Benton Clay Father's Day Contest - 2nd Annual

[BentonClay]

Benton Clay is pleased to announce our 2nd Annual Fathers Day Contest thread.

This draw is for a handmade gift set similar to last year's prize, pictured below, including:
1. Porcelain Shaving Mug
2. Handmade shaving brush of finest or super badger in either Walnut or porcelain
3. Benton Clay Vetiver Paradisi shaving soap (review (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=B&t=186396))

Rules are similar to last year's (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=138498). To enter, simply reply to this thread with a tribute to your father (or a significant male figure in your life). Or if if you are a father, you may enter with a tribute to your son or daughter. The winner will be awarded at random from among the most inspiring entries as determined subjectively by me.

Runner-up prizes will include some nice cufflinks, fountain pens and of course Benton Clay samples.

Contest closes end of day Friday, June 3rd to allow for shipping of prizes in time for Father's Day. Anyone may participate; however, you must have at least 50 posts to be considered eligible for the draw.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=21368

[PozzSka]

My tribute to my father is permanently tattooed on my forearm. Literally. He died when I was 15. He was only 42. 1957-1999 is tattooed on my forearm. I'm not sure what to say about him. He taught me lots of things, science, how to work hard, how to take care of others, and how to give back to communities of which you are a part. He never abused me oy my family, he never left without saying goodbye.

I now have two kids.

[brucered]

My Dad taught me to put family 1st, make time for them and always treat them with respect. Taught me to appreciate my stuff, how to fix it and how to take care of it. He still takes me out for lunch, takes me golfing, picks up used vinyl from garage sales for me and helps out whenever i need it with advise or physical work. Heck we had my folks over for Turkey on Easter Sunday and they were doing my yard work (not asked to), then i had my 68y old Dad help me move a 500lb craft desk for my wife and transport our fooseball table across the basement, with no complaints from him :thumbup1:

As for my children....I came home the other day to find out the kids (4 & 6y old boys) had broken the door to the playhouse we (my Dad, Father in law and myself) built a couple years ago for them. The kids said they broke it by accident and Mom could't fix it and wait for me to get home....I walk in the door and get stories from both of them, so i ask what happened, they explain and tell my 4y old "That's OK, Dad 'll fix it" to which he replies "You can fix anything Daddy!" WOW did that ever feel good to hear, especially knowing full well, it's not true :001_rolle Needless to say, the pressure was on to fix the door...and it did get fixed, in a matter of minutes. Both kids were ecstatic, as was I for making them happy. :biggrin1: There isn't too many things better then hearing your kids say stuff like that about you (and genuinely meaning it).

[nyyfan71]

Every day I pay respect to my Father. After all I do carry his last name.

He raised nine children,5 boys and 4 girls. I was the last so I had him in his later stages in life, but he still had time for what I wanted. Lost him in Dec '06, I tend to work twice as hard on that day for my two sons. Thay are 19 and 17 years old, and we actually make that day Father's Day in our house.

I'm sure if he didn't take time to teach me how to shave with a brush and DE at 15, I would never tired a brush and soap. Then I wouldn't be on these forumes. Thanks Pops!

Thank you for letting us remember our Fathers.

Mark.

[Sunburst]

I have a very unique relationship with my Father. We are incredibly similar. Luckily, he's an awesome guy that formed the core of who I am. We've had rough patches, but in the end I appreciate him more every day. When I get stumped, I try to think of how Dad would think about it. He raised my brother and I in difficult circumstances and always put us first.

So much love that I just didn't understand until the wife had our daughter. We're better than we've ever been. And I'm a better man for it. He taught me to appreciate the small things, respect everyone equally, fairness trumps all and that good friends are good, but few and far between.

Unfortunately, he taught me to shave with carts and goo. I'll allow it though. I'm trying to convert him, gonna hit him with a surprise box come Father's Day. (I'm going to get myself a bespoke G3 in best...woohoo!)

I think my favorite Dad memory, aside from him taking me fishing when I was really young, was teaching him how to fix stuff with safety wire while trying to convey how sorry I was for not realizing how good the advice was that he gave me in my younger years. It's a tough thing to try and explain to someone how much they mean to you when they are equally as much you as they are themselves. The more I become like my Dad, the more things I unearth and add to the pile of stuff he was right about.

