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The Clarington/Courticc Independent, Bowmanvillc, Saturday, April 25, 1998 Page 9 Sweet Little Nothings All Around Bowmanville Couple Creates Newest Novelty Gift by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer How many times have you asked your parents what they wanted for an important occasion, only to have them say 'nothing.' Well now, thanks to a Bowmanville couple, you can give someone special exactly what they asked for. You can give them 'The Nothing.' The Concept 'The Nothing' is a cute owl-faced creature creature with blue eyes and fluffy white fur attached to an elastic to hang onto hooks, car mirrors or whatever. There is really Nothing to the little creature, which has no body or appendages unless you count its pair of baby blues. Those eyes follow you around the room with a kind and loving expression, waiting for you to do absolutely Nothing at all. Ed Bastin calls The Nothing "a fur ball." His wife and business partner, Paige Bastin, of Bastin Products Inc., says Nothing started out as a pom-pom with eyes glued on. Now, the fuzzy white Nothing is filled to make it soft and cuddly, and its adorable eyes have been 'pull tested to make them safe for children. While their friends and family "thought it was a great idea" they wanted something more concrete to go with. A marketing survey by an independent company called "The Innovations Centre'," swung Nothing into a positive light for the couple. "They compared it to the Pet Rock," said Ed. Nothing is TYuly Canadian Ed says this purely Canadian product -- - from the concept, to the Nothing to the box -- should take off like the Pet Rock did about 25 years ago. Or perhaps its success success will be comparable to the Beanie Babies phenomenon phenomenon consumers ignited this year. The stuffed toy is produced produced by Binkley Toys in Hamilton and the box art was done by Murray Graphics in Lindsay. The Nothing's Home was produced produced in Pickering by Ellis Packaging. He added since coming up with the concept, many people have been supportive supportive in one way or another. "It's been a long process and a lot of money," he said. "I never realized how much work it was to bring a product to market until we did Nothing." As Paige puts it "I do an awful lot of work for Nothing." The Fun of Doing Nothing "Everyone can play on the word 'nothing,' says Paige. "One can pin one on in the morning and walk around all day with Nothing on," Ed said. He pointed out that the Reviews: Selected Toronto Histories A Project Room Scries Curated by Tom Folland and Natalie Olanick opens May 14 at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa. The exhibition takes place until June 28. It includes works by Joyce Wicland, Sybil Goldstein, Andy Fabo, John Scott, Suzy Lake and Janice Gurney. The public is invited to join curators Natalie Olanick and Tom Folland for a "walk-aboul" of the exhibition on Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. Also represented will be Artists' Political Action Collective (APAC), Nether Mind, Place and Show and Spontaneous Combustion. The exhibition Reviews is curated by Tom Folland an independent curator who has' curated exhibitions of contemporary art at the Power Plant and Mercer Union and Natalie Olanick, a visual artist working in Toronto, who has shown her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions in addition to curating exhibitions exhibitions for Mercer Union, Garnet Press and others. instructions that come with the fuzzy ball arc cute. Upon opening the box it is hoped that people will read the instructions which start out: "Gently lift The Nothing out of its home, look deeply into its eyes and say your name" and so on. Ed says, "little girls love 'em and like to cuddle them." The Future of Nothing Both Ed and Paige want to send Nothing off to talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell, with hopes that she'll talk about Nothing on her show. Looking to the future, relatives in both Australia and England are wanting to bring Nothing to their countries. Soon, little cardboard boxes holding Nothing will be appearing in convenience stores, card shops and video stores near you. Currently, the fuzzy little creatures can be found in Bowmanville at Al's Variety. To find other places where you can pick up The Nothing, hop onto your computer and surf the internet to corn- sales.com/nothings As for the cost? Ed explains they are priced so that "for ten dollars you can get a gift and a card" for the special someone in your life. And there is another fluffy product waiting in the wings. It's called No Bunny. No Bunny, the Bastins explained, is actually Nothing's friend and mentor. A cartoon drawn by Courtice cartoonist cartoonist Ron Vanderwerf shows how Nothing and No Bunny met during a jaunt to Canada's north. A friendship was kindled and No Bunny took Nothing back home to Bunny Farms with him. The only thing No Bunny