Hawaiian Quilting students at Kuuipo Restaurant in Kamiooka, Japan

Akemi and Masai were our hosts for Haunani Cesar's 5 days of Hawaiian Quilting classes. These are some of the students that invited us on a wonderful adventure to an onsen in Hakone. Our 2 day road trip included the Needle Festival, favorite shrines & temples, charcoal eggs...eaten for long life, wood inlay class from a master, and of course...lots of great food, noodles, sake, and Akemi's 50th birthday feast after the roof top onsen...at nite, in the brisk, cold air.

Black/Charcoal eggs...our quest enroute to Hakone

12 of us caravaned in 3 cars up the mountain enroute to the onsens in Hakone. We stopped here...geothermal vents atop the mountain...a shrine for cleansing and the sign for "black eggs"...just in case one needs directions. Black eggs were yum! (hard boiled, or charcoal cooked to "hard boiled"). Eaten to bring another 7 years to your life. Think I ate 3. Yes...that's snow...brrrrr!

Altered Art Adventure: Mini Board Book @ Rubber Stamp Plantation

Debbie and Pam led 4 very unique projects at their all day Altered Art Adventure held at Rubber Stamp Plantation. Here's a peek at a few of the board books created.

Cherry Blossom & Longevity Cards by Stephanie Freeman

2 great cards from Stephanie Freeman. She's the queen of using scraps and tidbits of papers you just can't bear to toss!
Add a few eyelets, ribbon, fiber, age the edges and voila!

Temple in Kamakura

this says it all...

Kamakura Japan...great day with Tai!

The steps to the Temple in old Kamakura. Formerly the capital of Japan, the town is rich in crafts, temples, and culture. Beach community in the summer...definitely the place to hang at the beach and catch a wave or 2.


this was inside the Budha...behind me are Budha's hands. Tai was amazing. He met me at the train station with umbrellas in hand, and guided me through the old city, winding in and out of streets of small specialty shops. Fish shop, bean shop, international and Japanese crafts....and yummy Japanese lunch, yummy beer, and heated floor! Tai wisked me into the yellow pigeon cookie store! WOW! Who knew???

Rubber Stamp Plantation arrives in Tokyo...

hi there! OMG! everyone is so sweet, helpful! Mary met me at the airport and bought me a suica (train card). we ended up taking the skyliner...reserved seats in the smoking car so i could get the full experience and a minor buzz by the time we arrived at Takadanobaba (Baba). must say, my contacts, along with sinuses rebelled! cold, tho am toasty warm in my fleece ear/collar thang and layers...happy camper! staying at old guest inn (ryokan) fw blocks from the el. train station. Eiko (60, looks 50, if that) just brought in my double futon and feather bed cover. yum. just enuf room for both of our futons on the heated floor mat. Still warm from the spicy chicken curry soup we had with Meg...Mary;s japanese friend (born and raised in Sao Paulo). Her parfait was amazing. 8 in parfait glass with corn flakes, topped with soft ice cream and sweet red beans, more corn flakes, mochi ball, corn flakes, more mini mochi with sesame powder, small scoop of green tea ice cream. more red beans, topped with soft serve swirl and fresh strawberries. aprox 750 y...after all that, a little less that a ft tall! coffee w/cream, outstanding! Meg will meet me at some station tmw to take me to gift show! yippee! rainy, snowy, and stil warm! thanks to Marys perseverence at Savers and Lisas infinite wisdom!

Honolulu Altered Book Group, "Copper"

A few years ago, we did colors...
I love the way all the books look on the 2nd Saturday. Copper was amazing...really, it was the Artists...

Palmettos on Myrtle Beach, SC

Ocean in winter. Myrtle Beach for the "Big Kahuna" trade show. COLD! And I brought layers! Little did I know I'd have to wear them all to bed!

Shoe watching Atlantic Airport

Paper shell pecans and smokers drive thru...

Truck stop close to midnight en route to Charlotte. Comfy baby monster truck. Never quite understood them...made the road trip a breeze. Bags of paper shell pecans by the register. yum! too good to bake with! Was great to bring Rubber Stamp Plantation on the road to the East Coast. Next time, more time for beach walking!

Honolulu Marathon 2009

How fun to stand at the 6 mile mark. First the chairs...barely caught them. About 5 minutes later, the Elite. Wow! Join us next year, 5a corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu. Great way to sip a cup 0 joe...

Hand made Pareo (sarongs) with Bozo in Waianae...you gotta try it!