I hope every day to be as good of a parent and role model to my kids as he was to myself and my friends.

[jasonled75]

My father is a vietnam vet who is now disabled. He spent most of my childhood driving a truck to provide for us. Sometimes he would try to get a job close to home, but it never lasted long. I didn't understand then why he prefered the open road. I do now. It was the only way he knew of to provide for us and be in our lives, and deal with the horrors of war that he never got over. He literally worked himself into the ground for us. Now I spend my free time helping my mom take care of him. He finally got his disability from the VA and they have finally gotten him treatment for PTSD. And I have finally gotten to really know my dad. I am thankful for all he has done and taught me. My father knew how to be a MAN.

[SirWhiskers]

To my father and my son. Both are super guys!

[cameraflier]

Dad: the wise 'ol guy and good friend. I couldn't be here without him, and I don't think I want to.

[JBagKY]

Up until a few years ago, I had a good relationship with my father, but it was mostly us just hanging out. I think that since I actually grew up and became a real adult, the respect and admiration for him has grown. And since the birth of my son, there has been even more so. He is a great man and one that I am proud was there to raise me.

I want my son to be able to say similar things about me, but hope that our relationship is always underscored with my love for him.

[bbarton713]

My father passed away 14 years ago. He missed my first wife dying, my marriage to the love-of-my-love and the birth of my youngest son. I have four sons and four daughters between me and my current wife and I'm proud to be everyone's dad.

[TnutsShave]

I've considered a drawn out, lengthy, diatribe on how my father was my mentor, hero, teacher, provider, and all of those things. He is, but those are just words.

I realize now that the truest indication that my father is a great man is the fact that he has taught me all of those things without teaching me. I needed only follow in his footsteps.

I am a father myself as of 18 months ago and my Dad will always be the standard for which I strive.

When I held my son Tristan in my arms for the first time, a flood of emotions rushed over me, but one stood out in particular for me....

Dad, I understand why you did everything you had to do.

[csmorris]

Although I lost my dad seven years ago, I am still regularly reminded of him and the things he has done.

Most all of the good things I do are because of him. I'm am still marvelled at how much he shaped the person I am today, all (from what I could see anyway) without any consious effort. He taught through his actions; led by example. I am who I am because of him.

I only hope I can teach my son half as much as he taught me.

Thank you. I love you and miss you dad.

PS - Sorry about your tail light in '89. It was me who broke it, but I expect you know that all along. As with all of the other things I thought I got past you and you let me learn from while making sure I was safe.

[Kilgore]

What I remember most about good ole' pop was learning
how to bait a hook & clean a Bass and, of course a thank you
to my daughter who taught me to be a man.

[Mo5-O]

My dad was the last old school guy I knew before he passed on. He taught me how to be a man, but not by talking, but by doing. I will never forget when he found out he had terminal cancer. He didn't whine or complain, he just looked the doctor in the eye and shook his hand and said, Thanks, I know now. If I ever top that kind of courage in my life I can say that I have done something.

And I shave with his Turn to open gillette super adjustable at least once a week.

[BRuhling]

I was fortunate enough to win this contest last year, and it pleases me to see that BentonClay is continuing it this year. For those who have not tried the BentonClay products, I will tell you that they are top notch and encourage you to give them a shot--you will NOT be sorry!

I won't make an entry, but will say thank you to the very generous sponsor and tell all the entrants so far, that it is heartwarming to read what you all have to say about your fathers. I'm honored to be a member of a forum with such respectful gentlemen!

[penmanship]

I'm reminded of my dad, every day I come down to the family room.....He's in this photo somewhere (i know where). He was younger than my son is NOW when he was over in Europe. I can't imagine my son there, now.....

My dad taught me the most important things in life, aren't things.
and so has my son!

[charles_r]

Not exactly a tribute to my son, but more of a funny story and quite appropriate to B&B!. I was shaving last saturday morning. My 5 year old son walks in and asks me: "what do you use to shave? is that a Fusion Proglide"? (I had a EJ89 razor in hand).

