You are in the right place... Float Along is a bulletin page that will keep you up-to-date between issues of the bi-monthly Float About newsletter. Bookmark this page so you may check periodically for the latest news.

So what happened to all the information that was here? On Thurs/May 15th the information was pulled. It has been edited and enhanced to become Issue #60 of Float About. Issue #60 posted to my website on Mon/May 19th. Upon receipt, incoming time-sensitive news will be added to this page. When the time comes, all of the information collected here will become Issue #61, and so it goes from newsletter to newsletter. Pretty cool... huh?!

Follow Up to Issue #60...
Thurs/May 15th.
And so it begins... another newsletter has posted. I sent emails to everyone on my list to notify them that the newsletter had posted. At least 50 emails were returned to me marked 'Refused'. Many of the 50 were people I communicate with on a regular basis. Everyone on my list is there by request. If you have a spam blocker, be sure to open your doors to emails from FloatAbout.com, or I can not reach you.

Pens Out and About...
Tues/May 27th
I feel terrible about... this oversight. Two months ago, James Lamoureaux sent this link my way. It simply got lost in the shuffle. Visit ( http://shop.doublefine.com) to see the Doublefine custom advertise floaty. I do have this pen in my personal collection, but I haven't a clue what the product or company is all about. I am going to have to go back to the site and actually read it this time. That little double-headed character is cute and the artwork very nostalgic of 50's ad work. Thank you James!

Diane Hansen of Metropolitan Glass had a custom float pen created to promote her business. If it looks familiar, it was on my pen list for a long period.

Nancy Nerenberg, at FloatArt, is responsible for the design and it is a beauty. Diane tells me she still has a few floaties in inventory and she is interested in trading for the right pens. Contact her directly ( Diane@Dianehansen.com).

Wed/May 28th
Victoria B found a few treasures... in her recent travels. “Ruby's Inn at Bryce Canyon, Utah has a redesigned (presumably digital) version of their classic pen with a rider (probably founder Reuben ‘Ruby’ Syrett) and his mule train floating in front of some Bryce Canyon formations. I am curious about the large black dog that is the foreground object. (Maybe he was a member of the family...) They have a lot of the pens in stock. Bryce Canyon itself was as glorious as I remembered, as was Zion, and every other part of the red rock country we visited. At least we made it back home before the storms hit the region.”

“The Hudson News store in McCarran Airport in Las Vegas yielded a classic-style vertical with a showgirl floating down behind anotherstationary foreground one. They didn't have a large supply, and they had none of the floating poker chip pens I bought there last November. They must sell pretty quickly.” Thanks for the information Victoria. I am sure there are members of the community that will put it to good use.

Tues/June 10
Doug Yeo discovered this... digital design of Americans in Paris a few weeks ago. He presented me with a sample. I whipped up a scan, but I will not be carrying this pen on my list.

Here's the scoop from Doug, “I'm working a lot at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, doing research in their musical instrument collection for an article I'm writing about serpents in Boston (the instrument, not the reptile!). I was in the gift shop today (05/23) and found a floaty pen from a 2006 exhibition called, Americans in Paris. The pen shows a couple walking along the Seine in Paris. They are $2.99 at the MFA shop; I don't know if you can get them online.”

This link will take you directly to information and history of the exhibit. You will also find links to the Museum and Gift shop. ( www.mfa.org/exhibitions). From memory, Doug thinks there were a few dozen pens displayed in a large container, standing on end. Contact the Museum via phone or email for availability.

Doug went on to report... “We went to Bermuda for a week last month for a very restful vacation and fabulous sunsets. Alas, I did not see a single floaty pen on the whole island, a big change since the last time we were there five years ago. This was our 10th trip to Bermuda and I have a nice collection of Bermuda pens. But apparently floaty pens are not on the Bermuda radar any more - they must have all gone into the Bermuda triangle!”

Sat/July 5
According to Doug Yeo.. digitals are popping up everywhere. “This afternoon, we had some friends from Boston visiting and because it is a rainy day, we went for an inside activity, visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. The shop had a C-top floaty, digital, of Rockwell's famous painting of Main Street, Stockbridge. They retail for $3.00 but are not available on the Museum website.”

