I know I haven’t mentioned it much at all so far this year, but I am putting together a HUGE giveaway for NOH readers for the second weekend in April. The theme is Made in Germany and I thought it might be fun to give you a sneak peak at some of the fun and practical things I have found from amazingly talented people here in Germany.
These cute little books are actually very cool time planners, that are loaded with fun and funky graphics to brighten even the darkest of weeks. Each week is laid out over two facing pages so you have a good amount of space to note down whatever you need. The planner comes in two sizes: DIN A5 Format (5.8 in × 8.3 in / 14,8 cm x 21 cm) and a smaller DIN A6 Format (4.1 in × 5.8 in / 10,5 cm x 14,8 cm). The smaller size is perfect for tucking in your purse or photo bag. And the larger one is great for any space from your desk to your briefcase. There is plenty of room to write appointments or notes about activities you had that day. Maybe you even want to keep track of your family schedule in Prinz Apfel.
I think the illustrations are really creative and I already have a few favorites. There’s a combination of drawings, graphics and textures that just make you want to constantly sit and flip through the pages. And you know you’ll be more on top of things coming up in your schedule if you’re just constantly browsing through your planner for fun. Mackenzie loves to sit and look through the planner, constantly pointing to things and asking, “Whaz-at?”
I also really like that there is an overview calendar in the back so you can see where all the dates of the year fall…and several blank pages to insert notes on. You can also easily keep track of birthdays (or anniversaries) with the handy birthday pages.
Overall, Prinz Apfel calendars are hip, edgy and not something you will see everyone else with. It’s not only a fun way to express your individuality, but it’s also a a really cool way to keep up with your busy schedule…and we all know what a challenge that can be!
The Story of Prinz Apfel
I asked one of the creative geniuses behind Prinz Apfel, Birgit, if she would take a few minutes with me so I could give you an inside look at the people behind this company. Not only are they incredibly creative (and nice), but also really inspired and motivated!
Tell us a bit about Prinz Apfel.
Prinz Apfel is German and when translated means “Prince Apple” – that is the name of our kingdom we invented, including the prince which is living in this kingdom.
The more interesting question – what is Prinz Apfel? The “prince apple” is the synonym of a pocket calendar, a proud 5 inches high. Now 5 years old, we still consider the time planner relatively young – and thanks to loads of creative food & love it is filled with 53 pages of colorful illustrated unique illustrations. It’s made to bring fun into everybody’s life.
How long has the Prinz Apfel team been working together?
Jasmin and I met in 2004 while we were studying at the same University. From the beginning, we were addicted to Illustration & Design, so we finally ended up specializing in MultiMediaDesign and trying to do some projects together. We eventually fulfilled our dream of creating a time planner, which is individually illustrated – to avoid the weekly routine from Monday to Friday and try to give some creative space in organizing your time.
What inspired you to begin your work, and what keeps you motivated today?
The possibility to explore other ways of illustration, and still keep in contact with a good old friend, doing a project together which keeps us near to each other – although there is the distance of Berlin (Germany) / Barcelona (Spain) between us, we are in daily contact and have – next to our timeplanner – a lot to share.
What is most rewarding about running a small business?
The contact to each other, the inspiration and motivation to carry on, to explore new possibilities of designing the calendar. Also the direct feedback and contact to our customers. Nothing motivates you more than somebody addressing you because he/she finds the calendar awesome. This is like a (designer) drug for us, it gives us a lot of power and motivation to carry on.
What are your hopes for Prinz Apfel for the future?
Of course we wanna rule the world! 🙂 Joke beside, we wanna keep on doing the agenda and try new things with the calendar within the next years!!
Check out their wall calendar and postcards
What is currently your favourite design that you use?
It varies all the time. I personally am a huge fan of the Jasmin’s crocodile and the post-fox, and Jasmin loves my whales. In general we love them all – every animal in the planner has some special story to tell. (Tiffany’s note: Wait until you find the post-fox…oh my gosh is he awesome!)
How much time goes into making each item?
It is hard to talk about something you spend all your love in. To be honest, when everything is over and finished on the timeplanner, we spend about 7 months working next to our normal day jobs every day in creating Prinz Apfel, improving everything, and handle all the designs with care because we have to look at them the whole next year.
