New Cards from Etsy

Check out these "Groovy Inclinations" note cards... http://groovyinclinations.blogspot.com/2007/05/new-note-cards-designed.html

(from the "Groovy Inclinations Ultimate Plaid and Tropics Stationery pack", for sale here)

Very colorful!

Very neat !

These cards make me SICK !!!!

I had to wonder if the inventors of the "Red E bag" were making a comment about the cards that they sell when they came up with it?

The Red E bag is a "barf bag" or, more politically correct... a "nausea bag"... that is cleverly designed to look like a simple, stylish purse or handbag. It looks much better than those paper bags that they give you on airplanes!

It was invented by Jodi and Jim Carr, of As We Grow LLC and it was conceived when Jodi was getting sick from morning sickness (not from the cards they sell). Their patented solution to public nausea is a discreet durable bag with plastic disposable liners, an extra large opening and a zippered pocket for clean up supplies. Jodi comments, "I discovered it effectively reduces anxiety. I was relaxed, confident and mess free."

Here is an article about it and here is the website for the Red E bag.

As We Grow LLC owns the trademark and patent for the Red E Bag. They are certified as a woman-owned business through Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

So, what cards do they sell??? (And do they make you sick??)
As We Grow LLC sells copyrighted Robert Coval Note Cards and use the proceeds to contribute to American Cancer Society. Robert Coval was the photographer for the note cards and Jodi's father who had cancer.

Their nausea bag is available in black and pink and retails for $15.95 at http://www.redebag.com/ and at select e-commerce and retail stores.

For more information, contact Jodi Carr, (239) 822-2956 or jodicarr@redebag.com and be sure to tell her that we were just kidding about the cards making us sick!

More on Journaling...How-to, History and more!

Here are a few books on the subject of Journaling.... (in case you want to read instead of write).

The Many Faces of Journaling : Topics & Techniques for Personal Journal Writing
by Linda C. Senn
This book starts out with some historical perspective on Journaling and then looks at different types of Journaling with all the reasons for each.

Notes from Myself: A Guide to Creative Journal Writing
by Anne Hazard Aldrich
This book is more about the mechanics of Journaling... what you need to do... and then has some background later.

In praise of Journaling...

One of my favorite bloggers, Scott Ginsberg, wrote an interesting post about Journaling... click here to check it out.

Scott gives 9 different examples of journals you could start. (Some of which could also be considered types of entries in your all-purpose journal)...

1. Morning Writings
2. WOM Journal
3. Thanks Log
4. HVA Journal
5. Victory Log
6. Learning Log
7. 'No" Journal
8. Dream Log
9. Luck Journal

All of these ideas certainly have value... it just depends on you actually sitting down and journaling.

I have found that just sitting down in a quiet place and thinking on a regular basis helps me maintain my "balance" ... especially when circumstances beyond my control are wreaking havoc on my life. (I'm sure we've all been there!)

I also find that the act of writing things down helps me get a better perspective on the subject and, as Scott mentions in his post, it helps me deal with reality more effectively!

What have you written lately?

CostCo FLUSHES AMD and HP !

I just got a email flyer (see below) from my good friends at CostCo and, while I'm guessing that this was not intentional (?), it appears that they are making a comment on the quality of or, at the very least, the long term viability of HP and AMD.

[The ad shown above (full size) as well as toward the bottom of the flyer excerpt.]

Or maybe this is just CostCo's version of KMart's old "Blue Light Special" where they are just trying to get rid of something really quick !

After clicking on the link that CostCo provided (click here) it appears that this was more likely the work of the geniuses (?) at AMD and DreamWorks Entertainment (makers of the movie, "Flushed Away"). It is not clear how HP got roped into it ... perhaps that is the product that CostCo sells with an AMD processor so they felt they had to "throw it in" so they would have something (besides the movie) to sell.

In any case, my thanks go out to Costco for sending out this entertaining (although un-intended?) joke !

