I’m back from vacationing through the “Land of Endless Clouds”: Michigan! Many thanks to RLD readers who sent bon voyage postcards to my mailbox — YAY! What a wonderful thing to arrive home to – postal pals in my mailbox! You guys are the BEST!
I had big plans to do a write up about visiting the Heirloom Productions rubber stamp show in Novi, MI on August 1st. Revv’d up and ready to see some awesome, I ventured thru the doors of the convention center and was dazzled by the array of paper, vendors, color, and stamps. (It was the first time I’d ever been to a convention like that…)
However: I was thwarted in my plans.
Each time I queried a vendor about snapping a booth/product photo (all the while explaining that I was interested in doing a write up for my blog) I was politely told that the vendor didn’t allow photos. After going through this scenario a couple different times, I decided “meh.” I mean, what use is a blog post about delicious rubber stamps if there are no photos of delicious rubber stamps?!?!
So. That was a bit disappointing.
But: I did discover a gem of a stamper, tucked amongst all the decorative papers and mixed media mayhem! Chuck Knock of Grey Wolf Graphics has a fantastic selection of faux postage rubber stamps, perfect for all your mail art envelopes, postcards, and artistamp work.
Chuck illustrates all of the rubber stamps produced by Grey Wolf Graphics; the GWG website states that he was involved in “illustrating many of General Motors’ owner’s manuals as well as most of the ones for American Motors.” You would never mistake a Gray Wolf rubber stamp for any other, due to the beautiful line work and illustrative quality of Chuck’s imagery — one of the very reasons why I was immediately smitten with ALL of their rubber stamps!
Needless to say, I left a fair amount of my “allowance” at the Grey Wolf booth. Each rubber stamp is beautifully mounted on a hand-turned wooden block; the deep etch red rubber takes ink wonderfully and leaves a fantastic impression. These rubber stamps are a welcome addition to any rubberhead’s collection! (unmounted stamps are also available.)
Hey — look how that happened! Even though I said I wasn’t really going to do a write up of the rubber stamp show, it looks like I still managed to do a write up of the rubber stamp show. I’ll leave you guys with a fun YouTube video from Diane Dimich of DD Stamps: a fast and easy painter’s tape technique which can be used on all of those “final month of summer” postcards.
Stay tuned: next week I’ve got fun announcements on the way, as well as a roster of new classes and going-ons!
Keep it postal!
–JH
You temptress. i order one and am thinking of more. Cool writeup. And how dare they not let you take any photos. Stupid of them since all of us who love you would read your post and buy the stamps…..
Pamela —
Yay!!! Glad to hear you ordered from GWG — it sounds like some of us Co-op kids will be sporting some of the same designs! But really: how could anyone who loves mail art and postal things refuse? (I certainly couldn’t.)
As far as the “no taking of photos” thing goes: every event’s different, I guess. Here in the bay area, it’s encouraged behavior that one would go somewhere/do something, and then post photos/write about that particular event. (If you don’t do those things, did the event even happen?!) It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that in other places, people don’t document absolutely every single aspect of everything. So for me: an important reminder!
–JH
oooooh, ahhhhhhh. You scored some great stuff.
Seven Hens —
Thanks m’dear! You KNOW I’ll be sending you some delicious yum-yums with the above shown…
–JH
Yippee! I just ordered two from him! :DXO, G
Gina —
AREN”T THEY THE BEST?!?! Grey Wolf stuff was hands-down my favorite. And super nice to boot!!!
(I can hardly wait to see your stamps in action…)
–JH
No photos allowed, huh? Well, it’s their loss. They probably missed out on a lot of sales. I guess they didn’t consider how large your audience might be. Still and all, ya done good.
Limner —
It was a little strange. But it’s good to be reminded that not all events/vendors are photo-friendly; as an artist who sells one-of-a-kind products, I’ve been in the same “I’d really rather prefer it if you didn’t take photos of my stuff” boat at vending events. But usually, if someone comes up to my table and explains that they’d like to do a write up and flashes a photo of their blog, I’m THRILLED to have them take a photo or two (or more!) So: I was surprised. But as you pointed out: I still managed! 🙂 I’m savvy that way.
–JH