The Giveaway
NOH is giving away TWO Prinz Apfel pocket calendars (DIN A5 Format (5.8 in × 8.3 in / 14,8 cm x 21 cm). One winner will selected at random in the US and one in Europe.
Main entry (required)
It seems that everyone is getting organized and decluttered right now. With the start of the new year, it’s always a great time to tidy up your life.
So why do you want to win one of these calendars? What events of your life are you trying to keep track of?
I’m not totally certain what I will do with mine yet. I think I will make the tiny one into a photography challenges journal so I can keep up with all the topics every week (seriously not easy). And it will fit into my photo bag easily. And the bigger one…well, I’m just not sure yet.
This contest is open to U.S. and Europe residents only! EU residents, remember to leave your location in at least one entry. If you do not leave a location, I will assume you are in the US.
Additional Entries
(please leave additional comments below for each extra entry *after* you’ve answered the main entry question)
- Follow me (@txblond) on Twitter
- “Like” this giveaway on Facebook (you must first “like” NOH on Facebook, then click “Like” on the post about this giveaway)
- Become friends with Prinz Apfel on Facebook.
- Visit Prinz Apfle on Etsy or on their website and to get a sneak peek of the designs inside their calendars & postcards; tell me which graphic/design is your favorite.
- Follow NOH on Google follow (right side of blog — please leave your username on GFC in your comment)
- Subscribe to (and confirm your subscription to) one or both of the NOH newsletters (right side of blog)
- Tweet about this giveaway (please use @txblond in your tweet) – You can retweet this daily until the contest ends, but please remember to leave a comment each day to receive your extra enries. For example, “I’m hoping to #win the cutest time planner ever! Thanks @txblond ! http://bit.ly/ Enter until 1/23. #Giveaway”
If you already follow, “like”, subscribe, etc. you can still count these as extra entries…you do not need to subscribe again or refollow. Just leave your comment for each entry below.
If you have questions about any of this, please just drop me an email (tiffany at noordinaryhomestead.com) or leave a comment below.
**Why all the extra ways to enter? By growing the following of NOH, you are helping me to let other companies know you are out there reading and participating. Acknowledging your presence helps me to secure more partnerships for the future so you have even more chances to win incredible prizes!
The contest will be open until midnight EST, Sunday, January 23rd, 2011.
Winner Selection
Two winners will be chosen via Random.org, one in the US and one in Europe.
Once the winner is announced, you will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond, another winner will be drawn.
Note: I did receive products from Prinz Apfel for review but was in no way paid for this giveaway or to express my opinion. The thoughts are my own and have in no way been influenced by outside parties.
Oh I like!
I would love to win one of these calendars because being a stay-at-home working mommy of two…there is A LOT to keep track of! Play dates, school events such as the Spring Carnival and class events, dance recitals, doctor’s appointments, work meetings, church meetings, birthday parties and much more!
I love the size because it will fit perfectly into my diaper bag or purse!
I would love one of these planners b/c I have been looking for something (planner, calendar), and quite frankly I have not found anything i am really willing to spend my money on that isn’t a total bore. I also love supporting new artists (thankyou Etsy!) who are doing something really creative. It’s inspiring. And from what I’ve seen in this post, these are gorgeous, and funny:). And, I’m hoping to use a planner to keep me on track when I am, hopefully, traveling later in the year (possibly to visit friends in Germany).
Oh, and I love the whales and the pig on the postcards at the Etsy shop, and thank you for pointing me to a gorgeous calendar!”)
Looks real nice.. Like it!! 😉
I would love to win this because (1) I need a new planner and (2) I love to use items that are different and artistic.
Thanks!
I subscribe via GFC as dukebb.
Thanks!
I’m an e-mail subscriber too!
I find your blog so interesting.
Thanks.
Theresa von Gradolewski (FB):
Why do I want to win one of these calendars?
Answer: Because I’m a fan of “Prinz Apfel” from a long time ago and was never able to buy one of these artworks … I always got other usual pocket calendars as a present so I had to use them. Now… I want to grow from a fan into someone addicted and buy “Prinz Apfel” every following year for myself. 🙂
What events of my life am I trying to keep track of?
That would be my calendar for only beautiful things … birthdays, celebrations, wonderful things I want to remember, …
Much greetings!
