Round Robin Int'l Journal #1

as you put your name and address on your own journals, PLEASE also include your "swap-bot" name/id - so many of us us nicknames, that sometimes it may be hard to know WHO sent it.

ALSO - since the journey will be the same for each, once you have SENT a journal onward, PLEASE post here that you received so-and-so's journal, and have SENT it on to the next!

Since we are not newbies here, and some of us may have had experiences with no-senders, hopefully we all understand and can appreciate that accountability is a good thing.

have a good week, MaryB

Is there any standards for journal size? weight?
One notebook I enjoy scribbling in is nice and thin (and light) but not necessarily pretty - it would make it cheap to ship. Any thoughts?

I'll wait for some more feedback from the group on this, and since it's international, some tablets may not be available in some places around the world -

I think we don't have to go larger than about 9 inches by about 6 inches, (22.86 cm x 15.24 cm) - not too big, not too small.

I've also seen some smaller, some that are more square than rectangle - -

but the point here, tho, is that you are picking out YOUR OWN journal - and it will come back to you, so if you LIKE some particular style, then that should be YOUR choice. (does that make sense?)

be kind, and don't pick something that weighs a ton, because 10 people are going to be shipping it around the world - ~smile~

Does this mean that each person sends out one journal from his/her starting place? And in turn, will receive 9 other journals at staggered times?

love this idea, thanks for organizing mary as it doesn't sound easy, I am a little confused with the sending deals, but will figure it out as we go along! I like spiral bound journals and a local shop stops really nice handmade ones with nice quality paper, so I will get one of those..never done this before so a little nervous hope my journal lives up to expectations! :-)

hopefully to clarify -

each person will receive ONE partner thru swap-bot. That person is the person you will ALWAYS be sending to.

The journal STARTS its travels in the hands of its OWNER - the person who will end up with it at the very end, so pick out something YOU like, and start decorating it yourself. (Be sure to put your name and address (and swap-bot name) somewhere easily visible on the front or back cover!)

Every person will receive (from me) the swap partner that they receive from, and also who they send to - (and yes, those two names will be the same for every journal) -

this is why we are limiting this to 10 swappers, or it could get very outrageous!

Since we are not open to newbies, I sure do HOPE that means that we all understand what it's like to be on the receiving end of a no-sender, so this will help to track down any journals.

AFTER you send a journal, please post here that you received so-and-so's journal and sent it to _________.

That way we know where each one is in the process, and yes, can track them down if necessary.

Hope that helps, and any other questions, just ask - (this really isn't so complicated, tho it probably seems so - and will come clear once we "start" the process)

have a good week, MaryB

Yea!!!! I am number 10.

Yea Poggy! You filled the swap! Just a question, can I join the international swap if I live in the USA, or not? Or do I have to switch over to the US only swap?

Will you be cancelling sign up and astarting assigning partners, or wait till April 14th to do so?

you sure can belong to both, if you'd like, that's why I opened two separate swaps, for people who wanted to choose - but of course, your name can appear on both lists - twice the fun!

Welcome Poggy, "you complete us" hahaha -

I'm not sure HOW to shut it down, I sure don't want to delete it - but will do some investigating, and if that's easily possible, will do so -

you can join as many as you wish! Just remember that it IS a commitment to send what you receive, smile

one thing, maybe I can just move the deadline up to NOW, if that's a possibility - but there may be some who might be "riding the fence" and may think of leaving us....BOO HOO....and that would commit them immediately....

I will take care of it somehow, and we WILL remain at ten, whatever way has to be done.

thanks for the ideas and input -

MaryB

What I could do is to make it "Private" which would then require a password for you to access the swap info.

However, there are lots of wonderful comments and such great input from so many on this page, and I really do not want that to be removed from anyone who might want to sign up for any of the OTHER ones -

the other option is to move the deadline ahead to right away, which would close it down from anyone else signing up, but would also mean it would be SOONER, to get your journal ready and sent.

yet I'm leaning toward still another option - for me to simply do as I posted earlier, and contact anyone who tries to sign up, asking them to move to the other one -

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

(time to vote! hahaha)

It looks like you're full so why don't we close and get started! Fun swap - thanks for setting it up.

I'd love to start now!

emails on their way to everyone - deadline is moved UP to tomorrow, March 27. I will close it at 5 pm, (CDT), that's 24 hours from now.

