The deadline's upon us, but there's still time for the procrastinators amongst us. Share your Kolo window! If you'd like to participate in the "What's In Your Kolo Window?" contest, just email a photo(s) of your Kolo window(s), as an attachment(s), to kolowindows@kolo-usa.com by the end of Wednesday, Sept. 30. Please write "Kolo Window" in the subject line of your email. The winners will get some cool archival Kolo photo albums and boxes. For details, go here.

The winners will be announced here on Koloist in a week or so.

For inspiration, a couple examples of interesting Kolo windows from Koloist Contributor Lie Fhung (not eligible to win):

The first is the cover of an exquisite family photo album in which Fhung made layouts using her own stamp designs. She chose a chartreuse Kolo Newbury ribbon-bound photo album. The cover window is a dried flower that she placed between transparent sheets, stamped with a decorative border. For more of this album, go here.

The second example above, also by Lie Fhung, is the cover of a small Kolo Noci album that Fhung aptly and poetically titled "Soar." This photo album is her keepsake of a journey she made from Hong Kong to the States for her wintery Artist in Residency experience at Vermont Studio Centre. More creative details and layouts of this album are here.

Lie Fhung is an accomplished "digiscraptist," a graphic designer and artist, also well known for her work in ceramics. Many of the stamps and kits used in these two projects are her own designs, and can be found at www.ztampf.com

- Ugo

Thought it would be inspiring to look at the Kolo windows of some of our esteemed Koloist Contributors. (These aren't eligible for the contest.) Here are two of my favorites from children's book author and illustrator, Steve Light.

(More great Kolo window examples from Koloist Contributors later today... Note the deadline for submissions to the "What's In your Kolo Window?" contest is fast approaching - tomorrow, Sept. 30th.)

The first project above, by Steve Light (made with a Kolo Cortina album in "platinum") was inspired by one of his heroes, a giant in the illustration world, Saul Steinberg. This little Kolo book is filled with Steve's "illustrated snapshots," set off nicely with this creative Kolo window, giving a hint at what's inside: fun, interpretive drawings of photographs found in his old family photo albums. For much more about this project, including Steve's excellent tips about keeping a positive attitude when you have to "sell your art," go here.

This second project above, also by Steve Light, shows the cover of his Organ Grinder illustrated storybook, which he made with a chocolate Kolo Luxury Cortina, soaked in tea for an antique, distressed look. This is the cover window of Organ Grinder -- the intricate wooden "carving" Steve cut with a jeweler's saw. (Did I mention he is also a toy maker?) More photos and details about Steve's Organ Grinder storybook are here and here.

If you'd like to participate in the "What's In Your Kolo Window?" contest, there's still time! For more info go here -- you could win a bunch of cool archival Kolo blank books. Go ahead, give it a go.

If you're unfamiliar with the art of Steve Light, go here -- you're in for a treat.

- Ugo