Theresa von Gradolewski extra entry — FB like
Nadine Little
FB like extra entry
I would LOVE one of these for my kids a work! I think that the pictures could be excellent journal starters for the days when they don’t have a lot to write about and need a break from the usual “therapy related” topics we give them. It would also be nice to be able to give them their group therapy assignments on it instead of the boring and mundane planner I’m using now.
Liked on FB
Liked Prinz Apfel on FB (waiting for my friends request to be accepted)
I would like to win one of those calendars because I decided that during the New Year I would be more organized and I would not leave everything for the last moment. I would use the calendar to write down what I have to do, reminders for meetings.
I really like the Prinz Apfel Wall Calendar DIN A3 LIMITED EDITION. And especially the November page with the birds.
Well, who wouldn’t need a calender, especially being as chaotic as I usually am!
Austria
Following your blog on GFC (name Birgit)!!
Austria
The greeting cards http://www.etsy.com/listing/63494012/prinz-apfel-greeting-cards from their site are so adrobale!
Austria
Liked you on FB (Birgit Lehner)!
Austria
What would I do with this calendar? Admire it, mostly. But, fact is, I still haven’t gotten a calendar for 2011.
One would be used for everyday reminders, and the other I think would be great as a mini-doodle-a-day one-theme-a-week journal, a good way for a designer to practice and have fun!
i’m a busy student studying Japanese in London who loves beautifully designed things but also doesn’t want planners to be overly cluttered with unnecessary text! also a major Luddite (and machines always break down on me) so i tend to rely on writing and paper 🙂 this looks rather perfect.
also joined this site as yin!
I want to win one of these calendars because i’m very organized.
I’m from Portugal.
tichafipa at gmail dot com
I follow you on Twitter.
tichafipa at gmail dot com
I follow NOH on GFC! My username is Patrícia André
tichafipa at gmail dot com
Oh this would be wonderful. I homeschool my kids and if I don’t have things written down I am a hopeless mess.
oh gosh~ the calendars are sooo cute! X3
I’m going to make the small one a sketch-a-day journal and the big one for my day to day scheduling~
I’d like to become more creative (little journal) and also want to organize and sort out my career (big journal) this year~
Thanks so much for the opportunity~ X3
I am following you on twitter~ :3
(@BonAndChi)
I’ve just “liked” your facebook and “liked” the journal giveaway post~ 🙂
After visiting their Etsy and blog~ I like their Prinz Apfel Pocket Calendar 2011 DIN A6 the best! X3
I love how they’ve set out each week with cute and funky illustrations~
I’ve joined the NOH google friend
(name: BonAndChi)
I am going to school full time and working full time this semester so as much organization as possible is the only way to stay sane/ maintain some semblance of a social life!
I love the little alligator shown on one of the postcards in their Etsy shop!
*Whooops! I accidentally replied to another user comment rather than to the post. Here it is again as a proper comment.
I’d like to use it for my writing, keeping track of different stories and jotting down ideas. The graphics and the doodles on each page are inspiring and will help me keep going.
I follow you on Twitter @windowfog
I’ve sent Prinz Apfel a Facebook friend request as Window Fog.
I’ve liked your giveaway post on Facebook.
I need them to help me to organize our homeschooling.
I love calendars and the great way they can keep me on schedule with things. I just started new job and soon will be going back to school- between the two I think I will NEED to write down things and schedule them and fit them in the tight schedule to make sure all can be done well!
Beautiful products, by the way!
Joanna from Poland, EU
joanna [!at] joannasfoto [dot] com
So beautiful!! I’d love to own one of these:) I would use it to write down my positive thoughts and doodlings, sketches..
PS I’m from Estonia, Europe
I already follow NOH on twitter @2lovemarie
and I follow NOH via GFC @poppyland
Visited (and hearted) the shop, I really love the last picture here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63491372/prinz-apfel-pocket-calendar-2011-din-a5
🙂
Subscribed to get daily NOH updates:)
I would use this to keep track of all our appointments, from doctor, school, etc. SO much going on! I have not been able to find a decent pocket planner!
[email protected]
I have a thesis to write and would use it to schedule my time.
i miss a lot of app so this can help
Liza767[at]roadrunner[dot]com
I would love to win this because I would actually use it because it is Adorable! I need a change of scenery from the white and black lined planners!
