Holidays almost done.. Giveaway winners

Well, I made it through Christmas.  The cooking,  the relatives, the daughter..

While I "had" a Santa letter all ready to go for the morning, KIM put the brakes on this years offering.  Daddy had to put one together on the fly to have in place. :P

We did manage to reign in the gifts for Kaylee this year, as I kept telling Kim we needed to as to not set the bar so high each year that it would become "expected".

Now on to the fun stuff.

I have 3 drawings to take care of today.  This will wrap up the December drawings and get us into the new year.  All of the winners packages will go out next week.

 Entry #14 Amy

Entry #15 - Tami (missed the caption at the bottom "The year Jo gave up trying to untangle the Christmas lights.")

Entry # 16 Pamela

Entry #17 Deborah

Entry # 18 - Kim (Canada)

Entry # 19 Robin (Lovely layered card)

Entry #20 Impeccable "M"

Entry #21 - Mimi - (This has to be my favorite entry - hand done watercolor)

Entry #22 - Tracy

Entry #23 - Caddi (Europe)

 Entry #24  Jennifer (wanted an excuse to use up her Australian cards)

And finally Entry #25  Kim, who is complaining that I'm spending to much time on contests and not writing letters.

Now for the drawing.

Drawing #2 -  Jennifer - Rainbow Pencils




Drawing #3 - Impeccable "M" -  Nock Case (to be determined as they are not here yet.)
 



Drawing #4 - Valerie - J.Herbin Pen set




 



There will be a 5th drawing on Wednesday next week which will include a grab bag of stuff.  Basically what ever I can find laying around and there is some nice stuff to be had.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send in something.  It is always nice to know someone is appreciating what you are putting forth and this is my way of saying thanks.

D

Philately, the iPad and you.. Post 100

Are you interested in stamps?  Do you have an iPad, iPhone or other apple device?

Check out this little gem I just came across.

99 Stamps

How old is Santa Claus? How tall is the world's largest snowman? How is New Year celebrated on Christmas Island?? 99 Stamps App will answer these questions and you will definitely surprise your friends or astonish your kids with all these fun and interesting facts.

99 Stamps App is a whole new approach to philately and self education for the curious minds. Each stamp is a reflection of different events and facts with text description. You won't be able to stop until all the collections are studied.

There were times, when a rare family was not collecting stamps, everyone did. We grew up and our interests have changed but passion for learning new things remained as strong as when we were younger.

99 Stamps used to be a craze of our childhood which is now realistically transferred to iPad. This is not just a collection – it's the encyclopedia of our world. In this special New Year edition you will find amazing facts about Christmas and New Year illustrated with capitative images of the existing collectible stamps.

99 Stamps might become a real Christmas treat as you will truly enjoy going through the beautiful images of stamps with pleasant music playing while you learn something new with every new touch.
Explore the world with all the wonderful things in it with your kids and bring back the delightful memories of your parents' childhood by looking through albums, dedicated to Olympic games, rare cars, exotic animals and plants.

Download 99 Stamps now and get the New Year album free!

What's more, you can send to your loved ones a personalized post card with the stamp you like the most via airdrop, Facebook or Twitter!


The app features real stamps that are absolutely identical to the original prototypes. Wrapped with stunning image quality and combined with highly intuitive interface, it provides a unique user experience.

Christmas and New Year, Olympic games, Automobiles, Flora and Fauna are just a few of the many theme subjects to explore.

Key Features:

— Each collection is created with love, attention to details, meticulously hand-picked and arranged into theme-based albums.

 Distinctive world-traits information in each stamp.

- Realistic picture in HD quality, combined with clean and intuitive interface.

- Stunning graphics and impressive image quality!

- Each stamp is "anatomically" indistinguishable to a real-life equivalent, matching in form and shape.

- Magnifying glass for more precise viewing.

 Built-in greeting card functionality allows to send personalized post cards, sealed with a stamp of choice, directly from within the app via email, twitter or Facebook

New stamp collections and themed albums are added on regular basis!

Post Stamp is by all means a history. Do you remember what it was like when a gifted craftsmen was able to reflect a seized snapshot of an entire world on a small sheet of paper? A post stamp was inevitably becoming not just a form of payment for post service, but an object of art. When series of stamps could make one stare at it for hours, exploring an entire world! Now let the 99 stamps app bring that glorious joyful experience to you and your family!

OK, that is their write up/sales pitch.  My take on this.  It's a great app.  Well thought out and for right now.. Free!

 

I am waiting till Friday for the final entrants into the giveaway.  I have some bonus stuff to giveaway to others and just waiting for the end of the holidays.  Lots of scanning to do.

This blog started TODAY 2 years ago.  I have had fun doing it and have truly enjoyed the folks who have hung out here and corresponded with me over the past 2 years.

I hope you all are enjoying my little blip on the web and I will continue to try and entertain in my own "special" way.

I will be posting something special tomorrow for you all.  Thanks

D 

Slight delay but having fun

I will be doing a double pull this weekend.  We have another concert coming this weekend (Sat) and my attention is elsewhere right now.  Doing this post from work (still here). Also have some little "extras" from work to toss in.

Maybe a backpack or two with some goodies.  Like I said, closet cleaning time.

I have been keeping the entries in order so all will be as received.  I was also notified today that the Rainbow Pencils have been shipped to me today :)

Here is are some shots I took from our concert last weekend.

