In November the idea was brought up to host a Napa event. I went with a luau, it would be easy to carve themed stamps and as this is my first event so I wanted to keep it simple.
I still have about 2 months till the event. I encouraged others to carve to get different styles and ideas, and people have been wonderful! I have four boxes people sent me that waiting to be planted, and more on the way. I finished carving my first stamp for the event, and got a guest book. I'm afraid I'll miss meeting someone and exchanging. :) There are people adding table top and HIPS event boxes, and every time I get a notice my excitement grows and grows.
With the change of venue I had to set a limit. There is no way we could get fifty people to sign up for a little event in Napa. Well I was half right, the list is up to fifty three, and there are at least two others that told me they were coming and never RSVP'd.
Two months are going to fly by, and the Spring Luau will be here in no time. I hope that I have time to get all the other stamps I have planned done and that it turns out better than expected. :)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Planting Day!
Maple and I have been talking about doing a Children's book series for months, and we finally picked a day to go planting. The last time we went letterboxing we made a stop and got some more boxes, as well and spray paint. I had been using duct tape, but I thought I'd try out the spray paint as a time saver, and so see it it helped the seal of the boxes.
Of course spray painting boxes take some thinking ahead, so this is what I was up to a few days before we went planting:
What fun this was! So much quicker than tape too!
I had most of my stamps carved, since we had been planning this since the summer but I had to get everything else done...
I tend to spread out..
Of course spray painting boxes take some thinking ahead, so this is what I was up to a few days before we went planting:
What fun this was! So much quicker than tape too!I had most of my stamps carved, since we had been planning this since the summer but I had to get everything else done...
I tend to spread out.. Of course Maple was all ready to go and I had to finish everything, but we worked together and in no time we were ready to plant! Well sort of...
I had the great idea to go pick up two stamps that at one time or another I heard were missing, or people found it hard to find. So we went hiking in the fog to go check on them/ pick them up. turned out one was missing. well not so much missing as fell to a point in the knot hole we couldn't get to. One day when that tree dies and it decomposing someone is going to get a surprise! The one that we did snag got replanted in an easier area elsewhere in town and got a slightly new name.
We had fun checking out little neighborhood parks we didn't know so well, and spreading our favorite characters around town. Maple had a great idea to plant Pinkalious and her cupcake near a bakery down town. After we planted both stamps, and were at the last park of the day I realized that Corduroy was in a bigger box than I remember putting him in. Oh no! When I put the name of the stamps on the bottom of the boxes I switched them! So now Corduroy is by the cupcake and Pink is in a park. We had a good laugh about that, and I think they will stay that way.
As it always goes with Maple and I we have bigger plans than we can do- so we both still have one stamp already made up and ready to plant and I have the second of a set to carve so I can plant those two. I am amazed at how quickly people have come up to get the new boxes, and I look forward to extending out unofficial series into the quieter areas of American Canyon and possibly further upvalley.
I had the great idea to go pick up two stamps that at one time or another I heard were missing, or people found it hard to find. So we went hiking in the fog to go check on them/ pick them up. turned out one was missing. well not so much missing as fell to a point in the knot hole we couldn't get to. One day when that tree dies and it decomposing someone is going to get a surprise! The one that we did snag got replanted in an easier area elsewhere in town and got a slightly new name.
We had fun checking out little neighborhood parks we didn't know so well, and spreading our favorite characters around town. Maple had a great idea to plant Pinkalious and her cupcake near a bakery down town. After we planted both stamps, and were at the last park of the day I realized that Corduroy was in a bigger box than I remember putting him in. Oh no! When I put the name of the stamps on the bottom of the boxes I switched them! So now Corduroy is by the cupcake and Pink is in a park. We had a good laugh about that, and I think they will stay that way.
As it always goes with Maple and I we have bigger plans than we can do- so we both still have one stamp already made up and ready to plant and I have the second of a set to carve so I can plant those two. I am amazed at how quickly people have come up to get the new boxes, and I look forward to extending out unofficial series into the quieter areas of American Canyon and possibly further upvalley.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Catch Up/ Wrap Up
Time to come out of hiding, Bella thinks otherwise.So the plan to keep up with letterboxing and writing didn't quite happen, life did. Now for a quick catch up so I can start fresh with the new adventures:
August brought the start of a new school year, new preps and a rush of other work related issues. I also picked the worst possible time to move. Ahh! On the plus side I received my second teaching credential!
September was hard. It started better than it ended. That is all for now.
