Category Archives: world wide shipping

Shutterbug Surprise!

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“Our dreams are made of real things, like a shoebox full of photographs.” ~ Jack Johnson

Go ahead – have a crack at it! Jump on the Shutterfly sensation, and publish a print-on-demand, hardcover family photo album! The other day, I received one that my sister had compiled for a Mother’s Day gift. It chronicles, through family photographs, our family tree. The gift was originally meant for our Mom, but she decided to have extra copies printed, one for me and one for each of my brothers and our families. That is the beauty of print-on-demand. Print as few or as many as you wish!

Although the work in putting together a Shutterfly photo album can not be compared with a full scale independent publishing production of text writing, it is still a worthy project for those who are not inclined to write, but love to be creative with photography and scrapbooking. Shutterfly provides the perfect opportunity to combine both! You incorporate your favorite digital images and design with creativity, the empty spaces around the photos, much like you would a scrapbook, as extensively or basically as your skills allow. What a nice surprise gift for family or friends and to commemorate a significant event. For more information, please go to www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

While we are on the subject of surprises – Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC will have a number of surprise events coming up this summer! We will reveal the details to all of you when the final plans are put into place. Stay tuned, and thanks as always, for  your interest in this blogsite and in our company. The industry that we serve is ever changing, improving and evolving – keeping us on our toes and knee deep, in serving the needs of independent publishers!

 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Artists Designing Money

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“Many fine things can be done in a day, if you don’t always make that day tomorrow.” ~ Unknown

The United States Postal Service enlists the help of artists to design postage stamps, but did you know that the US Mint is calling for help from all professional artists to assist with designing the next generation of American coins? The next deadline for artists to submit their artwork is only a few months away, July 6, 2010.

Artists whose work is selected will be named as designer in historical documents, in all promotional materials and on Certificates of Authenticity. Each coin will carry the artist’s initials as well.

Applicants in the Artistic Infusion Program must be US Citizens, professional artists, illustrators or designers who will meet deadlines, and be willing to make edits to their designs. Knowledge of computer based techiques such as Photoshop or Illustrator is also required.

Act now, this year’s deadline is coming up! For more information on this exciting opportunity for professional artists, please visit : http://bit.ly/lBrzc.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Volunteer & Vacation All at Once

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“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion as the things which renew humanity.” ~ Buddha

Schools will soon be letting out, and millions of Americans will be taking to the highways and byways for their annual summer vacation. One of the hottest trends in vacationing, voluntourism, is becoming a subject that many want to read about! Independent publishing is a great way to share, with others, unique experiences you have had through travel.

Voluntourism is becoming increasingly popular for those who are looking for a vacation experience unlike any they have had before. Volunteer vacations can be fulfilling, fun and sometimes, a less expensive way to travel. Retirees and senior citizens represent a large segment of people who have jumped on the bandwagon and are participating in this new travel trend.

Service vacations are often good values for seniors on a tight budget. They provide unique and active vacations rather than spending time on golf courses, on beaches or on a cruise ship. The travel living conditions may include shared accommodations or family style food arrangements, but, for those that ordinarily would not be able to travel, it is a great alternative to staying home and growing old. For more information on this growing trend of service vacations, please visit http://bit.ly/bQ4X9j.

Retirees, is becoming a published writer on your “bucket list” of things to do? Perhaps you have been part of this new trend in travel aimed at renewing humanity,  having fun and seeing the sights, all at once! Share with others, through independent publishing,  how a service vacation enriched your life. Anyone can become a published writer, thanks to the independent publishing industry! What are you waiting for?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Struggle No More!

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“The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts; and the great art of  life is to have as many of them as possible.” ~ Montaigne

Yesterday, this blogsite addressed the issue of artists finding fulfillment in the creative work they do. Finding satisfaction in the work we do and the lives we live is not unique to artists, it applies to people in all walks of life.

I have found employment throughout the years in many different industries. In each job, I have found satisfaction, even in the most menial. I look back at my first “real job” as a cashier/clerk in a drugstore, when I was in high school. There were skills that I learned that prepared me for subsequent jobs. It was then that I learned to run a cash register, be accurate in handling money, and give change. My customer service skills were put to the test by helping shoppers find what they were looking for in the store.

