Winners! Email me for your winning badges!

Everyone who wins gets a terrific badge to put on their winning lens.

Be sure to email me and get yours!

June Content #1: Ancient Greek Odyssey

Some Squidoo pages are simply SUPERB in every respect, and almost everyone agreed that Ancient Greek Odyssey fits that description.

Greekgeek has shared her Greek travels and studies with us in an extraordinary and approachable way, with amazing photos, a travel diary and places that are the stuff of breathtaking fantasy and beauty.

Greekgeek is a prolific Squidooer, with an incredible squidbook, loads of interesting and helpful lenses, and is a valued contributor in SquidU with all manner of technical problems lensmasters have.

Congratulations, Greekgeek, for your First Place win! It really is well deserved!

June Content #2: Horatio Nelson

I guess it can't be helped: there are so many eggheads and history buffs on Squidoo, that plenty of us appreciate a great topic when we see one!

GordonJohns has built his great Horatio Nelson lens to give beginners a very interesting, concise introduction to one of history's most famous men.

His writing style is tight, informative and interesting. He has included eye-catching photos and plenty of resources for a student who wants to do some research on this amazing Admiral.

Congratulations on being one of the People's Favorites!

June Content #3: Tuscan Gardens

rms is another favorite Squidoo lensmaster, who has done some really fabulous other lenses! In this case, her Tuscan Garden Lens was a real winner over some very, very tough competitors!

The lens has not only directions, photos and introductory information about Tuscany and Tuscan style, she has given us recipes to use our garden herbs, spices and vegetables in a Tuscan manner, and even brought out incredible Tuscan garden items so you can have an authentic garden.

Here is another lens worthy of lensrolling, bookmarking, favoriting and emailing to all your friends. You can be sure someone you know will love this one!

June Commerce #1: All About Pantone Swatches

Pixelrage, an awesome lensmaster, took the hearts of enough lensmasters and jurists, with the ever so useful All About Pantone Swatches, that this lens could only be #1!

Pantone, of course, is the leader in color matching and is used by professionals in every conceivable field that relies on reliable color for their business. Pixelrage has made Pantone accessible and understandable for everyone, useful and a great reference.

We like that very, very much! Congrats Mark (Pixelrage), on another great lens!

June Commerce #2: Everything Tea at Collector's Cottage

Everything Tea at Collector's Cottage was another favorite commerce lens!

The lensmaster Collector's Cottage, has given us a collector's resource lens, with antique information, types of tea sets like limoges, and places for us to go to get exactly the collectibles we want.

It is a useful and resourceful page for tea lovers, which it seems that Squidoo has lots of!

Congratulations on a successful commerce lens!

June Commerce #3: Starwars Fan Site

Bdkz is a fabulous lensmaster, who managed to touch the heart of our jurors with her Star Wars Fan Site lens.

She gives us everything a Star Wars fan could want- great videos, party stuff, and the LINKS!

Another faboo destination spot on Squidoo for shoppers, fans and officionados...

We're not the only ones who think so- she got LOTD from headquarters too!

Congratulations on a fabulous lens!

Oops! Red-Faced!

I posted the July Contest Winners BEFORE the June!

This is what happens when I get behind....

Welcome to Our Newest Juror: rksmythe!

When we seek out jurists for the By Invitation Only jury, we know how important it is that the candidates be experienced, respected, talented and knowledgeable!

All of these things and more apply to our newest juror, rksmythe! He is a SquidAngel, a regular and helpful contributor to SquidU, and is relied on for great advice and support by our growing community of ebayers!

He has a fabulous Squidbook, terrific blogs, a great list of fabulous lenses and a great ebay directory group.

We are extremely pleased that Randy has joined the By Invitation Only jury- we are sure that he will be an incredible addition to our group and our project!

Thanks to our Retired Jurist: Dinodino!

Dinodino was instrumental and incredibly valuable in getting our contest off the ground. There simply isn't a better commerce lensmaster, more helpful Squidooer, or a more level head at Squidoo!

Dinodino has his own group, Concepts, Lot 10 Headquarters, from which ANY commerce lensmaster can learn a lot about interesting and graceful commerce lenses, and from his work you can easily see what a great resource he has been to the By Invitation Only lensmaster contest.