Doug presented me with a digital Main Street Stockbridge pen when he visited the Rockwell Museum in 2007. Unfortunately, my personal collection is so disorganized, I couldn't find it. Some years back I carried the photoramic version on my list. They are long gone. Of course the photoramic version was better, the new digital is acceptable. If you contact the Rockwell Museum giftshop ( http://store.nrm.org/feedback.htm), I bet shipping could be arranged.

Mon/July 21
Just a few weeks later... Doug made another museum discovery. “Our travels today, on a day of thunderstorms, took us inside to the Berkshire Museum, in Pittsfield, MA. Just a few miles from our house, and it is a small museum, built in 1903, and a bit of a throwback to "old" style museums of long ago. Many plaster casts of famous statues (museums often bought plaster copies of classic statues as they were less expensive than buying original works and they still had great interest in being studied). We spent an enjoyable two hours there.”

Wed/July 23
Christina Pleva shares an International... floaty status quo. “I had the fortune of being able to travel with my husband to Northern Italy and Germany in April and found pens in Freiburg, the Black Forest, and also some new Twist N Clicks from Neuschwanstein. I also picked up some new digital classic style pens while passing through London Heathrow. They have the London Eye (Ferris Wheel) in the foreground. Nothing to be found in Italy, though.” Thanks Christina!

Sat/August 9
Doug Yeo and wife, Patricia... begin the final phase of their summer journey. “We left our summer festival, Tanglewood, last week first for NYC (where we took in the Turner exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), then to PA to visit my Pat's parents. Next stop, Canton, OH, for a pilgrimage to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After a great time at the Hall of Fame, we wandered to the President Wm McKinley Library & Museum, and what a nice surprise it was to find a display of photoramic floaty pens”.

“Imagine my surprise when I went to the checkout counter (with pens in hand) and struck up a conversation with the clerk, Cindy Sober. We had a nice chat and I let her know about the change from photoramic to digital, etc. A nice, serendipitous meeting”.

Cindy is certainly a crafty marketeer. Her sign is education and full of information. Of course the challenge to beat Miranda's numbers is sheer genious. I wonder. Did anyone take the challenge to heart? Or perhaps there is someone out there with a larger collection that is just too shy to come forward?

As reported in Issue #52, you may purchase the McKinley Museum pen directly from the Museum via mailorder. Contact Shoppe Manager, Cindy Sober cindysober@lycos.com. Or, direct your written requests to the Wm McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, OH 44708. The price is $3 per pen plus $1.50 for shipping (50¢ for each additional unit). This is a photoramic that appeared on my list in the spring of 2006. My supply is depleted.

Sun/August 10
“Doug and Pat nearing home... We are now in Niagara Falls. I have plenty of NF pens from a family vacation here about 15 years ago, but I picked up a couple of pens (both digitals) on the Canadian side, including one from the Skylon Tower (with the revolving restaurant on top) and another with American and Canadian flag - the Maid of the Mist IV floats”.

“We head home on Tuesday, but I'd say this was a nice trip for pens. It's been a good summer of hunting!” Thank you Doug. That is very encouraging news for collectors everywhere!

Mon/August 11
“The estimated time of arrival for the Magic Flute floaty... from Operagraphics, was supposed to be September. Regina always sends a sample of her latest design my way. I was really surprised to find the Magic Flute pen in my mailbox today. Regina did such a fine job scanning the pen, I borrowed her photo. It's an Eskesen twist and click with a chrome clip in digital imagery. To see the pen in action, visit ( http://www.operagraphics.com/Penmagicflute.php ). Order your Magic Flute pen directly from Operagraphics today. It is a fine design and will be a nice addition to your opera category.

Sun/August 17
“It will be September... before the Board of the Norewegian collectors group will meet again. Then they will decide if their pen will be made available to the public.

It's possible the Board will decide to post the remaining inventory on eBay. Whatever their decision, Tone Helen Hanken will let me know.

Collectors News...
Mon/June 9
The Dutch pen collectors... held their annual meeting in Barneveld, Holland the weekend of June 1st. As you can see, the event was well attended.

