It's time to order your rubber! #CarveDecember is coming! #CarveDecember is my annual challenge to carve, print, and post a stamp every single day in December. Yes, December is insanely busy. But perhaps it's a bit less busy this year? No holiday parties. No relatives to visit. And, I will remind you that I managed to do all 31 days last year, just days after having a baby. Not because I'm a super woman, but because I made the project manageable for myself. How do you make the project manageable for yourself? I'm so glad that you asked! Gather your... Read more →

Today's guest is Ali Baecker of 3 Dotted Penguins. Ali is one of the talented #CarveDecemberClass teachers. We discussed how motherhood transformed her creative passion and how she got bitten by the block carving bug! If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. On the off chance that you've never listened to a podcast or don't get why anybody would want to, here are some facts: (1) Podcasts are convenient. It's a recording that is available to you whenever and wherever you'd like to listen. You can pause, stop, start, fast forward, and rewind.... Read more →

As you know, I have been hosting an annual carve-a-stamp-a-day challenge (aka #CarveDecember) in December since 2014! The challenge will continue for FREE this December. You are welcome to participate in the same way you always have: Carve a stamp. Print it. Post it to instagram. Use the hashtag #CarveDecember. However, this year I am thrilled to also be offering a #CarveDecemberClass. "Carve December: 31 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Carving, Printing, and Designing Custom Stamps" is an online work-at-your-own-pace class. There are 31 lessons (one for each day in December) -- twenty-one lessons from me and ten lessons from... Read more →

I carved a new block over the weekend. I’m one of the millions of Americans who voted early. I voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for many reasons, but here are four really important ones: Science is real. Climate change is real. Black Lives Matter. “How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity.” Pre-existing conditions shouldn’t be a barrier to health insurance. Stand up for what you believe in. Your vote is powerful. It matters. Read more →

Mom and I had a wonderful long chat with Sarah Matthews. I've seen Sarah's colorful layered prints many times, but I didn't know about her extensive work as a bookbinder. On the podcast we talk about creating during quarantine, YouTube, artist books, and lots more. Sarah has four girls and still manages to carve, print, or bind every single day. Give it a listen: If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. On the off chance that you've never listened to a podcast or don't get why anybody would want to, here are some... Read more →

During the October Member Livestream, I did a short stamp carving demonstration to show how to carve small thin lines. I grabbed a piece of "garbage rubber" -- aka the stuff you cut away while making another stamp -- and carved three thin lines. This is a screenshot from the livestream: After I carved it, I casually said, "I'll have to see what I can do to transform that into something usable." Well, I sat down for ten minutes this weekend and I turned it into this: If I turn the stamp 90º I think you can more clearly see... Read more →

This is the original photo I posted when I started the the #printinktober challenge in 2018. There are now almost 3000 posts using that hashtag! You can read my 2018 post here. I swore to myself that I was too busy this October to do the #PrintInktober challenge...but a week into October, I discovered that I didn't want to sit on the sidelines either. So...I decided to jump in a few days this month and not stress when I miss a day. (After all, I had already missed 7 days. Remember, it's never too late to start!) Confused? Here are... Read more →

Mom and I had the great pleasure of chatting with Marta Harvey. Marta has participated in #CarveDecember for many years and her tessellations have gotten more and more impressive every single year. On the podcast we discuss the tessellation lesson she has put together for the upcoming #CarveDecemberClass as well as her journey as an artist (hint: she had to raise her family before she could really get started). Give it a listen: If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. On the off chance that you've never listened to a podcast or don't... Read more →

I'm pretty sure that Rowan and I could have talked non-stop for about six hours. But we had to limit ourselves to just one hour. She's smart, funny, hard working, thoughtful, and you're going to love today's podcast. Give it a listen: If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. On the off chance that you've never listened to a podcast or don't get why anybody would want to, here are some facts: (1) Podcasts are convenient. It's a recording that is available to you whenever and wherever you'd like to listen. You can... Read more →

If you've ever wondered what goes into creating an online class, know that there are tons of videos and projects that never make it to the classroom. I've been working on a #CarveDecember class since 2019 (it's going to be packed with stamp carving/printing/design info). This week, I decided to tackle a lesson on reduction printing, which really should be its own class. Yesterday, I made an irrevocable process mistake and only realized it part way through filming the lesson. Alas. No matter, I've started a new lesson. And it's going to be GREAT. But in the meantime, I thought... Read more →