October I started to get back into the letterboxing groove. I went to my second event and meet some more wonderful boxers. I got NV Pnk Chabls involved in boxing.
November I turned 30 (gasp!). I came home one day from letterboxing and there was a stray cat on my doorstep.
Miss Luna (Yes, she only has one eye.)
Miss Luna (Yes, she only has one eye.) She was super hungry, so I gave her some food. It took awhile to name her, but Luna seems to fit. She is now fitting right in with the bunnies and I.
I went to the Case of the Missing Holiday, and had a blast dragging NV Pnk Chabls, Maple and Qbert around. They had a blast, even when I got a little intense. :)
Team Techo Cowboys
I went to the Case of the Missing Holiday, and had a blast dragging NV Pnk Chabls, Maple and Qbert around. They had a blast, even when I got a little intense. :)
Team Techo CowboysDecember finally! So far I have been out letterboxing a few times. It helps that I'm on winter break and don't have to worry about grading or doing any other paperwork. I'm almost all unpacked and settled in, so my hope for 2011 is that I can keep updates current.
A awesome gift from my Santa Baby!!
A awesome gift from my Santa Baby!!
Basil plans on working out in 2011 (kinda like a LTC I made...)
Friday, August 6, 2010
For the love of stamps and LTC's
I am joining the world of LTC's; letterboxer trading cards. I joined my first few trades, and am excited to get started. I had a few people send me samples (very exciting) and I was questioned by my mom (who is considering getting into letterboxing) as to why I want to collect them. In her eyes it's just more stuff for me to pack, and to store.
Then she saw the cards. She has seen my logbook, and has marveled of the wonderful stamps I have found, and that I have carved. I told her that this was a way to see the art of people that I would never get to find their boxes. Now I'm not saying I'll never make it to the east coast or the midwest, but I can't go around finding all the boxes planted by everyone and this gives me a chance to see more.
She then shared an interesting fact about me that I had forgotten. I have always had a love of stamps. As a child, I had collections of stamps and stickers (as a teacher I still love stickers!) and would trade with other people to get different ones that I didn't had. When I was going through the childhood boxes that were dumped at my house, I found some of those old stamps. Three of which were old My Little Pony stamps, which is fun because I had just joined the My Little Pony exchange. I'll share my cards once the date has passed to send them out, but I just had to add one of the 80's stamps to the card somewhere. :)
Then she saw the cards. She has seen my logbook, and has marveled of the wonderful stamps I have found, and that I have carved. I told her that this was a way to see the art of people that I would never get to find their boxes. Now I'm not saying I'll never make it to the east coast or the midwest, but I can't go around finding all the boxes planted by everyone and this gives me a chance to see more.
She then shared an interesting fact about me that I had forgotten. I have always had a love of stamps. As a child, I had collections of stamps and stickers (as a teacher I still love stickers!) and would trade with other people to get different ones that I didn't had. When I was going through the childhood boxes that were dumped at my house, I found some of those old stamps. Three of which were old My Little Pony stamps, which is fun because I had just joined the My Little Pony exchange. I'll share my cards once the date has passed to send them out, but I just had to add one of the 80's stamps to the card somewhere. :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
On a bird walk
Maple and I went on a walk today at the Bay Trail in American Canyon. The parking lot is on the corner of Wetlands Road and Eucalyptus Drive. It is a nice walk, 1.4 miles out and on a flat path. It was a bit windy, but we hoped that the birds would still be out.
We followed the trail and to out right we saw a water area with a few birds. Maple's attention was drawn to the paved section of the road. "Did you hear that?" She asked me. Of course I didn't hear her, I was busy counting the sections. I got up to nine until I ran into her.
"See that pile of rocks between the 3rd and 4th post to the left of the path?" I nodded "I think there is something under there.
We continued on our walk and passed the trail marker that said .8 miles from trail head, .6 to River view. The water was to our left now, and a lovely ditch to our right. "Stilts!" Maple exclaimed. She really likes how they do a thing with their head. Just past the water there was post.
I had to stop and fix my shoe, and something caught Maple's eye. "I think it might be a baby stilt!" she whispered. Of course we had to get a closer look, and there was something there!
Continuing on there was a cute jackrabbit on the path leading us to the Dr. Seuss trees.
They had giant prehistoric Aloe plants by them. In the plant right next to the trail we thought we heard some quacking. I checked it out and we found a literate bird! I'm guessing it's literate, it's the only one we found with a book.