I can hardly wait to see what you come up with for April 1st (April Fool's Day)!

Dave Wheeler

Founder, www.NoteWordy.com

Words of Praise for "Snail Mail" !

This article by Cathy Free of the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City, UT tells a nice story about Miriam Footer and her affection for the handwritten note.

The best line in the article was ...

If people don't pass the tradition of letter-writing down to their children and grandchildren, she wonders, what will future generations have to show the uniqueness of their loved ones' lives? Photocopies and printouts of e-mails hold about as much appeal as old tax records. "Where is the romance?" Miriam asks.

The tactile sensation of a handwritten note... the anticipation of opening the envelope... all with the added benefit of a physical item that can be a cherished keepsake for the rest of your life!

Miriam Footer's stationery shop, The Write Image, is also online... check it out (click here).

Geek Dinner at Two Boots NYC !

BL Ochman organized a fabulous evening and, of course, our honored guest, Hugh MacLeod, for including us on his trip back to the city ! It was great to meet such interesting people and I hope there is another Geek Dinner / NYC very soon !

Others at the event (along with links to their websites) included...
Mitch Axelrod, Rick Bruner, Patrice Evans, Senia Maymin, Roger from melatonemusic, Alice Garik, Thomas Maloney, Marshall Sponder of www.webmetricsguru.com, www.artnewyorkcity.com, and www.smartmobs.com, Kelsey Kaufman, Josh Kaufman, and, of course, yours truly... Dave Wheeler.

It was a casual, but great evening (if that makes sense) ! I'm glad I went and, if the opportunity comes around again, I would highly encourage others to join in !

Dave Wheeler
www.NoteWordy.com

"Geek Dinner" at Grand Central !!!!

One of the top bloggers in the world, Hugh McLeod, is coming to NYC ! And on Saturday, March 10th, there will be a "Geek Dinner" at a restaurant in Grand Central Station in New York City!

Where: Two Boots Pizza, in Grand Central Station (lower level).

When: 7.30pm.

It sounds like it will be an interesting time (and a chance to put some faces to the names we've seen online for many years). Click here to learn more or send an email to BL Ochman if you would like to attend!

Dave Wheeler

http://www.notewordy.com/
blog: http://www.theshot92.blogspot.com/
Toastmasters blog: www.areaA4.blogspot.com

Cards for Cancer ...?

I came across this blog post and wondered if there should be a NoteWordy card for Cancer? It is an emotionally draining experience and a well chosen card could really boost the spirits of someone with the disease.

What if there was a card that was sort of like Lance Armstrong's book, "Its not about the bike"Lance "Its not about the bike" but in a notecard format? What should the art depict?

Of course, the profits would need to go towards cancer research.

It seems that HallMark is already going down this road (presumably without the charity donation) ... check out this web article.

What do you think? Leave us a comment !

An Interesting Artist / Note Card maker...

This post about "A bad case of Stripes" caught my eye and I followed it to the web site for AnaHataArt.com.

Check it out... lots of visually interesting cards and other products !

Art Therapy for Kids turns into cards...

This just in from Texas....

The Galveston County Daily News:
“Our child life director, Janis Matthews, and her team do a great job of providing daily art therapy for the kids,” Huang said. “I and many of my colleagues strongly believe in it as an important part of the healing process. One day, it occurred to me that we should get the word out about our art therapy program by producing cards with the children’s designs on them that the public could buy.”

Art Stars note cards can be purchased at the UTMB gift shop on the first floor of John Sealy Hospital, the UTMB Bookstore on the first floor of the Moody Medical Library and Children’s Hospital. A set of eight cards featuring four designs costs $10. All proceeds benefit the patients and programs of Children’s Hospital.For information, call 409-772-1596.

