Serendipity Stamps is located in Smithville, a small town just north of Kansas City, Missouri. It was started by me, Mary Dew Lee. We've all experienced that moment when you think "Ah! That's exactly what I wanted!" only to realize that you didn't know you wanted it until that moment. That's what happened to me when I walked into a local art gallery and saw the work of the artists featured in this catalog. It was serendipity. And that is how Serendipity Stamps came to be. I hope that you too, will find their art a serendipitous experience!

I owe such an enormous debt of gratitude to two people in particular. They have unfailingly answered every question I've asked, warmly and with much encouragement. Without them, Serendipity Stamps would never have happened. Barbara Zachrel, owner of Creative Images (cistamps.com), lives just two hours away from me. I met her 2 years ago when I joined my first stamping list. Mitra Friant, of Impression Obsession (Impression-Obsession.com), lives thousands of miles away from me, but she's been so generous with her advice that I feel I live right next door. These two women have shown or described to me everything from indexing and mounting stamps to setting up my web page! Thank you ladies.

Artists

Jeanie Holle ~ Jeanie's signature images are her gorgeous flowers with butterflies. But you'll see lots of fun whimsical lettering too. In fact anything I ask of Jeanie - she does it - and does it beautifully!

Judy Blankenship ~ Judy's art has been a wonderful new addition to our image collection. Her art is that perfect blend of whimsy and elegance that makes a stamp just right for so many uses.

Jan Powell ~ Jan can take a simple phrase about a caterpillar and a butterfly and turn it into art. Her creative lettering art knows no boundaries. Look for lots more from Jan.

Robin Comer ~ Robin's favorite technique is stipple in which she creates a picture almost entirely of tiny dots. A single drawing can take Robin from 40 to 60 hours to complete. Robin's company, Customer Follow-up Team, Inc., includes her artwork in products such as company logos, special occasion cards, and calendars.

Melissa McDonald ~ Melissa and her mother, Debbie, make up the mother-daughter team, "Letters With Expression." Melissa's whimsically elegant lettering adapts itself to endless possibilities.

Michael Sull ~ Michael is the country's leading authority on Spencerian Script. His beautiful penmanship adorns Academy Award nominations as well as White House invitations. The flowing swirls of his script provide a counterpoint to the bold, casual, calligraphy he uses in some of our word images.

Colleen Vandermillion ~ Colleen's intricately detailed art brings to mind an era of comfort, grace, and style. Lace, chintz, china and flowers (and fishing!). When I met Colleen, she had given up pen and ink for watercolors, but it didn't take much coaxing to encourage her to return to black and white.

Colleen, Diane, and Robin have limited edition prints of their work available for purchase. Michael and Melissa offer custom lettering design services. Please feel free to contact Serendipity Stamps for more information about our artists.