Very early on in my working years, I decided that my attitude towards each job, could either make or break me. My own attitudes toward work (and life) and my success or failure was entirely up to me. My conclusions about life and and work, were this:

  • I decided to be accountable to myself in doing the best I can, each and every day.
  • Working is necessary, so, I may as well find happiness in it.
  • Taking the glass half full, not empty approach made sense, no matter what.
  • I decided I would learn something from each job I have held.
  • Putting my best foot forward felt much better than having a “who cares attitude.”
  • I could at least be proud of myself, even if no one else noticed.

When it comes down to it, our attitudes in life, often account for our happiness or lack thereof. They affect our health, our stress levels, our experience with others and with life, in general. For information on how  happiness affects health, please visit http://bit.ly/al0Qll.

Count the blessings instead of the shortcomings in your life. Challenge yourself to wake up each day with a positive thought and to end the day with a positive thought. It can make a huge difference – life is meant to be lived with joy, not struggle!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

The Arts & Alzheimers

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“Art therapy is all about the moment, all about the process, all about happiness…”  ~ Valerie Kent

Art enriches the lives of so many Americans and people all over the globe. Much research has been done regarding the effects of art therapy with Alzheimer’s patients. Among the positive effects are reducing stress, aggression, anxiety, apathy and anxiety.

For persons in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease, viewing art and listening to music often brings back memories, and has calming effects. Participating in the arts through dance, stimulates neuron activity in the brain, improving concentration and focus.  For those in the later stages of Alzeheimer’s when communication is more difficult, art therapy provides an outlet of expression, when words can not be found.

Not only do professionals in Alzeheimer’s facilities use art therapies , it can be used by caretakers of Alzeheimer’s patients in private homes. It provides a quiet, peaceful activity for patients and caretakers alike. By engaging the patient in a creative activity, it can provide relief for caretakers who are often subjected to repeated questions and demands that are placed upon the caretaker.

For more information on the field of art therapy for Alzeheimer’s patients, please visit:

Although scientists are still trying to determine the cause and risk factors of Alzeheimer’s disease, research shows intellectually stimulating activities, such as Art, may lower the risk of developing the disease.

 To me, this sounds like good reason for artists to paint up a storm! If someone tells you to put down the paintbrush and go do something else, tell them you are working on your “mental health.”

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Looking for good Mother’s Day gifts?

It is critically important to our society and all of our world to have decent homes and families with decent values. This Mother’s Day, order your wife, your mother, or any woman raising a family, a copy of  the book Building Materials for Life by Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity. The three volumes of this book are filled with short essays about raising families with common sense, good values and giving children a solid, strong foundation. Proceeds from the sale of this book and other books and DVDs from the Fuller Center will be used to purchase building materials for Habitat for Humanity houses.

Thanks to the Fuller Center, hundreds of children around the world have decent housing and brighter futures!

You can also honor the Mother in your life by donating to the Fuller Center or win free flowers for entering your essay of what your mother means to you! For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/c9S9cG.

Hurry, Mother’s Day is only 9 days away!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Cultural Understanding

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“Things go wrong because people build walls instead of bridges”   ~Unknown

For those who do not work in the arts industry, understanding the value of a creative industry is difficult to understand. When you understand the scope of how many are employed in creative industry, how the Arts help to build the fabric of community life, how arts education touches the lives of children and how Art provides for cultural exchange between countries, supporting Americans for the Arts Action Fund www.artsactionfund.org is not a hard pill to swallow.

Mayer Michael Nutter recently testified about  the importance of the Arts in his city of Philadelphia. His testimony and arguments for the importance of the Arts, could be echoed by cities, big and small, across America. To listen to Mayor Nutter’s testimony, please go to http://bit.ly/bZetCV.

Even in small cities, like Steamboat Springs, Colorado (population 9600), the Arts are very important. The Macedonian Mission for Humanity (Colorado based non-profit organization 5013(C) is focused on humanitarian assistance and cultural exchange between Macedonian and U.S. artists.