If you talk to anyone associated with this program, please have them send us a picture of the cards !
We would love to feature the pictures on this blog !
Email: theshot92@gmail.com

The Little Author, Inc. Creates Heirloom Treasures That Will Steal Your Heart

The Little Author, Inc. Creates Heirloom Treasures That Will Steal Your Heart

This company, based in California, creates books, notecards and more from your child's art. Check out their website at http://www.thelittleauthor.com/index.html.

Hallmark is "reaching" for new card opportunities...

This post at BrandSizzle blog starts off talking about the challenge of e-cards to traditional (paper) cards and it ends up showing how far Hallmark is willing to go ....

http://www.brandsizzle.com/blog/2007/02/chances_are_you.html

What's next? A card for when you get a blister? Or one for a stubbed toe? I don't think they have taken into account the fact that 1) people do not have time to run out and get a card for every single event in their life and 2) by the time they got a card, the moment has passed.

I can imagine their response might be ... "Well, if people would just buy the cards ahead of time, they would be prepared."

At $2-4 per card (or more), I don't think they are going to be doubling their business with these cards... but hopefully someone will send me one of their "too bad you were wrong in your blog post" cards.

I will hold my breath.

What's the Web up to???

Would you like a visual rush that shows what is happening (and has already happened) on the web?

Check out this video !

Very cool !

Neat Online Game ....

The visuals in this game are very soothing ....

http://intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/flowing/black.html

check it out !

(As linked from this K.Sierra post.)

Another Find for Freaky Friday

I clicked on a random (?) Google Adwords link and came across this ...

http://www.thisintothat.com/

If you flip through the gallery you will see that Jim Rosenau puts an amazing amount of work into his "book shelves" to get the desired "effect"!

Enjoy!

DW

Freaky Friday Business Accessory ...

I got a link to this as part of a review of a whole series of work environments and thought this one was, by far, the best !

The "Conference bike" ....

One person steers while everyone pedals. A great way to get everyone "on the same page" while also taking them down the same street !

Check it out here.

If you have seen one in person, leave a comment and tell us what you thought of the experience !

Fractal Branding

I came across the interesting idea of "Fractal Branding" via Diego Rodriguez's blog, metacool.com. In the post talking about the FAA web site, he says:

Brands are fractal entities, and the meaning of the whole is to found in the execution of even the lowliest detail. Especially if your brand is all about rigor, safety, and juggling lots of big, heavy balls without dropping even one in a million.

His link on the term, fractal entities, brings you to his observation of an Apple "iPod store" which is a great example of taking the brand all the way from the smallest thing (physically for Apple... the product) to the biggest thing (physically...the store). It could also be looked at the other way... from the biggest thing (the product) to the smallest detail (the cosmetics of the store). Either way, Apple seems to understand fractal branding!

For those who have not dealt with fractals before, they are, according to wikipedia:

In colloquial usage, a fractal is a shape that is recursively constructed or self-similar, that is, a shape that appears similar at all scales of magnification and is therefore often referred to as "infinitely complex."

Some other marketing examples of "Fractal Branding" are available ...

... in an article by Sean Carton at ClickZ titled, "The Brand Promise".

... a post by Aaron Dignan in his blog, BrandPlay. This also leads back to the post below.

... a post by Kathy Sierra in her Passionate User blog, titled "Remarkable at every scale"

How consistent is your brand? Certainly it should be clearly presented in your advertising and promotions, but how deep does it go in the company?

Does it show up in the product or is marketing and branding an afterthought once the product is created? Does your brand show up in the the delivery of the product? the customer service? the accounting department?

Do you have good examples of fractal branding? Please leave a comment so we can share them with others. Even examples of BAD fractal branding would be helpful since we can also learn from them as well.

Write ON !
Dave Wheeler

Friday's Humor ... "Unabashed Gearhead Gnarlyness"

I came across this and just had to post it ...

http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/



As Diego Rodriguez says over at MetaCool blog ... this is some serious "Unabashed Gearhead Gnarlyness" !

Friday Humor (?)

I found this picture on Seth Godin's blog and thought you might get a kick out of it ....