Les Papotages de Stamp Francisco

Meet Chica or love at first sight!

2009-09-26T03:19:00.000-07:00

While at the Frankfurt airport waiting for plane #2 to get back home, let me introduce Chica the newest addition to our family... well kinda....

Late August, my best friend and I took a week off at a fabulous spa Rancho La Puerta located in Tecate, Mexico. Upon arrival we were greeted by this lovely kitty and she and I bonded immediately. She became my little shadow and we slept together.

Chica at the Ranch

Long story short, Chica was very thin and very pregnant. After a couple days of tribulations and the help of some wonderful folks at Rancho La Puerta ~ especially Yoreme ~ Chica had a passport, went thru immigration and became a full fledged American Citizen. After a lond day of travel - thankfully in the cabin - she reached Portland where a surprised Bill discovered the family had a new member. He immediately fell in love with her ~ even upon learning the next day ~ that we would shortly become grand parents.

Chica at home

A week later Chica gave birth to 5 beautiful black and white kittens. They were one week old when I left and turned 4 this week. They are now running around like crazy and very curious. Chica is a wonderful mother. She's about 1 year old and this is her second litter and of course, last litter.

One week old
12 cats in the house

Time to board!

Where am I?

2009-09-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong?? Beijing?? nope... still in Paris. There is a relatively large Chinatown with a huge amount of shops and some decent food especially Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese but nothing close to what you can experience in San Francisco, San Jose, Orange County and from what I hear Vancouver, B.C. One more day and I'll be flying home!

Paris, Books and Bread

2009-09-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Watch out for some new rubber stamps and new collage sheets to come soon... I found a bunch of very old books and turn of the century trade cards at this Market for Old and Used Books held in Paris each weekend!

Breads and pastries from Max Poilane one of the world famous brothers Poilane breadmakers. I did indulge in the most buttery, moist and fattening Pain au Chocolat I have ever tasted!!!

Stempel Mekka 18

2009-09-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that a week went by since we exhibited at Stempel Mekka in Germany on September 12 & 13. This was our ninth year and exhibitors came from the UK, Holland, USA, Sweden and of course USA. It is an occasion to see old friends and to make new friends.

The hotel and convention center are build in a former quarry.

We were busy and introduced with great success the very unusual and gorgeous charms from Renaissance Art Stamps... coming soon to our website.

My two wonderful friends Hilde from Belgium and Mel from Germany. I could not do the show without their help. Thank you to both of you.

Hilde and I.

Our British friends Fred and Carol from Stamp Attack.

Las Vegas, Part 1

2009-07-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Remember back in June we took a couple of day off? It was prompted by the fact that Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood were in concert in Las Vegas.
It was FANTASTIC!!
but excuse my French... for the moron that stood up and danced during 90% of the show and blocked the view of many. He was drunk and rude... redundant?

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Sorry, this is not the best video since I tried to avoid "shooting" this guy and told to turn off the camera by security... but it will give you a feel of the concert.

The MGM Grand Arena... it is BIG!!!

Eric Clapton

Steve Winwood

Saturday at the Farmer's Market

2009-07-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers

Raspberries and Blackberries

Lambert Cherries... so sweet... yummy!

Don't you want to bite in one of those tomatoes?

and music with a Ragtime Band!
For a perfect day.

Flying Like a Bird

2009-07-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we took the day off and went Skydiving in Shelton located near the Olympic Rain Forest in WA. The folks at Skydive Kapowsin were very nice. I jumped in tandem with Scott. Gorgeous location to jump. You get to see Mt Rainier from a way cool perspective! This was my first jump and I loved it!

13,000 Ft... straight out of the plane!

8,000 ft freefall last about 60 seconds at 120 mph.
The "wind" is so strong... I feared my braces were going to come off while smiling. LOL.
Look at that view!

Parachute will open at about 5,000 ft... still freefalling in this shot! Once the parachute open all become quiet and peaceful and you get to enjoy it for about 6-8 mn.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T16:20:00.001-07:00

Art 3051
Courtesy of Wendy Robinson

Stamps used: Lady Liberty 108-119, Happy 64-005, Number 4 from alphabet IC-5, th from 106-1429.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin

Quote available as a rubber stamp 38-059

Last Minute Father's Day Inspiration

2009-06-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Art 3056 Courtesy of Wendy Robinson
Stamps used Boy 23-108, PS I Love You 14-027, Happy Father's Day 65-032

Art 3055 Created by Wendy Robinson
Stamps used: Boy 23-108, Father's Day Greeting 65-032

Bad blogger!

2009-06-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

I know... writing has been quite a challenge and I'm a lousy blogger... but Sunday, I went to an antique books fair where I found some old German and French books and catalogs from which we will soon have new stamps for the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper line.

In the meantime, we received this lovely Father's Day card from Wendy Robinson.