When I answered no, he looked at me as if that was impossible. I explained to him that sometimes you can find better stuff than what is on the TV.

I ended up having a very long 4 pass shave in which he helped out... He applied my lather between passes, handed me the alum block and the aftershave, asking me each time what each product was for. It was quite fun! With luck, maybe he'll remember the whole thing and want to try a DE some day

When I was done, It made me remember when my dad taught me how to shave. no pressure, steady hand, etc. Interestingly, the technique was spot on but he had me use a disposable single blade BIC, plain bath soap (LOL!) with a synthetic brush (it was an Omega, I wish I would have kept it!). This was a long time ago.. around 1990. I had forgotten all about this when I transitionned to carts and goo a couple of years later.

It's always surprising how many old memories resurface by having a child around you :)

[BentonClay]

Bump

[Scott0079]

Well, I've never actually met my biological father but that's another story for another day. So I will offer a tidbit about my grandfather. My grandfather taught me that all the things in life that truly matter cannot be bought or sold. He taught me how to be tough and softhearted at the same time. He taught me that whatever you have to be content with it....so many more things but for brevity sake I'll stop there. :001_smile After I had my 1st daughter (she was born on fathers day, ironically, which was awesome!) I was so scared that it was ridiculous in hindsight. I resolved that day that having not known my own father I would do my best to let her know how much she was wanted and how much I love her everyday. I hope I have and will continue to succeed in this. Perhaps she'll write a tribute to me some day.:001_smile

[chuckr9]

I'll go with a tribute to my son - graduating from high school in a few weeks.

[BentonClay]

A quick reminder of the cut-off date for entries: next Friday, June 3rd. Winners to be selected Saturday the 4th.

With 17 entires so far, odds are currently 1 in 17 of winning shaving gear valued at approx. $100 - so there's lots of headroom to participate with your tributes.

Hope to hear from you and good luck!

[PrimeCipher]

Thanks for the great opportunity. I suppose the best thing I have learned from my father was to be independent. We were always different, arguably being adopted caused most of the differences, but by growing up and learning from him, I've come to realize that his way of teaching, essentially the trial and error approach, worked best for me.

Relating his advice to the shaving world, my dad has been an electric razor user for most of his adult life, he started off with a Shick Krona, which he handed down to me recently and which I cleaned up. Nevertheless, it was an electric razor which was one of my first gifts when I went to high school, he taught me the importance of being presentable and it is something I remember each day now that I'm out of college and working. Needless to say, my interests in electric razors quickly diminished and soon shifted to wetshaving, ultimately allowing me to wind up as a member of this great forum. Along the way I realized what was and, perhaps most importantly, what wasn't for me when it came to shaving. All of this and more, I can thank my dad for allowing me to learn.

[Billski]

My father was the youngest of ten children. He was short, as were all his brothers and sisters. Dad didn't go to church at all, but he married a woman of Irish descent, and, of course she was a papist. So they had a mixed marriage.

Dad took me on two excellent fishing trips for bluegill. The first was to Sandusky, Ohio. We were there during the May fly season. We didn't need to take any bait with us. We just rowed a rented row boat a little distance and began to fish with the May flies that were on the row boat. The other fishing trip was to some place in the upper Mississippi River in Minnesota. On each trip we caught those big bluegill.

I don't believe that my father kept any on the health "rules". I don't think that the "rules" were well known back in 1966.

Well anyhow I went into the Army in 1966. During that time I was depressed, I guess. I'd write home and my dad would read my letter. One time he said that I should write something more positive. I believe that I made him sad.

Then I was allowed to come home on leave for two weeks. Now came the dreadful day. On the evening of my departure for Vietnam, my father died of a heart attack.

The DE razor? I wasn't any good at it, but my father usually had a real good shave needing only a three piece Tech razor.


Bill

[BentonClay]

Thanks for all the wonderful stories so far. Prize recipients will be determined this weekend, so please be sure to get your own tribute in!

[Mr. Flay]

Well, you see, I grew up without a father.

My mother always had a man in the house, but none had an interest in being my father.

I was the oldest of four children and I guess I was a some sort of father to the youngers. At least I hope so.