I should clarify that this club, like the group in Norway, represents collectors of all types of pens. Both groups include a number of floaty devotees. Dutch collector, Miranda Wittebol and Finn Sørensen, from Denmark, were among them at the 2008 conference. They both provided photos.

The Dutch group, established in 1993, celebrated their 15th anniversary. Miranda, from Holland, is responsible for the 2008 custom floaty design. The Eskesen pen features little mice carrying float pens over a row of different types of pens. The stylish C-Clip was chosen to wrap it all up.

Miranda takes a few moments to relax at her display table. The majority of her neatly organized collection is composed of float pens. Miranda has the 2008 Dutch pen for trade. You can reach her via email wittebol@planet.nl.

Finn is on-the-road, but you can visit his website to see his coverage of the event www.pencollector.dk.

Wed/August 6
If you have experienced difficulty... trying to reach Miranda Wittebol, it's because she has changed her website and email addresses. Update your files: Miranda's Floaty World http://home.kpn.nl/wittbol; new email wittebol@planet.nl or wittebol@kpn.nl

Sun/August 17
Tone Helen Hanken, of Norway... submitted this news last week. This is the first chance I have had to post. The Norwegian collectors group has a member that came from Swaziland. The collector and his wife are dedicated to an important cause. They help orphaned African children that have lost their parents to AIDS. They offer support to an organization that has built a school for the children. Now other members of the club are getting involved. Eight members of the group donated money to have a floaty pen created as a fund raiser. All funds collected will be donated to the organization. If this project is successful, it's possible the group will generate a second pen.

The art window features a picture of the club, the school, students and the organization's logo. All eight collectors responsible for the pen are pictured on the caption panel.

If you wish to know more about the organization, this will take you to the site. ( www.swazihjelpen.piczo.com ).

I have ordered 15 pens. You may reserve one now. My standard shipping charges apply. I am pleased to be a small part of this positive and uplifting project.

Wed/August 20
In addition to Maine and New Hampshire pens... Craig Wilson has a bounty of summer finds for trade. Check his current trade list at this link: ( http://web.mac.com/floatnik/Floatsville/Swap_Meet.html ). Happy trades to all!

Media Sighting...
Wed/May 28th
In the last issue of Float About... Victoria B reported catching a glimpse of a floaty pen in an episode of Bones. Victoria had this to add, “While catching up on the last two Bones episodes for the season, I saw another floaty pen in the Booth character's hand. It was just a glimpse again, but it was a classic black, with enough of a window showing that I could recognize the style. They have subtly made the floaty pens a part of his character.” Very encouraging news. You never know where a floaty will pop-up. Report your findings. Thanks Victoria. We will be watching.

Mon/June 9
This may not be a traditional floaty pen... media sighting, but very exciting. This report features a collector-in-the-media.

If you caught the Celtic-Lakers game last night you probably heard or even saw Boston collector, Douglas Yeo. Doug and colleagues from the Boston Pops brass section, played the national anthem at the Celtics-Lakers game. “What a thrill, and to see the Celtics win as well. Life is good!”

Doug is the trombone player far right. I don't follow basketball, but I got goosebumps just thinking about it. I am sure the crowd responded the same way when they heard the national anthem. I am so glad Doug shared his news. If he hadn't mentioned it, how would we know?

Mon/June 16
And Susan Baker will soon... be a celebrity. As reported earlier, Susan and her float pen collection have been filmed for an Australian collectors program. I just received an update. “The collectors episode goes to air this Friday, here is a little blurb from their website: ( www.abc.net.au/tv ).” Susan thinks she will be able to send a DVD my way. I will keep you posted. I only wish we could all tune-in for her grand debut.

Fri/Aug 1st
Craig Wilson emailed... to ask if anyone had told me about the latest floaty pen media sighting yet? He was the first to hear it. It wasn't actually a sighting, but rather the spoken word.

“Last night on NBC's summer show, Last Comic Standing, one of the comics, Iliza Shlesinger, did a routine about her boss looking for her pen.” Be aware, first there will be a brief commercial followed by Iliza's performance. She mentions a float pen about three minutes into her schtick. ( http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm ). Thanks for the notice Craig. I would have overlooked this one for sure.