On May 15, the non-profit will be hosting a Concert, at the United Methodist Church in Steamboat, between an international award winning concert pianist, Kalina Mrmevska from Macedonia, and soprano soloist, Keri Rusthoi from the U.S. It is bound to be a beautiful evening of entertainment between two artists who come from very different backgrounds.

All proceeds from the concert will go toward the expense of shipping no longer needed medical supplies from the U.S. to Macedonian children’s hospitals. For more information on this non-profit, please visit http://bit.ly/askllQ.

The Macedonian Mission for Humanity is building bridges between culture and humanitarian needs. What vision this represents!

 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Seeing the Light

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“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs”                    ~Tony Robbins

It is interesting, now that spring has arrived in most parts of the country, it seems independent publishers are beginning to emerge out of their hiding places. After being cooped up and in the dark all winter long, many have decided it is time to be seen and heard from!

It seems independent publishers took time this winter to think and mull over their publications, their marketing plans and strategies, and now they have decided they have been inactive long enough. It is time to take action! Many have decided to take the plunge in to the world of e-marketing/social media marketing!

For more information on how marketers are using social media to grow their businesses, please visit http://bit.ly/YbyEU.

Sometimes, it takes time to readjust our thinking, adapt new ways of being. Social media marketing/e-marketing is a bit scary for those who have only used traditional methods of marketing – such as print advertising, bulk mailings, hiring a traditional publicist or agent, doing book appearances. All of these marketing techniques are still valuable but marketing trends do change. Life is so interesting when we decide to let go of old ideas and follow new paths!

What is it they say about growth? “Do the thing that scares you the most” ? Don’t let fright stop you from drawing closer to becoming more visible and fulfilling your dreams!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Postage Due!

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“Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.” ~ Donald Porter, V.P. British Airways

A few weeks ago, I received notification from the USPS that they had a package that being held for pick-up, with postage due.  I was a bit baffled because, I was not expecting a package. So, off to the Post Office I went, to pick up my package. As I drove to the Post Office, I began to get all excited. I thought “perhaps one of my friends had sent me a little surprise gift.” After all, who doesn’t like a little unexpected gift in the mail?

When I arrived, the postman presented me with the package, with postage due. The return address was not familiar to me – not at all! The address and return label had both been handwritten. I did not recognize the handwriting and there was no company name on the return address – just the street, town, state and zipcode. So, I questioned the validity of whether I was paying postage due for junk mail or for a promotional piece that I did not want anyway.

Now, I was faced with a dilemma, “do I pay for the postage due or not accept the package?” My curiosity got the better of me! I paid the postage due and accepted the package.

When I opened the package, I remembered 8 weeks prior, I had ordered an independent film (DVD). The shipping time took so long that I had completely forgotten I had ordered it.  I also checked my order confirmation and, sure enough, shipping and handling was included in the purchase price. Why then, was there postage due? Not a real great way to attract return buyers, now, is it? I also began to wonder how many other orders this company had shipped that said shipping and handling was included, but there was postage due when the order came? And also, how many other buyers had questioned whether the package was junk mail since the packaging and labeling did not give the appearance of having come from a reputable company?

Being an advocate of “don’t sweat the small stuff” I was happy to get what I had paid for – finally. A little extra postage due, really was  “just small stuff.” But, a quick courtesy call, a quick email or an enclosed note with the order explaining the reason for the additional postage due would have built tremendous good will between customer and company, don’t you think?

In business, small stuff does matter, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Your customers will be the first to tell you it matters.  They will tell you by just going elsewhere!

Weekend Indie Publisher News

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It is a big day for all the participants of the Young Authors League of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA). Today they will be premiering their new publication “Making the World a Better Place.”  The group premieres it’s book at Southlands Mall Barnes and Noble in Aurora, Colorado from 4 – 8pm today! Head on in, and support a new generation of young authors! www.cipabooks.com

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Guess what has gone viral? Painters Workshops! Join classes without having to leave the comfort of your studio.  For more information, please visit Workshop Magazine, a great magazine resource for Oil and Acrylic Painters. Workshop, a magazine published by American Artist Magazine will take you into the classes of top oil and acrylic instructors. Learn from them and from their critiques of students work. For more information, please visit www.artistdaily/workshop.com