Hmm, if I were to win that planner, I would use it to corral birthdays I think. I’ve been searching for a calendar to use as a birthday calendar–that is something with beautiful pictures that I will look at year after year to remember the date. Love the artwork on this, so it would be a good candidate for being something I’d like to flip through each year to remind myself of all the birthdays I’m always forgetting.
Oh and I’ve “liked” your facebook page as well. 🙂
So many things – finances, work, volunteering, family…
jswandrn at gmail
I would love to keep track of school and work and everything else!
US.
tarheelgalwv32 @ hotmail . com
Just followed you on twitter @spinningmenorah.
I just liked this giveaway on facebook.
Just became friends with Prinz on facebook.
My favourite on Prinz’s site is the wall calendar.
I’m friends on Google Friend Connect (Joni Deutsch).
And I just tweeted about it:
http://twitter.com/#!/Spinningmenorah/status/28448798392975360
And I just subscribed to your blog via email.
I could definitely use a pocket calender, mine is from the dollar store 😛
I went through a bad breakup half a year ago, and am still recovering. It taught me to re prioritize, to keep what’s important to me in the forefront of my life, and to balance the aspects of my life- education, work, family, love, exercise, nutrition, writing. My crummy little calender helps me to schedule time for things that need a little attention from me.
-Basia 🙂
[email protected]
(United States)
A planner is always good to have. I multi-task a lot so a planner gets put to good use.
I need a calendar to keep all of my writings on track. I’m trying to schedule time for them, which is hard between school and family and stuff.
i always keep forgetting things so it would be great to have a planner to keep my daily things on track – work, friends, must to do things
Gintare
(Lithuania)
i would give these to my daughter…she is all about lists and keeping track…she would love the artwork!
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
your follow on twitter seems to be disabled..i refreshed several times and there is no follow option?
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
like u and post on fb
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
friend req to prinz
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
gfc
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
email
thank you!
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
I need to keep up with all my kids school activities and sporting events.
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
follow you on twitter
skipthelaundry
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
like you on facebook and liked this post
amber jackson porter
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
added prinz apfel as friend on facebook
amber jackson porter
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
I like the whales with blue stripes printing.
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
follow by gfc
skipthelaundry
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
subscribed to emails
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/skipthelaundry/status/29011409824120832
skipthelaundry at gmail dot com
I have an etsy shop and I really need to schedule when to ship items and when packages should arrive!
If I have pretty calendar I like to use it – I have to keep track of work, appointments, etc. This would be a great help!
Prinzapfel Wandkalender – I love this design!
i would keep track of crafting projects. i always have too many going at once!
I work as a Project Manager at a digital marketing agency and an adorable calender would be the best way to keep track of all the due dates of the several projects I keep track of. That and… it’d make my desk the cutest of them all. 🙂
I live in Portugal!
so.kitsch at gmail dot com
Following on twitter as my_wunderkammer.
I like the Facebook post as Andreia Sousa (wunderfraulein). 🙂
I added Prinz Apfel as a Facebook friend, as Andreia Sousa (wunderfraulein).
At the site/shop, I love the greeting cards, particularly one with a green little creature with fangs and a spikey tail!
I follow via GFC as Asuka.
I was already subscribed to the newsletter. 🙂
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/my_wunderkammer/status/29240750701023232
I would use this to keep track of my son’s play dates and swimming lessons, etc
I think I will give at least one to mother, because she doesn’t have a planner for the New Year yet. I think I’ll use the other one for myself. I’m in the U.S.
Sent a friend request to Prinz Apfel on Facebook (Lisa L).
I like the cute whale design on the greeting card.
I’m a GFC follower: Tylerpants
I’m an email subscriber to the NOH newsletter.
I need a school calandar to keep track of my classes!
I had a ball game one night and the boys had chess practice after school. I knew both of them were going on,but I did not put two and two together. I had to have my husband get them and he could not pick them up for an hour after practice was over. So yes, I need a planner. THank you
Wow these are so cute. I need this to keep a “paper” track of family and work schedules as my electronic one crashed…what chaos that caused.
This would be great to tuck into my purse. I’d jot down my daily to-do lists!
I follow via Google Friends Connect! [trixx]
I’m a newsletter subscriber.
Germany.
I might be too late to enter….
I would love a pocket calendar because living here in Germany, it seems like I am some wierdo without one.