I've gone through a great deal of my adult life not realizing what I had missed by not having any real male mentoring. In the last couple of years, as I've allowed myself more reflection on where I've come from, I've realized the empty place inside where those memories of dear old dad should reside. I knew I needed to make some sort of connection to that place, but there was no one left with which to connect.

Here's what has happened. I've started looking at myself in the mirror. I mean really looking and studying. Losing the full beard I hid behind for two decades and taking up wet shaving has been a very important part of this. Looking myself in the eye as I shave and contemplating my lineage in my features helps me feel some important sense of connection, I'm still sorting this out. Having all the surrogate fathers on these forums to (unknowingly) mentor me has been great as well. Thanks, dads.

I suppose my post here is just a way of acknowledging that fathers are important. Dads are important. And you are never too old to find them and cherish them, even in a more symbolic form.

[Price]

Somehow I hadn't seen this thread until today, but I just got back from spending 10 wonderful days of leave back home with with my parents, so I decided I would chime in. First of all, my dad is - always has been - my hero and my role model. It seems somewhat trite to say that, but it remains the truth. He and my mom raised 6 troublesome kids, of which I was the oldest (and quite possibly the most troublesome). They are to this day the most happily married couple I know. My dad turns 72 this year, and has been "retired" for almost 10 years. I use the quotation marks because he hasn't even begun to slow down. I don't think he knows how to. When he runs out of projects around the house, he putts over to my sister's house and works around her yard, just to stay busy.

With such a big family, things were always tight, but the priority was always on education. He saved to be able to send us all to the best school in town, for which I will be forever grateful (now that I realize the value of that education). Being the oldest, and his namesake, I think he had a higher expectation for me, and firmly ensconced in the laziness of youth I failed to meet that expectation more often than not. I always thought his standard was unreasonable, but the older I got the better I understood. He wanted nothing but for me to succeed, to apply myself to the best of my abilities. It took me much too long to learn that lesson, and I let many opportunities slip through my hands before I grew up and got myself together. Through it all, he was never anything but encouraging and supportive. It's funny now, because we can sit on his back porch and joke about it over a few beers, but he never allowed me to see even a trace of disappointment.

Seeing myself in my own son, now reaching adulthood himself, I find myself trying to teach him the same lessons that I never realized my dad was teaching me. He was a firm believer in allowing us to make our mistakes, but then making sure we learned from them. And in the end, we all found our way in the world, and we're all pretty happy. I hope I'm doing half the job for my kids that he did for us.

Dad's a TracII/Barbasol guy (who doesn't get my fascination with shaving and sharp objects), so he'll probably never see this, but thanks Pop. I know we put you through a lot, but none of us would be where we are today without your love, your wisdom, and your sacrifices. You really are still my hero.

[jumper]

There is no way I could ever attempt to pay a tribute to my dad in a forum post but I'm very thankful be allowed to say a few words about him. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him for some reason. If I make a dumb mistake I think of him gently ribbing me or if I do something well I can still see that soft smile of approval on his face.
He was a WWII vet and I followed in his military footsteps, joining the army and serving 32 years.
He taught me so many things that they are hard to list but from hitting a curveball to asking a girl to dance, he seemed to be that all knowing all talented kind of guy everyone would want as a friend. No room for racism and no room for meaness.

Why not mention the shave lesson as this forum is full of shavers. We got set up in this terribly tiny bathroom and ran hot water into the sink. I can still see the steam on the mirror as he whipped up some lather in an old cup with hard soap in it. The brush he used would probably be tossed out by most here, it was old and the handle was worn smooth and the bristles were shortened from use. He said 'if you get a good lather, you'll get a good shave' He slipped a new Gillette blue blade into an old razor and said 'watch' I was in awe how he lathered up his mug and slicked that razor around shaving so expertly. I drank in every stroke worried I'd never be able to do it right. When it was my turn to get rid of my peach fuzz he just grinned and nodded, 'watch your nose, be careful around the lip, opps got a lil' nick there son. Could a boy ever feel closer to his dad? Nobody was prouder of the bits of toilet paper on his face than I, when we went downstairs to show off to my mom and sisters.

