Tropical Craft Stencils: Candy's wine bottle gift bags are extraordinary!

Candy at Parker Ranch Store in Kamuela on the Big Island makes amazingly great stuff out of reclaimed blue jeans! Look what she did with our Tropical Craft Stencils! Be sure to say "hi" when you stop by. They have an eclectic array of "made in Hawaii" products, including a whole room filled with yummy eats. Many are unique and specially made for Parker Ranch!

Pile-o-magnets: glass bathroom tile meets car decals

I'm tickled. Another surface has yet to escape me! Shopping at home depot for hose clamps, netting with blue glass bathroom tile threw itself upon me. I dragged it home thinking I would etch it with Tropical Etch glass etching stencils. I heard Miami in my left ear screaming "what ARE you THINKING?!?!". In front of me were over runs of our new mini decals...for cars, laptops, cell phones, notebooks, etc. and now....MAGNETS! they're sooooo kewl!

What does your pencil holder look like?

What does your pencil holder look like? This is just one of mine. I keep forgetting to turn around. I'm bound to find exactly what I need in one, if not another. I just counted 5 of them on and around my desk. I think I could survive on a desert island with what's in just this one of my "pencil holder" type thingys. Inventory: exacto knife, paint brush sponge, ruler, tweezers, bull clip, 3 spoons, 2 fork, black cord with shell pendant, lip balm, glue stick, drawing pen, glue pen, the ever necessary lip liner, stipple brush, lead pencil, pencil with bumble bee to entertain me, metalic gold paint pen, several ball point pens, orange pencil, several #2 pencils, mini box cutter, mini container of 12g of Tajin "salsa en polvo", and a pokey wooden ceramic tool/cuticle pusher back.

Letterpress paraphanalia

Letterpress paraphanalia is just another one of those things. Nalani signed me up for a ceramics class. looking fwd to playing with these and a bunch of other stuff hanging out in baskets.

Tattoos meet Bodacious Bangles

Sometimes my attention span is that of a flea. I'm not sure what generation of Bodacious Bangles I'm on, tho this one surprised me! Rubber Stamp Plantation's temporary tattoos! What's being marketed as "water slide transfers", are simply temporary tattoos. How fun is that! They need a good clear coat prior to finishing, tho the bracelets need one anyway! I decided I love the new Luminarte Shimmering Mists so well, that i had to leave a good majority of this batch simply painted. Embellishing seemed to take away from their beauty. They were a hit at the Merrie Monarch Festival Craft Fair.

Tattoo Pendant using Amate Bezels...First set of prototypes

This is one of the neatest projects I've tried in a while. I invested a slew in bezels from Amate and have been putting my tattoo designs and some doodle art in them with an epoxy resin. Stunning with a great neckline!

How I just LOVE washi paper...from my Japan trip

One of the highlights of my trip to Japan in January was my day with Sadao. Subways, walking, temples, shrines, cookies, mochi, sushi, & washi! I lugged around a 3 foot roll of washi all over the city. At the end of the day, laughed over a beer with Sadao that the washi had quite the walking tour. I should have thought to take photos of it in front of all the sights...kind of like the Travelocity Gnome! next time!

Is it possible to have too many orchids? Kauai Museum

Sprays of green orchids were stunning! We went to the Mother's Day Orchid Sale at Kauai Museum.

Na Pali Coast...50th birthday continues on Kauai!

What an amazing adventure. The weather was perfect, a bit overcast, a few drizzles to help fill the waterfalls. Low tide and calm seas early am enabled us to take the boat into the caves. Snorkeling at the old fishing village brought us to a playground of honu (sea turtles), a school of yellow tang so dense, you couldn't see the water! My first time with a white tipped shark.
We were escorted home by a fleet of dolphins playing, spinning, jumping & racing!

I have to stop and tell the chickens and roosters just how pretty they are...Kokee

I cant resist the chickens and roosters on Kauai.

Deb's 50th B-day Card Contest Winner!!

Stephanie Freeman did an awesome job making a series of cards for my 50th Birthday Card Contest! Thank you all for your entries and be sure to hop on Rubber Stamp Plantation Facebook page to see the whole collection of cards Stephanie sent us!

Congrats Stephanie Freeman for winning Deb's 50th B-day Card Contest.

Independent Len-my favorite tv show...PBShttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/video/online/

I just watched "Garbage Dreams" on Independent lens, and can not keep silent any longer. I live for this show on PBS weekly. These movies inspire me, tickle me, and keep me thinking about them for months...years...Here's the link to view the videos, or rent them on netflix. some of my favorites...Helvetica, Cats of Murkatami, Lakshmi & me, Red White Black &Blue, Sisters of '77, Paul Conrad...just about all of them. let me know what you think...you can email me thru Rubber Stamp Plantation on Facebook, if not thru here...

Sitting mermaid with twinkling H2Os

Sharon Diskin created this amazingly detailed underwater scene with Rubber Stamp Plantation stamps using Twinkling H2Os. She used the maile lei stamp as a sea plant, lehua blossom as a sea sponge, swirl sun for a spider star fish. Starring as themselves...shell honu, coral, sand dollar, etc. She created a similar scene on a cigar box purse.

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) At Stampclub

Artist Trading Cards was the project last month for Stampclub. Join us the 3rd Monday of every month!

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!