We want to officially thank Dinodino for his contribution to this contest, but also to especially thank him for all the terrific help he is around Squidoo and SquidU. All of us Squidooers have benefitted immensely from his insight and experience.

So, to say goodbye, I'd like to give you, Dinodino, this Irish Blessing:

"May those that love you, love you.
But if there is anyone who doesn't love you,
May God turn their hearts.
If that doesn't work,
May God turn their ankle,
So you know who they are when you see them limping!"

July Content #1: Bergen Belsen

Mugshot's lens Bergen Belsen is an excellent example of the hand-built, personal knowledge and experience lenses that make Squidoo such an interesting place!

Pages like this remind us that what may seem 'distant history' is still living and breathing, and still affects individuals among us. Perhaps we can all learn to value our experience of the historic times we live in right now, and bring our own experience of these current events to a Squidoo page.

Personal experience lenses help us to make Squidoo a 'knowledge depository' in a new way, perhaps even better than Wikipedia. It is an 'oral history' in text, with photos, intimate knowledge, and an historical perspective that should not, and need not, be lost with the passing of generations.

Congratulations, Mugshot, and thank you for sharing such important information with all of us!

July Content #2: Keep Your Child Safe!

Sadiepal is another new Squidooer who has crammed an important page FULL of content and great resources!

Squidoo has an incredible line up of lensmasters who love children, who bring their best all about children to Squidoo, and who will appreciate Sadiepal's lens Keep YOUR Child Safe as part of the treasured resource Squidoo can be!

It is quite a broad lens, from notifications of missing children, to resources to help parents protect their child, to great outlines of things to discuss with kids for prevention purposes.

We look forward to seeing more of Sadiepal's work for children in the future! Congratulations!

July Content #3: Money Origami

Money Origami is My Funny Money's only lens, but it is a delightful addition to the Squidoo line up!

In hindsight, his page is almost prophetic, as the money situation on Wall Street and in the global economy has gotten 'funny' and nobody is laughing!

However, if you'd like to add value to your own dollars, he's got some great links, interesting pics and lots of resources for you! He uses his Squidoo lens to promote is own website, which is a primary reason to have a Squidoo lens, and he's done a really fine and focused job on bringing us some interesting, light hearted and focused niche content. Congratulations!

July Commerce #1: The Powerball Gyroscope

Comprehensiveness is another important quality of successful commerce lenses, and Dutchblogger has really outdone himself with his beautiful lens Powerball Gyroscope!

Some of us are definitely gadget addicts, but need a little guidance to use them well, and Robert has included all that we need to know in this commerce lens. It is beautiful with the photos, useful with the videos, and helpful with his take on what the Powerball Gyroscope is best used for.

Congratulations, Robert, on a fine commerce lens!

July Commerce #2: Christian Children's Books

A destination site: isn't this what we hope our commerce lenses will be? Our #2 Commerce winner, WaterWalkerPublishing, has created a real destination site at Squidoo with his Christian Children's Books lens!

We envision this site as being a page that parents with children will visit again and again, looking for the next fabulous Christian children's book. It is also a page that fans of Scott's books will send all their friends to, to share what they value so much.

Scott is another of Squidoo's top lensmasters, with commitment, beautiful pages and a clear and convincing eye. We can be very proud of such a consistent and talented lensmaster at Squidoo!

July Commerce #3: Find the Perfect Quiche Pan

Giddy Gabby's particular style comes through all her lenses, even her commerce lenses! It is personal style that makes commerce lenses so appealing and, we hope, profitable!

Giddy Gabby made her first commerce lens: Find the Perfect Quiche Pan, which seems to have been universally enjoyed by jurists, visitors and voters alike as of the cut off date.

Like so many of our contestants, their wonderful personalities shine through their pages, and we believe that as Squidoo grows and gets attention, it is this in particular that will make lenses successful.

Congratulations, Giddy, for your third place amid so much awesome competition!

#1 Content Winner: Asante Africa Foundation

Squidoo'rs are a big charitable bunch! We LOVE worthy causes, and effective programs, and we are all worried about Africa.

timefortravel has brought us a fabulous lens discussing specific things that the Assante Africa Foundation is doing to bring tangible help and education to families and children in Kenya.

Kim give us a clear picture of the situation that her friends found, the difference they are making, great info about fundraisers and all the details of how you can help and what your donation would accompish.