You will still have TWO weeks until sending, April 10th.

Please read your emails, if you have any questions, let me know here or via email.

Let's have some FUN!

MaryB

This is my first FB. I am thinking of how I want to decorate the pages from me and I was thinking of doing something that would be from where I am from and maybe something about me. Is this a good idea?

I know that for one of my pages, I am going to write one line to start a poem, and ask each person who works on my journal to add one more line of the poem in their own handwriting!

I know you said 10..but you also said you might have another inter. one. I'm just signing up in case you do.

QueenBee, that sounds like a fabulous idea - and I like that it would bring a bit of where you are to each of us that get to see it!

Jewels, that poem idea is fabulous - I can't wait to see what people write -

and YES, always be sure to SIGN your pages, everyone!
this is going to be FUN! MaryB

Not a problem here. It could be fun. I can't wait to get going!

To make it up to 11 or 12, that is.

One question I've been asked - "can I do the same thing in each journal, or does each one have to be different?"

As far as I'm concerned, you can do whatever your creativity guides you to do - if you have a wonderful idea, carry it through so everyone can be the happy recipient of it - if you think of a "theme" where each journal is related, yet different, that would be awesome also. And if you want to go completely off in a different direction on each one, that will be superb!

I think I can safely speak for this wonderful COMMITTED group of swappers that I'm sure we will enjoy whatever each person puts forth - let it speak from your heart - even if you don't think you are artsy, be encouraging.

It's gonna be FUN! MaryB

emails went out to everyone - we are adding another, and may have ELEVEN happy swappers - with the excellent ratings in our group, I'm really looking forward to a very exciting and successful swap!

Have fun everyone, always remember to SIGN the pages you do for each other, and thank you so much for making this such a fun experience!

have a GREAT week! MaryB

one other little "point" - it may be possible that at some point in this process, you will end up with more than one journal in your possession at a given time.

If that is the case, you CERTAINLY can send them all off together, since they will all be going to the SAME partner. (Plus this would save on mailing!)

Please, however, do not hold any journals more than a few days, "waiting" for others to arrive.

(Just make sure that you remember to add something to every journal before sending it on its way! lol)

enjoy, MaryB

Cannot wait to get started, the only thing I am worried about is that in May(17th) I go on vacation for 2 weeks...actually visiting you US guys, so I hope I dont receive a journal then whilst I am away or it will be delayed...hope this is ot a problem, or maybe we will have finished up by then???

You know just checked it out and all you guys are in USA and one in Canada...and only me in the UK!! we only just got international! I hope you guys will be patient with the mail as it usually takes about a week from here and vice versa! :-)

thanks for telling us, and I think that is fine - we all signed up on THIS one knowing it was international - even if you are the only one, Alex, those of us here in the US/Canada cannot begrudge you for that -

It very likely will be done by the middle of May - especially if we all try very hard to keep to the 5 (or LESS) day turnaround time

MaryB

Alex, I will be recieving from you, so I'll watch for those packages from the UK! Can't wait!

great jewels..I just bought the journal today, so will be busy working on it tonight and will get it off to you within a day or two! so much fun!

Okay, I bought my journal this morning! And a cool book about art journals for inspiration! And some paper . . . and charms . . . and some embellishments . . . and some coffee . . . and an ice cream cone . . . lol, it was a good morning! I plan on decorating it tonight and sending it off tomorrow, yay!

Jewels....so we all get free coffee and ice cream stains with your journal!!! strange as I also bought a tub of ben and jerry's and some hazlenut coffee this morning! Maybe it is the thing to do? :-)

now stop that! laffing - - we can't even get ben&jerry's here - say, I know.....how about sending some with your journal?

of course, it MIGHT not make the trip, all the way across the atlantic, (but the mailman would love it i'm sure, haha)

and Jewels - (I was inspired by your getting an "art journal" book - i might have to stop off at the bookstore/library on the way home!)

gosh, this just might become a new addiction for me - artsy round robin journals! - I'm really loving it so far!

enjoy, MaryB

I'm loving it too, I've been reading the dang book all night though instead of actually working on the journal. I'm afraid I'll decorate it then find an idea I like better, so I guess I'll read the whole book first, lol! I'm really excited about this, I've thought about starting a journal for sooo long, this was just the budge I needed!

