file folder (with matching paper clip!):).

Vietnam Stamp Store!

I just rec'd these photos from a friend! A stamp store in Vietnam! I'm soooo bummed I wasn't able to tell her to spend all her money there, and I would pay her back upon her return! No stamps, only a photo...Still I love the photo!

Match Boxes

I love matches about as much as I love candles. So sad hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. no longer carry them ( for the most part). Decided to make these as one of my new passions. We had great fun decorating them at Stampclub one evening.
.I emptied the box and painted the inside of the outer case, as well as the entire box with metalic airbrush paints by Dr. Ph Martins.
. I afixed lace ribbon to the bottom of the box leaving enought ribbon to tie a nice bow around the matches once i returned them to the drawer.
. I used collage elements to decorate, game pieces for feet, and beads/jewelry for the drawer pulls. Great Gift!!!! A must have for every bathroom, kitchen, meditation room...and kitchy campsite!

New Quan Yin and Eternity Collage stamps!

Can you tell we're having a blast with the twinks and RSP stamps????
this is my demo table at the Made in Hawaii Festival which happens every year on the third weekend in August. You must come next yr!

FYI...it's a video! Bodacious Beads!

Cousin to Bodacious Bangles that have turned out to be one of the most universally successful classes/demos/projects in a long time...I had a chance to work with DYI Bangles newest product. The beads vary in size and shape, have nice consistant holes drilled perfectly, and are well finished. Vijay from DIY Bangles sent me some wood beads to play with. Have a look see. I used Luminarte's Radiant Rain misters and daubers, Pallette Hybrid metalic ink pads, and the Islamic Border stamp...one of my favorite and most versitile designs. If I can find it, I'll post the Art Clay Silver pendant I made with the Islamic Border Stamp...

Sharon's off to Gallaudet University!

Sharon left us last week for her new adventure! Sharon joined us 4 yrs ago as one of 2 Deaf students from Pohnepei, Micronesia. They are the first Deaf students from Micronesia to ever go to college! Tania and her sister, Natasha met us at the airport to bid Sharon "adieu". We know Sharon will continue to inspire!
She also has a great creative bone, and loves anything purple!

Altered book...

here are a couple pages from an altered book I've been working on. Washi paper & Amy's leafing magic provide the backgrounds

The Farm: Mary and her Vetiver grass

For those of you who may not be in the loop, Mary found a little farm on the North Shore of Oahu last year on Craig's List. She's growing Vetiver...an amazing grass...fine web of roots grow 12-15 ft deep, stabilizing soil, preventing erosion, creating natural fence, preserving topsoil, and trapping moisture.
Here's Mary showing off her 18" Vetiver Hedge that can be used as a landscaping feature as well as being the environmental wonder we love. These plants are 1 yr old...from our first planting. They will continue for anther year to plump out into their mature 2' diameter clumps that when planted closely, interweave to create extremely effective barriers to runoff (and animals).

We made the Morning News!

Wow! We ended up in a media blitz Friday and Saturday. KHON Morning News filmed at our workshop with Manolo Morales from 6a-8a. (with toothpicks holding up my eyelids...it was a Made in Hawaii Festival preview show...we zipped out of here to open the show at 8:30am!!!!!) We had 4 3-4 min spots! Manolo made his own Bodacious Bangle with paw print and bamboo stamps. He's beyond smitten with Bubba...his Yorkie Terrier, now 2 yrs old.
He then made a snack platter with the Tiki Torches Hawaiian Island Decal...black on copper plate.
He managed to squeeze in another segment, again with the paw print and tracks stamps, he made a cotton tea towel to take home to his pup and wife.
Finally, he participated in the fine, ancient art of Rubber Pressing.
Be sure to see the video link at the top of the blog!

We also made the 6p and 10 pm on KHON as well as KHNL!
Newscasters showed up with cameramen in tow to ask about the Festival, the economy, small business, etc. Hope some of you got to see it. We were headlines on Saturday websites of both stations!!

Stamp displays at Made in Hawaii Festival

Thank you all who contributed cards for our brand spankin' new display boards! They looked awesome. we were so busy, forgot to take photos of the whole booth. You would've been proud! Stephanie Freeman, Helen, Lilla, Mike, Erin and more made stunning works of art with our 22 new stamp designs, Aloha from Hawaii stickers as well as stamps from our existing collection. http://www.rubberstampplantation.com will shoot you over to our new designs! keep the artwork coming and we'll post your cards, etc.
Inspire us!

Stamped silk eye pillows at Stampclub

We had great fun stamping silk with Rubber Stamp Plantation stamps, and Palette Hybrid ink pads from Stewart Superior. We loved the metalics and everyone went home with a project they adored. Val found buckwheat and lavender to fill them, on the internet.

Hi Ho, hi ho...off to the show we go....a video clip

Just another day in the life of Rubber Stamp Plantation and our Show schedule. Yup, we're off to NBC to set up for the Made in Hawaii Festival...Eric bringing up the rear with a rousing chorus of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song. Wish you were here!

Mermaid...another day in Paradise...

Sharon Diskin created this amazing collage made with Rubber Stamp Plantation stamps, using Twinkling H20's by Luminarte.

Stamps used: sitting mermaid, maile, lehua blossom, coral, petite shell honu, sea plant, md. sand dollar, nautilus, bubbles.

Groovy Peace Signs

Way too cute groovy peace symbols! We just finished them along with groovy surf/paddle boards, and more...We'll be debuting them at Made in Hawaii Festival Aug 15-17 at Neil Blaisdel Exhibition Hall on Ward Ave in Honolulu. They'll be part of our new collection of Hawaiian Island Decals, as well as Rubber Stamp Plantation fine art stamps. Hope to see you there. We'll have ongoing demos at our Booth #207/208. Come by for great ideas for all your holiday gifts!

Hooked on Bangles! Bodacious Bangles

Just finished another batch-o-bangles! I'm now sooo addicted to these buggers. I'm becoming much more experimental and daring with color mixing. Also experimenting with stamps that I hadn't thought of before. Picture on the left is the Koi Vase stamp. love the way it came out.
Now off to wash up and hele on home.

Aloha from Hawaii Vintage Stickers

love the new display Rick made us for the Aloha from Hawaii Vintage Stickers. We'll use it at the Made in Hawaii Festival August 16-18 at Neil Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Working on matted prints and posters of the vintage ephemera Makani and I've been collecting. We'll also have our original "faux" vintage fruit/cannery labels, collage sheets, and "inchie" collage sheets! We're in full swing gearing up for our largest show of the year!
We'll have ongoing demos for Tropical Etch Glass Etching Stencils, as well as Twinkling H2O's (back by popular demand)!
See you there!

Banyan Retreat, Maui

This Banyan tree is the only thing supporting what is left of this fabulous old building tucked in a cane field Upcountry Maui. One of my all time favorite hikes leads to this wonder. It had been over 10 yrs since I had paid a visit. The "street art" - amazing...the light- unfathomable.