Cari, Michele and I had such a nice dinner last night. Cari picked the place. It was Melt Bar and Grilled in Lakewood. They specialize in Grilled Cheese with over 30 specialty sandwiches all with one kind or another grilled cheese. So nutritionally incorrect, but-oh-so-good. They have great salads, too, that all include (you guessed it!) cheese. The restaurant is fairly new, crowded, loud and funky inside. Oh for dessert, we shared a fried Twinkie which is a house specialty.
Do I hear a low mumbling amongst my devoted readers? What? You are impatient to find out who the winner is? For goodness sake, it has been snowing all day. Not a good day to go out. Oh, okay. I did go out to the post office to see if there were any more entries. There was just one. I will show it to you in a minute. First I want to say how much I enjoyed all of the entries. Each was clever and unique in it's own way. I really appreciate all the trouble everyone went to just to fill my mailbox. I looked forward to going to the post office every day and the Avon lake post office enjoyed the contest. We all thank you for participating. Here are Josh and the Ladies.
It was a tough decision. Everyone had their favorites, but Josh had the final word. He asked if we could have an honorable mention category and I agreed. Here they are and Josh wanted them to know why he liked their entry: Rachel for her Australian beach sand, Jeanette for her little tin mailbox and envelope, Teri Calia for her picture of Josh-the mail monarch and Dot for her Cleveland ephemera.
Josh took his judging job very seriously, spending time looking at each one carefully and agonizing over his decision. Unfortunately for all the earlier entries, he fell hard for today's last and final entry. Our winner is SUSAN SOCOTCH and her handtooled metal entry!!!!! Congratulations, Susan. It is a wonderful entry into our contest.
Following are some close-ups of the detailed workmanship. I believe it is made from thin aluminum. Maybe Susan will comment here and tell us how she did this. Please.
Here is a close-up of the area with the address.
Susan spent just as much time on the back as the front. Below are two photos of the back sections.
As if that wasn't enough, she added some goodies inside for good measure. Susan works not only in metal, but also on fabric, polymer clay, jewelry and paper.
I am sorry everyone couldn't be the final winner, but I am so pleased that so many of you played with this and had a good time with it. Josh and the Ladies were lamenting the fact that it was over and suggested that I do this once a year. What do you think?
A heartfelt thank you to all of you: those who participated, those who commented and those hundreds of you who visit each day, but for whatever reason do not comment. I am happy to have all of you here and grateful for your participation in my little blog.
Wow - wow - WOW - I love Susan's entry!!! It looks amazing! So much detail. Congrats Susan - you deserve it!!
Thanks also for the honorable mention! And also for the contest. I vote you do this once a year too! We will all miss seeing the wonderful mail art, I hope your mail box doesn't become too empty again now...
Posted by: Rachel Greig | Friday, 29 February 2008 at 04:23 PM
Super cool entry!!! Gorgeous! All of the honorables are so beautiful as well...
Yes, do this again.. It was so nice to have some sunshine & color during these 'white on white' winter days! A great way to wait for Spring!
ps.. Love grilled cheese sandwiches.. not a twinkie girl...
Posted by: Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal) | Friday, 29 February 2008 at 05:52 PM
YEA!!! Rachel!! COOL honorable mention!!
A HUGE congrats to Susan. What a cool entry!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Thanks Ginny...it was FUN!
wendy
Posted by: Wendy Vecchi | Friday, 29 February 2008 at 05:54 PM
Holy Cow! What an entry! Susan did a lot of work, that's amazing, it must be quite stiff metal to not be crushed during the mailing process.
Can not wait till next year. On a completely unrelated note is there anything the mail people could be bribed with...? I mean beyond the usual perfectly aligned stamps in the corners, good penmanship and scratch 'n' sniff envelopes...
p.s. is umm the metal entry a metal bra? Just curious, no one else said so sorry if I'm seeing it wrong some how. :)
Posted by: TACE | Friday, 29 February 2008 at 06:46 PM
Hi
I thought that was fun to do. I sent the vitamen water bottle. :) full of ATCs. :)
Posted by: Cyndi Evans | Friday, 29 February 2008 at 09:31 PM
I didn't enter because my medium is words, not art, but I enjoyed this fun contest idea and loved seeing all the entries. You're all winners in my opinion.
Thanks for your blog, Ginny. It's one I read everyday.
Posted by: Kathleen | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 12:15 AM
Great Fun and Happy belated "B" day, Ginny. A birthday that you won't soon forget; and perfect timing for the challenge. Which I must say Susan took very seriously, incredible art.
Bravo and I vote "do it again".
Tnks Ginny for the inspiration and smiles it put on so many faces.
Posted by: Jeanette | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 02:12 AM
Thanks Ginny for your WAY COOL contest idea! And Thank You Josh for picking my entry!!! I'm most honored...
The "sunglasses" are made of soft metal, loads of original doodles done with a stylus, grommets, and chain. I enclosed some of my other creations and miscellaneous ephemera inside the "lens"...
I actually went to the Avon Lake Post Office since I'm a local gal.
All entries were magical and I'm proud to be in such 'fine company'.
Thanks again, Ginny! It was so much fun to create and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next year!
And thank you to all for your most gracious and kind comments about my art...It IS my passion!!!
Posted by: susan socotch | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 05:54 AM
Well, Susan's entry was "the bomb"!! Congratulations to her! And I really enjoyed seeing all of the entries! I do appreciate getting an honorable mention too!!
Thanks for hosting this contest Ginny and a belated Happy Birthday to you too!!
Take care!
dot
Posted by: Dot McQuade | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 08:34 AM
Congrats Susan & to everyone who sent in entries. This was great fun to check out every day. Can't wait till the next contest Ginny!
Posted by: Annette | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 10:44 AM
UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE!! I'm speachless, and that takes a lot! Great job Susan, and a fun time was had by all!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Cain | Saturday, 01 March 2008 at 09:21 PM
Hi Ginny,
I am wondering if my entry ever showed up. I sent a pear. Just curious if the post office got it there, since it was a bit out of the ordinary.
last minute lynn
Posted by: last minute lynn | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 07:58 PM
WOW the winning entry was FANTASTIC - way to go Susan!
I did mean to enter but it was just a really busy time for me - hopefully next year. Maybe you could make the lead time a little longer for those of us overseas ;-)
Posted by: Greta Young | Tuesday, 04 March 2008 at 08:50 PM
Wow, what a fantastic bunch of mail. The metal piece is extremely coool, I'm amazed that the post office still accepts such out of the ordinary pieces. Now that I know they do.....
Posted by: Gretchen M | Friday, 07 March 2008 at 06:01 PM
Ginny, I think this was a fantastic idea and so much fun. I enjoyed both participating and seeing what you received in your (no longer) empty mail box! I would love it if you hosted this every year. Thank you for encouraging mail art, love it! Lenna in CT
Posted by: Lenna | Sunday, 09 March 2008 at 10:16 AM