The Graceful Envelope Contest winners have been announced. This year's theme: Put Your Stamp On It. The contest celebrated the 25th anniversary of the contest and 125 years of commemorative stamps.
Color me disappointed as I did not win, place, or show. My entry celebrates my maternal grandfather, and how he put his stamp on his new country. The concept is a timeline starting with his leaving his home country, Italy, signified by the grapes stamp and coming to his new country. Colored threads of the Italian flag (green, white, red) transition to the colors of the American flag.
The timeline begins in 1917 with Grandpa signing his World War I draft card. He couldn't read or write so used an X to make his mark which was then witnessed by the official. He proudly served his new country, (I honestly thought the use of the WWI stamp would have gotten me an honorable mention as it was a perfect tie in. The only aspect of the contest I don't like, is you are not notified if your entry has been received. Makes me wonder why the contest rules ask entrants to put their email address on the back of the envelope. Oh well, spilled milk). After the war when he came back home to America, he put his stamp on his family. As pictured, my mother, brother, and myself are his legacy.
The Graceful Envelope letters are meant to be the flag of Italy (green, white, red) alternating and blending with the colors of the American flag.
I am very pleased with the simplicity of my design. I did not know Grandpa as he passed away 12 years before I was born. From the few stories I've heard about him, he was not a complicated man. While in the service, a fellow soldier (an Irishman) taught Grandpa how to write his name so he could sign the payroll ledger. I don't know if he ever learned to read or write English. Though he had a fourth grade education, he was not stupid. He worked hard as a laborer and bricklayer to provide for his family.
You can see the fabulous Graceful Envelope Contest winning entries here.
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of WWII. So while we pause today to remember those that fought for our freedom, let's not forget those that came before, like my grandfather, who paved the way for the freedom of the Greatest Generation.
I still like it CJ, and your ideas behind it. Too bad you didn't win but as my Mom use to say, it isn't winning, it's what you put into it. Happy Thursday. Hugs-Erika (No lookback this week from your dad's story?)
ReplyDeleteYou're mom was so right. Nope, Dad's story continues next week. This week, I wanted to mark D-Day with a tie in to my grandfather and WWI
DeleteYour envelop is beautiful, and I love the history behind it. You have just cause to be proud of your grandfather and what he achieved. Valerie
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYour envelope was a great timeline and tribute to him. I'm sorry you didn't win. Today being D-Day is an important day to remember. But you are right: WWI sacrifices should also be remembered.
ReplyDeleteThere's always next year. I really love the envelope I created.
DeleteI hate contests. No, really! Your entry is spectacular. I clicked through to see the winners and can't imagine how difficult is was for the judges to decide.
ReplyDeleteThere are some really good ones. The Best in Show just knocks your socks off.
DeleteI'm sorry you didn't win but it looks like you were up against some really stiff competition(no pun intended!) Love your entry and what it represents. Contests are so subjective....but it's still disappointing when you don't win. {{{hugs}}} :)
ReplyDeleteContests are subjective and this one had a lot of super entries. I really thought I hit all the marks the judges would be looking for. But I'm really pleased with what I did. And that's what matters most.
DeleteI saw the winning entries on another blogger's site. I thought the horse deserved recognition because the calligraphy emulated the stamp. However, I thought yours should have received some sort of recognition. The only other one I liked was the one with the popsicles used for the lettering. The rest were a bit too busy, or not appropriate in my opinion. I would never leave my e-mail on the outside (back) of an envelope and when I saw that as part of the rules, I was stunned.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to your comment on my D-Day post, I merely copied all the information provided (and poorly written, I might add) by the web site I quoted. It was they, not I, who didn't include the Pacific theater. After all, had it not been for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, we might never have entered WWII. You might say we entered the Pacific theater before the European.
I have 4 email addresses that I use. A personal e-mail, one for bills and banking, a business e-mail, and a junk account which is used for internet shopping signing up on lists, and stuff like the contest. The 4 accounts keep personal from mixing with business and the business, personal and bank accounts are not spammed with sales and ads. Maybe crazy, but it works for me.
DeleteCJ; your entry wins in our book, your book and your grandfather's.....that's what matters most !! I couldn't see the "winners".. though I am at work sneaking around blogland; there may be a block or something on this PC I'm not aware of...♥♥☺☺
ReplyDeleteThanks, FSG. I won't tell the boss. =^,.^=
DeleteYours should have won.
ReplyDeleteOut of the one's that did, I did like the stamp out Alzheimer's.
There were some good ones. I liked the Hershey kisses and SWAK, Best of show with the carousel horses was amazing, and I liked Elvis. There was some stiff competition
DeleteOK CJ, that sounds like a really strange dream you had. Did you have something unusual for supper or watch Pirates of the caribbean?...Smile. It is fascinating how our brains put things together sometimes. Especially when we are asleep. I went through a phase of weird dreams and lately I haven't been remembering anything. But thanks for sharing. I wonder why the pirate ship. Hope the rain moved out and you had a lot of a nice day. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteDidn't have anything unusual to eat. Haven't seen Pirates of the Caribbean in ages so I have no idea where the pirate ship came from. Other than knowing when I was a kid when I saw the pirate ship on 95, we were pretty close to Charlie and Doris' house. It was a very pleasant day and the weekend sounds spectacular, too.
DeleteYours is the winner in my eyes! <3
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLike others have also said … I like it and your ideas behind it. It's a big hit with me :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks!
Delete