OK, maybe this should be in the stupid question section, but I feel I must ask it before I get involved in too many postal rings.
How important to those of you who are in the rings is it to get elaborately carved stamps? I am just beginning to get the hang of all of this. My carving is at maybe a first grade level, while many of you are carving at high school levels. Now that I've signed up for 3 postals and sent out my first stamp, I am realizing how much I am looking forward to seeing the stamps that are going to come through. Which makes me wonder how disappointed you all will be when my first grade stamp comes in? I now sort of feel like maybe I am taking up spots that could've been filled by better carvers. Nobody has given me that feeling, I just am not sure what I have gotten into.
Please be honest about how you feel about the kinds of stamps that come through postals and the kind you want to see.
dtandfambly

Well, IMHO, I don't think you should worry too much about others' expectations! When I sign up for a ring, it's because the theme excites me, and I want to share with others who are equally invested in the theme. It's not about collecting the "best carvings" (although you will see some really terrific carvings by doing postals!), but sharing an experience with friends. Besides, a year from now when I open up a PLB from you and see a terrific carving, it will be all the more special, b/c I've seen where you started, and how far you've come!

Keep carving!

~HP~

I'm with HP...There is no wa my stamps look half as great as some I have collected, but I or one or both of my children are excited about the themes we are signed up for. We can't wait to see the other stamps and get feed back about ours, it's a learning experience. I am already a better carver than I started out as, so keep carving and remember...IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! right?

Carve how you can carve, and if you are the kind of person who likes to, go hogwild on the logbook.

Most of us had relatively rudimentary first efforts (amazing how proud we were of those efforts). I think it's almost as much fun to watch others progress as it is to improve yourself.

Be proud and confident about what you can do. The stamp is only a small part of the whole experience.

Dewberry

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It's not about collecting the "best carvings" (although you will see some really terrific carvings by doing postals!), but sharing an experience with friends.

I couldn't agree more!! I have only recently started doing postals, and I was hesitant because, like you, my carving skills were not in the same ballpark as some of these wonderfully talented folks. But it is a GREAT way to get some "practice", and all the more special because, as Papaya says, the theme excites and interests you. Seeing what others do, and getting inspiration and "tips/tricks" just by looking at their stamps, is also a GREAT way to improve your own skills. I know I am a MUCH better carver now than I was just a few months ago, due much to the influence of the postals.
-wassamatta_u

It's not important! Do the best you can, and enjoy the ring with others who are excited about the same topic as you are. Also, seeing others ideas will help spark your own. It's a great way to learn!

It's hard to explain until you get that first envelope in your mailbox. THen you'll really understand what all the fuss is about. :-)

GO for it! You'll be glad you did.

Jenni P McD

I have started and /or in 18 different PLB's. My carving is SICK...lol. Not being sick in the good way either...lol. I just love LBing in any form. To see myself or any one else be this happy to be doing anything that they love, it can't be bad. They are all good. Just enjoy yourself and relax. I was so "red faced" when my first stamp went out that I almost threw in the towel. Do not let yourself do that. I have a whole bunch you could join. I would love to get one of your stamps.

Your friend in LBing,
Kim

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My carving is at maybe a first grade level

You have got to be kidding. You know, SOME of us have seen your Leopards in the Forest stamp. ;-)

That is not first grade level carving! I look forward to every single stamp in the rings and never judge them for "Quality". I'm thrilled that someone just wanted to share with me.

Knit Wit

It really doesn't matter. You signed up for one of my PLB and I'm glad to have new people jump right in. I've only been carving since July and my first several stamps were ok, but I think I'm getting better as I go along. I'm sure you'll improve too. For now we're just glad to help you learn and look forward to your ideas.

Hales Angels

Thank you for all of your encouragement!! I am excited to be getting my first postal soon now. I'm not sure I understand the "going all out on log book"? That's one of those things I'll just have to wait to see. I hadn't thought of this as a learning experience. That gets me excited too!
BTW, knit wit, my leopards in the forest stamp is the absolute BEST one I've managed so far. I was proud of that one, but most of my stamps aren't near that good. My husband (the "d" in dtandfambly), on the other hand, is very artistic and when he carves the stamps, they are really neat. On a tangent, this works out good, because what I really enjoy is the hunt and he's not so big on that.
Anyways, it's good to know I haven't been the first LBer to feel red-faced after I've sent out that first stamp: ) And I can't wait for inspiration form all of you pros!

Going all out on the logbook means cutting the pages out of good paper, sewing/fastening them together somehow, decorating the cover--not just taking a spiral notebook and writing the stamp name on the front.

There's nothing wrong with doing the spiral notebook thing; it's just some people make the PLB logbooks a little more special because they aren't going to be subjected to any more weather than your normal mail is.

I don't go all out because I don't really have the time, but I do make the logs a little fancier for PLBs.

Knit Wit

I have to agree with everyone else - what matters is that you are making the effort! I enjoy everything I get in a PLB - they are great fun, and it's really fun when it's something the kids like too - they get such a kick out of every box!

And, having seen the Leopards in the Forest box, I have to say that I don't think anyone will be disappointed!

Mama Fox

Just do the best you can and I guarantee that everyone will be happy to receive your postals. I wasn't sure of my first carvings either, but I have had nothing but positive response.

I will share with you what has helped me with my carving: challenge yourself . I have a tendency to see a postal ring topic I like and jump right in without thinking. Then, when it comes to finding an image, more often than not I realize that what I want to carve looks really difficult. But I have always tried, and it usually comes out better than I expected. I think my carving has improved immensely since I started in July or August.

