Moving Right Along

We just received the final version of our second brochure from our design firm! Tim and Andy at Propeller are the best in the business! If any of you are looking for a superb design firm for websites, collateral, promotions, or branding, Propeller is the answer. When we had just opened our first home for the business in Arlington Heights, in walks this guy and he said to us "I get it. I know what you guys are trying to do." And he did and still does. Tim Meyer has done all of our design work since, from creating the most unique press kit to helping us brand our business. Without Tim and Andy we wouldn't have the look and feel that conveys who we are and how we do business. We're so excited about the brochures that we thought we'd share a glimpse with you. Tim and Andy's other works can be found at www.orangepropeller.com

Tab and Liz

I was working on my next post which was going to be about a set of windows that I was re-finishing. I was searching for an accurate description of the consistency of the paint on one side of the window, the one thing that kept popping into my head was superlastic bubble plastic. So I typed that into my seach engine and found this. The toys themselves and the statistics are frightening the commentary is quite amusing especially for me who actually owned some of these hazardous materials, but without incident. I figured my window story can wait.
http://www.radarmagazine.com/features/2006/12/toys.php

Ameriglaze Vintage Tubs and Sinks

We have been talking with the folks at Ameriglaze Vintage Tubs & Sinks about carrying some of their refinished tubs and sinks in our shop. Today they brought over four refinished original claw foot tubs! We've seen refinished tubs before but these take the cake! The quality of the finish is impeccable. Not only does Ameriglaze Vintage Tubs & Sinks do the refinishing but Mike teaches people from all over the world how to refinish tubs and sinks. Now I may be bias but claw foot tubs are just better than the fiberglass reproductions available today. The cast iron originals maintain the heat of the bath water for longer more enjoyable soaks so you can thoroughly enjoy that glass of wine! In the "Green" environmental conscious society we are living in, why would anyone want to bury these beauties in landfills?

100 Friends Project

So what does Island Girl Salvage have to do with saving the world and helping the poorest of the poor? Well, actually, a lot.

Island Girl Salvage has a special association with Marc Gold of the 100 Friends Project (http://www.100friendsproject.org/). Last June we sponsored a fund raiser for the project and it was highly successful and loads of fun. Another fund raiser is planned sometime in June or July, 2007. Stay tuned!

This small project started 18 years ago, in 1989. The idea is very simple. Every year many people contribute to the project and Marc takes the money to Third World Countries and looks for the neediest people he can find.

He then puts the money to work in the most compassionate, appropriate, culturally compatible, constructive and practical manner possible. You put the donation into his hands and he puts the funds directly into the hands of the needy individual or family, or a small trusted grassroots organization helping them. All donations are tax deductible.

His plans for 2007 are to build two schools, one in Afghanistan and one in Cambodia. He is also planning to help the Tuareg Nomads in Niger with schools, wells, food banks and health clinics. He was in Hanoi and was able to donate $9,000 to three groups helping children with medical operations and educational needs. He also traveled to Kashmir to help families trying to recover from the massive earthquake of October, 2005.

His ongoing work with children rescued from a garbage dump is truly inspiring. Also he went back to Indonesia for a third time last November, 2006 to help orphans from the tsunami and earthquake zones. A short documentary has been shot about Marc’s work in Indonesia.

To find out how you too can help, click on the link to 100 Friends Project!

Thanks,
Tab