Robben Island

Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km².  It is flat and only a few metres above sea level, as a result of an ancient erosion event.

Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid.

As a memento to Nelson Mandela I've created a virtual puzzle for you to play in the folder "Projects": 

http://www.pianistjeanpaul.com/#!about1/czdi

Here is another example of a virtual jigsaw puzzle depicting Robben Island. The format is different from the one on my website. If you are interested in this version please contact me:

http://www.pianistjeanpaul.com/#!contact/c20x9

Business Card for Jean-Paul

My new updated business card:

Now, you wonder why I have decided on this unusual post of presenting my business card?

The reason concerns everyone who like to represent themselves from a business or professional point of view. 

This post would  mainly focus on the importance of business cards.

Being a graphic designer myself, apart from being a 'muso', I find that it stimulates me mentally to tread into a realm that is suppose to be just for the schooled qualified selected. Instead of vegetating and becoming a couch-potato or too complacent in your present situation, you can also explore different challenging opportunities out there. You as an individual have the most amazing skills (everyone has it no matter your circumstances or cultural backgrounds) which you can tap on with the most profound intuition.
You just need a bit of  "a kick in the butt"  so to speak.

I'm digressing but it was important to mention the contents of the paragraph above.

Back to what this blog is all about:

One of the most powerful, yet ignored weapons in your marketing weapon store is your business card.  There are many ways that a person can attract customers to one's business. Some do this by launching a marketing campaign in the form of an ad in the paper or on a billboard. Some don't use marketing at all and just flourish through word of mouth.

On a more personal level if that person travels around, the best thing to carry and give out is a business card. Business cards are used by people in big and small time business. It reflects who the person is. It gives people an idea of what the person is capable of doing in the event that the service one offers is needed in the future.

Business cards help business people present a good company image by highlighting the services provided by a particular company. They can also help to enhance the personal image of a businessperson. Production and printing costs of business cards are low, but benefits are high, as they make a statement in the business world. As a result, the market value of business cards is high.

Businesses survive due to a regular customers and having new clients. This will bring additional revenue for the company and allows the company to grow. By using the resources one has such as the use of business cards, this will happen.

What information should I put on my business card? It will all depend on you. The common information that can be found on a business card includes your name, position or occupation, company or business, address of the company or where you do business from, your work phone number, home phone number, mobile phone number, and email address. However, you need not put each of these items of information on your card.

It is highly recommended that you put a picture on your business card. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hold on to a Business card with a photo on it. It could be your picture, a picture of your product, or a combination of both. Picture cards get attention! A tagline is a one sentence benefit statement. So using this is also valuable for your business.

Your business card should represent the perfect image of your company; in fact, it is the one item that will be remembered on that first encounter! Having a design that does not reflect what you do, could have a negative impact on your business sales.

With that in mind, I strongly believe that doing your own business card design could be challenging and daunting which many designers would say, is not the right way to go.
 "Leave the designing to the professionals and use you time doing what you do best … selling your product or service!" is what most people advocate, but you can also sit down and design something that you would like to see which would be visually appealing. 
You present your chalkboard requirements to the local printer which could also advise you if need be, on layout protocol, a change here & there. That is the whole idea about getting up and be active.
There are many books and articles on the internet about business cards. You can even download free templates for different programs.
Also, here I go again, become computer literate. That is a challenge in itself. You can actually shock your left and right brain-lobe from stagnate oblivion. 

In a world where meetings happen in cyberspace and a small business’s new marketing campaign is more likely to involve tweets than billboards, few ‘old school’ ways of conducting business have survived unscathed.

The business card is a humble exception. Although plenty of digital methods of storing and transferring contacts exist, there is still no substitute for the inherent value in handing someone your card. From making a strong first impression to solidifying a lasting business relationship, the paper trail that a card provides remains an invaluable tool.

Think twice before scrapping that hearty card stock in your wallet, and consider these reasons that carrying a card still matters to the health of your small business:

1.  Cards are Timeless.  Just like newspapers and books, digital alternatives to business cards now exist. It’s possible to send a virtual card with all of your contact media and social media links via email, or simply bump phones with another person to transfer data back-and-forth.

Don’t count on these methods working for everyone, however. There are always a few veteran business owners out there who wear their disdain for computers like a badge of pride, preferring the old way of doing things. It’s okay to ‘bump’ with like-minded acquaintances, but keep a card on hand as your default method of exchanging contacts

2. Direct Marketing is Effective.  Exchanging cards is typically accompanied by a face-to-face conversation and a handshake. Whether you’re sealing a deal, making a hire, or establishing a partnership, there’s nothing more valuable than an actual in-person meeting. You never know when you’ll run into a potentially valuable contact, so it’s important to be prepared — at lunch, at the store, and especially at social gatherings.

