Evo's Show/People Report
Mid-Atlantic Art & Rubber Stamp Festival
August 4 & 5, 2001 - Pennsauken, NJ
Sponsored by Heirloom Productions
3900 Cherokee Lane
Newport, OR 97365
Fax/Voice(541)574-8000

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Heyyy, Folks...

Heyyyyy, Folks... Mr Evo and I just returned last night from the Pennsauken, NJ show. And what a show it was! I have soooo many mental notes of "stuff" to report. And soooooo many different ways to report it. And all are running through my head at the same time.

Actually, I've started my show/people report three times tonight.

First, I started my report from the viewpoint of my getting up at 4:30 Thursday morning to vulcanize rubber that still had to be done for this show, and posting to email lists once again about the show and making changes to our web page that were wayyyyy past due and "had" to be done "today" and the final packing of the 6th bin that would be on the plane with us (with fresh new rubber! :}>) and racing to the Tampa airport to catch our mid-day flight to find our flight delayed for an hour and then 2 of our 6 bins not making it to Philadelphia on time because of the delay and plane changes and arriving at our hotel 3 hours later Thursday night than we had planned.

Then, I started it again with the expounding of the virtues of being at a "small" show and actually getting to see all the demos at the booths and being able to meet people around you and talk with the vendors and being able to hear what the stampers around you are actually saying and sharing.

Now, I've started again, because I really, really feel the need to tell you of a gift I received at the Pennsauken show this weekend.

A young lady stayed after my Sunday class/demo was finished and walked up to me as I was hurrying to get all the "stuff" packed back into my cloth bag and get back to our booth.
She said, "I think I can do this."
I looked at her, and asked... "You're a stamper?"
She said, "No, this is the first time I've seen stamping, and ... I think I can do this."
I said, "Then follow me back to my booth."

It was not easy for her to walk over to me or speak to me or follow me back to my booth. I walked slowly. And time stood still for me during that walk, because I wanted sooooo much for her to be a stamper, because I saw the wonder in her eyes ... the wonder of finding something new and exciting that we all had in our eyes the first time we "found" rubber stamping.

Her name is Frances, and Frances has a muscle control diability. What comes easily to most of us ... walking, talking, picking up a stamp and tapping it on an ink pad and then placing it on a paper... does not come easily to Frances. Picking up a stippling brush and tap, tap, tapping it on an ink pad and tap, tap, tapping it on a paper ... does not come easily to Frances. She has to work very hard for every movement she makes, every word she speaks.

And work, she did. And stamp, she did. And stipple, she did! And, create??? Yes!!!!!

Frances taught me that hands that have to work hard to hold and tap and stamp and control need stamps that are neither too tiny or too large... medium is better. And a "handle" is even better. A 2" x 6" HALOS mount was the perfect tool of all the tools we had in our booth. One hand could tap the stamp on the ink pad and take it to the paper by the long "handle", then the other hand had room to help press the stamp on the paper. And, it was Frances' idea to "Velcro" the pad to a mat so it would stay still while she tapped the stamp or the stipple brush on the pad. And, she taught me "big" handled brushes are good for "working" hands... easier to grasp and control. I was pleased we had such a brush, the Big Blue.

My gift this weekend? Well, I think you know by now... it was Frances. It was Frances and her sharing with me her experience of wonder and joy and her transition from, "I 'think' I can do this" ... to ... "Is it ok for me to take the cards I made with me?" And it was Frances reminding me of what I've always believed but sometimes forget to remember ... "If I 'think' I can do something, chances are that I can. The stage is already set for success."

Thank you, Frances, for one of the most memorable gifts I've ever received... and I hope to see you again at next April's show!
And... thanks to Mary Ann and Jack G for helping us set up Friday in record time! And to Mary Ann and Sandi B and Dee M for the wonderful help all weekend, and to all of you for helping us pack up in record time, Sunday! Couldn't have done it without you. For real. I know I say that to our helpers at every show, and at every show it's true. For real.

And... whoa! Pics just came in to me by email from Sandi that she took at the show. I wasn't even aware you were taking these at the time, Sandi.
NJ August 01 Pics here!
Thank you, Sandi!

Ellen :}> Evo (who didn't even get to tell you about the "geese gathering" in NJ outside the hotel... but then, it isn't stamp related, so I guess that's just as well...)