CarvedStamps Blog

If you’re looking for a gift that will keep on giving consider this one.  The Breast Form fund has just released  it’s 2009 “Show Us Your Bra” calendar.  For a $20 donation you can purchase a copy.  This organization provides grants to uninsured and under-insured women for breast prostheses and post-mastectomy bras.  They believe that these women should have the same opportunities for a dignified silhouette as fully insured women.  Many women come to them feeling low, with bras stuffed with socks and shoulder pads and have left fitting rooms with tears, smiles and a higher posture, having their sense of dignity restored.

If thats not incentive enough then consider that  I am their July Bratiste contest winner with “ABRAham  Lincoln”.  Abe’s portrait rests on the bras right cup.  I’m sure Abe will be smiling down on us this July 4th!!!

This calendar is funny and sweet, and full of love. To purchase a copy go to www.thebreastformfund.org or www.showusyourbra.org

Love Elaine

PS Use your calendar to schedule your yearly mammogram!!!!

I’ve been meaning to post these pictures since September. What was really cool about this particular show was that it represented so many types of visual arts. In fact we were only one of three stamp companies attending. The local stamp store, “Stamps 4 All”, also had a booth and it was fun meeting Dawn the owner, and her creative staff!!!! From customer feedback we discovered that Spokane is hungry for a stamp convention!!!!

The artist most amazing to me was the one demo-ing tattoo art using…….COPIC PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you heard it right. He had no problem finding volunteers to display his work on their arms and backs!! Take a look! So if you’ve ever fantasized about getting a tattoo in places you’d only share with those close to you……..get out those COPIC pens and live a little!!!!!! If you don’t have any and live near Olympia, WA - rush to Art ‘n Soul in Lacey because they have them in stock!!

Got to go……”Clive, where did I put those Copic pens??!!??”

Hi Everyone

For those of you who have already donated to “Art In Iraq” you will be pleased to know that because of your generosity and kindness an ART ROOM has been set-up in the hospital on base!!! I received the news in an e-mail this morning and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. I guess that British “Stiff upper lip” people refer to has its limitations!! I was also sent a photograph of an Iraqi sunset.

Art ‘n Soul store in Lacey, Washington has chosen to support our project this holiday season remembering that “Art IS good for the SOUL”". Thank you Susie Tracy (owner), Catherine and Sue!!! They are requesting donations of craft supplies at their Holiday Party on Sunday October 19th 1.00-4.00pm. Please support the store and our project by joining in the celebration!!!. There will be new products, demos and munchies, as well as a unique atmosphere of creativity that this store offers year round!!!!!. I wish I could be there but I made a commitment to another store way back in July that I have to honor. I will miss you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunset in Iraq - click to enlarge

Hi

I Just got a message from Stacey and her group with a great idea!!  They’re planning to take our art supplies to the military hospital. She thought it would help the soldiers “pass time in a good artistic way!!” I agree and I hope you do too.  Stacey is also going to put them in the “Combat Stress” office.  She told me that it’s always a long wait to see a doctor there, so it would give them something to do.

Latest donations for Iraq - Oct 08

HERE ARE THE LATEST DONATIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE.

Debbie Krumrei… ( crafter/instructor from NC who responded to my e-mail)

Maryella Wilson, Owner
A Stamp Artist Place
30 Spring Cove Road
Swannanoa, NC 28778
www.astampartistplace.com   Remember to support her store if you're in the area!

Julie Imsland (and friend)………. who drove a considerable distance to deliver them because the box was too heavy to mail!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s actually Freecycle that I thank. I recently saw a posting from someone who was giving away craft magazines and thought it would be great to pick them up and add them to an Iraq package.   When I arrived at the home to collect them it ended up being someone I knew but hadn’t seen for quite some time.   We sat on her porch, watched the sunset, and talked politics.  Without “Freecycle” I would have missed some great magazines and an enjoyable evening with an old friend.

Remember when I suggested that sending craft supplies to Iraq would add “color” to the lives of our soldiers?  I really didn’t expect it to happen quite so literally……..look at the photograph I just received! Apparently everything turned ORANGE during a sand storm!!!!!

Dust storm turns Iraq red

Hi Everybody!!

BE SURE TO SEE THE PICTURES AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE!!   Since my last entry I’ve met ( in person and virtually) some really generous and kind-hearted crafters who have opened their hearts and craft drawers in support of “Art in Iraq”!!!.  THANK YOU!!!!!!!  I will be sending FOUR parcels to Iraq today!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They are FILLED with so many wonderful supplies.  When I was putting them together I couldn’t help but compare the stark gray sandy landscape of Iraq with all those vivid colors and textures I was putting in the boxes.  I have to think that it must be like a breath of fresh air when they arrive!! I’ve never thought of sharing love, caring and support in the giving of color before today.  However, all I did was package wonderful things, go to the post office, and feel good.  Here are the people who provided the colors with their time and money.