As we were nearing the glass beach we started talking about the trip that we took earlier in the summer to Alaska. We were lucky to see lots of different birds there that we had never seen before. We had just reached the end of the trail when I heard something. I looked out over this view:
I swore I heard something in the clump of rocks pictured. I got closer, and under rocks and a piece of wood we found one of the birds we saw in Alaska! What a long way from home he was!
We turned around and headed back to the car. It had been a wonderful bird walk.
We followed the trail and to out right we saw a water area with a few birds. Maple's attention was drawn to the paved section of the road. "Did you hear that?" She asked me. Of course I didn't hear her, I was busy counting the sections. I got up to nine until I ran into her.
"See that pile of rocks between the 3rd and 4th post to the left of the path?" I nodded "I think there is something under there.
We continued on our walk and passed the trail marker that said .8 miles from trail head, .6 to River view. The water was to our left now, and a lovely ditch to our right. "Stilts!" Maple exclaimed. She really likes how they do a thing with their head. Just past the water there was post.
I had to stop and fix my shoe, and something caught Maple's eye. "I think it might be a baby stilt!" she whispered. Of course we had to get a closer look, and there was something there!
Continuing on there was a cute jackrabbit on the path leading us to the Dr. Seuss trees.
They had giant prehistoric Aloe plants by them. In the plant right next to the trail we thought we heard some quacking. I checked it out and we found a literate bird! I'm guessing it's literate, it's the only one we found with a book.
As we were nearing the glass beach we started talking about the trip that we took earlier in the summer to Alaska. We were lucky to see lots of different birds there that we had never seen before. We had just reached the end of the trail when I heard something. I looked out over this view:
I swore I heard something in the clump of rocks pictured. I got closer, and under rocks and a piece of wood we found one of the birds we saw in Alaska! What a long way from home he was!
We turned around and headed back to the car. It had been a wonderful bird walk.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Here we go again
It's normal for me to get the moving bug every couple of years, normally I just move furniture around and call it good. This summer though we are really moving. By we I mean me and my fluffy roommates that don't help pack, move, or pay rent.
I have boxes all over the house, which isn't anything new. I keep a box here or there for the rabbits to nibble or hide in. Of course those boxes are old news and get ignored. But the new boxes are ripe for chewing according to Basil.
So now he's locked up way more then he wants to be and not too happy about it.
I have boxes all over the house, which isn't anything new. I keep a box here or there for the rabbits to nibble or hide in. Of course those boxes are old news and get ignored. But the new boxes are ripe for chewing according to Basil.
So now he's locked up way more then he wants to be and not too happy about it.
Let me out!!!!
Who said living/moving with animals was easy?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
We'll finish you off!
Q and I went to our first event the other day. I had a blast! Q is more quiet, so he had fun, but it wasn't really his cup of tea. I'm glad he humored me and went anyways though! :)
I brought my camera, but left it in the bag the whole time. There was many boxers to meet, and stamps to exchange. I saw my first in plain sight box, and I love the idea. I might have to make one for the next event I go to.
What made this event so cool was getting to meet other bay area boxers as well as the folks from OR and WA who were finishing the Amazing Race. It was cool to see people's signature stamps and to put faces with stamps and names. :) There are some amazing carvers out there.
Q is more into the hunt, so I'm going to try to get him into the carving part of things. I think being an artist helps you appreciate the art so much more.
For me going to this event opened up a whole new world of letterboxing. It has always been about getting my friends into the hobby, and now I've met people because of the hobby. I made a personal traveler or two. I'm on the message boards now, and I've even started getting into LTC's. It might just be because of summer time, but I really like doing all of this. I know for sure I'm going to the next event in the bay area and I will be a part of the Amazing Race next summer. :)
I brought my camera, but left it in the bag the whole time. There was many boxers to meet, and stamps to exchange. I saw my first in plain sight box, and I love the idea. I might have to make one for the next event I go to.
What made this event so cool was getting to meet other bay area boxers as well as the folks from OR and WA who were finishing the Amazing Race. It was cool to see people's signature stamps and to put faces with stamps and names. :) There are some amazing carvers out there.
Q is more into the hunt, so I'm going to try to get him into the carving part of things. I think being an artist helps you appreciate the art so much more.
For me going to this event opened up a whole new world of letterboxing. It has always been about getting my friends into the hobby, and now I've met people because of the hobby. I made a personal traveler or two. I'm on the message boards now, and I've even started getting into LTC's. It might just be because of summer time, but I really like doing all of this. I know for sure I'm going to the next event in the bay area and I will be a part of the Amazing Race next summer. :)
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