Leaving a new contact with your card provides a reminder of your encounter. When they pull your card from their pocket, they’ll recall your conversation and be more likely to follow up with you. Although the ability to instantly be added to an online address book has its place, it can mean sacrificing the value that a paper reminder provides.

3.  A Card Makes An Impression.  Handing someone your business card is your first opportunity to back up your words with a tangible example of your style and professionalism. If you work in a creative field, your card should show off your ideas and bright mind. Likewise, a lawyer or businessperson may want to convey strength or elegance.

When designing your card, don’t feel like you have to go overboard. Blank space is okay and can be preferable to cluttering your card with unnecessary pictures or text. Include a phone number, an email, your job title, and perhaps a line with your specialties or areas of expertise.

4.  The Price is Right.  The most infallible reason for carrying a card may simply be, ‘Why not?’ With all of the benefits an intelligent, effective card can have, it’s foolish not to keep them on hand, especially when the cost is so low, in comparison to most other types of marketing materials. Priced against commercials, product samples, and press kits, business cards are a deal that fits any small business’s budget.

5.  Cards Can Be Tech Savvy.  Just because you’re sticking with paper, you can still have the best of both worlds. Many people now utilize QR codes — the square barcodes that can be scanned with a smartphone — to direct people to their small business’s website or their social media pages. Code generators are easy to use online. Consider using the space on the back of your card for the code. In one piece of cardstock that comfortably fits in your palm, you now have the benefits of both a traditional card, as discussed in this post, and the ability to instantly link people to your online presence.

Think of your business card as an extension of yourself. The information it includes, and the style you convey it in, reinforces the impression you make in person and helps to spread your brand out into the world.

Amélie Ida Grace Hardres-Williams

Amélie celebrated her 2^nd birthday on Sunday, 7^th July 2013.

Antonia and Amélie

(See below for an example of a Virtual Jigsaw Puzzle which can be played on my Website)

 What a splendid and grand occasion and this took place in the
 Ballroom of Casa Labia.

Pink & white helium balloons on the ceiling greeted the
 invited guests to the celebration.

Gillian Durrant, Amélie, Antonia and Balloons

The splendour and ambience of the venue lends itself to all kinds of events; from birthdays, weddings, breakfast, lunch, high teas, concerts, film shoots and corporate functions. For further information please don't hesitate to contact the Events & Café Manager, Tania Mill.

Special children’s tables and chairs were setup to accommodate Amélie’s age-group invited guests. Any child would be delighted to experience this well planned birthday event.

The setup included paper & crayons for them to induce stimulation for their creative imaginary instincts before they commenced with the culinary delights of the day. These were as usual, made by the kitchen staff and Chefs (Alex baked and decorated the heart-shaped birthday cake & cupcakes. Innocent baked the quiches; Franco & Pesch did the rest). They have with ‘gusto’ presented a memorable spread which an assortment of cakes, sandwiches, quiches, sausage rolls and sweets.

With all the choices in activities, themes and party favours, you can throw a perfect party for a two year old, designed for her or his interest and attention span. There are many magazines suggesting that the party should not be more than an hour in length, and keeping the guest list small, but that it still allows a party that will be entertaining and enjoyable for all concerned. The criteria in Amélie’s birthday celebration were met with astounding success.

Amélie was mesmerised by all the varied gifts presented to her; a little confused by all the attention but worth all the pampering.

The party started at 10am with parents and other invited guests and at 11am the birthday cake with two burning candles was brought to the little table by Amélie’s mother, Antonia Labia. At the same time, I played the famous Happy Birthday Song on the Kawai Grand Piano and everyone present, sang it beautifully like an operatic chorus with interesting harmonies from some of the guests. The birthday girl and her entourage of little guests clapped their hands afterwards; enjoying the attention given by the adults for this special memorable moment in time which would be remembered for years to come.

The Birthday table with Amélie & Antonia

PS The child in me then at the end of the party decided to reach out to the balloons and chose one pink & one white; went out to the lawn and launched them into space with a wish that everyone present would have a happy and fulfilled life ahead.

This is the lawn from which the balloons were launched into space

Geoff Sole, husband of  Sally kindly sent me some photographs to add to this blog:

Tania lending a hand 

Here is an example of a Virtual Jigsaw Puzzle which can be completed in full on my Website:

Workbooks for early learning:

5 Educational Jumbo Workbooks for early learning
5 Fun Coloring Activity Books

Modern early education theories stress the importance of providing children with activities they can enjoy and accomplish at their own pace.

The 5 jumboworkbooks have been developed with this in mind. Each book provides an enriching and highly creative learning environment which lays the foundation for formal schooling without the pressure of a formal learning program.

The result is children who learn independently in a fun and self paced fashion, becoming more productive and individually creative.

Click Here!