Kim is an extremely talented lensmaster and has convinced us of the importance of helping the Asante Africa Foundation, but other programs like it.

Congratulations on a truly wonderful lens, Kim!

#2 Content Winner in May: Tofu!

We know that this terrific lens won a big, fat LOTD award, and NO WONDER! Peter Trivelas has used all his years of experience to make this lens and it shows.

Tofu has a LOT of fans at Squidoo, both the food and the lens. He's give terrific recipes that are attractive to even the most suspicious tofu eaters in the world. The pics are fabulous and a chance to get his dvd, everything works to the advantage of the visitor!

This one is certain to build a larger and larger fan base and I can see more dvds and a few recipe books in Peter & Maribeth's future! Congrats on a winner of a lens!

#3 May Content Winner: Block Buster! British Glam Rock of the 70s

WELLLLLL....

Just when I was comfortable with the idea that I could understand Brits and the differences between us, along comes JustBon_Crochet_Design with a BIG surprise.

Our Third Place Content Winner for May is: Block Buster! British Glam Rock of the 70s

Being that Alice Cooper is one of my 'home town' boys, I NEVER thought of him as 'British Glam'!!! David Bowie, ok -a GREAT- but an androgynous British guy wasn't, well, too surprising. But Alice Cooper????

The Alice Cooper I KNOW???

I don't care how many silk purses or earrings you put on HIS ear, he'll never be anything but a gritty Detroit hometown guy. We understood what he was up to and why. He's just 'one of ours' doing his thing- a neighborhood guy makin' music like so many other area biggies. We dearly love him, he's one of the best human beings you could ever meet, but BRITISH GLAM???

Looking back, I can kind of see her point....how they adopted him.

But, but, B-R-I-T-I-S-H Glam... Motown 'glam'if dead chickens, straight jackets & safety pins are glam.

So, now that I've recovered from a few fried brain synapses, congratulations on a great(and for me, memorable)lens.

I can't wait to see what you make of another 'hometown talent'- Madonna!

#1 Commerce Winner: Food for Your Health and Beauty - Mind and Spirit

This is a use of the commerce lens that we LOVE to see: an expert, surfsusan, showing, explaining and offering her small business to you.

Our #1 Commerce lens in May 2007 is Food for Your Health and Beauty - Mind and Spirit

This is a really nice general lens for any small business person to model their own lens after.

Instead of a 'diet' which everyone hates, Susanne talks about 'optimizing your health' and gives us a good overview of what she has to offer.

Lots of great resources on this page, and encouragement to look and feel better.

Congratulations, Susanne, for a very well done business professional lens!

#2 Commerce: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book 7

thefluffanutta is a valued member of Squidoo and has mastered so many great techniques that is isn't a wonder that he turns out fabulous lenses!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book 7 was a very tough act to follow this month of May!

His introduction picture is of the UK version of this yet-to-be-released book, and his commerce modules are clear, descriptive and beautiful.

He provides LOADS of information for Harry Potter fans, including very fun "Potter Puppet Pals" vids from YouTube. There is a wonderful article by Kathleen Falkner.

Fluff has a terrific roster of useful lenses for any lensmaster. I recommend you check those out, too!

#3 Commerce: Bolivian Coca Tea - Mate de Coca

GkyGrl points out something most of us didn't even know about: coca as tea!

In May this is our third place commerce lens:
Bolivian Coca Tea- Mate de Coca.

And, just in case we are as ignorant of the product as we are, she fills us in with all the relevant details, the benefits of that tea, and she clears up the difference between cocoa, which we all know and love, and coca, which is an entirely different plant altogether.

Gkygrl is a terrific lensmaster with a growing roster of interesting lenses under her belt.

#1: A Dual Winner AGAIN! Topanga

Topanga has really gone out of her way to make some incredible pages, and this month seems to be no different than last!

She took the #1 Content Spot for her incredible and well-loved Seahorse Keeping lens. I never knew why I couldn't raise seashorses successfully until I read her lens. If you have an interest in seahorses in your aquarium, Lilly has given you all the information you need to do it well, do it right, and give your seahorses a happy life!

She also took the #2 Commerce spot with her Unique Products for Dogs. This lens has a huge selection of interesting and useful products, with loads of information in a very charming and interesting lens.

Congratulations, Lilly! We're very proud of you!

#2 Content Winner: Frankster!

