Blog Award

First of all a Big Thank you to Jinny for giving me this award (see right).  You really should check out her blog - it is fantastic - she makes some amazing things and I just love her blog to bits.

It is the third award I have had since I came to America so I am so chuffed I might just stay over here.  Only joking, the money is running out and the insurance on the house would be invalid if I stayed any longer.

Now I have to pass it on to eight others and tell you eight things about myself:

1.  I really don't know how long I have been stamping but prior to that I was into cake icing and decorating (sugar flowers) and guess I have been into crafts most of my life but not as seriously as now.

2)  Every year at CHA I have to have my photograph taken with Lisa Pavelka as she is so wonderful.

3)  I work for Oyster Stamps in the UK demonstrating at the northern shows and Tracey and Graham are the most wonderful people to work for and great vendors too.

4)  I do workshops for Paddy's Stamping Place in Prestwich which is the north of England as well as several other companies.

5)  I have the most wonderful small family consisting of my other half, Chas, my son Andy and his partner Sam(antha) - my other family live in Australia and I also have my adopted family now here in America who I love with all my heart.

6)  I go to Victoria Stampers in Rainhill once a month with a great bunch of people.

7)  Despite having a HUGE garden I am not much of a gardener but I wish I was.

8)  I wish I was 20 years younger and at the place I am right now as there is so much I want to learn and do in the crafting world.

Now to pass on to some amazing blogs which you must check out:

http://anne-ectdotes.blogspot.com - my dear friend Anne who does some beautiful cards

http://cockneyblonde.blogspot.com - Alison who had a brief spell away from blogging but who, I am glad to say, is back in blogland with her lovely colouring

http://harpie38.blogspot.com - Sid, who everybody loves so much

http://atcsbylottie.blogspot.com - Lottie who made the most amazing journal a few months ago and who makes beautiful things all the time

http://rarelizzie.wordpress.com - Liz Welch who is the greatest tutor ever and does the most amazing Friendly Plastic work

http://sam21ski.blogspot.com - Sam, who I love dearly and who has branched out into so many wonderful medias with fantastic work

http://yoursartfully.blogspot.com - what can one say about Lin, who, with Leandra, runs the most fantastic workshops ever and does some truly inspiring work

and lastly, but certainly not least http://theartsiders.blogspot.com - Paul, my best friend who not only is a very talented crafter but also the nicest friend a girl could have.

It was so difficult to decide who to list as there are so many talented people out there that I could have sat here all day listing peeps - a hard decision to choose but eight.  Do check them out and don't forget Jinny who gave me this award.

I Slept 10 Hours - More from CHA and a WOYWW

I can't believe it!  I went to bed at 10 pm, woke at 6.15 and went back to sleep until 8 am - do you think I missed out on sleep whilst in LA?  I could have slept more but thought I would try to make my eyes open and stay that way so I could sort out all the stuff I had brought back.  I really want to show you a couple of albums I made so I need to get working on them to finish them off.

In the meantime it's not what is on my workdesk that I am showing you - it's what is in my camera but I am hoping that will still qualify for Julia's WOYWW this week.  Posted yesterday also about CHA and will be posting for a few days yet so if you want to see what happened at CHA keep tuning in.

In the meantime check out these paper dresses on the Die Cuts With a View stand - blew me away - click on the photos for a larger view.

Yes, these are entirely paper, full sized.  These paper curls were done with a hair curler.

I just love the wire body forms that they are on.  Reminds me, I have one at home (smaller of course) but doubt I could produce something like any of these.

Above is the back view and below the front view.

Although they were leaves that made up this dress it did remind me of a Peacock with the way the back fanned out.

Short, sweet and sassy.

Everyone loves butterflies - this was the favourite of the young lady I was talking to who was guarding the stand.

How about one of these for your next project?

Will show you one of my favourite stands tomorrow but before I leave I must show this to Sam.  Unfortunately I did not do this Make and Take but when I saw the one Heather had done I just knew Sam would love it.  Here you are Sam, right up your street:

Oops!  Sorry Ann, will make sure Graphic 45 are on tomorrow.