Kendra Harness operates a business in Beverly Hills, California called Lost Angeles Rubber Works which is also known by its second name, ASLstamp.com.

"I became involved in rubber stamping and mail art in the early 90's," Harness responds when asked why she decided to start the business. "There were so many ideas and images that I wanted to use but couldn't find, so that inspired me to create my own. I originally had only two sign language-related designs, but was encouraged to create ASL teacher's stamps by an old college friend who had become a teacher of the Deaf. Now, sign language teacher's stamps are among some of my most popular designs."

Why Rubber Stamps?
"I was already involved in the field of art, so rubber stamps crept in. I enjoyed the fact that I could just go whack! and create an image in seconds, and started integrating them in my art projects. At first it was just a few unusual stamps sitting on my desktop, but they multiplied like rabbits."

Harness explains that her business puts out "art rubber stamps," made up of a block of wood (the handle) with the rubber design part attached. "I have many different types of designs; the general (non-sign) stamps are at Lost Angeles Rubber Works (www.larubberworks.com) and are in all different categories, ranging from multi-cultural designs and backgrounds for scrapping, to odd or antique designs for use in altered arts and collage, to holiday stamps for card-making. The sign language stamps are at ASLstamp.com (www.aslstamp.com) and include many designs. They range from teacher's stams like "Good Job!" and "A++ Science" to fingerspelling alphabets to cute critters signing "I love you" to many designs for holidays and card-making."

Balancing Business And Creativity
Harness runs the business by herself and thanks computers for making it possible. "I run the design, management, marketing etc. aspects of my business, but the actual rubber stamp manufacturing is contracted out to a small business in Nevada - I send them the artwork and they press it into rubber and assemble into finished stamps. When I have a booth at expos, I usually bring a friend along to help out (not a lot of fun to sit all day without a bathroom break). Also, some of the stamp designs were created by other artists, especially Dan McClintock, who is responsible for many of the sign language stamps on the site.

"I don't do the work of processing the stamps, but I know the process. I did a little research and also had some help from the company that now manufactures my stamps. Technically, they are 'art stamps' not 'custom stamps' and come as is. I do design custom stamps occasionally for people who request them, and they are manufactured at another company that specializes in custom stamps.

"I contract out to have my designs manufactured by another company. It saves me the time and energy I need to create the designs."

Where Does She Get Ideas?
"Everywhere!" Harness responds, "Sometimes an idea will just pop up, or someone will email me with a request or I get asked to create a specific design when I have a booth at expos. I have more ideas than I have time to create them!"

When asked if she considers herself as an artist, she says "Yes, and I believe most of us should call ourselves artists; we don't always see the creativity in our own lives. I hope that people will use my rubber stamps and other art tools to help them create a work of art themselves."

Harness also sells items on eBay. "The eBay auctions are partly to reach more customers, partly to clear out old items, so you can find some bargains there. I have recently opened a store at http://www.cafepress.com/aslstuff, which features many of my designs on T-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, stickers, mousepads, buttons.. and hope to also make my designs available offline through a friend's new T-shirt printing company.

"Yes, I am also into scrapping, although I don't have too much time to devote to it. Many of my stamp designs will work very well in scrapbooks and I also sell a variety of stamping/scrapping/crafts supplies at www.artsncraftsupplies.com. No vido games, but I do offer a few sign language DVDs and books through ASLstamp.com."

Other Ways Of Doing Business
Harness has an exhibit at a few selected events i.e. DeafNation Expo in Phoenix, AZ. in March and CAL-ED/IMPACT Conference in Burbank, CA in April but also sells items through deaf dealers including DeafGifts, BuyAsl.com, ADCO, Harris Communications and All Hands Interpreting Services. None of them carries all of my ASL stamps, but they have a good selection of the more popular ones."

Online Convention?
She recently participated in an online Cyberstampers Convention. When asked about her experience, she explains "The 'Cyberstampers Convention' is like going to a rubber stamp convention, except it's online. It is held four times a year and takes place on the web and in chat rooms; there are classes, socials, and convention specials.

"During the recent convention I held a 'social' where I talked to people in a chat room about my company and the stamp designs. We have also held online classes using my stamps and supplies - some of these classes are now online at my site at www.larubberworks.com/frame.html (click 'gallery and projects')."

Advice For Others
"Just do it! Also try to educate yourself," Harness says. "Go to college, read, talk with people, do everything you can to lean more about art, business, and life."