When I joined the army he gave me a brand new razor in a case and his old brush. Oh how i wish I still had that brush. Oh how I wish I still had my dad.

Thanks for reminding me what a wonderful man he was.

[TjGonzo]

I loved my father and he was taken too soon. He didnt get the chance to know what my son became. Nothing can make a dad prouder than to have your son make this post and show you that he did indeed learn and is going to be a hell of a father.



I've considered a drawn out, lengthy, diatribe on how my father was my mentor, hero, teacher, provider, and all of those things. He is, but those are just words.

I realize now that the truest indication that my father is a great man is the fact that he has taught me all of those things without teaching me. I needed only follow in his footsteps.

I am a father myself as of 18 months ago and my Dad will always be the standard for which I strive.

When I held my son Tristan in my arms for the first time, a flood of emotions rushed over me, but one stood out in particular for me....

Dad, I understand why you did everything you had to do.

[PozzSka]

Has the winner been chosen yet?

[bbarton713]

Has the winner been chosen yet?

I haven't been notified yet. :lol:

[BentonClay]

Has the winner been chosen yet?

Winners have been selected, and I will write up and post shortly. My apologies for the delay...

[TnutsShave]

Ooooh the suspense!

[BentonClay]

Too often we fail to tell important people how we feel about them until it's too late. We end up eulogizing them at their funeral instead of celebrating them face to face. Tnutsshave, your post struck a chord, along with your father's response. I'm glad you shared your post with him, as that is what this thread is about. Congratulations, you will receive the brush and bowl.

Runners up by random draw are #10 bbarton, #2 pozzska, #17 charles_r, #13 kilgore, and #12 csmorris. I will PM you with details.

To all of you, thanks for sharing from your heart about fatherhood. If you send me your shipping info I'd love to send you some samples as a thank-you for your participation.

[TjGonzo]

Correct, my dad and I were close but we never shared the same bond my son and I have so far. I am so proud, and jealous, nice prize.


Too often we fail to tell important people how we feel about them until it's too late. We end up eulogizing them at their funeral instead of celebrating them face to face. Tnutsshave, your post struck a chord, along with your father's response. I'm glad you shared your post with him, as that is what this thread is about. Congratulations, you will receive the brush and bowl.

Runners up by random draw are #10 bbarton, #2 pozzska, #17 charles_r, #13 kilgore, and #12 csmorris. I will PM you with details.

To all of you, thanks for sharing from your heart about fatherhood. If you send me your shipping info I'd love to send you some samples as a thank-you for your participation.

[TnutsShave]

What a great contest and I'm extremely pleased to be chosen as this year's winner. There were some great entries and i'm honored to have mine chosen! Hats off to you BentonClay...you make some great stuff and I can't wait to get my hands on the prizes!

[csmorris]

Congratulations TJ and Thanks Dave!

[maxman]

Congrats to all the winners.
I had to come back a few times to read the entires.
I just couldn't read more than a few before my eyes got a little moist.

Well done indeed :thumbup1:

[TnutsShave]

Congrats to all the winners.
I had to come back a few times to read the entires.
I just couldn't read more than a few before my eyes got a little moist.

Well done indeed :thumbup1:

Thanks Marc and CSMorris and congrats to all of the other winners. Great submissions guys...I'll keep you posted on the goodies!

[BentonClay]

...Great submissions guys...I'll keep you posted on the goodies!

And speaking of goodies, TJ, you have a choice of:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/5888439948_6c3c6a96d3.jpg
A hand-thrown porcelain shaving cup with matching shaving brush handle filled with a 28mm Silvertip knot from the Golden Nib. --OR--

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5888442386_7de32bca96.jpg
A hand-thrown porcelain shaving mug with a Benton Clay Canada/UK LE walnut/badger shaving brush. The knot is 23mm pure badger hand-tied at the Isle of Man!

The pottery items were hand-thrown on a potters wheel by lovely wife Martha Lynn.

And for both TJ and the Runners Up, you have your choice of Lavender Shaving Soap/Lavender Tea Oil combination OR Vetiver Paradisi soap/Vetiver Paradisi Aftershave lotion combo...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/5888445484_fea20e2025.jpg

Please let me know your choices and shipping info by PM and these items will be shipped first thing upon my return from vacation.

