Innovative Publishing: The Thing

I've been interested in The Thing since I first read about it prior to the release of their first issue:

THE THING is a quarterly periodical in the form of an object. Each year, four artists, writers, musicians or filmmakers are invited by the editors (Jonn Herschend and Will Rogan) to create an everyday object that somehow incorporates text. This object will be reproduced and hand wrapped at a wrapping party and then mailed to the homes of the subscribers with the help of the United States Postal Service.

Each new Thing is then assembled and packaged during a launch and wrapping party. Such a great concept! I would love the challenge to design and source the manufacturing for each unique issue, too. The project is supported through subscriptions, which are $120 for four issues. Alas, shipping is an additional expense ($20 per issue to Canada), so I have not yet subscribed.