A little bit about Mermaids...
Swap button by Sandy.
I received an absolutely gorgeous gift in the post and I couldn't wait to share it with you! LOOK what the very sweet and thoughtful Natalea sent to me!
For hosting the Mermaid and Seaside Inspired Swap, this lovely gal sent me a present! What an absolutely gracious thing to do! Thank you so much Natalea!
I LOVE the presentation of a gift almost as much as the gift itself so I just about always takes picture before I unwrap something. Natalea did a great job with this one! Some luscious buttons and velvet ribbon...yum! Oh and check this out...
I am SO in love with this "hold dear!" It is going to find it's way into my blog banner one of these days!!! :-)
So on to the gift...
"Mermaids - Nymphs of the Sea" by Theodore Gachot. This is one of the most amazingly gorgeous books I have ever seen! Here are a few pages just to give you an idea of the quality...
I love this writing style!
I have GOT to find me some of those fun mermaid drink markers!!!
There are such a variety of visuals in this book. Cute, clever, romantic, dreamy, gorgeous, and interactive (glassine envelopes with more eye candy)! I LOVE this book and I had no idea it existed so, Natalea, thank you again!
And speaking of the Mermaid and Seaside Inspired Swap, have you wandered over to the group's Flickr site yet? SPECTACULAR pictures! Every time I look at them, I literally gasp! Sometimes I'll even type the word "gasp" in a comment! These swappers have absolutely amazed and inspired me and they have taken this swap to a level greater than I imagined! It makes me so VERY happy!
Oh and while I'm talking about sweet Natalea, I thought I'd also go ahead and try my hand at the blog tag thingy she got me with...er, did to me...um, at me? Oh, you know what I mean... :-)
FIVE RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME...I did something like this well over a year ago but I'm a just gonna go ahead and jot down whatever comes to mind without researching to see if I've mentioned it before...
1. I love to sing karoake. I like to be first and I can sing even without alcohol. It's not that I'm good (because I'm not) but I just love it. I once sang "Safety Dance" at an insurance convention in front of about 800 people. I have no shame.
2. Along the same lines of number one, I once entered a wolf howling contest at Wolf Haven in Tenino, WA. I got up on stage with five other contestants and howled like a wolf in front about 100 people. I won.
3. I truly believe a) that I have seen a UFO and b) that I have been abducted. Well, maybe not so much (b), although I do have an unexplicable "scoop" mark on the inside of my ankle. But for sure, without a doubt, I saw a pair of UFOs flying in approximately 1975.
4. I am an excellent confidant and very good secret keeper. If you tell me something and ask me not to tell anyone, I won't. Not ever.
5. This coming March, I will be married exactly HALF of my life. I just turned 48 and in March, Glen and I will have been married for 24 years. Cool. :-)
Random stuff, that's for sure! Okay, so while I like doing these little tag things, I'm not very good about "tagging" people. So...without naming names, if you're reading this...consider yourself tagged! You don't have to tell me if you don't do this but if you do, be sure to let me know!!! Have fun!!!
How nice of Natalea! What a perfect gift to enhance your mermaid-hosting experience. Very thoughtful of her.
There are some things in your list that I definitely did not know about you. You are a fascinating woman :) I'll let you know if I feel like playing.
Posted by: Lilli | February 05, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Natalea rocks!! what a sweetie!
i like your 5 things list. fascinating indeed..
Posted by: tricia | February 05, 2008 at 01:08 PM
I totally loved reading the random things about you....How cool you won for the wolf howling contest!!!
Posted by: Malou | February 05, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Michelle, thanks for playing along! I love reading random facts about my blog friends! But I swear I wouldn't have thought you a day over 35!!! Congrats on being married for 24 years! OMG! I need you to write me a handbook on how you do it!! I've only been married 5 years and, well, we won't go there!! HA! I'm so happy you liked the book!! xo natalea
Posted by: Natalea | February 06, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Hey!! I am hosting a swap Come join me! love to have you!
Toodles-
Sarah
http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/hanging-up-springtime-swap.html
Posted by: sarah | February 06, 2008 at 06:28 AM
What a fabulous gift from Natalea! She is so sweet and just the nicest person. Your five random things were a blast to read. I don't know which one I grinned harder over, your fame as a wolf howler or as the vocal entertainment for 800 people! :)
Your mermaid swap is heating up, girl! The flickr photos are just amazing!!
Posted by: Bejeweled | February 06, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Michelle, Your mermaid pieces are so beautiful!
Thank You so much for the Spring Clothesline Swap info~ you are a true sweetheart!
~Jenelle
Posted by: Jenelle O'Malley | February 07, 2008 at 05:24 PM
I love this book Michelle. I also own it. Glad had fun with your family.
Here are my pics of the swap I created made for Heidi.
http://www.arteverything.com/2008/02/ode-to-mermaid.html
Posted by: Andrea Forgnone | February 09, 2008 at 08:36 PM