Michelle,
As always, all of your samples are superb. Thanks for giving me a chance to
see what my suggestion looks like (#17). I must agree, it's a bit too much.

I'm going to chime in with the rest and say I love #22 as well as the somewhat
related versions #19 and #18b (although I agree that the t's might look better
tall like the b).

I would be happy to poll the group for a vote, if anyone thinks it's a good
idea, but it seems we are coming to a concensus without doing anything of the
sort.

Meanwhile, I've been collecting images for the main page masthead, as well.
(Linda's retro postcard idea) Thanks to Thom, Bonnie, and everyone else, for
the great ideas for pictures to include.

Let me go on record as saying that I absolutely LOVE Duke Ellington, Janis
Joplin, Bob Dylan, and ketchup. My favorite suggestions for this project,
however, are the outdoor scenes. I'm thinking about some things like a
forest, a stream, a painted desert, a white country church, a combine
harvesting wheat, a barn, some sunflowers, a cactus scene, corn, a waterfall,
a little red one-room schoolhouse, a cowboy on a horse, a mountain, a log
cabin, a red dirt road, a cypress swamp, a lake, or a rocky coastline.

I'm not saying this is a definitive list, or anything. Just the kinds of
things I like and have been looking for. By all means, if some of you have
other suggestions, speak up. That's what makes this group so FANTASTIC!!! I
also thought wildlife would be appropriate, but couldn't decide what animals
to include. Bonnie's suggestions of an eagle and/or bison are great ideas. I
had also considered the wild turkey, white-tailed deer, cougar, and wolf.

Speaking of wolves, Der Wolf asked for more specifics on the types of pictures
I'm looking for. I'm looking for small pictures with good colors and
contrast... ones that are as identifiable in a small 'thumbnail' as they are
full size. I'm also trying to keep in mind that the pictures will be cropped
in the shape of letters which tend to be vertical... more tall than wide.

I'm hoping to include lots of great colors (in addition to forest green).
Also, I want fairly generic sorts of pictures. If I include Niagra Falls, Mt.
Rushmore, Devil's Tower, or other recognized landmarks, I might give the
impression that the home states of those national treasures are more special
than the rest... gotta be fair to everyone. I don't think any of the pictures
I used in the unfinished example that I posted will stay.

I've spent quite a bit of time sorting through pictures... maybe I'm too
picky. Some of the water pictures, for example, were tougher than I thought.
I found lots of pictures that were beautiful full-size, but when I shrunk them
down, it was hard to tell if you were looking at water, snow, sand, ice, or a
big white blanket!! If any of you have some pictures you'd like me to play
around with, attach them to an email or give me a link to get to them. Hoping
to get around to putting the whole thing together within the next week or so.

Thanks again for all your help and support. Special thanks to Michelle for
her work with the logo.

Sincerely,
Mitch, Der Mad Stamper

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