Polar Bear Aware, in a tight race, took #2 Best Content lens. You simply can't read Frankster's page without falling in love with polar bears and caring about their lives and their fates. Frankie is also a newbie, joining Squidoo in March. However, she came on the scene blazing, winning LOTD and a huge audience almost immediately!

Frankie is another example of extraordinary and passionate people who are making a difference with Squidoo. How about YOU???

#3 Content Winner: Christene

Christene is another relatively new Squidooer with some incredible lenses and a way with people. She has been gracious and extremely helpful in the lounge with new and experienced alike, and took to Squidoo like a- well- Squid to water!

She took #3 for her Broadway Shows lens, an incredible resource for Broadway shows. You can't look at her lens and not know what to see on Broadway. The details are extensive! It took a great deal of work to make such a useful and informative page, and demonstrates very well her skills as a lensmaster.

Congratulations, Christene, on a lens so very well done!

A Dual Winner in April! Lady Gotrocks!

Lady Gotrocks outdid herself this month, winning both #3 commerce and #1 Commerce awards! She is a brilliant gem wholesaler and eBayer, who has done a wonderful job with her Squidoo lenses!

The #3 best commerce lens for April is the beautiful Comprehensive Guide to Buying Amethysts. Her pictures are stunning, and you'll learn more about Amethysts by looking at her page than you ever knew possible in such a short space. Her Amethyst page was incredibly popular.

She also took #1 best commerce lens for Sapphires. Again, with wonderful pictures and information- who knew you could get sapphires in so many colors? Who knew you could get the look of a diamond with a sapphire?

Lady Gotrocks is a genuine asset to Squidoo, like so very many of our great lensmasters! Congratulations!

#1 Content Winner: Horseboy Movie Project

Quoting our wonderful Julia Steffey in her lounge announcement, because it just can't be said better:

"Less can be more. There are a lot of monster-lenses out there (guilty as charged) and while they are often fantastic, more isn't always better. Sometimes simple (yet not simplistic!), clear and concise works best.
Compelling topic, clear layout, and a carefully chosen variety of related materials, information and merchandise win this lens top-spot for the March Content Competition. Follow the progress of this movie-in-the-making, a beautiful story of a father's unbounded love for his son and the lengths to which he will go for him. The lensmaster gives some background information and then lets the film trailer speak for itself. 'Nuff said! Horse Boy Movie Project by horseboymovie"

#1 Commerce Winner: Handmade Victorian Cards

Commerce lenses are such an important part of Squidoo, and we are always impressed by wonderful commerce lenses that make us comfortable, more knowledgeable and offer a special or hard to find product. Lakewaytexas is a lensmaster we would all be pleased to do business with.

Her Handmade Victorian Cards lens is an elegant presentation of information, photos, resources and purchasing opportunities that really struck our jurists and the voters as 'just right.'

Congratulations on a masterful commerce lens!

#2 Content Winner: Giddy Gabby's Random Facts & Daily Tips

Who doesn't love Giddy Gabby's style? You're guaranteed a smile when you go to this (or any) lens by GiddyGabby. Amuse Bouche. Touche! She keeps it fresh and fast-paced and strings it all together in an attractive, cohesive way. It's a virtual charm-bracelet of wit and wisdom at Giddy Gabby's Random Facts and Daily Tips.

She has the ever popular group Baby Boomers Rock, and a terrific blog that keeps everyone human, in touch with what's important, and how to make peace in a difficult world.

You'll enjoy all of Giddy Gabby's Squidoo lenses!

#2 Commerce Winner: Gemstone Cameo Portrait Jewelry

This was an absolutely tight contender for #1, and no wonder! Gareth Eckley makes amazing heirloom quality cameos in various precious and semi-precious stones.

In fact, during this waiting period for the jury to complete the voting, Mr. Eckley was found by his Squidoo page, and commissioned to make a precious reproduction cameo for Her Majesty the Queen!

Because of this incredible achievement, he has been featured on our new lens, Purple Cream Rising, as an premier example of how Squidoo helps people to succeed beyond their best dreams!

Visit Gareth's lens and congratulate him on this awesome achievement!

#3 Double Winner: Content & Commerce: Topanga

Topanga, a dedicated and talented Squidoo'er, came in with #3 commerce lens for her Alternative Medicine

Her lens Lupus Support won #3 best content lens.