didn't realize realize was just how much Nothing there was or how fast they multiplied. When he was finally up to his ears in Nothing, he decided decided it was time to send them out for adoption. adoption. Both Ed and Paige are hoping that everyone joins the fun and acquires their own Nothings to make this uniquely Canadian business a success. And to those who do decide to buy one for whatever reason "we honestly hope Nothing brings people as much fun as it has for us," Paige said. Editor's Note: The deadline for a coloring coloring contest advertisement appearing in The Statesman and The Independent featuring Nothing and No Bunny last week has been changed. The entries should be received by April 29th, so that the winners can be announced in the May 2 Independent. Send entries to P.O. Box447, Bowmanville, Ont. LIC3Z2. PLENTY OF NOTHING -- Do you remember when every one of your friends had a Pet Rock or at least talked about Pet Rocks? Or are you into Beanie Babies? A Bowmanville couple -- Paige and Ed Bastin -- have come up with what they hope will become the next craze, The Nothing. Paige says, there really is "Nothing else like them." U M Buster's presents Scarecrow I cinesave Tuesdays only 25 ✓presented i ervuivvii/w I all shows DIGITALSOUN IWWHWWifffS a tribute to John 'Cougar' Mellencamp Saturday, April 25 I NtW PRICING POLICY - 0)111), YOUTH 171 UNDER, SIMM. TUESDAYS t MAT1NEIS $4.25 | "A PERFECT DATE MOVIE!" NICOLAS CAGE MEG RYAN CITY OF ANGELS Tickets: s 7°" Advance s 10°" At The Door For info call (905) 987-4442 45 King St. W., Newcastle Bowmanville High School çY f°j presents v -- y 4^/ -yi BYE BYE BIRDIE ?7 0 oZ_> April 29, 30, May 1, 2 8:00 p.m* (Free performance for Senior Citizens on Monday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m.) Bowmanville High School Auditorium (905) 623-4416 Students/Seniors $6.00 Adults $8.00 NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR NEW COMMUNITY? Call À/ELCOÏ WAGC T V StNJrn 1 Ç ÏLCOMeU 7ÂGON i<nn Sandra Yates 623-5873 Bowmanville Area Our hostess will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful community information. ✓ TÏTANK(PG) Frf-Thus 7:30 SaFSunM* 12:00,3:40 ✓ LOST M SPACE (PG) Frf-Thus &50,9:40 Saf-SuiM* 12:45,3:35 ✓ THE 000COUPLE 2 (PG) Frf-Thus 7:15 M-SuiM* 1:15,130 ✓ SCREAM 2(H) Frf-Thus 7:10,9.50 S^-Smkti: 1:45,4:30 THE BIG HIT (AA) Frf-Thus 720,9.45 Sal-Sui Mat 2:00,420 ✓GREASE (PG) SaFSunMat 120,3:45 ✓ CITY OF ANGELS (AA) Frf-Thus 7:00,935 Sai-SuiMat 1:30,4:05 ✓ MERCURY RISING (AA) Frf-Thus 725,9.55 Sat-SuiM* 1:40,4:15 ✓ TARZAN AND THE LOST CfTY (PG) Frf-Thus 6:55,900 Saf-Sui Mat 1220,220,425 ✓ OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION (PG) Frf-Thus 7:05,930 Sd-SuiM* 1:10,3:55 ✓ MAJOR LEAGUE 2: BACK TO THE MHOflS (PG) Frf-Thus 6:45,9.15 ✓ NIGHTWATCH (AA) Frf-Thus 7:35,1900 ✓ MY GIANT (PG) Frf-Thus 925 BARNEYS GREAT ADVENTURE (F) S*Sun Mat 12:10,2:19 4:10 "COOL 'LOST IN SPACE ECLIPSES THE ORIGINAL. 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AD# 3130 KNOW HOW TO HAVE FUN SWF. 18, lall, slim, shoulder longlh br. hair, looking lor tail, muscular, nllrnctlvo hand, AD# 3i man who knows how lo havo lun. AD# 1557 COMPANIONSHIP Morilod man, 5'GVi", 165 pounds, allracllvo, allracllvo, woll bulll with a strong sox drive. Looking lor a slim, allracllvo woman, lo slmro discrool oncounlors. Marrlod Is lino. AD# 3061 LONELY GENTLEMAN Singlo whllo mnlo, 65, S'il", 140 pounds, non smokor and social drlnkor. Sooklng lomalo will) a good sonso ol humour who onjoys qulol ovonlngs nl homo, dining out and walking hand In •-•■'1000 Questions?? 41G-236-GG44 SINCERE 4 EASY-GOING Singlo whllo mnlo, 20,6'4", blond, muscular. muscular. Likos sports, dining, partying, dancing and cars. Looking lor slncoro, oasy-golng whllo woman who likos lo party. AD# 3071 SPORTS 4 MUSIC Malo, 23, looking lor lomalo 19-23. Enjoys hockoy, baseball, loolball, shopping, shopping, listening lo music, going oui, dining dining nnd playing pool. AD# 3130 HONEST 4 EASY-GOING Singlo European mnlo, 30, 6'2", 155 pounds, brown oyos, black hair, no doriondonls, non smokor, employed nnd soil sulllclonl. Likos outdoor activities, movlos and qulol ovonlngs nl homo. Looking lor a woman with Iho samo qualities. AD# 3157 LET'S MEET TONIGHT Singlo whllo mnlo, 32, 6' tail, medium build, short block hair. Inlorosls Include Iho ouldoois, dancing, movlos, car shows, long walks on boncli. Would liko lo moot on oasy going, lun-lovlng, spoil- Innoous woman. 25 • 40, who likos lo moot now pooplo and liy now lliings. AD# 3165 COMPANIONSHIP Singlo whllo malo, 6' tall, 175 pounds, enjoys Iho outdoors, softball, water skiing. skiing. snowmobiling, going oui lo dinner and a show and having a good time Looking lor somoono who would liko lo bo blonds, lor good conversation and companionship. AD# 3169 QUIET TIMES Mate, looking lor bi-lomalo, preferably coloured, 10-22. lor qulol llmos ant quid overlings. 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