Perfect Present
From the American Philatelist /September 2000

I have just returned from my afternoon ofFather's Day's activities with my wonderful, 86-year-old dad.  This year Ifound the perfect present for him, and I want to tell you about it.

My father started collecting stamps as a youngchild, but put his hobby aside  as he got older and life required more ofhis time and attention.  However, he'd held on to his collection, andreturned to his early love when he retired twenty years ago.  He subscribesto The American Philatelist   and also belongs to a stamp clubin Silver Spring, Maryland.

During the last year, he began using a cane -one of those plain wooden utilitarian ones given out by the HMO.  At somepoint he mentioned that he'd like to have something a little moreinteresting.  I'd been looking, but everything I saw was either too fancyor too expensive.  Recently I decided to use the Internet to shop. After about an hour of checking out sites from all over the world, I clicked onsomething called Watermark Studio.  I'll never forget how surprised anddelighted I was to find handsome canes decorated with postage stamps!

The website and business belongs to Mary DahlWinton, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago.  When sheneeded to use a cane and couldn't find one she liked, being an artist herself,she came up with the concept "Help Stamp Out MultipleSclerosis."  She adorns walnut canes with canceled U.S. stamps,hand-painting a decorative detail around the stamps, and finishing them off withmultiple layers of polymer sealer.  Then she completes the canes with oneof several available decorative brass handles.  Each cane is custom-made,and the purchaser has a choice of a long list of "themes," such asanimals, flowers, nautical, historical, antique vehicles, celebrities, hot airballoons, etc.  I selected a sports theme, baseball, that included stampsof Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig among others.

When my dad opened the box and saw the cane,the first thing he did was examine the stamps to see which ones were on it. (Thecane also was personalized with his name.)  He was thrilled, and told me itwas the best Father's Day gift he could remember receiving.

Winton donates 10 percent of all sales to fundresearch for a cure for multiple sclerosis.  She is a one-woman operationat the moment and promotes her product mainly through MS groups.  It seemedto me that stamp collectors also would like to know about her canes. I receiveno benefit from bringing this product to your attention, other than the pleasureof having found and given the perfect gift to a very special father.

Sue Drobbin
Silver Spring, Maryland