Keep on carving,
TG

I agree with everyone else, people are just happy to see a postal & your carving will get better.

One of the cool things about postals is the fact that you can be more creative than you would be out in the wild. Be it a fancy logbook that you don't need to worry about getting wet, or a cool little bonus the compliments the theme of the ring. And that's what I personally like to see, is the creativity of people because it inspires me.

-Littlemonkey

Big dittos on all the comments left so far. It's not a competition, and I hope it never becomes one. It's just fun to get to know people a little and see their skills develop as their confidence evolves. After all, it's just rubber!
Stacy

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it's really fun when it's something the kids like too - they get such a kick out of every box!

One of the rings I"m in has Jack Sparrow's tattoo from Pirates of the Carribean. My kids had to actually WEAR the stamp on their arm. No foolin'. I had to hunt down a black crayola marker so they could wear one like Jack Sparrow! :-)

And, Mixed Up Chameleon insists on getting a stamp of everything I get in the mail, whether he's really interested in it or not. I got it, therefore, he has to have one too....

So, the poor kid's got stamps of things no 5 year old in the universe is probably interested in, but he's got lots of stamps in his logbook! :-)

For me, it is NOT AT ALL about the elaborateness of the stamp. I just want to see what other people have done with a theme that I am interested in. Some simple carvings are absolutely charming.

I am in the same boat, of doing at best medium quality stamps but I enjoy the truly amazing stamps that I receive from the wonderfully talented artists that we have.

You have to start somewhere, and the more practice that you get doing postals that interest you, the easier it will be to do the kind of carving that you want to do.

Mariette
(dbltall of Team Garlic)

The fact that we all enjoy this hobby puts us all in a special boat! We all carve at what ever level we are at. Experience is our teacher. So get out there and get the experience. I love getting the padded envelopes (in there with the bill and all the junk) because it is coming from someone who shares my "magnificent obsession", letterboxing. We have people from kids all the way to grandparents all enjoying the same thing. That doesn't happen a lot anymore. So keep carving. I have to say, that in the rings I have been in, I have never seen a stamp I didn't want. And all the ring members have been most gracious in accepting my humble offerings. I will watch for your trail name in the rings I sign up for, and look forward to seeing your stamps.

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How important to those of you who are in the rings is it to get elaborately carved stamps?

There has been a lot of good info on this one already that I really agree with but I wanted to put my 2 cents in as well.

The first postal I was involved in I was really proud of. . . well untill I started seeing what every one elses stamps looked like and then I was a little embarssed of my little pirate. And well the log books that came, blew my socks off. But I learned sooooo much from that first ring I have attempted much more detailed stamps, and I have enjoyed my new found hobby of making log books. I started postals because I could never figure out what to carve, postals are great because they give me a theme and from there I can find something to carve. With the hopes of planting them in trad boxes in the end.

But as for the carving goes that little pirate that I was so embaressed about just came home and well he is not as bad as I had imagined. Just remember we are usually our own worst critic. (at least I am my worst critic)

Mystic Dreamer

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And that's what I personally like to see, is the creativity of people because it inspires me.

Exactly! Postals are cool because people can relate very person experiences, or history, and background info. The things that touch your heart can be expressed in a postal and may be a reason why one chooses to be in one. If you are a beginning carver, than that is where you are! But your personality will show through. Some of my favorite postal stamps are very simply carved images, bold images but simple.

-Wildhair

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But as for the carving goes that little pirate that I was so embaressed about just came home and well he is not as bad as I had imagined. Just remember we are usually our own worst critic. (at least I am my worst critic)

Mystic,you did a fine job!!!!!
I'm thrilled that the first postal ring you did was mine! What a priviledge to know that I got to help you get your feet wet.Your pirate was a fine addition to the ring,as were all of them.
I know what you mean about being your own worst critic...I have a friend whose carving skills made me want to give up after my first stamp.Hers were absolutely gorgeous,works of art,and I looked at mine,and wanted to throw it away...but she wouldn't let me,encouraged me, told me that I was doing fine,not to compare myself to her,she'd been carving 2 years already,and that I had to keep trying harder and harder ones to challenge myself to get better....and now,I love what I do.

No one should beat themselves up when they're starting...eveyone has to begin somewhere.The important thing is to have FUN doing what you do and challenge yourself :)

it's not how good you carve as long as you carve!

ack

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Mystic,you did a fine job!!!!!
I'm thrilled that the first postal ring you did was mine! What a priviledge to know that I got to help you get your feet wet.Your pirate was a fine addition to the ring,as were all of them.

awe, thanks princess. And look at me now all grown up, ( well I can pretend cant I) running a ring of my own.

We are all just beginners, just when you are looking at some one elses stamp they never look as much as a beginer as I feel.

What I love most about letterboxing and AQ, is how wonderful every one here is, we have all been there or will be at some time or another.

Mystic Dreamer

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It's hard to explain until you get that first envelope in your mailbox. THen you'll really understand what all the fuss is about.

you know...it was one of the most exciting things to recieve my first plb in the mail. i did a happy dance, i sat there and talked to the stamp as i unwrapped it, and even made it play with its log book...i was THAT excited.

kitten without mittens

i couldn't beleive it when my first finally came i sat and stared at it and didn't want to open. i was afraid it would be empty. feel, squooosh, tap, smell, then was afraid to take scissors to it ! the sight of it was awesome and so much fun to read and stamp in ;-)