My journal is being mailed to Alex on 3-29-07. This is going to be fun. I am in an altered book swap with a particular theme & I wanted this to be different. So it is open to anything you want to do. There are plenty of pages so you can do several if that trips your trigger. I am just excited to see what everyone does. Most of all - just have fun with my book. I know I will love it. Jackie

Yay! I decorated my journal cover last night, there is a picture in the gallery if anyone wants to snoop! I'll decorate a few pages this morning and send it on it's merry way this afternoon!

CAUTION - to ALL swap-bot swappers -

If you EVER come across a swapper with ANY of the following info, BEWARE - she has been scamming swap-bot since the beginning, I don't know if she EVER has sent anything!

JENNA ~ PERRY ~ QUIGLEY ~ Oak Street ~ EUGENE ~ OREGON

She is NOW using the swap-bot ID "Aloha"

(Any of those words in her email, website, or swap name - do NOT send to her, unless she sends and her items are RECEIVED!)

She now has a rating of 1 - which is a good thing, once she deletes her profile, which she probably will do, those will all disappear - -

SO MAKE A NOTE OF THE ABOVE - - AND BEWARE!

MaryB

Thanks for that Mary, I have several art journal books which i keep reading, have done some of my journal, but am getting a little nervous, worried it mightnot be good enough and that I cannot think of things to do...oh think im in crisis!! need more coffee. poggy looking forward to receiving, will try to get mine off on saturday but my cousin is visiting for the weekend so I am not getting as much time to work on it as I want. Mary how can you not get Ben and Jerry's? I thought we were deprived in the UK!!

jewels cannot find any pictures in the gallery??? you not had your coffee???

I'll try again, sometimes these galleries don't work so well . . .

Okay, after several tries, and several "Internal Server Errors", I think the picture is in the gallery. Although, when I tried to bring it up, the bottom was cut off a little, but that may have just been my slow connection taking forever.

Alex, you really need to read the book I just bought.

It is called "Visual Chronicles" . . . (The no-fear guide to creating art journals, creative manifestos, and altered books) by Linda Woods & Karen Dinino.

After reading this book, I don't think I'll ever run out of things to journal about, and they make you realize that there is really no such thing as "not good enough"! It is upbeat and fun to read the stories of these two sisters journaling adventures and easy, easy techniques and tricks. I couldn't stop reading, I read the whole book from cover to cover the same day I bought it.

P.S. - Did you really ask if I had not had my coffee? Surely you jest! I don't have a blood-stream, I have a java-stream!

Please dear ones, do NOT be too hard on yourselves, especially of your own journals - I cannot think that anyone here will complain of the "quality" or even the "artistic-ness" - (new word) -

I am just thrilled to think that there are TEN wonderful, funny, caring people who will put their hand to MY humble beginnings.

And remember, this is a HEALTHY addiction -

round robin journals -

that is inspiring, just in the saying of it!

And we ARE having FUN! thanks to all of YOU! MaryB

lovely words Mary...loving this already everyone seems so nice...jewels I have that book totally love it, will have another, also very cool books are alphabetica and artisit journals and sketchbooks by lynne perrella. have fun y'all. :-)

OK! Mine is off to you Mary. I have a pic in the gallery. I screwed up the first upload by not resizing. So, don't wait for it, just skip it and go to the next one.

oh bren, I can hardly wait - and it is beautiful! The gallery is going to be such an inspiration all by itself!

have a wonderful weekend, everyone, MaryB

I do not have a digital camera, and have no idea how to post a picture to the gallery - - and here you maybe thought I KNEW something, to have my name in the big grey box! hahaha

anyway, any one can sure take a pic of it, if they'd like, but since you will all see it anyway, that might not be necessary.

(yeah I know, my grandkids are trying to push me into the 21st century, yet I keep dragging my feet! - Hey, it's only been SEVEN years!)

hugs, MaryB

Beautiful, Bren! I can't wait to see all of these, all so different!

OOPs fogot to take pictures of mine...Jewels I mailed mine out to you today, so hopefully should be with you in around a week. I feel bad for you Poggy that you got me as you have to mail to the UK all the time! :-)

Weeee!! I can't wait!

It's April First - (we're not fools!)

everyone - do something that makes you LAUGH out loud today!