Sun/Aug 17
Beverly Broadstone also had an unusual... pen sighting. “The stripper pen always seems to gain the most attention, and it has so again in an award winning novel that made it on Time Magazine's 100 Best Novels list. The book is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. It is the winner of the Hugo Award.”

Beverly's husband, George made the discovery. He brought it to Beverly's attention. The narrator is speaking about his father's employer, an auto shop owner. Beverly forwarded this excerpt: “The other thing that was peculiar about Moe was his sense of humor, as represented by all the stuff he used to keep in the top right side drawer of his desk. In that drawer, amongst a mess of rubber bands and paper clips and receipts and stuff, Moe had one of the largest collections of tasteless novelty items that I had seen up until that point or have seen at any time since. They were all risque little toys and gadgets that Moe had picked up from gag shops or on visits to Coney Island, but it was the sheer range of them that was overwhelming: every cheap blue gimmick that you can remember your dad bringing home when he'd been out drinking with the boys and embarrassing your mom with; every ballpoint pen with a girl on the side whose swimsuit vanished when you turned it upside down..........” Thanks Beverly B!

On the Homefront...
Tues/May 27th
The morning after Memorial Day... I awoke to a bomb in my inbox. Float About had been spoofed overnight. When you send an email out, for any number of reasons, sometimes it bounces back. Tuesday morning I awoke to 2600+ bounce-backs. The only problem... I didn't send emails to any of the people listed. Someone borrowed my email address to send spam to thousands upon thousands of people. Sadly this practice is becoming way too popular. If you want to spread viruses, share links to porn and other such nonsense, why use your own email?! Just use someone else's. Float About has been severely used and abused.

Before I could begin to delete the first 2600, another 1549 flooded in. I contacted my email server and asked them to delete everything contained in my inbox. I also asked what I could do to prevent this from happening again. Since the mail was not sent through my email server, there isn't anything my server can do about it. They explained there isn't anything I can do about it either. Spammers scan the Internet in seach of addresses to use. They like dot.com addresses because they lend a degree of legitimacy to their project. Because my email address is prominently displayed on my website... I am an easy target. If you have had a similar experience, or you have a positive solution... I am all ears!

Sun/Aug 17
We had a busy week... playing catch-up and recovering from our last art show. The show was much better than expected. With the economy down and gas prices so high, we weren't sure what the season would bring. So far, so good.

We had a surprise visitor last Thursday. My cousin, Bruce, spent the afternoon with us. It was the first time I have seen him in nearly 20 years. I happily dropped everything for his impromptu visit. It was fabulous. We won't let decades pass before our next get together.

In between making bracelets and doing shows, I have managed to keep 15-18 pens on eBay every Wednesday. I wanted to scan duplicates over the weekend, but to do the job right requires my undivided attention and a big block of time. I seem to be going in at least three different directions at once and time is best spent at the bead table. Bill and I have survived three art fairs and have just two to go. Our next event, the Labor Day Arts Fest will be held in Upper Arlington, a neighborhood in Columbus, OH. Josh will meet us there. If the weather holds, it promises to be the biggest event of the season. I am determined to be ready. Our final show will be September 14th in Berea, OH. Then I can dedicate a lot more time and energy to pen biz.

Our weather has been fabulous for the last week. Lots of sunshine, but it finally cooled down. How about you? Making the best of summer? Traveling? Finding pens? Tell me all about it! We are enjoying a beautiful summer. You too?

Well, that's all for now, but check back frequently for updates! a star indicates an active 'clickable' link throughout this website Read the current issue of Float About Issue #60 posted Mon/May 19, 2008
Back up and read Issue #59 from Fri/Feb 29, 2008

FLOAT ABOUT... Diana Andra, 1676 Millsboro Road, Mansfield, OH 44906-3374
phone 419/529-8876 (11 am - midnight) * fax 419/524-3354
My email: DiAndra@FloatAbout.com
Copyright © August 2008 Diana Andra/Float About.com