[rockviper]

Oooooohhhh! Nice hardware! Lucky folks! I've used the Tea Oil in CTB#2 and it works great! Also, Dave's soaps can stand on their own as well against anything else out there.

[PozzSka]

Great little contest...Dave is a true gentleman. Very generous. And, the stuff he sells isn't bad either. If you want to try a fountain pen, get the little Shakespeare he sells. It's not expensive, and it writes nicely...Looks great on your desk, too.

[Snargle]

And for both TJ and the Runners Up, you have your choice of Lavender Shaving Soap/Lavender Tea Oil combination OR Vetiver Paradisi soap/Vetiver Paradisi Aftershave lotion combo...

Dave, did you just let the cat out of the bag (or the Vetiver out of the bottle)? :confused1 This is first reference I've heard from you about a VP Aftershave...and if it's really happening, then it's great news! :w00t:

[TnutsShave]

Goodies indeed! Well of course, I have to have the matching thrown mug and brush set and naturally, your Vetiver Paradisi soap/Vetiver Paradisi. PM sent. Woohoo!!!! I'll post up some pics for you guys!

[BentonClay]

Dave, did you just let the cat out of the bag (or the Vetiver out of the bottle)? :confused1 This is first reference I've heard from you about a VP Aftershave...and if it's really happening, then it's great news! :w00t:

Larry the VP aftershave is not for sale yet, but I wanted to give the prize winners an advanced opportunity to try it!

[Snargle]

Larry the VP aftershave is not for sale yet, but I wanted to give the prize winners an advanced opportunity to try it!

Excellent news...I will definitely be placing an order when it's released for sale. Thanks for responding to our wishes!

[Kilgore]

Congrats to all winners! I can't wait to try the soap & AS.

[bbarton713]

Larry the VP aftershave is not for sale yet, but I wanted to give the prize winners an advanced opportunity to try it!

I lost track of this contest until Dave sent me an email letting me know that I won! Thanks, Dave! I chose the VP!!!

[BentonClay]

Bob - good news, I only just now finished packing the prizes for shipping. They leave via Canada Post Monday so you should see them soon. Vetiver Paradisi will be an enjoyable autumn/colder weather scent I think.


I lost track of this contest until Dave sent me an email letting me know that I won! Thanks, Dave! I chose the VP!!!

[bbarton713]

Awesome! Timing is everything! I have a ways to go until there is cool weather in Myrtle Beach...November-ish I think. :-)

[csmorris]

Received the Vetiver soap and balm yesterday and first use was this morning, FANTASTIC! Soap is as always great and Vetiver is a scent I've never tried before and I love it! I generally use a splash and not a balm but I enjoyed this one, again, great scent!

Thanks Dave for a great product and a great give away!

[bbarton713]

Nothing here yet in Myrtle Beach.

[csmorris]

Parcels from Canada are notoriously slow. It's worth the wait!

[PozzSka]

I received a small parcel from Canada today as well...you guys are gonna love what I have to show you...

Pics later...

[TnutsShave]

I received a small parcel from Canada today as well...you guys are gonna love what I have to show you...

Pics later...

I second that! Received my box as well. The craftsmanship is just top notch. The bowl is absolutely beautiful and the brush, well, I'd like to be buried with it, thank you very much. Pics will be forthcoming after my Benton Clay inspired shave.

Dave, I can't thank you enough. Everything just oozes class and I'm proud to be the owner of your products.

[TnutsShave]

As promised...:thumbup: The brush is BIG and HEAVY. I love it. Used the full-on BC setup this morning and had a great shave. Love the scent, very unique. I'll be doing a full review of both the brush and the soap after about a week of use.

[PozzSka]

First, a little background...