MaryB

You may already know this, but there is a "usa-only" journal round robin swap also - if anyone is interested in doing this again, or knows another swapper who might be interested, who didn't get in to this one -

you can find it at http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/2766

ALSO, I've added another international one as well - http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/2788

Hope to maybe see some of you "over there" TOO!

have a wonderful week, everyone, MaryB

Wow, how fun to do all three!

My journal will go out to QueenBee tomorrow :) And I'll upload pictures on my trip! :)

oh wish I could join the other international one too but I have so much to do at the moment..maybe next time, and this group seems such a nice group, I must admit the last few swops I was in I have not received anything, which saddens me when you work hard on contributing to something! Sorry gals I flipped a little there...eagerly watching the mail for your journal Poggy! Have a good week all of you fab folk. :-)

Alex, your journal is here! It is amazing, I've looked at your cool pages a million times. So much for getting anything accomplished around here today, tee! hee! Your journal came in the mail and I've been working on it ever since, and I didn't even get any coffee or ice cream stains on it! :D

bren, your journal is beautiful - even prettier than the picture! received it Monday, and gone today -

sent TWO journals off to Ellen in Canada - (bren's and my own) - they were sent Global Priority - 4-10 days, so be watching for them, Ellen. (also enclosed your envies from the other swap! hahaha)

and WOW, this is SO much fun! (honestly, I had no idea, when I started this thing that it would become so inspiring and addictive!)

have a good week everyone, MaryB

so glad it arrived ok Jewels, wouldn't it be awful espeically near to the end if any got lost in the mail!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to receive mne from Poggy. Have a good easter everyone! You know Jewels I would expect at least one coffee stain from you!! :-)

I received QueenBee's journal today, HOLY COW!!! It's gorgeous!!!!

Alex, don't fret about me having to send all the books to the UK. I signed up knowing that this could happen. I just look at it as the price I pay to see & participate in Round Robin ART. Besides, I am having fun!!!! Jackie

I received Mandy's book today. I hope to work on it this weekend. Jackie (Poggy)

mlc3837,

There are two journals on their way to you. One is Alex's, the other is mine, have a great time with them, I know I did! I can't wait for another one to arrive...

Jewels

Hi Jackie (POGGY) Just received your great journal today...hopefully I will get my pages done over the weekend and hope to mail it out to Jewels on Tuesday...how cool is this swop, loving it! HAPPY EASTER TO Y'ALL!

Happy Easter, everyone. I promise my journal will be in the mail on Monday. I loaded myself up with too many swaps, a conference and bronchitis right in the middle of it all. I'm excited and will be moving everyone's journal around quickly now that I'm back on track.

Thanks to all for making this swap happen.

Glad you're feeling better, Ellen. Have a nice Easter everyone, eat lots of chocolate bunnies, the sugar rush will have your creativity flying in high gear! :D

p.s. to Ellen - will send leftover chocolate easter candies with next journal! (that is, if my grandkids leave me any!!)

my new mantra: chocolate is good...chocolate is GOOD!

happy easter everyone, MaryB

Okay....mine is going to be sent off tomorrow to Tireen. Mine is a little different. The cover is "blank cardboard"....you'll see what I mean. I'm going to let you all decorate it as you see fit. I want to see what you guys do. Decorate it as you see fit. Thanks....

Cool idea mlc3837, I can't wait to how it turns out!

I am sending Mandy's book to Alex today 4-9-07. Jackie

Thanks Jakie... sending your journal out to Jewels tomorrow, as it is a holiday here today! :-)

mlc3837 ~~ Just thought I should mention that I sent you my journal and Alex's journal in seperate big bubble envelopes, so watch for two packages. I also put Delivery Confirmation on them so I can track them online, it's kind of fun for only 60 cents extra!

Hi Jewels, just to let you know I mailed Jackie's (poggy) journal to you today, so should be with you in about a week or so....HAVE FUN! Alex

Mandy, my journal is on it's way to you.

Ok...I'll be on the lookout. Thanks so much!

i want to thank EVERYONE in this group for doing such a GRAND job of accounting! I am so happy that you are all so willing to post as these little gems make their way around the circle.

It really does help everyone feel more confident, I hope, and I am counting on a totally SUCCESSFUL swap -

Feel free to post more pics, everyone - I think we all love seeing them!

hugs to you ALL! and have a GREAT week everyone! MaryB

ALSO, everyone - another great idea, I just heard from someone in one of the other RR's -

at the very END of this, when your beautifully embellished journals come HOME - please post another pic for us all to OOOOOHHHHH and AAAAAAHHHHH - - (in unison, lol)

We see them each at various stages of completion, and I think we'd all love to enjoy the final product - - what do you think?

