Mini Banners, A Funny Award and Some News

A while back I signed up for a mini banner swap at the Wendy Vecchi yahoo group (EWV....aka, Everything Wendy Vecchi).  Of course I did.  When in comes to swaps I have zero resistance.  And I have the cluttered work table to prove it.
The swaps came in the other day, and I have to say, I do love them.  As soon as I can figure out where in this tiny stuffed-to-the-rafters (if I had rafters) studio I can string them, they will be hung.
Anyway.....here they are.

From Debby, our fab host:

Allie:

 Kathy:

 Lori:

 Susan:

K

Kate:

A

And here's the one I sent out:

Thanks all you crafty chicas!

Those who know me know how I feel about most blog awards, and though I appreciate the bestowment (?) I don't accept or forward them any more.  Until today.  My very talented and amusing friend Lori presented me with this one, and it is one I will gladly take.

Too funny!  I don't have the patience to explain it, and Lori already did that so well on her blog, so I'm just gonna do some creative stealing blog-lifting, and just copy (and paraphrase) what she wrote:

And the rules are:

1.  Express gratitude to the blogger who bestowed the award unto you... Copious,grovelling …I am not worthy… gratitudes.   Yes, Lori, I am thankful, I am humble, I am unworthy.....

2.  Display the picture on your blog proudly.   Check!

3.  Be nice and provide a link to the person who gave it to you.  See below

4.  Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth, or switch it around and tell six outrageous truths and one outrageous lie. I'm not telling which is which.  (They're coming!)

5.  Nominate seven (I'm doing five.  Sue me) creative writers who might be into doing this. See below

6.  Post links to the seven five blogs you nominate and let the owners of those blogs know. OK, here's my problem with this one....Lori already nominated people that I would have, plus, I sure would have nominated Lori, so what I'll do is just list some names of people whose blogs are not only full of cool art, but who consistently crack me up.  They can accept it, or not, follow the rules, or not, pass it on, or not.  I just want you all to know where to go when you need inspiration and cheering up.

So some outrageous lies (or are they outrageous truths?) about me:

1)   I applied to NASA to be in the Teacher-In-Space program

2)   One of my earliest dreams was to hitchhike across America, and I did get part way there

3)   After I broke Mick Jagger's heart, he had to settle for Bianca

5)   The FBI has a file on me

6)   Unlike Lori's outrageous lie, I actually did meet Donald Trump, and gave him my hairdresser's business card

7)    Tim Holtz reads my blog for his inspiration

Visit the blogs of these funny and creative folks:

 Lori

 Hels 

 Wendy

 Suze
 Megan and Cheryl

 

And finally, on to the "news."  I am one of the guides, leaders, facilitators (pick the noun you like best) of a group working on altered books.  I'm no expert, but I've done a few, and I love exploring techniques.  It's hard to describe them on a yahoo group, so I decided I'd do it in blog posts, so there could be photos with the text.   But, I wanted it all in one place and not mixed in with my usual ramblings.  So, (drumroll for the BIG NEWS), I created a new blog, just for the altered book project.

If ABs are something you're interested in, please check it out. This is a go-at-your-own-pace project, no deadlines, and everything I post is a suggestion only.  Plus, I have links to sources that know way more than I do.  I really outdid myself in the creativity/originality department when I named the new blog:   The Altered Book Journey

Sue me!