Most recent donors:

Don Zimmer - friend, Seattle art instructor

Karen Kincaid - friend

Clive Woodhouse - husband and volunteer in shipping and handling

Shelley Burnett - friend

Margaret Dessell - friend, Artist Trading Card hostess and supporter of the arts

Elizabeth Freitas and her California crafters group - Nancy Whitney, Suzi Davey, Ann Mueller and Peggy Perry - Friends and supporters thanks to the internet and e-mail

Supplies shipped include:

19 rubber stamps

stickers

48 sharpies

glue sticks

ribbon

adhesive tape

4 watercolor “How to” books/kits

4lbs watercolor paper

36 tubes watercolor paint

184 colored pencils

12 wooden craft pieces

stencils

10lbs decorative card, papers, envelopes

paper cutter/blades

25 paint brushes

6 bottles acrylic paint

pencil sharpeners

4lbs modellng clay

Thanks to Debbie who called Tsukineko  to asked about how their inks tolerate extreme heat.   I think we can go ahead and send Versafine ink pads.  Debbie however suggested we also send pre-stamped images so if stamping is something you enjoy, I would be happy to forward them.

Hi Everyone

As well as providing a list of donated supplies, I wanted to show you what was shipped to Stacey and her fellow soldiers at the beginning of this week.  I have already received 2 more donations, one craft items, the other to cover the cost of shipping.  I suspect I will be ready to ship again mid- October.  If you would like to contribute to that shipment please contact me via this blog or e-mail,  and I’ll be sure to get back to you.  Love Elaine.

I shipped our first 3 packages to Iraq yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to the following people for their donations.

Doris Goulet. Friend and owner of “Friends & Company” rubber stamp store, Seattle WA

Lindy Combs. Long time friend and and partner in crafts!!

Barbara McBrien.  A new on-line friend who responded to my mass e-mail

Carvedstamps.com

KEEP DONATIONS COMING…We haven’t finished yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a list of the goodies that were sent…………..

21 lbs card stock/decorative paper/envelopes

8 glue sticks

18 gel pens

Assorted stickers

16 oil pastels

110 colored pencils

2 Sharpie pens

corner punch

32 markers

41 rubber art stamps

2 ink pads

1 ink refill

1lb blank pre-cut ATCs

10 decorative scissors

3 binders with ATC protective sleeves and 9 completed ATCs

This is something I should have shared a long time ago. Early last year a friend showed me an ad in Somerset Studio magazine that she thought I would be interested in. It was a “Show us your bra” contest sponsored by the Breast Form Fund. Here is some information about the organization taken from their web-site.

The Breast Form Fund, a non-profit organization, helps uninsured and under-insured breast cancer survivors cope with restoring their physical health and dignity. The Fund provides money for a breast prosthesis and post mastectomy bras. Founded in1995, the fund has assisted hundreds of women living in western Massachusetts.The Breast Form Fund was founded by Judith Fine, owner of Gazebo, a lingerie store in Downtown Northampton.

The Contest is for artists and non-artists (or “Bratistes” as we call them) who construct three-dimensional art bras from a great variety of materials. At the close of the contest a panel of respected art professionals select the winning bra creations. Winning “Bratistes” receive cash and prizes and their creations are showcased in The Calendar. All submitted bra creations and the new calendar are unveiled at The Auction & Gala where the bra creations are celebrated and auctioned. Show Us Your BRA! is generously sponsored by area businesses, which allows all proceeds from auction and calendar sales to go directly to The Breast Form Fund 501(c)(3).

I entered with “ABRAham Lincoln” which was chosen to be in the “Show us your bra” 2009 calendar. The calendar is going to print soon and will be available for sale on The Breast Form Fund” web-site very soon. It sells for $20.00. As far as I know my bra is featured in the month of July. The competition is only held once every 2 years so keep checking their web-site if you are interested in submitting a piece of work.

Here is a picture of my entry. I painted President Lincoln with acrylic paints and added some chalks for highlights.

I wasn’t either until a few weeks ago when I was introduced to them by a student in one of my classes.  This is how it works.

Person #1 starts the process by making the BEGINNINGS of 3 identical ATCs  (maybe just the background or a stamped image etc). They then put their name and address on the backs of the cards and mail all 3 cards to person #2 ( hopefully they’ve agreed to join in!!!). Person #2 adds their own creations to the cards and mails them on to person #3.  It’s now up to this person to finish off the cards, keep one for themselves and mail the other 2 cards back to person #1 ( are you keeping up with me?!?) Person #1 then keeps one and mails the other to #2.  The person who starts the JAM sends the cards in a small envelope with instructions.

SO HERE IS MY IDEA………………….If this sounds good to you e-mail me ( carvedstamps@onebox.com) your name and address and I will be your PERSON #1 and get the JAM going.  I will stamp one of my Carvedstamps images on the cards and lets see what happens.  When the cards finally make their way back to me I’ll post them on this blog.  It really is FUN!!  I’ve received ATCs and sometimes notes from people across country that I’ve never met.

*A WORD OF WARNING!!!!!! Only get involved if you’re willing to receive an increasing number of JAMS in the mail.  Your name gets out there and artists start adding you to their lists and soon your mailman is having to wear a back brace!!

READY. STEADY. GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!