As I mentioned two nights ago, I was going to try to add even more items to my portfolio over the weekend. Unfortunately, a friend of mine sent me a link to an incredibly addictive game last night and I wasted a few hours playing that game when I could have been working on this article (this was the only part left of the expansion. Everything else was done). Without further ado, I’d like to introduce the new subsection “ads & direct marketing”.

Note, this is my official endorsement for the Dakota Watch Company…and qualifies as complete and total off-topic commentary.

I put on my watch this morning only to discover that it wasn’t ticking. I had to get to church, though, so I couldn’t remedy the situation right away. (Of course, I wore the watch anyway, because I don’t know what I’d do with an empty left wrist.) This afternoon, I stopped at the mall on my way to the grocery store. I walked into Marshall Field’s, as that’s where this particular watch had been purchased. The woman was very nice as she told me that they send out batteries and the guy who deals with them comes in once a week…on Thursdays. I wouldn’t have my watch back for 11 days! Ugh.

The other woman at the counter pointed me to the Dakota Watch Company’s little stand between Marshall Field’s and Target. I walked over and the woman at the stand asked if it was a battery problem. I responded, “I hope that’s all it is” as I handed her my watch. Barely five minutes later, I’d paid her $8.51 and had a freshly ticking watch on my wrist and a two-year battery guarantee in my pocket. Hot damn. Thank you Dakota Watch Company.

Rather than post this as three individual “Creating:” journal entries, I have decided to combine these three pieces into one entry. All of these stationery packages share a lot of features and characteristics and by discussing them all at once, you the reader can compare and contrast the different solutions and design features employed.