MB

tIREEN - love the pic of yours - and you are right, those stamps really are a beautiful addition!

Should we be posting pictures of the pages as we do them, or would that ruin the surprise at the end?

(I probably cannot really comment, since I have no idea how to post pics to the gallery, anyway - and I do not have a digital camera)

I guess it's up to you, maybe you can at least TAKE the pics, and as we get towards the end of the swap, THEN post them - how does that sound??

just an opinion -

please everyone - what do you think?

MB

I do like the idea of the covers at least showing up, right away, as they are SO wonderful, I'm sure!

MaryB

I think it would be great to post pictures as we go along :)

Oh, and I got mlc3837 journal yesterday the moment I walked in the door from my trip :) I'll mail it on Monday, and then will be gone again for the week :)

tIREEN

No fair! (pouting) I am still waiting for the first journal to arrive!

Well sorry folks I did forget to photograph my cover, maybe the lovely person who has it at the moment would like to post one on behalf of me...unless of course the mail man has it!!

I took a picture of it Alex, I'll post it!

Great thank you Jewels...Have a great weekend everyone! :-)

I received the journals....now I feel bad that mine wasn't decorated.... They are BEAUTIFUL!!!

mlc3837, we will all have a blast decorating your journal cover, that just adds to the fun, I can't wait to see how it turns out!

I tracked the journals for the last four days with the Delivery Confirmation numbers, it was kind of cool. They went from my post office in PA on April 9th, to Philadephia PA on April 10th, to Memphis, Tennessee on April 12th, to Little Rock, Arkansa on April 13th, it was kind of fun to know the path they took to get there!

Alex, I will try again to upload a picture of your journal, I think I have to make the picture smaller, every time I try to upload it, it says it is done, but then it kind of freezes and never puts it on. I'll try again today.

Alex, I give up, for some reason I can't get the photo to post in this gallery. I put it on my flickr page instead, try this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliajo1/

Jewels..thank you so much for trying, I apreciate it, it does not matter, we can all post at the end anyway...eagerly awaiting my next journal! Have a great week! :-)

Jewels, I had forgotten what my cover looked like...amazing how different and individual they all are! Love your ATC'S you are talented...and have to ask about the skunk..how cute is he? Is he a personal friend? I'm sad that we don't have skunks in the UK... :-(

He is our pet, we've had him six years, his name is Tucker. He has full run of the house and is litter trained. He is a constant source of amusement, I just love my little striped furball!

mlc3837, don't worry! I started decorationg the cover, sorta as a 'base' for everyone else :) and I'm already done with inside pages too, so your journal will be on it's way to QueenBee shortly!!

tIREEN

Bren - you haven't received my journal yet? It was off the 9th I believe. I will double check with the hubby, he sent them off. The next one is on it's way today.

wow Jewels how fab that you have a pet skunk..how did that happen, he is such a cutie, I am so envious, so does he ever spray at you guys?

Hi Alex! Tucker is descented, but he still thinks he can spray. When he gets mad he stomps his front feet, lifts his tail at you, then struts away like he won... he doesn't get that he's not really spraying us, tee! hee! My brother-in-law runs Second Chance Wildlife Center, a rehab center for injured or orphaned wild animals, and has a license to breed skunks as pets.

Hi Liz, as of today, it hasn't come. If it was sent media mail, I know it can take a week or more. I think the mail system has been particularly slow in some places for the last month. Some mail I have been receiving, that should have been taking 2-4 days, have taken 4-7 days to get to me.

I am just getting antsy to work in a book when I read the other posts. --telling myself to be patient!--

Poggy's journal arrived today! It saved the day, we were snowed in, so it gave me something fun to do this afternoon. I'll be sending it on tomorrow!

Ok...Alex's and Jewels...they are on their way again. I mailed them this am.

Poggy, just received Mandy's journal thank you, will get something entered and ship it off to jewels within 2 days!

Jewels..how cool! sorry folks for the skunk chat in the middle of all that! Will get Mandy's journal out to you in the next day or 2...mail is taking longer have no idea why? Wish we could have a skunk swap hehe!