Her bio reads this way: "Lilly Calandrello, personal growth expert, MS, MA, is a relationship, marriage, family therapist, motivational and inspirational speaker, intuitive counselor and author. Lilly helps people from all walks of life develop strategies to attract, grow, and retain meaningful and long lasting relationships."

Lilly's expertise has been put to good use with her impressive list of lenses. She has won Lens of the Day, is regularly on the top 100 list, and has several more lenses entered into the By Invitation Only contest.

We are very excited to have Lilly at Squidoo! She is making a real contribution to the content and quality of what Squidoo offers the internet, and we have no doubt that her contributions increase the traffic and value for all of us.

Well done, Lilly! We are all impressed with your skill and talent!

New Badges, New Look!

Well, after a break we are back at it, this time with a new look, new logos, new group page and a new juror, Janet21!

I apologize for the delay in blogging the latest winners. We had several jurors who were gone at any given time, which delayed things somewhat because I wanted everyone's vote!

In the meantime, several wonderful things have happened. Director Tom has received 2 new awards for his corporate documentary work and is up for more.

I became a Citizen Squid for the first time ever, and have had the honor of submitting your and other lenses to the new Squitastic Twitter feed.

Gareth Eckley was commissioned to do a reproduction of an historic cameo, that had been given to Pocahontas by King James 400 years ago, which now resides in Buckingham Palace Royal Collection!

Watch this space for all the announcements, winners and new activities!

March Plexos - Be Sure to Enter!

The March Plexos are in place at the Contest Lens! Be sure to enter your favorite lenses, and your own best lenses!

Remember, ONLY MASTER LENSMASTERS participate in Squidoo.

Winners, don't forget to email Margaret for your winning badges and additional opportunities!

Congratulations to all!

#1 Winner in the Content Category

National Parks and Monuments, by masterful lensmaster JimB, is yet another example of knowledge, passion and experience being shared in a widely beloved lens.

The only people who don't love our National Parks are those who haven't yet visited. If you haven't been there, after reading Jim's lens, you'll be making plans to get there!

Jim is a writer, having a first book "Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks" and so its no wonder that his ten lenses are so compelling. Another example of true Grandmaster Lensmaster material!

Congratulations, Jim, from a whole huge batch of admirers!

#1 Winner in the Commerce Category

As groupmaster for the Mall on Squidoo group, I have a special interest in commerce lenses. I see dozens of them every single day, and I've built more than a few of my own. Affiliate lenses are all too easy to duplicate by anyone who can build a lens. They ARE ALL being duplicated every day, and I see all the duplicates. This month's number one winner gives all affiliate lensmasters hope and a great model.

Lumix ® - Digital Cameras by Panasonic, by Snaz, is a perfect example of passion giving practical meaning to a purchase.

Passion and utility is exactly what sets this lens apart from dozens, soon to be hundreds or even thousands, of camera affiliate lenses.

Snaz has a passion for photography and for good reason: he's a photographer. so it follows, and his lens makes it clear, that the camera he chooses is important in his work. He shares his reasoning with us and helps us to select what works best for our own situation.

We are not eyeballs for manipulation, hype and abuse with Snaz. We are human beings who's interest, intelligence and time he respects. What a pleasant relief!

Exceptionally well done. Thanks Snaz!

#2 Winner in the Content Category

Barbaro by Ghost_Moth was a very, very tight 'race' and there is no pun intended here. Ghost_Moth has a very high level of storytelling skills, is able to keep us on the edge of our seat through the whole lens, and and also write a gorgeous and very moving tribute to an astonishing horse. That youtube video is one to watch again and again. This is definitely GRANDMASTER LENSMASTER material!

Ghost_Moth is by no means a 'one trick pony' either. He has an impressive additional 46 lenses, all of which are great topics and interesting treatments.

Squidoo is a much richer place for Ghost_Moth's participation. Congratulations, with our admiration and respect, Ghost_Moth!

#2 Winner in the Commerce Category

Disney Pins, by top lensmaster RV, is a dearly loved favorite lens of everyone. Disney is already fun, fun, fun, yet RV has shown us a new way to really delight in Disney every day, to take that fun to Disney and beyond, and to keep something so loved as a daily part of our lives.

RV has truly become a master lensmaster, with 11 more fabulous lenses to his credit. He's also an active participant in Squidoo, Groupmastering the All Things Christian Group.

