Patty's Story:

Patty was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to the U.S. soon after. As a child of a Japanese mother and military father, she was exposed to diverse cultures, arts, and languages. She has lived in Arizona, South America, Hawaii and San Diego.

As a small child she often went with her grandfather to Texsoma Lake on the Red River in Oklahoma. And on camping trips in the White Mountains in Arizona, south of Alpine, her father often gave her a fishing pole and would tell her go have fun. Patty's interest in marine life and the ocean continued to grew in later years in San Diego. She was introduced to salt water fishing and went as part of a medical team for the Royal Polaris on exotic trips to Clipperton Island and Islas Revillagigedos. As well as research trips to Guadalupe Island on the Polaris Supreme. During one trip to Clipperton Island she did some fishing and obtained four world records on Big Trevally and Bluefin Trevally. One of the world records still remains. She continues to enjoy her sports career on private boats with friends. However, she now tries to conserve the ocean's precious species by doing catch and release.

On the otherside, Patty's genuine love and caring nature for other people was a great motivation for her education in nursing. Her nursing background began at University of Arizona and continued on to Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, where she obtained her RN degree. Patty is very persistent and strong-willed; she maintains her RN degree requirements consistently through continuing education classes and credits.

However, love of people isn't Patty's only passion. Her creativity and love of crafts, gained her hobbies with rubber stamps, brass stencils, punches, and more. These hobbies have continued for years and give her the strong knowledge and experience she adds to Stampaholics Etc.

As an adult she lived with her own family in Mililani Town, Oahu, Hawaii. Patty's cultural interests were inspired by the surrounding beauty, Hawaiian culture, dance, art and nature. She engrossed herself into the culture with various classes, such as Japanese language, dance, cooking, and hawaiian quilting. Other interests that kept her busy included flower arranging, ornament crafting and cross-stitching. A well-rounded and skilled crafts-woman!

After returning to San Diego, Patty's artistic talent really kicked in. She continued to surround herself with crafts, giftwrapping, photography, artwork, card-making, rubber stamping, embossing, stenciling, and anything newly introduced to her.

Patty is very outgoing and memorable, and if you ever want to talk a little pigeon English or reminisce about the Hawaiian islands and music just stop by Stampaholics Etc and give Patty a big ALOHA!

Kim's Story:

A true San Diego native, born and raised. Kim attended school from kindergarten through college in San Diego, California. With a strong influence from a talented mother, Kim has always been interested in art, sewing, knitting, painting, crafts, wood-working, oragami, photography, reading, and scrapbooking. She has always been particularly interested in cultural activities involving Japanese and Hawaiian.

Kim's Japanese grandmother was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan with four siblings in whom still live in Japan. Kim's family background is an important aspect of her life, influencing her study in Japanese language, dance and culture. On the other hand, her Hawaiian memories have always inspired her love for ocean waters, sea life, nature, animals, island culture, and music/ drumming.

Her interest in marine biology from her love of nature, was quickly out-weighed by her love of the Japanese language and desire for business knowledge. Kim chose a double major at San Diego State University in Business Administration, Marketing and Japanese Language. With a strong determination to keep the bonds of the new generation in the United States to the old one in Japan, Kim chose to utilize her education and study abroad in Japan for one year at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. An awesome opportunity for any young adult learning about their roots and gaining a unique inside view of family life in another culture through a host family. Also, study abroad allows a student to travel miles away from home to engage in the most memorable, eye-opening, life-changing, and maturing experiences.

A crafty person at heart, and influenced by such strong cultures and a talented mother, Kim quickly became a stamping advocate. She was soon making her own creations, which can be seen on display at Stampaholics Etc. She loves to challenge herself and experiment with stamping, stenciling, paper punches, and any new product come to market. There are no restrictions in her creative abilities. She's a true creator of Art.

Maybe a bit shy at first, but Kim's enthusiasm in card-making will shine through with a little conversation. So any time you need a little help with your next project or just want to share ideas, come in and say ALOHA or KONNICHIWA (hello).