I've ordered just about everything from Dave at Benton Clay (except a dish, I should get one someday)...some of it I kept, some of it I PIF'd, some of my duplicate items I sold...however, I've really enjoyed everything I have received...the scents are great, the products are very nice, and, of course, Dave is a very nice guy and great to do business with. After he announced that he was doing a Limited Edition brush with a nice Walnut handle and a UK tied "Pure badger" knot, I was interested, even though Pure isn't my normal cup o' tea. I'm a sucker for an LE. I was bugging Dave on Facebook (during the B&B downtime/upgrade) about this LE brush...after being selected for this PIF/giveaway, I told him to send my goodies to someone else, as I've already received freebies from him in the past. He was OK with that, but offered me a chance to review the LE brush free of charge (so in full disclosure: I received this brush for free, but am being as objective as possible...I will also copy this over to the review section shortly).

So, here is what I got yesterday...

"Limited Edition 2011 BENTON CLAY Walnut & Badger Canada/UK"

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5513/photoaug23104651pm.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/photoaug23104651pm.jpg/)

Post-use, bloomed out nicely.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1736/photoaug23104622pm.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/photoaug23104622pm.jpg/)

Close-up of the handle, and the Vetiver Paradisi Soothing Lotion (peekaboo)
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1147/photoaug23104935pm.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/photoaug23104935pm.jpg/)

picture of top of knot (31mm M&F Blonde Bader on L, TGN 30mm Finest on R)
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/6476/photoaug23104742pm.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/photoaug23104742pm.jpg/)

1) The Limited Edition 2011 Benton Clay Walnut/Pure Badger Brush - Pure badger, hand-tied (Isle of Man) knot with Walnut handle.
- Density is middle of the road, but definitely adequate
- knot size 24mm - loft ?? I didn't measure it, but should have...I'll guess about 53mm (give or take)...
- backbone was typical of a quality Pure knot...very springy hair, made quick work of AoS Lavender.
- a fair amount of scritch/scratchy-ness. This isn't my favorite feeling in a brush...I like a little if any scritch, more than a lot. However, I imagine this could be much worse. If the brush were denser, this would have been very bad. However, for those who appreciate a little scritch, and like the feeling that Pure badger typically gives, this is the brush for you.
- Or, if you bowl lather and paint the lather on, this would be great for that,
- shedding - it lost a few hairs, but nothing alarming,
- Handle shape - this handle shape is very comfortable. I face lather, but this would also bowl lather very well,
- The quality of lather was as good as any other brush can make, so this brush lacks nothing in that category.

2) The Benton Clay Vetiver Paradisi Soothing Lotion
- smell, same as the soap...citrus/grapefruit smell with just a hint of vetiver
- Not greasy - this is what I was worried about...I'm a splash user almost exclusively...Almost all AS balms leave my face greasy and sticky. This did not. So bonus points from me (RazoRock AS Wax is another that doesn't leave me greasy)
- Soothing is a good word, it was comfortable, but I didn't have any irritation to soothe, so take this as you will...however, the first ingredient is Aloe Vera, so it can't be that bad.
- The small sample container will still last me a while...so a very generous sample from Dave.

Those are my thoughts.

THANKS DAVE!!:thumbup1::thumbup1:

[morinr]

wow congrats to the winners. Looks like you guys lucked out. great products. I wish I read this and could have entered the contest... always next year :)

[bbarton713]

Nothing here yet in Myrtle Beach.

My parcel arrived today and what a great scent drifted up out of the packing peanuts once I cut the tape and opened the flaps! I can't wait to lather up with this soap tomorrow! Thanks, Dave, for your generosity! :thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

[brucered]

Received the Vetiver soap and balm yesterday and first use was this morning, FANTASTIC! Soap is as always great and Vetiver is a scent I've never tried before and I love it! I generally use a splash and not a balm but I enjoyed this one, again, great scent!

Thanks Dave for a great product and a great give away!

ahhh, that's that the sample i got in the mail was from....i forgot about the samples for all the entries for this contest.

thanks Dave.

[Kilgore]

My parcel arrived today and what a great scent drifted up out of the packing peanuts once I cut the tape and opened the flaps! I can't wait to lather up with this soap tomorrow! Thanks, Dave, for your generosity! :thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

I got mine last week & WOW that's great balm! Been using it everyday & I must say the scent & soothing is top-notch.
I'm out of soap containers until I hit the 99¢ store this weekend, then I'm putting the soap in action on Sunday.