and my world...

 I was just at a large trade show in Toronto over the weekend called Print World 2010. I really do enjoy trying to learn about various aspects of the magazine and newspaper industry. Needless to say printers are a big part of it, on the flip side periodicals (5%) and papers (2%) are a small portion of their overall industry. That being said, one of the printers to speak at one seminar was Transcontinental. They are the fourth largest printer in North America and is Canada's leading publisher of consumer magazines and when they said that they believe in print and that they have invested a billion dollars on improved technology that makes my day! Bring on those magazines...

 Also part of my world is my manager Angela Carlsen, photographer. I just want to pass on something from her 

Images on first page are on 16x20 paper, hand-printed by yours truly in a darkroom. That's right,  these prints are old school. They are all on sale for the low price of $50, which is 1/3 of the original $150 price. The first 20 sold come packaged with a mat. All are signed.

Plus, I have just added some digital prints to the mix. These images are of buildings that no longer exist. They are digital prints on 13x19 paper and are also selling for $50 a piece. Mats are available while supplies last.

http://angelacarlsenearlyworkssale.weebly.com/
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But with different magazines this time.

I think it is rather interesting that  magazines covers rarely mirror each other (mind you, womens fashion covers are rather formula driven so they do look very similar!) . Yet here in the span of four weeks it has happened twice.  In the case of these two covers, the grey mastheads , same words in bold white, similar placement  and dark backgrounds are so similar you have to wonder how that can happen, especially when they arrive on the newsstand the same day. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall of the art director and editors office after the magazines had hit the stands.

Has nothing to do with magazines!

My brother, Chef Michael Howell of Tempest Restaurant (Wolfville) recently participated in The Chefs Challenge in Toronto for The Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Event. Up against three other chefs from across the country he went on to grill up the winning sandwich. Have a read of Wed's Toronto Star . Way to go brother, I can't wait to have you make me one!

 Our Sun hours will be changing as of Sept 1. We will now be open from 9-9.

Did a song just start playing in your head?

We recently had our staff party and we had a really nice night. We don't have to worry about things said or done at the party that are talked about at the office for days after thankfully. Mind you, last year after we all played paintball Karla did get the new nickname "Killer Karla". This year was back to simpler times. We had a BBQ at our home and then went for a walk out to High Head in Prospect and had a fire down by the ocean. Yes, the Some Mores were there, with much discussion on the best way to toast the marshmellow. It is interesting how passionate people can be: Golden brown, charcoaled with a very gooey centre, in the flames til just before it ignites or two at a time.

That is not snow or rain in one of the pictures but a very heavy fog. As we all know, living in Nova Scotia you can't let the weather stop you, you just go anyway.

And away they go...

No, just kidding they aren't leaving, but they are forging ahead with their own passions. Angela  ( Her Blog and website )  has a show this summer at the View Point Gallery on Barrington St. It gets a mention in the Summer issue of Canadian Art , which will probably arrive in June at the shop.

Leah has started installing our windows for several months now. We entered a country wide contest for two displays. I get to happily tell you she won first prize for both windows. Approximately 25 stores from across the country joined in the competition. Well done Leah. The first window was for Wallpaper magazine where she literally created wallpaper from the masthead. Then she turned the window into a setting for Decanter magazine. Most recently she created a universe for a science window. It looks brilliant.

 Caitlin one of our former staff is on her way to Toronto to work in Theatre. She graduated from the Dal program while working with us. Back in Mayof 08 she wrote the play Living my Life in Circles which got her a review stating " Pillsworth off to good start with new production by Metamorphic". So we wish her well on yet another new start. Break a leg Caitlin.

I just spent a wonderfully relaxing month in Australia staying with my husbands family in Newcastle, the farm in Guyra and with friends in Tasmania. Needless to say I did check out the newsstands of which there are many. Lots of the towns still have all their shops lining the main street. They have canopies that reach out from the side of the buildings allowing you to stroll protected from the sun. Some of the smaller towns will even have two newsstands. They are quite different from ours, as they are more a stationary and general goods shop with magazines added to the mix. Boy you should see the size of the Sydney Morning Herald it is huge, the dimensions must be nearly 2 ft by 3ft opened. I have to ask myself if I am exaggerating?? I am going to have to give a quick email to my parents in law to ask them to measure it....

 I also checked out the North American titles to see what their "import" retail prices were like.

                                   Here             There

Dance magazine          $4.99           $13.00

Grafik                         $25.50         $33.90

Adbusters                     $8.95           $9.95

Wired                          $5.99           $11.95

Yoga Journal                $6.99           $11.95

Collectible Automobile   $11.95         $14.95

Not too surprising really considering how far they have to go. Mind you the various differences don't make alot of sense particularily when you look at Adbusters with just $1 difference and then Dance with $8.00. 

The staff did a great job while I was away, as I had every confidence they would. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of "must attend to" notes on my desk.  

All about newspapers!

The state of the newspaper industry has fostered lots of radio stories and articles, including one on the cover of TIME called "How to save your newspaper". Our experience is that many people still like the hard copy of their newspaper (and magazines for that matter!). Newspaper Direct is our digital supplier of over 800 papers ( the selection has grown rapidly since this interview). We print licensed copies on demand for our customers. Click on the link below to see our interview with CBC's Living Halifax to get the full picture of this amazing service.

Living Halifax and Atlantic News