The new stamps from the Swiss Post Office were released a few weeks ago. It is so exciting to see what they have come up with. We love the new beer ones shown above. What fun it would be to use for a party invitation! It doesn't cost anything to order stamps via the website as you pay the face value and postage is free!
When ordering, make sure you choose the ones that say: non oblitéré. Otherwise, you will receive stamps that have the postmark on the day of issue. Some stamps are offered as "autocollant" for peel-off stickers; or "gommé" for the kind you need to moisten.
Would you like to learn more about the art of brewing beer? Then take part in the Post Office's competition to possibly win 2 tickets for a guided beer tour in Bern on 20 November 2019 or a sheet of “The art of brewing” stamps worth Fr. 8.-! Deadline is 31 October 2019 so hurry and click on this direct link to the entry page in English.
Here is another new set that is beautiful and could be used for a wedding invitation.
Super prize to be won! Read on.
On a recent smartphone photography workshop held at the Château de Vullierens, given by Elisabeth Fransdonk from EMO-Photo, we met up with a new entrepreneur, Maxime Eymin. We are very enthusiastic about his high-quality lenses for portable phones, branded SMART EVASION, that we wanted to share it with our readers. As a thank you for this article, Maxime has kindly offered a super prize: a phone case and lens pack - a Fr. 108.- to Fr. 128.- value!
Maxime, what is your photographic specialty?
I specialize in landscape photography. I love nature. This is also why I love so much Switzerland. I travelled quite a lot and saw so many other amazing places.
Our planet is just amazing! But it unfortunately suffers a lot because of human kind. Our goal is also to positively impact our environment. This is the reason why we want to offer quality and durable products. We don’t want products people won’t use or that they will throw away each time they change mobile phone. We are also careful to our footprint when importing our products. We limit the usage of plastic to the maximum. We haven’t chosen yet the association we will be supporting but it is important for us to give back some of our benefits to associations who are working at protecting our planet. Our products destinated to EU countries are shipped from Ensovo warehouse, based in north of France. We decided to be working with them because they help young entrepreneurs to start their own business, and they also employ people in reinsertion into the workforce. Their company has a positive social impact. We are happy to contribute to their vision and mission by choosing them as our partner.
At Know-it-all passport®, we only write about companies and individuals we can recommend. Royal Bloom florist in Lausanne, run by Lois Vitry-Trapman, was an easy recommendation. We decided an article would interest our readers and Lois has kindly offered a bouquet to one of our lucky readers! Read on to find out how to enter the competition. Lois answered a few of our questions here.
When and why did you decide to open a florist/gift shop?
The idea first came while I was studying Interior Architecture in Lausanne, which I completed after having just passed my Bsc in Hospitality management at the prestigious Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne. I wanted a space of my own, a place of beauty and creativity for clients to get their ‘flower fix’ and sound advice on interior design without breaking the money jar, and a space of creativity that would allow me to be my best, host workshops for adults and kids alike, and reunite everyone in one sympathetic place. After having had three kids and started a business with my husband in 2012 which I still handle (www.royalfish.ch), I really thought it was time to express myself through beauty and art and opened Royal Bloom.
What background do you come from?
I am originally half French, half British from my parents, but grew up in sub-Saharan Africa and the USA. I hold Africa very close to my heart and have always wanted to go back and open a hotel or a restaurant in the Congo, but that for sure is for another chapter of my life! I came to Switzerland to study Hotel Management. I have lived in Costa Rica, Washington DC, Congo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Kenya , Belgium and Mauritius. I speak 4 languages and define myself as a citizen of the world. I set my eyes on this very precise boutique upon arrival in Switzerland, as the florist there was such an inspiration, creative and provocative. When she was ready to retire, we spoke and I finally ended up opening my dream store in April 2019.
Necessity is the mother of invention... or is it: Mother is the necessity to invention? In this case, both are correct! Local mother of two young daughters saw a need for comfortable, chic undergarments in the way of bras, camisoles, and underwear... as there was none to be found! Alisia Grenville thought about it and then acted upon it. Something not too babyish nor too adult. Something just right, something soft and pretty and pastel.
The International Women Club of Nyon (IWCN) was founded in 1987 as a non-profit organisation for English-speaking women residing in Nyon and the surrounding region. Its purpose is to promote friendly contacts among women of all nationalities through multiple activities and to help facilitate the integration of newcomers. The IWCN consists of approximately 550 members taking part in more than 50 interests groups, ranging from cookery and culture to sports and languages. Most of these take place during the working day.
The Club is managed by volunteers, and all members are encouraged to give their support by offering some of their time, talents and skills to the functioning of the Club activities. A weekly mail Newsletter, The Digest, gives information on local events, items for sale/rent and includes advertisements from non-members. A monthly publication, The Grapevine, keeps members informed of Club activity, coffee mornings, local excursions, trips abroad and special events.
A big part of the Club is to get funding for the donations to organisations that relate to women and children in need at the local -and international level. The Charity Committee select with organisations that will be funded. Every year the Charity Committee is organising a book sale in October at the new coming event to fund money. In December every year, the Charity Committee provide with refreshment for the December Christmas Carol Concert and donation given at the concert goes to an organisation. In 2018 the donation went to the One-Dollar-Glasses.
A Swiss-born Max Steiner decided in the year 2000 to move to Bolivia, the home country of his wife, and founded Hostelling Bolivia. What started with the installation of youth hostels and adventure travelling is today a well-known charity organization. Max Steiner’s latest project is called One-Dollar-Glasses, and it aims to cover the entire country. A German maths teacher in Erlangen started the project. He wanted to create glasses for one dollar to support people in developing countries. It took two years to create a box to produce glasses in the simplest way possible. His first field test succeeded in 2012 in Uganda and later spread to several other African countries. It has now reached Bolivia. Max Steiner goes to rural areas, organizes eye tests and is able, with his team of helpers to manufacture glasses right away for those in need. At a later stage, people in rural areas will be trained to continue this work.
As a result, besides the amazing possibility to bring eyesight correction to people who have never seen an optician or had any glasses, this project also creates work. A 10 $ donation will give a person a pair of glasses.
