Greetings Everyone!
(see the entire collection of pictures from the event by clicking HERE)
Well, today was a wonderful change of pace that I, personally needed. I hope you do, too - or at least can empathize and appreciate this little story. If you're not aware, there's this organization called, "Honor Flight." They're set up in divisions across America. It's a volunteer organization that brings U.S. Military Veterans who've served in either World War II, The Korean War Conflict or The Vietnam War up to see the respective memorials and monuments in Washington D.C. It's all free for the Veterans. Various corporations, individuals or organizations foot the bill. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe the respective airlines (in tonights' case, Southwest Airlines) also pitches in to provide the air travel. The Veterans and their care givers depart the (Orlando) airport very early in the morning, spend the day being toured around the memorials and more. Then they return the same evening around 9:00 PM +/-.
These events are so meaningful to the Veterans. But what gets to me almost as much are the supporters that show up at the respective airports across the country to welcome these Veterans home. Lots of happy cheers. But a fair amount of emotional tears of respect and happiness (myself included ... what can I say - I'm a wimp when it comes to this kinda' stuff ;) ).
Tonight, I actually felt like I was a very small part of the supporting team of well wishers that show up at these things. As a side note, if there was a way I could make a living doing meaningful and heartfelt 'real world' stuff like this, I'd be there in a heartbeat :). Anyway - back on track. Part of my newly launched online note card & greeting card shop on Etsy will soon enter it's next phase having to do with stickers. STICKERS you say? Ahhh, more on that in a later post :). But as for tonight, I decided to create a 'Thank You Veterans' sticker to hand out for free to all the supporters who show up at these Honor Flight Events (see picture below).
I'm so pleased to say these little give-a-ways went over like gangbusters. Every sticker I brought was handed out in the first 15 minutes or so with some folks asking for more after they saw them plastered all over other folks. YEE HAWE! Selfishly happy but even more happy that people who support and feel the same way I do about this (still) great country and its' military heroes liked these little things
OK - enough bragging lol. As a side and final note, if anyone reading this blog post is interested or is in need of these stickers for similar purposes, email me by clicking HERE and I'll get back with you. Eventually, these and many more stickers will be on my Etsy shop.
And again, if you want to see all the photos from tonight's welcome home event, please click HERE.
Alright, I think I'm done for now. Long day and night and I'm tired. Be good to each other!
Peace - Mike T.
Well, it’s been one week since I relaunched my online Etsy Shop. After a few issues and challenges (expected), I think the dust has settled for the most part. Now for a few changes based on learning experiences.
First, thanks to all who visited, purchased stuff and gave me feedback and suggestions. And to the folks who purchased cards but not via through Etsy, thank you as well. Always being one who listens to feedback, I’ve instituted a few changes - all good and basically benefiting you the customers. The main change has to do with the card pacs. Specifically, the number of cards contained in the pac has gone from 8 to 5. The most requested and common denominator change had to do with requests for individual cards and smaller number of cards within each pac. The free shipping (as I stated from the beginning) has gone away. BUT - when you add all the changes up, the price for a pac Of 5 cards plus shipping is now less than the original pricing. Bottom line on this portion of the updates and changes comes out to be as follows:
5 pac of 4.25” X 5.5” themed note cards = $9.50 for matte finish / $9.99 for gloss finish. All cards include envelopes.
Shipping is now currently set at $1.50 flat rate for each individual 5 pac of cards. I discovered that I don’t have to mail the card pacs in a hard, rigid envelope (that the USPS now considers that a parcel and not envelope = MUCH HIGHER rate than in the past). I’ve test shipped a few 5 pac of cards in a standard 6” X 9” Manila envelope and the all arrived just fine and in perfect condition. I also loaded the exterior of the mailer with bright red, obnoxious ‘do not bend’ stickers 😜. This will be the norm for everything I now send
A few individual card purchase option have been added with more on the way over the next week or so. There are currently two options available for individual card purchase under the ‘Americana / Patriotic’ category. Price for individual cards are currently set at $2.25 for matte finish and $2.50 for gloss finish. Shipping on these will be the same as above (up to and including 5 cards w/ envelopes... over 5 cards / envelopes will then price out individually).
Thats about it for now. But as I say, many more additions and maybe a few more changes / updates forthcoming. Stay tuned 😜.
See y’all soon. Peace - Mike T.
Hi All - - -
(Click on pictures above to go to my MTI Greeting Cards / Etsy Store)
- - - In conjunction with more upcoming news, a few adjustments and changes on Monday August 19th, these two Americana / Patriotic note Cards have a new lower price. Matte finish = $2.50 each / gloss finish = $2.75 each. That’s down a dollar or more from the original price point! Both are still FREE SHIPPING through Sunday August 18th. Free shipping goes away on Monday the 19th at 12:01 AM.
Get ‘em while they’re hot 😁👍.
Peace - Mike T.
