What a pleasant surprise I had early in July! An ad I had run in RubberStampMadness had been seen by a former customer of mine, Beverly Shupp, who had purchased my entire line of Brownie stamps in the late 90s and had recently contacted me with the question: “I just saw that you’re selling a vulcanizer.  Please tell me you’re continuing in business and this is not a harbinger of someone retiring!!!!!! In the exchange of several emails, I learned that my long-time friend was now living in Hawaii, “a far piece”. from Colorado where she was living when I frequently would see her artwork published in RSM. Below, I am sharing a card that Beverly made for me many years ago using several of my Brownie stamps. I don’t know the names of the other stamps used in this card or the company that made the stamps. The Brownie hanging from the friend’s hand is “Treed – Hold on!” 0559-G; the Brownie falling is “Airborne – Every which way but up” 0361-D; the Brownie looking up is “What?” 0365-C.

Another surprise was in store for me which is that my grandson, Jesse, has offered to make a trip to my California home to pick up my vulcanizer and bring it back to North Idaho where he will press rubber with it to restock inventory for Stamps Galore. My great-grandson, Andy, will be making the trip with us and, of course, while there, he and his Dad will spend some time surfing. Andy just turned eleven and has been helping me fill mail orders. We are thinking that he might like to take over the Brownie portion of the company in a few years. Time will tell. Nothing would make me happier than to have the company continue to operate under his management when I am ready to let it go.