I have been busy carving a new rubber stamp for a project I’ve been working on for a month, now.
I needed a large bicycle stamp, and couldn’t find one I liked, so I made one! I’m almost out of the large sheets of rubber I bought in Japan. I don’t know where else I can find this stuff, so I’m getting a little worried.
While I was testing the stamp, I remembered that I signed up for a postcard swap over at ihanna, and I needed to make 10 art postcards. I realized this bike was the perfect size for them, so I went to town on a stack of old cereal boxes with sheet music and a few other hand-carved stamps I had around. Toss on some punched-out lilacs, go one round on the sewing machine and wa-la! Postcards everywhere!
Now to send them off- looks like most of them are going abroad. The Netherlands, UK, Germany, Canada, and a few in the US. I hope they find their homes!
I wrote on the back an excerpt from one of my Great Grandmother’s poems,
“I must have a lilac’s purple promise to tell my winter-weary soul that spring has come and all is well.” -Helen Lowrie Marshall
Those words always come to me in spring- and I’m always so thankful that she wrote them. I’m tickled to have the opportunity to share them with others.
12 comments
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April 6, 2011 at 8:52 pm
iHanna
I love carving but mine are simple shapes and kind of naive. Yours is so cool, and as you say, perfect size for a postcard. Well done, I love how your postcards came out. Thanks for sharing!
April 7, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Lis
Oh, how I hope my name is on your list! But odds are probably slim …
I too love carving my own stamps (so much better to make what I want) but your skills make me drool! Okay, time for me to beef up my stamp collect and practice some more! Really lovely cards!
xo Lis
April 7, 2011 at 8:49 pm
alsn
Thank you for your kind words! I know that anyone can become a detailed stamp artist with enough practice and the right tools. I learned from an amazing artist in Japan- she’s the one who told me to use a very tiny exacto knife for my work instead of the box cutter I’d ben using, and to take my time. I still think my stamps are blocky in comparison, but aren’t we all just a work in progress? ^_^ Good luck to you!
April 7, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Angelina
Heya,
I had the same problem when the rubber I brought back with me ran out, but I found it through Speedball.
http://www.allartsupplies.com/item.php?articleId=481
April 8, 2011 at 1:54 pm
lenna young andrews
I LOVE your carved bicycle on top of the music sheets on top pf the cereal boxes! The quote is grand too. I have just finished and sent my cards : ) lenna
April 12, 2011 at 4:51 am
Roxie
I’ve been looking for a place to buy rubber for stamps in DC (fie on you Paper Source!) but I think you might be able to find either at Utrecht on I st. or Plaza on K St. downtown if your wallet and your watch are brave enough to face an art store. 🙂
April 13, 2011 at 1:33 am
Andria
What an amazing stamp you carved! Your postcards look great.
April 14, 2011 at 6:09 am
EWian
WoW, grate cards!
EWian
April 16, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Meaghan
I just received a postcard from you. I love it! And the quote from your grandmother’s poem is absolutely inspiring. I am off to appreciate the springtime! …Today, that means accepting the rain 🙂
April 17, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Susanna
Thank you for your lovely postcard! It has reached The Netherlands safe and sound. Your card has really made me want to try stamp making so I hope I will find time for it this year. Thank you again for your card. – Susanna
April 19, 2011 at 9:34 am
kim
How cool!! You really had a good job!! Wow!
June 26, 2015 at 2:27 pm
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