Art3054

Rubber Stamps used: Young Boy 23-108, Happy Father's Day 65-032, Background Text 49-353

Also, if you are an animal advocate, the anti-chaining group Dog Deserve Better will be holding an annual Chain-Off from June 27 through July 12. Please help spread the word. To learn more about DogDeserveBetter click on the name of the organization.

Memorial Day Thank You

2009-05-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Thank You to all of the Service men and woman who keep us safe on this beautiful Memorial Day. This day of remembrance used to be called Decoration Day.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T10:29:00.001-07:00

Collage Sheet CS030
Mother rubber stamp 106-1393
It's not too late! Use Digital Download collage sheets to create a last minute card like this one!
Art courtesy of Wendy Robinson

A Mother's Baby

2009-05-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Art courtesy of Audrey Hernandez
Check out Audrey's blog

Log Baby 12-328

A Mother's Love

2009-05-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

Art by Wendy Robinson
Collage Sheet CS030

Mother Word 106-1393

Mother's Day Tag

2009-05-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't this little tag so sweet?

Collage Sheet CS030 from Art by Moonlight
ALL Collage Sheets are now AVAILABLE AS DIGITAL DOWNLOAD PDF
To My Mother 106-1393 from Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers
P.S. I Love You 14-027
Tag designed by Wendy Robinson

Mother's Day Around the World

2009-04-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you could celebrate Mother's Day all year round? Of course on May 10th... the US date then on May 25th pour la Fête des Mères in France and another 29 days that you can see by clicking on this Mother's Day link.

Art3062

Stamps Used: Children 23-157, To My Mother 106-1393

Art3059
Stamps used: Children 23-157, Spring Bouquet 61-167, Mother Word 106-1393

Both cards courtesy of Wendy Robinson

Why a long silence?

2009-04-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Thought I would be uploading photos while in Europe but forgot the camera USB cable!! So that plan did not work out too well... Then between jet lag, trying to catch up with work, a death in the family and getting ready for mandibular jaw surgery to correct an overbite the days have just been too short to update the blog! The surgery is this Tuesday !

Jaws will be banded together via rubber bands for 8 weeks... On the positive side, since I will be on a liquid diet, I am looking forward to shedding a couple pounds...

Concentrating on the positive! I kinda had a memory lapse... thought the braces would be coming off soon but unfortunately they will still be on for another 12 months... must have been wishful thinking

So the next updates will be random and the subjects from archived events but since we were in Paris few weeks ago, I hope you'll enjoy this fun card awaiting our return from Anne Schuster.

Man with Birds (from Imagine) 104-528 and Bird Cage 102-573 (from Bartholomew's Ink). Others stamps unknown.

Time to Start Working in The Garden

2009-03-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Garden Chair 61-063, "Happy" from Happy Thanksgiving 11-010, Water Can 61-159, Spring from Spring Quote 61-041, Flower Pot and Trowel 61-009

Artwork courtesy of Wendy Robinson

Spring is in the Air

2009-03-26T02:49:00.000-07:00

Collage Sheet CS133, Angel 27-111 and Alphabet IC-103

Art by Wendy Robinson

A Favorite Stamp

2009-03-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE this Madan Blumers 106-8887 rubber stamp based on an old egg substitute envelope from the 1910's. Wendy Robinson used it with the Easter Scrap Collage Sheet CS133.

Watch out for many new Collage Sheets to be introduced upon my return!

Spring is here! At least in name!

2009-03-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

Tulip 61-105, Spring Quote 61-041, Bird 58-264, Postmark 106-9011
Art by our friend Wendy Robinson

One Stamp Two Great Looks

2009-03-23T01:23:00.000-07:00

Two wonderful cards from Wendy Robinson!
Stamp used 16-082

This morning I'm flying to Paris to visit with my Mom and family, then it will be on to Holland to exhibit at the Artspecially rubber stamp show the weekend of April 4th-5th. I will still be working remotely but in a different time zone, so if you do not receive an immediate response that's because I'll be asleep when most of you email us.

Happy St Patrick Day!

2009-03-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

Art 3034

Art 3039

Art 3037

Art 3035
You should be so lucky to see this card in person... today the mail had several goodies. The mannequin is wearing a lovely green tulle skirt and those little buttons jump right at you!

Art 3036

Note how Wendy used the little heart 14-062 to create the clover

Art 3038

All artwork created by Wendy Robinson.

I must confess... I did not see this holiday coming! Upon receiving this beautiful artwork, I emailed Wendy saying that "Oh my gosh, St Patrick is around the corner!! to which she replied... Huh... its TOMORROW!!! She's also sharing with you a St Patrick's Day sheet music from an old book of hers dating from 1909. It is located in the freebie section. As you can it is a fabulous background. THANK YOU Wendy!

Tulum

2009-03-13T23:42:00.001-07:00

Our baby girl... Tulum

Lush store in Portland

2009-03-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

I used to stock up on Lush products when traveling thru Heathrow Airport, now they are in 31 States and if you do not live near one, you can shop your heart out at their online store! This is the store in Portland and yes, the products are as good as they look. Don't you love the names?