Congratulations on a fabulous, well loved lens!

#3 Winner in the Content Category

Jellyfish: Beauty with a Bite is one of the favorites of everyone in February.

Another situation where a fabulous content lens is the only one for this lensmaster, aquaken.

This lens about jellyfish is so good that it can be used in classrooms and as reference materials for everyone, and I really hope to see it in lensrolls all over Squidoo!

It was also Lens of the Day, back in July of last year. With content lensmasters like that, Squidoo could really be a major resource on the internet.

Congratulations for the long term relevancy and beauty of such an awesome lens, Aquaken! We'd love to see more work from you!

#3 Winner in the Commerce Category

Top 20 Things to do at the French Culinary Institute in No Particular Order, by kbrown0804 was a very tight favorite of lensmasters and jurists alike.

This is the lensmaster's only lens, a tragedy when you think about the lenses they could make from this one alone... french cooking, french eating, french pastries...

This beautiful, content rich lens has us all hoping that being a winner among so many lensmasters will encourage kbrown0804 to come back and do a series!

Masterpiece Content Lens #1

Great Disney World Photos is tops for content, a masterpiece lens in its own right!

Barrie has created a lens that we can go back to again and again, increasing our photography skills, giving us important tips, and the photographs- what a beautiful selection!

Like the rest of the Squidoo lensmasters, this was one of our very favorites.

This masterpiece lens is entered into our annual Masterpiece Lens award contest.

Congratulation, Barrie! We are proud of you and your work!

Masterpiece Commerce Lens #1!

Stamping Shopper is a great commerce lens, where people are ready to take up the hobby by the time they get to the end of the page!

By the time she gets done with us, webseitler has created a new want in us, a desire to do some new projects that we never knew about before. This type of open and interactive commerce sure inspires not only new customers but repeat business! An excellent example of what web commerce can be!

We believe this will be a very successful commerce lens!

We congratulate webseitler on her masterpiece lens, and have entered it in the annual Masterpiece Lens of the Year contest!

Runners Up- Content Master Lens #2

Procrastination Destination, by groovyoldlady, is the LENS TO GO TO for all the help we could possibly need procrastinating!

Its about time someone helped us to CELEBRATE our human nature. And celebrate we do, laughing and enjoying everything she shares with us. She is DEFINITELY groovy! No wonder she's such a popular lensmaster!

Congratulations on your wit, your style, and your great content.

This master lens is entered in the annual Masterpiece Lens of the Year contest!

Runners Up- Commerce Master Lens #2

Trail of Painted Ponies by ishopsouthwest is a delightful, interesting and involving way to generate business! With all the storyteller lensmasters in Squidoo, its no wonder that this lens is so popular!

Many of us have seen huge resin animals painted and decorated up by artists in many cities. Personally I've seen rubber duckies, bears, and a few others. The painted ponies idea really captures the imagination, though!

Congratulations, ishopsouthwest, on your master lens! You have been entered in the annual Masterpiece Lens contest!

Runners Up- Content Master Lens #3

42! Couldn't be just coincidence, could it, that we KNEW that 42 would be a winner on the 42nd day of the year, we just didn't tell RonenV??? Ahhhh, life! It IS ironic, is it not, RonenV?

Like the rest of you lensmasters, we loved this clever, funny and entertaining lens!

Our sincerest congratulations on such terrific work.

Its also going into the masterpiece lens contest!

Runners Up- Commerce Master Lens #3

Tea Lover's Equipment by Nancoix was a favorite of lensmasters and the jurors alike!

Aside from the EXCELLENT taste she showed by her hand-picked selections, she used a really nice technique in her intro- a 'table of contents' so it is easy to see where on her lens you can find what you want.

Even though the right sidebar gives us that information, based on the module titles, how often do people REALLY use the sidebar to its best effect? Nancoix was taking no chances that something special in her commerce lens would be overlooked.

We believe this will be a very successful commerce lens.

Congratulations, Nancoix!

Your master lens is entered in the Masterpiece Lens of the year contest!

Now We're Gettin' Somewhere!

Finally, after a LONG wait, an artist hired to create the badges and logo for the "By Invitation Only" project has begun to come through!

The badges are so the winners and various people involved in the project will be able to be indentified on their squidoo lenses.

