Japanese Inkan Stamps

If you've ever received a doll from me, chances are 50/50 that I remembered to sign it. And if I did remember, my initials were likely hastily scrawled in an untidy jumble.  I've been searching for a solution to this problem and found an answer at the shop Talk to the Sun.

stamp and photo by talktothesun

Riyo, the artist behind Talk to the Sun, carves beautiful stamps, and she also creates custom inkan-style stamps.  Inkan stamps are personal seals used in Japan in lieu of signatures -- and now I have my own inkan-style stamps, hand-carved by Riyo, for marking my dolls.

stamp and photo by talktothesun

Riyo lives in Japan, "in a farm house surrounded by mountains and rice fields." Her style reflects the sensibilities of her homeland, especially in the way she renders elements from nature and everyday life in clean, simple designs.

stamp and photo by talktothesun

 The elegant rubber stamps she carves have the look of wood-block prints...

stamps and photo by talktothesun

And Riyo's work is also influenced by her travels around the world (she says that these stamps were inspired by houses she saw through train windows during visits to Sweden and Germany.)

stamp and photo by talktothesun

You can visit Riyo's etsy shop here, and she has a blog which you can find here.

Riyo was a contributor to the book Stamp it!: DIY Printing with Handmade Stamps.  For the book, she created a fun project of stamped railroad tracks (plus accompanying trains and scenery) for a child's placemat or game-board.

stamps and photo by talktothesun

And guess what?!  Through the end of the year, Riyo is offering a coupon for 5% off purchases over $10. The coupon code is: 4nextpurchase5off

Thank you, Riyo, for creating such lovely stamps for me and my dolls...