Hello Again All,
Today - Monday, August 12th, 2019, my new Etsy Shop - "MTI Greeting Cards" opened and is now live & ready for business :). All the note/greeting cards are original, handmade and contain original photos (or drawings) from yours truly. I've spent many a year out photographing beautiful scenery, landscape, wildlife, astro photography and more. This venture is the next logical step in getting my works out there to you folks. Please take a few moments to check out all the fine details by clicking HERE: www.MTIGreetingCards.com .
All cards are sold in pacs of 8.
Right now as an introductory special, shipping is 100% FREE across the board. This, however, is only an introductory seal and won't be around forever. Sooooo .... ya' know how that goes: Git' `em while they're hot (so to speak;)).
Thanks for stoppin' by neighbor. Be kind to each other.
Peace - Mike T
Happy Monday Everybody!
I know - Monday? Happy? Well for me, today is. My new (re-) opened Etsy Shop, "MTI Greeting Cards," is now open, active, live - ready for action ;). For those that perhaps haven't seen my other recent blog posts about all this, I've launched a whole line / series of themed greeting & note cards. The first collection of sets include 'Florida Backroads', 'Smoky Mountains', 'Wild Birds, Butterflies & Flowers'. These cards all come in pacs of 8.
There's also a few individual cards available with a Patriotic / Americana / Military theme (more of these to come).
(The original Inscription (from yours truly) inside this particular 'Thank You American Veterans' card read as follows below)
Right now as an introductory special, all shipping is FREE!!! But this is only an introductory offer and won't be around forever.
All photos or drawings are my original work. There are lots more cards & themes to come over the coming months including seasonal and special themed pieces.
Please check out all this cool new stuff by clicking here: www.MTIGreetingCards.com . Check back there (or here) often. As I say, lots more to come :). Thanks for stoppin' by. Be kind and good to each other!
Peace - Mike T
Hi Y’all 😁
In going over all the fine details for the grand reopening of my new online Etsy Shop (“MTI Greeting Cards”) this coming Monday, I forgot to mention that all items are free shipping as an introductory special (YAY, WOO HOO)!!! Yeppers, that’s correct. BUT - this is only an introductory thing. Won’t be this way forever so ... ya know how that goes ... Get ‘em while they’re hot so to speak.
More details to follow. Stay tuned. Same bat channel ... Ahh, you know the rest .
Peace - Mike T.
Hi All!
So the other day I posted a quick blurb here about what I’ve been up to lately. Well ........ here’s a slightly more detailed explanation of a part of what I’ve been putting together this summer.
A few years back, I started experimenting with different ways to get my photographic endeavors out there. Bluntly put, life happened faster and more consuming than ever. I got so involved in various projects for the Walt Disney Company (where I do a lot of my contracted shooting) that I had so little off time I just became burnt out. When I finally did have time off, I didn't have much creative passion to further any undertakings. Blah blah blah I know 🤓. Anyhoo - one of the projects I’d gotten involved with on my own was doing these live, traveling, multimedia art shows. They were successful and worked well. But one thing I noticed in doing those shows was unexpected. Of all the photographic fine art items I was displaying and selling, what became the most popular was miniature items such as desktop size prints and note/greeting cards. This didn’t come as a total surprise to me as I profess to be one of those artistic types who also has a pretty good business sense. The pieces that became popular and sold well were in everyone’s budgets - a good thing indeed. They also fell into the category of ‘impulse buy’. This emergence delighted me as these ‘miniatures’ were one of the more easy pieces to produce. Hence, it keeps it all at a more affordable point.
So to bring this round circle and connect it all, as of Monday August 12th, 2019, my online Etsy Shop is all set to re-emerge with a new look, feel and name: “MTI Greeting Cards.” ("MTI" standing for Mike Thomas Imagery of course.... just in case you didn’t figure that one out 😜). How do you get to this little shop? So glad you asked ;). Either go to my web site (www.MikeThomasImagery.com) and then click on ‘Greeting/Note Cards’ (FYI, this method won’t be available until August 12th when the new shop goes live). You can also go direct: www.MTIGreetingCards.com. That is in fact my new Etsy Shop. It’s live now but with nothing showing or available yet.
More fine details between now and Monday the 12th. Stay tuned. Check back here. Keep the faith. Be nice to each other. Adios for now amigos.....
Peace - Mike T.
”... Of all the paths you’ll travel in life, make sure at least some of them are dirt ones...”
This picture is symbolic and coincides with one of my favorite John Muir quotes of all times. Hope it makes sense to y’all. And take that path less travelled friends - the dirt one 😜
Peace - Mike T
Greetings All!
Well, changes are on the horizon in the form of web site changes, blog transfer etc... Most is too boring & technical to get into. But suffice it to say, pretty much everything to do with Mike Thomas Imagery will be coming to this web site and blog starting today.
More details, photos, blog posts to come. Please check back :).
Peace - Mike T.
Greetings All :)
I must've photographed from this same exact spot about 10 times over the last 10 years or so. What never ceases to amaze me is that every timer I shoot here, every picture ends up being so different than all the others. `Course this is not a bad thing mind you. It's actually pretty cool and a bit intriguing. Perhaps I'll even return shoot again ;). This was taken overlooking Hammond Lake inside Lake Louisa State Park in central Florida.
Peace - Mike T