September/October Newsletter is on the Web Site

Hi Everyone!
We have been very busy this past week, working on the next installment of the newsletter, and ordering new merchandise for the store.
Erin has started back to school, and I have been trying to help her at the store by writing up the Special Orders for September.

The Newsletter for September/October is on the web site, and the link to the descriptions is up, also. There are still some photos of the class samples that need to be added, but these should be taken care of by next week. We have also trimmed down our newsletter mailing list, quite a bit. If you don't receive your newsletter within a couple of weeks, be sure to add your name to the subscription list on the web site, or come by the store to update your information in our log, at the register. We are trying to conserve the forrest's by cutting back on paper usage. If you could help us by receiving yours via the Internet, we would appreciate it greatly. Plus, the postal increases lately have taken a big chunk out of our expenses.

There are several Events and Contests coming this Fall, and I will have more information on them in a future blog, so stay tuned. . . . . . . . .

Until then, have a GREAT Labor Day Weekend; And be safe out there!
Mindy

Oriental Brush Painting Demo at Stamp Antonio!

Hello, one and all!
We had a wonderful Sunday afternoon demonstration at Stamp Antonio. Amy Fleming, owner of Stamp Antonio, gave a Oriental Brush Painting Demo in our classroom. This was a first for the store, and she gave us a very interesting history of the "Ancient Art form" and how she became interested in it years ago. We had a nice turnout, and everyone seemed to be interested in seeing and hearing about all of her supplies that she uses, including all of the different brushes, papers, inks, and stones.
Most of us in attendance, are paper artists in our own right, but were very excited to learn about a "new"art form; new to us, but one that has been around for many, many, decades.

Thank you, Amy, for introducing us to YOUR passion!

More Brush Painting demo. . . . .

Amy showed us how she uses her brush painting supplies to make beautiful drawings and works of art. She is a very talented artist, and some of us who witnessed her demonstration are very interested in having her teach some classes at Stamp Antonio. She mentioned that she may start with a card class, where we could learn some basic brush strokes to decorate cards. We could then see if we were interested in continuing our study into the ancient art of Sumi-E'.

Even Amy's daughter, Zoe, (age 71/2) wrote her name for us in Chinese.

Well Done, ladies!

New Magazines that are selling like Hot cakes....

Hello Everyone!
We received the new issue of Somerset Home last week. It contains 160+ ideas to beautify your home, and seems to be very popular.

We also received more issues of the Somerset Studios' Artful Blogging Magazine. It contains visually inspiring Online journals, that not only contain tools to help you start your own individual blogs, but shows how some of our favorite artists, including Keri Smith, Nina Bagley, and Alicia Paulson include their art in their own blogs. This magazine has also been helpful to some of our class instructors, who were looking for new color schemes to include in their class projects.

It gets 5 stars ***** in my book. One you need in your collection, even if you aren't interested in blogging!
A BLOG by definition, is a Web Log, in other words, your online journal to do with what you please! It is a New art form that has taken off in a different direction, another way to express yourself visually.

Mindy

Back by Popular Demand!

We have also received another shipment of the 12 x12 scrapbook page size clear stamp sets from Fancy Pants Designs; Bella Brush, and Pollen Dust.
These sets contain an average of 30-40 individual stamps that can be used singly or in combination with others, to decorate cards and beautiful scrapbook pages.
We also have the larger 6 x 6 clear acrylic block that you need to stamp these larger images and they are printed with grid lines to help you position the images just right, exactly where you want them on your page.

Come by the store to see what we have done with these stamps!

Mindy

New Stamp Sets Have Arrived!

The new stamps from Character Construction have arrived at Stamp Antonio. These are clear acrylic stamps that when applied to a clear acrylic block, and inked, give you a beautiful impression to be included in your art work. I have purchased several of these sets, and plan to make a series of cards for a friend that loves birds. ( In the chair pack, there are tiny birds sitting on the arm of the twig chair.) Many of the smaller images in this one set, are a tag with a tiny egg, a lovely little bird sitting on a nest wearing a crown, and several word tags. As soon as I get a few made I will post them here, so you can see them.

There is also a set with a great big tree, that would look great in a Halloween design card or invitation. As you can see, we received quite a few sets, but as with other new items we have received in the past, they won't hang around long!

Summer is nearly over, and School is just around the corner.

Hi everyone!

Things are heating up here in South Texas, the weather and the goings on here at Stamp Antonio! Summer break is nearly over, and the beginning of school is just around the corner.

So is our Fall Class Schedule, and many NEW things happening at the store.



Our class participation has picked up, now that families are returning from vacation and several of our instructors are planning NEW and exciting classes for the fall. The September/October Newsletter will be coming out with details in the next few weeks, so be prepared to be inspired and give your creativity a "jump start" into fall.



The CHA Show held recently was a giant success, with lots of New items on display. These new items should be arriving in the store shortly, and I will try to bring you pictures of some of the really neat things as we receive them.



We are also planning several Special Events and Contest's for the fall, and I will bring you all the details as soon as they are available. We had such a wonderful turnout for the Summer Card Contest with Memory Box, and a Halloween Contest in is the planning stages as we speak. So, get your thinking caps on so you will be ready to CREATE when the call comes out!



I also wanted to thank those of you who sent comments to me concerning the blog. I want you to know your comments are always appreciated and any suggestions will be considered, whether they are about something you see on the blog, or in the store. This is your access to us, and I will try to bring an objective opinion to all entries.



I am also working on a Poll Section addition to the blog, where you can vote on various topics applicable to artists and crafts persons connected to this blog.



I hope you all had a wonderful summer, and are ready to get back to "creating & crafting." Be sure to come by the store and say Hi when you have a chance, we love seeing you all.



Mindy & the Gals from Stamp Antonio

The Votes Are In! And the Winner Is. . . . .

Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Winners of the Summer Penguin Design-a-Card Contest from Stamp Antonio and Memory Box Stamps are:

The Grand Prize Winner:

Ellen Rainbolt







Second Place Winner:

Denise Reynolds




Third Place Winner:

Shari Fritz


Congratulations to all our winners, and our Thanks to all who entered the Contest and cast their vote during the judging.
Stay tuned for more Fun Contests to come. We want to see more of your work!