A cold and snowy February...

Has anyone else felt the "whoooosh"? I can't believe that we've already blown through a month of 2009!

Things at Bakktalk Gifts have been moving along well. A number of new designs have been dutifully added and i invite you to check them out at your convenience. I will always appreciate your visits and hope that you find something in the shop that's just right for you or a friend, family member, etc.

Ever since i purchased my Flip Mino HD camcorder, available here in the store, i've been creating and posting a series of videos featuring, get this, "The Amazing Sox". In each video, Sox performs a different song in his own unique style. Below is a sample of one of his latest videos. We hope you enjoy it. Let us know what you think.

Sox is currently building somewhat of a fan base, and very likely soon will be featuring his own gear, and, possibly his own site. Time will tell. At this point it's one project at a time.

I should mention that this past December was my most successful month ever at Bakktalk Gifts. I am pleased with, and very thankful for, the steady growth, and look forward to more successes, including Sox, as time moves forward.

The state of our economy just now certainly shaky. We here at Bakktalk sincerely expect that wisdom and capability come together at this very tenuous time to work to minimize damages to our nation; indeed all nations. We hope that those with the power to do, use it to the best interests of all of us.

That said, please stay well, stop back at Bakktalk as you can and check out the current designs. Contact me, Bill, at bladimz@dejazzd.com if you have any thoughts or concerns. Stay good until next time.

Only Three Days To Go!

It's cold, crisp and, today at least, clear. Making it feel just right for Christmas and the Winter Holidays. Keep in mind, gift giving doesn't have to stop on Christmas Day. Good gifts are welcomed at all times of the year; even in January!

I just wanted to follow up on my last entry concerning the Flip Mino cameras that Cafe Press and i are now offering. I mentioned that i was going to purchase one. I did, and i am really glad that i did! The last camcorder i bought was an analogue monster from, like, 1993. I probably have not used it in 4 years. The Flip that i bought was the HD version and i am very pleased with it. Recording is almost too simple, and the included software makes it just as easy to upload to your computer and, if desired, to the web.

This video is one of the first ones i made using my new Flip HD camcorder. It's simple, and light. But the picture clarity is very nice. Publishing it to YouTube was a snap! As for "Sox", i have him contracted to do an additional number of shorts for me, and will be using the Flip to do them all.

As for this holiday shopping season, i must say that i am a little surprised at how successful my shop has been this year. The economic state of the nation is no secret. I did expect only modest sales; but am enjoying a better season this year than last! One of the most successful items from my shop this season has been the Sarah Claus design. Almost all purchases were done as ornaments. Thank you, Sarah. You would have made a pretty bad VP, but you sure know how to sell!

Ok. That's really about it for now. There's so much to be done yet before the big day, and i am in big trouble already. We here at Bakktalk Online Gifts wish all of you, whoever you are, a warm, pleasant and memorable holiday season. Enjoy and be safe, all of you.

See you in 2009!

November 6th and we've got a new President...

Although i followed the campaigns this cycle more closely than ever before, i (along with so many others) are glad that it is over. Finally. I think that this is one election that few will forget, and i hope that America's ship now sales in a better direction.

This victory for Barack Obama follows closely on the heels of the Philadelphia Phillies' first World Series Championship since 1980! For the first time in a long time it is great to be a Phillies fan. What a year 2008 is winding up to be!

My wife, Eileen, has been shooting photos faster than i can process them. One she took while we were in the Adirondacks. She was trained on a shot down through some trees onto the river below when our dog, Scarlett, stepped into the frame at the last second. The result was rather captivating, and i've added the image to the Beanscapes section in our Bakktalk Online Gifts shop.

This is the image as it appears on the coaster tile, and it is available as a print in several sizes. Available also on mugs, the keepsake box, the pillow, note cards, greeting cards and more.

Scarlett is a special dog for Eileen and i. She came to us as a rescued dog at the age of 7. Severely undernourished and desperate for attention and love, she bonded immediately with Eileen, and then, with me. It's been a little more than a year now since she's been with us, and i can't imagine not having her with us. She is a pro at catching frisbee, and is an excellent defensive soccer player. She's been well trained somewhere along the line, but more recently suffered some hard times. Taking Scarlett into the family has been as good for us as it has been for her.

I rattle on sometimes, but dogs have always been a part of my life...

Anyway, the holiday season is banging at the front door and i have been busy adding new designs almost daily. I haven't concentrated on holiday designs specifically; i feel that a lot of the designs i am creating will serve as excellent gifts for friends and loved ones. Browse around the shop. There is something for just about everyone. And take a look at one of the newest additions to the product line: the Flip Mino video camera. At this point i've only created two designs for this item. One is for Long Beach Island fans, the other is more generic in nature.

I know that this will be one of the hardest shopping seasons for many of us with the current national economic problems we are experiencing. I can only hope that it lasts a short time and that we get back on track as a nation very soon.

Please have a safe and pleasant holiday season. And remember that what really counts is family and friends. Not things.

Billy