Mary Cesar (Hawaiian Quilter extraordinaire), and I spent the morning with Bozo and friends, creating our own material for pareo (sarong). Bozo is an amazingly beautiful man! He and his family live in Waianae, where he has turned his back yard into his art studio. Pareo...sarong, are his media of choice at present. He gathers native plants in Kahana Valley, near where he grew up in Laie. The material is lovely cotton that takes the photosensitive dye beautifully.




Bozo invites anyone to come to make their own pareo...it's most fun in a small group of 4-8. $45 includes everything!

Hiking the Pauoa Ridge trail with ASL hiking group

Glorious day for a hike with the ASL Club from Kapiolani Communty College & Da Boyz who lead the ASL Hiking Group. I made it 2/3 of the way and took my time coming back, enjoying nature in the kiss of rain mists. Perfect day...and the pups were in heaven. Emily, now 8 going on 6 months, and Andy 11, going on 72 couldn't get enought...tho were clearly pooped at the end!

Someone just sent me this link from Family Crafts...

Thanks so much for sending me this link that reviews our Tropical Craft Stencils.
Be sure to email me photos of what you've done with them. I'll post them on the blog and in our gallery!
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/etchstencil.htm

Don't be shy!

David's Glass Etching Class!

Everyone was so focused on the class that David forgot to take photos of the finished pieces! Several students came back for a second evening of glass etching! It's addictive. Too involved to even eat the sushi and pastries at the end of the table!

Another Tropical Etch Vase out the door!

Another vase gone from the shop! Time to etch some more glass samples. Our "gallery" is diminishing!

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Light Plays on Palm at Zeke & Randy's in Pau'ilo

just thought I'd share...morning light & dew.

Rubber Stamp Madness spread Nov/Dec issue...take a peek!

Bodacious Bangles make their way into Rubber Stamp Madness. Check Nov/Dec issue out when you get a chance!

Artful Bra Project makes front page news!

Here's the link to Friday's newspaper!
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091023/LIFE/910230324
Artists, music, pupus, lanai seating, silent auction of everything pink...
and then the Bras! Great evening, great turnout, great support! Hawaii's first Artful Bra Project was a raging success! Be sure to let me know that you want to be included in next year's Bra Project! Looking fwd to having you join us!

A few more Artful Bras...

Areola Borealis, complete with traditonal lei hulu (feather lei) woven in..., the most amazing breast plate by Suze Weinberg...Just Bee Glitzy Bra. Phenominal job of beewax, embellishments, mica powders..











Transformation by Su Shen, Support Your Calabash by Kristen La Flamme, Reel Time (crocheted video tape and plastic bags) by Mellanie Lee, Sunshine On My Shoulders by Lorena Garwood. Will keep posting as I'm able to get the photos up. Pass it along. Tons of photos on Rubber Stamp Plantation Facebook page!

Artful Bra Project: our debut!

Artful Bra Project...26 entries! $2019 raised and counting!

The car is stuffed with Artful Bras on their way to be displayed this weekend!!!!! will keep you posted!
Debbie West's "Sweet Cupcakes" bra. sorry the photos aren't the best. will take professional shots on Sat am when the Artful Bra Collection is hung at Richardson Field, at Pearl Harbor.

RECIPE CONTEST! Feels like it's time for some fun!

Time for a contest! Figured we'd make this one different!
Send us your favorite recipe...and decorate the card or paper it's on with our Rubber Stamp Plantation stamps, or with our Aloha from Hawaii vintage stickers!

Deadline: November 15...so we can post them for Thanksgiving!
Contest Rules:
1. Please use only our rubber stamps and/or stickers
2. Please scan them in or photo and email them to me
debz@rubberstampplantation.com
3. or Snail Mail them to:
Rubber Stamp Plantation
575A Cooke St. PMB#1717
Honolulu, HI 96813

First 13 (baker's dozen) will win a prize...and the recipes will be published in our darling Recipe Box at http://www.rubberstampplantation.com

Can't wait to see whatch'all send in!!!!

OMG! More bottle caps. Feeling the pressure to make earrings!

OMG...the bottle caps keep coming. I'm feeling the pressure to keep up with supply! I can flatten at least one cap per red light. I carry my baggie and pliers almost everywhere. Several weeks ago, it was meditation...now it's becoming obsession. Can't quite get the stale beer smell out of them, tho Diamond Glaze works wonders. Seals the smell in! Just another use for DG!

Torn paper technique...turned into cards!

Made cards today from the papers we made at StampClub last week. Laid down double stick tape in horizontal rows. Broke out the baggie of scrap fibers and laid them across the sticky. Cut them with guillotine paper cutter into ATC size pieces! Had no idea there was hope for the papers I created. LOVE them! Will have them for sale at the Hawaii Women Expo this coming weekend at the Blaisdel Exhibition Hall on Ward Ave. Come see us!