Satisfaction

As a carver, do you know that hopeful moment when you ink up one of your creations for the first time? The stamp's roughly carved, and although you can see the shading from the transfer, there's still quite a bit of doubt about the overall effect.

The pressing question: How will it look?

So, if you're me, you just can't stand it...you have to know! You pick the ink color, you daub it on, you scrounge around for some scrap paper, and then....the moment of truth! Stamp hits paper, you lift...and then?

Well, in this case a sigh of great satisfaction. I am in love with my Satchmo stamp for the Winter Holiday music ring. Even though we're not that religious, I am a sucker for Holiday music (all kinds). And this album, Christmas Through the Years, is one of my perennial favorites. If I was stuck in a retail store from November 15th to December 24th at 6pm, required to play only one holiday music album over and over all day while maintaining a cheerful demeanor, I think this is the one that perhaps would not send me off the cliff.

I'm glad I did Satchmo justice. But, lest you think I've gotten a big head, I put ink to stamp earlier for my quilt block and the result? Blech! I was going for lots of tiny detail. It looked okay on the stamp, but the image? Double Blech! I'm going to recarve it. If I send them out and I'm not satisfied, I never am happy. It's much better for me if I take the time to recarve, even if it's a bit late going out.

But for now, I can look at Louis and be happy. And he's not due to ship out until November 9th, so I have plenty of time to forget where I stashed him.