Posts tagged BevsPaper
Spotlight on Bevspaper
Nov 10th
Today we shine the Giant Squid Spotlight on one of our Greeters, Bevspaper
Bevspaper tells us about her other endeavor, The Paper Trail, shares her favorite lens with us and more.
1. Tell us a little about your other endeavor, The Paper Trail.
I started my online business in March of 1997 specializing in ephemera or paper collectibles. In the beginning I concentrated specifically on the advertisements from old magazines. My little business has evolved since those early days to include all forms of ephemera. “What the heck is ephemera”, you ask. It is a branch of the antique and collectible industry that includes items that were meant for one use or a short term use and then thrown away. Pretty much if it was made with paper, my shop The Paper Trail carries it. Much of my inventory is also displayed at a local brick and mortar Antique Mall that I help to run here in Central Indiana. It is my love of the illustrators of the past that keeps me excited about the advertising in the magazines, the cover art, and the illustrations in old books that feeds my passion for my busin
ess.
2. In addition to being a 100 Club member you are also one of the Giant Squid Greeters. Which part of that job do you enjoy most?
The very best part of my job as a Giant Squid Greeter is meeting new lensmasters and encouraging them on their journey to becoming a Giant Squid. Sharing tips with them and watching them grow in their lensmaking skills is truly rewarding. I love helping them find answers on how to do things and just letting them know that they are a part of the Squidoo Family. I remember how good it made me feel when a Giant Squid sent me a little note of encouragement and it feels really wonderful to be able to be that person for someone now. It gives me a sense of giving back to the community that helped me along. A pay it forward, if you will.
3. Which of your many lenses is your favorite and why?
There are several that I really had fun writing and researching. The one closest to my heart and the one that was the most difficult to write is He Chose Suicide. Writing it allowed me to let go of some pain that needed released. It also gave me an opportunity to reach out to people who are grieving over the same loss and to let them know that they aren’t alone. And if by reading the lens, one person changes their mind…well that is pretty powerful.
4. Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Most definately – Fiction. It’s nice to visit a make believe world and escape the pressures of every day life.
Learning from the Greats – BevsPaper
Aug 9th
I recently asked new Giant Squid BevsPaper who it was that inspired her to become a Giant Squid Lensmaster.
Here’s what she told me:
“During my first few months at Squidoo, I noticed that some Lensmasters had the Giant Status and I was pretty impressed with their work. A couple of times I even thought to myself that it would be quite an accomplishment to earn that status but I wasn’t sure that I had what it took to make the quality required to achieve that goal. As I spent more time reading other Lensmaster’s work a tiny little dream began to form that maybe someday I could do it. I was just a “Baby Squid” after all and needed to mature before I could try. I needed to learn to crawl before I could walk.
One day in late March or early April of 2009 I received a comment on one of my lenses by rms (Robin) one of the Giant Squid Organizers encouraging me to try for Giant Squid and offering a Mentor if I thought I wanted one. I can’t explain how that one comment boosted my confidence! Someone thought I had what it took to try for Giant Squid. I stated in one of my lenses that “It takes a village to raise a Baby Squid”. The community of Squidoo really does work that way. After Robin’s first invitation, I was invited to join one of the five teams a few weeks later and I decided to join only because Robin had so kindly planted the seed previously. My quest to become a Giant Squid was first inspired by Robin and I thank her so much for that vote of confidence.
Something that I would like to share with potential Giant Squids is this: There really is a village of people who will help you along the way. Robin started a challenge post at SquidU for the potential Giants to post their progress and that was empowering to all of us. An incredible thing happened on those posts! There were several of the potential Giants from all 5 teams who might have looked at each other as competitors but they didn’t! We all became each other’s cheerleaders reading the lenses we created. Leaving encouraging comments for each other. From time to time other Giants and Squid Angels would pop in and leave words of encouragement, too. I found myself wanting to write my very best, not just to reach my own goal; but I also didn’t want to let any of these wonderful guys and gals down who were rooting for me. It was truly an awesome experience and one that I will always treasure!”
Thank you Bev! I love that I inspired you and I know that your lenses are now inspiring others on to greatness as well.
Here’s a small sample of BevsPaper’s outstanding work:
He Chose Suicide http://www.squidoo.com/jeffssuicide
Scarlet Widow http://www.squidoo.com/scarlet-widow
A Squid Is Born http://www.squidoo.com/squid-born-tales
P.S. The Squidu Giant Squid Challenge for September is now open. Please stop by and join us, or to share a few words of encouragement for the next group of hardworking potential Giant Squids.
