Yes, I admit it, I am a hopelessly addicted rubber stamper, and have been, ever since coming across it back in '92. Paper, inkpads, glitter and embossing powder, these things had become my passion, and I began to dream of the day that I attended a rubber stamp convention with my stamping pal, Jill.  But I lived just outside Toronto, Canada, and there was no such thing, so I resignedly put it on my "bucket list."

Several years passed, and when I finally got a computer in my home in 2000, I met some fabulous ladies on a couple of stamping chat groups, and Jill and I began to realize that maybe going to a convention was a possibility!!!!  There was one in Novi, Michigan, a beautiful upscale little place northwest of Detroit, a mere 5 hour drive away. Well, that sealed it, we were going!!!  Even better, we would get to meet some of the ladies from the list, so tickets were ordered and hotel rooms booked.

Armed with maps, coffee, U.S. cash, and a credit card that was about to have the numbers worn off, we set out first thing on a beautful sunny Friday morning, excitedly chattering about what we were about to experience. The hotel was lovely, and we unpacked and relaxed a bit. Soon, the phone rang, and our list ladies had begun to arrive!!! We dashed out to meet them, and it was so much fun!! We all got along so well, and it was great to finally put real faces to the personalities behind the keyboards. After a very long, chatty dinner, sleep was elusive that night, in anticipation of the next day's events.

The parking lot was absolutely jammed with cars next morning, outside the convention centre. It was such a delight to see so many people, all here for the same reason as we were. Somehow, it was incredibly reassuring that Jill and I weren't the only rubber addicts, and these people understood what it was all about as well.

Words can't describe how it felt, wandering up and down aisle after aisle of every kind of stamp imaginable. New inkpad colours, new techniques, and the vendors brought along sample boards, some of which were absolutely stunning. We got jostled about, but I didn't care. This was my dream, and I was with my people, people who understood my passion for all things rubber, and I was truly in my element. I'm pretty sure I spent close to a mortgage payment, but I didn't care. I just absorbed everything I could about the experience, and by the end of the day, back at the hotel room, we all got together and did a show-and-tell of what we bought. After a rundown of my purchases, I made a list of what I had forgotten, and picked it up on Sunday, definitely the quieter of the 2 days. It was nice, because it allowed us to chat a bit with the vendors, and ask questions about their products and sample boards.  Although Saturday exploded with excitement, Sunday was possibly my more favourite of the 2 days, the pace of it not so frantic.

Still, on the drive home, Jill and I could not have been happier.... having finally gone to a convention, life was complete, and right then and there, we decided this was going to happen again next year, and every year after that. I mean, our winters are pretty wicked, but they are manageable now,  because we can hole up in our stamp rooms, let the day go by, play with our new toys, and dream of conventions to come, and I am delighted to report that we haven't missed one yet!!!!