Years ago, I think it was the late 80s, when I first got on the internet I was on Prodigy. I typed in "Rubber Stamps" and found a small group of about 20 people who were chatting on a shared list about stamping. They all had stamp names like Stampo or Ex Posto Facto or Rubber Queen or Arto Posto. The group was extremely active in mailing stuff back and forth. When I say stuff, I mean stuff. Sure there were cards and envelopes, but also paper plates, Barbie dolls, shoes and all matter of other stuff unadorned, unwrapped, unboxed, but definitely stamped both with postage and rubber stamps and the Post Office let it all go through. We were a tight group. We joked, we argued over what is art and we shared each others ups and downs. Most of us had not met in person. Through the years several of us opened stores and several of us started stamp lines. Some became involved in mail art, some in formal art and a few drifted away. When we come across each other either in person or online, it is a warm and friendly reunion. It is as if we are family and had grown up together. Solid old friendships, they are.
Rubber stamping during my involvement, has gone through many transformations. It started out as funky and quirky and then became very cute with fluffy animals and fat simple flowers. Then it transformed itself into sophisticated art designs and I think now it has gone back to mostly cute and is generally clear stamps for scrapbookers full of words and phrases, flowers and scrolls. There was a 20 year heyday for stamps that is slowly fading away. The conventions have dwindled and there are very few true stamp stores left.
What made me think about all this? Yesterday I had to move all my stamp storage to get at the phone jack in my art room. I realized that I had not used a fraction of my stamps in a long time. I thought that maybe I should try to sell them or donate them to a school art department. As I looked at them, I realized how much I love those old friends, my stamps, and could not part with them, so back they went into their drawers. I will use them again, I am sure.
Today John hung an old architectural piece we recently purchased on impulse. I love how it looks over the doorway!
Keep your stamps Ginny! How about you ink them up and we can swap some mail art?
Posted by: Rachel Greig | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 03:49 AM
Sounds like a great idea, Rachel. Let's do it!
Posted by: ginnycartersmallenburg | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 08:47 AM
I agree, keep your stamps Ginny, your designs are awesome and things always seem to go in cycles..who knows, the art of stamping may return. Love the photo of your home.
Posted by: Pat | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 08:50 AM
That piece doesn't really work there.
Posted by: luftmensch | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 12:35 PM
Funny, I am using my stamps more than ever..love the baackground ones..I like the piece over the door..love your room..
Posted by: bettyann | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 02:09 PM
*sniff, sniff* Those were wonderful, fun days! I started when the Rubber Stamp Album was published, before there even were stamp stores(!)..just ordering from Leavenworth Jackson and several other *pioneers*. I have BOXES of stamps and though I have donated some to a worthy children's program, I have the majority of them, still.
There are so many that it's difficult to use them...a big production to get them all out! Yet, when I occasionally decide it's time to move on, I dig through to save a few favorites and in the end, I can't do it either.
Just the other day, I was lamenting my recent, creeping neglect and decided to try to start remembering birthdays with actual mailed cards again. Who knows, I may even bring out some stamps and the Prismacolors again.
Thanks for *the memories*, Ginny!
Posted by: Jan | Thursday, 05 November 2009 at 06:55 PM
I had started stamping and then found the Rubber Stamp Album in my bookstore. It had just been published. I sent away for every catalog mentioned in the book.
Years later I met Lowry Thompson (author) and we became friends. Lost contact with her after she moved to Maine. She was a fragile person.
Yes, those were the days, my friend, etc.
Ginny
Ginny Carter Smallenburg
WEB http://www.smallstudioproductions.com
ETSY http://smallstudio.etsy.com
BLOG http://smallstudio.typepad.com
Posted by: ginny carter smallenburg | Saturday, 07 November 2009 at 08:03 AM
I started stamping in the early 90's - I've never looked back. I still own thousands, although I occasionally purge some. It is sad to see stamping falling by the way side. I would attend the original Stamp Convention in Carson when it was huge - that's when I found Stampers Anonymous. I'm hoping we see stamping cycle back around...
Posted by: Connie Lutz | Monday, 09 November 2009 at 08:49 PM
Hi Connie,
The interesting thing is that stamping has really gotten big in Europe and Australia like it was here a few years ago.
When I was creative director at SA after I sold it, the trade shows (business to business) were full of Swedes, French,
Aussies and Germans and very few American store owners. That is what is keeping the big stamp companies in business.
Thanks for your comment. I cant part with my old stamps either. I started in the 70s stamping.
Ginny
Ginny Carter Smallenburg
WEB http://www.smallstudioproductions.com
ETSY http://smallstudio.etsy.com
BLOG http://smallstudio.typepad.com
Posted by: ginny carter smallenburg | Monday, 09 November 2009 at 09:04 PM
I was on Prodigy in the early 90's! I was Rubberjunkie. Not sure if you were on there then. I used to go to the big stamping conventions in CA. Three of my kids practically grew up at those conventions. lol!
Posted by: Tracy R. | Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 02:34 AM
I've spent the afternoon poring over my old mail art, so long neglected. I've been trying to learn what became of arto posto. I'm feeling the need to get my paintbox out and mail again.
Skybridge Studios/Thundersite
Posted by: Tmplgrl | Sunday, 15 August 2010 at 05:34 PM