We have high hopes that this will be encouraging for lensmasters and visitors alike!

People's Choice For January 2007!

Wow, it was a tight race! EVERY VOTE MADE A DIFFERENCE! We have a winner in our People's Choice contest, I'm delighted to announce, and it is boredofeducation, Damon Hedman, who has been our favorite helper and adviser in January! One of the excellent things about Damon's help is his attention to detail. He finds our broken links. He offers helpful suggestions about our pictures, or heavy modules that are too hard to read. He knows what we need.

For example, see this: "Just built my first lens yesterday. Looks like I've only had a few visitors to it so far and none of them bothered to rate it " "Damon: Great start on your site! There are several people with similar sites who might want to exchange links. If they don't respond... track them down."

It was an interesting month in the forum with Damon, as he was the first person to really PURCHASE a top performing lens by a top lensmaster. Many of us watched that bidding, the transaction and all the details with great interest. According to his normal level of genius, he has decided to make a 'pedigree' for that lens, which is a great idea for any of us who may want to sell a good lens in the future. Once that's finished, we have a great pedigree to model our own on! Damon leads the way!

He's funny too! "Welcome and hi! Feel free to ask Jeffry any questions...Damon" or "Welcome! Squidoo is a lot of fun and NOT addicting! I can quit anytime..." or "Darn! Jeffry got here first to welcome you! Anyway, welcome to Squidoo and feel free to ask Jeffry any questions. Damon" and this: "I just gave it five stars. It looks like it helped. BORK, BORK, BORK. Damon" "What is a farrier? Is it like a terrier?"


We thank you, Damon, for everything. Your patient help and advice sure makes things a lot easier, and our lenses much better for your help. Your willingness to try things and cut a new path is very encouraging.



The winning lens was also Damon's; Severus Snape, the Good, the Bad and the Bizarre. This too, was a tight race.

The first thing I notice on this lens is his GREAT PICTURES. Not too many, but just right to make the page visually interesting and focusing on the information he's giving. His introduction is very tight and clean. He also did something a little unusual in Squidoo intros, he made it a place to post relevant news about his topic.

His first module highlights the conflict and really draws you into the content, even if you've not read Harry Potter before! That's a tough act to follow, but what a wonderful example to all of us about how to write compelling modules step-by-step. He also combined his first module with what looks like a text/write module with the plexo, and he announced the plexo's ability to take html and a photo in the lounge. If we were paying attention, we just learned a great technique!

We can also learn from this lens that a module with just ONE LITTLE POINT, can be a very powerful transition from one train of thought into another. We don't HAVE to fill up every module, though the temptation is there! Damon shows us that sometimes brevity SAYS THE MOST, ACCOMPLISHES THE MOST!

The next module is a book suggestion, which offers the fuller story of the mystery Damon has created up to now. Then he moves into another interactive html plexo with an awesome picture and interesting links that are inviting to vote on. He wants our opinion at JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT, and LOOK! He has lots of comments that are clearly involved in the question he posed!

He moves on from there to the third aspect and again uses an html plexo, looking for readers suggestion on this barely there concept. Then, he offers some really neat cafepress things that engaged participants are sure to want and to value.

Underneath he gives his fans some additional and very interesting things to think about for further exploration; lists his related lenses so they can continue, and ends with a beautiful tribute to a beloved sister.

Five stars simply aren't enough for this extraordinary lens. We can all learn so much from Damon's mastery and his thought processes, that its no wonder he was voted January's favorite squidizen of squidoo lensmasters!

Damon will be entered in our contest:
MASTER LENSMASTERS/GRANDMASTER LENSMASTER!

By Invitation Only

Here we are getting ready to vote on the lenses elected by the Squidoo lensmasters! This is a new experience for us, and a 'private' initiative, meaning that this contest is independent of squidoo proper and is one that is generated, implemented and pursued by regular squidoo lensmasters themselves.

This is a 'support group' for really talented lensmasters, and those who want to show off their talents.

Our hope is that this can be a reference, a credential that each selected lensmaster can display and show, as a jury of their peers has found something really special in their lens.

If you are an experienced lensmaster, who regularly browses squidoo, looks at lenses both new and more mature, and perhaps even masters a group or two, and if you would like to participate in the jury, you are welcome to email me about considering you for one of the limited positions.

Good luck to all participants!