And now I get to put in another 16 hour day this Saturday taking care of 107.9 the End's Jingle Ball.

D

Karas Kustoms and a new Kickstarter..

The FINE folks over at Karas Kustoms are at it again.  Only this time they are making FOUNTAIN PENS.  And they look PURDY..

Seriously, they had me at Field Notes.  (and Doane Paper)  These pens look absolutely beautiful.

If they are anything like the RETRAKT- A Custom Machined "Click" Pen which is now on my person all the time, I cannot wait to get my big paws on these.

I selected the $125 point which gets me a fountain pen and roller ball set.  The orange above looks pretty spiffy eh?

Check them out here. Karas Kustoms Kickstarter

Giveaway stuff and such

Hello folks,

I should have this weeks drawing stuff finished up by tomorrow.  Thanks for your patients.

Rusty and Tammy, your stuff is going out on Wed. Had to track down misplaced notebooks.

This weeks drawing will be for one pack of the Rainbow Pencils.

I am told they are slowly starting to ship. With that I will ship the winners out the same time I receive mine.

This weeks winner will also get some extra goodies.  Only 20 entrants so far (light).  Remember you CAN win more than once.  I keep EVERYONE in the pool.  Two more weeks to go..

Next week will be one of the NOCK cases.  Please check out the link for all of the cases they are making.

And finally for the end of the year. 

J. Herbin -  Wooden Collectors dip Pen set (this is the big one)

J Herbin Box Set - 'A la Perle des Encres'

A truly excellent combination of old world expertise, this gift set is a timeless piece for any writing enthusiast. It is presented in a lovely wood box and contains 1 nib holder, 5 different stainless steel nibs and 1 bottle of ink.
For the traditionalist, the Brause (Made in Germany) Stainless steel nibs are among the world's finest for a dip-pen writing experience. This set has 5 different types - Iserlohn 50, Brause Cito-Fein Iserlohn, Brause No. 361 Iserlohn, Brause No. 85 Iserlohn, Brause No. 65 Iserlohn.
They are complemented by 30ml of Violet J Herbin Ink (Made in France) and a nib holder.

Specifications:

• CONTENTS: 1 Wood Box / 1 Nib Holder / 1 Bottle of Ink / 5 Nibs
• SIZE: Box is 245mm x 85mm x 57mm / Nib Holder is 200mm long /Ink Bottle has 30ml
• MATERIALS: Wood Box / Stainless Steel Nibs
• SOURCE: Nibs Made in Germany / Box, Ink, Holder Made in France

 

 

You have 2 weeks to get your entries in.  REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE RULES (link to rules I promise they are in there.  Two entries received were disqualified).

 

Thanks for playing and reading.

 

D

It's time to order your Santa Letters..

From Sarah Hanna that is. 

Last year, I found out about Sarah from another blog.  Red Letter Day.  Sarah was going to be at one of their Letter Socials that are hosted over at Arch Drafting Supply in San Francisco.

Now I have already ordered my letter for Kaylee.  One which I'm sure will lead to therapy bills later in life.  (contents to be revealed AFTER Christmas - just in case the wife reads this)

Last year I did two letters for Kaylee.  One that was fairly straight forward.  The second, well not so much.  This year I'm doing just one and i would be on the "not so much" side of that equation.

So a little about Master Calligrapher Sarah Hanna (yea I'm doing this because I REALLY like her work.  I pay for my letters like everyone else)

Here is a link to her blog www.sarahhanna.com  Now the fun part for me. 

Here is her text on this years run and my take on it.

It is the most wonderful time of the year!

Years ago, I penned letters from Santa Claus to my friends’ children. I filled in personal details that only Santa would know and placed a classic wax seal on the top for authenticity. (Yes, I do expect a bill from their therapists one day.)

Years ago Sarah started sending anonymous letters to her friends kids.  Filled with enough personal details that calls to authorities were made. 

The response to the letters was so great that I am now in my 5th year of creating them for gorgeous bébés all over the world.  The letter will even be offered in French this year – très bien!

Each year, there is a new template with places to personalize names, to encourage the child with something specific, to hint at a Christmas gift, and to verify that Santa knows where they will be on Christmas. (This is a common concern for kids- “How will Santa know that we are going to be playing shuffleboard in Boca with Mimi and Pop-Pop on Christmas Eve?!?”)

Each year Sarah changed the template to keep process servers off her trail attempting to collect for the emotional distressed caused by her letters.  Details were so precise the kids were starting to think that the NSA had cameras and mics all over and were tracking their every move.  That's right Spanky, He's ALWAYS watching you.

Trust me, he knows.

The Elf on the Shelf makes a great letter carrier. I have a client who puts the letter in the mailbox and sprinkles glitter all around it. This photo is of her little one after a trip to the glittered mailbox….pure magic.

While the Elf on the Shelf might seem like a perfect delivery system for your letters.  What your kids are thinking is this is Chucky coming to life.  (See this is what happens when your kids are watching who knows what while you passed out on the couch with the cable remote in reach)

 OK so this is the end of my messing with her.  But on the serious side.  If you've got $20 and want to freak your kid out on Christmas morning. 

Contact:

Sarah Hanna Calligraphy & Design

19201 Sonoma Highway, No. 357
Sonoma, California 95476
info@sarahhanna.com
707-775-5530