Jewels, will be posting Mandy's journal off to you tomorrow, so should be with you in about a week! Have fun! :-)

POGGY123- i sent one your way today!!! should be there soon. this is so much fun!!!

I am sending tIREEN's off tomorrow. I have been so busy doing it, I have lost count of time. Sorry about that. Then I changed my email addy and password and it took a week to figure it all out. I am now found! It is a horrible feeling to NOT be able to log in and get addresses and swap information. All I could think of was being rated as a bad swapper all of sudden! I don't want to lose my perfect 5.

Thank you for the comment about my journal. I had so much making it. So much sleep missed...I get creative and can't stop, not even for sleep.

Off to finish my page.

Jewels. Mandy's journal has been shipped today...enjoy!

mlc3837 - Poggy's journal is on it's way to you, if you want to track it's progress on www.usps.com, the # is 0304 0370 0001 1635 4287.

Alex, I'll watch for Mandy's journal, can't wait!

Have fun! Jewels

I posted photos of mlc3837 journal!

tIREEN

Very cool, TiREEN, I love the London page. Our styles are about as opposite and different as possible, I can't wait to see these finished, it's like taking an art class from everyone! I think we should set up a flickr site to post all the pages when we're done. Better yet, let's make us all one big book with the pages from every journal in it, the converesations from here, and all the cool postage on our shipping packages, how cool would that be! Anyone got a million bucks to head the project up, LOL?!?

Bren and Gram - just had the best couple of days playing with your journals - they are on the way now to Pants in Texas.

This is so much fun, thanks so much for setting this up Mary - Gram!!!!

I'm sorry guys but I'm not photo-literate so I haven't uploaded any pics. Do we have a techie in the group who could help with that?

How do you see the photos? I checked out Flickr and couldn't find them? Have you received the other two journals posted on Monday, Tireen?

the pics are in the "gallery" - if they are also in flickr, I do not know of it - just click on the link at the top of the grey box, where it says "launch gallery slideshow" - hope that helps.

I have NO idea how to upload to the gallery, and have never gotten a response to the question to swap-bot of it - and it's not in the faq's, so you will have to ask someone else HOW to do that -

(i don't have a digital camera anyway)

anyway, hope that helps, MaryB

I got Jewel's and Alex's journals from mlc3837. They are gorgeous!!! :)

To upload pictures in gallery:

• Right under 'view complete list of participants' you'll see 'upload swap image'
• click on it and right under it you'll see (in big letters) UPLOAD SWAP IMAGE
• you also see 'you: name'
• 'sender: put the name of person here'
• 'browse: clicking here will take you to different folders on your computer so you can choose an image'

• 'comment: add anything you want here!'

• Please don't make pics bigger than 400X600 so that they can be easily viewed on the slide show page.

Hope that helped and let me know if you have any other questions!! But the question I have is if you want me to take pics of Alex's and Jewel's pages and post them here.I'm gonna be taking pics anyway, because I'm keeping this neat 'Round Robin Journals' folder with everyone's names in it :)

Lyuba aka tIREEN

Tireen...I have no problem with you posting pics of mine if you wish..use it as you please! Hope you have fun adding to it, I can't wait to get my next journal, this is a totally fab swop, hope there will be others in the future, maybe us guys will go on and on? Thanks Mary for all your work in organizing! Have a good weekend y'all! :-)

Tireen, you can post pictures of mine too if you want. I've been taking pictures of all the pages in all the journals too, they're so cool!

Duh...I didn't see the Next button up there. Love the journal.....can't wait to see it when it is finished.

I love hearing about where my journal has been & where it is going. I just can't wait to see it. I received Ellen's book & will work on it & get it out in the next couple days. Jackie

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a good weekend -

Tuesday, the 24th, our journals will be TWO weeks old (the mailing deadline was the 10th) - I have been keeping pretty close tabs on these little beauties -

and I just want to say THANK YOU -

to all of you who have been SO wonderfully diligent about posting here that you have received and sent each other's journals. (And I think we all enjoyed the little skunk stories, lol)

and HINT HINT - to anyone who has NOT been posting here -

YES, accountability is a wonderful thing, everyone!

I have messaged a couple people, please respond to me asap - Enjoy! MaryB

Yeah!!! I got Liz and QueenBee's journals today! I will be working on these over the next few days and send them on later in the week.

Got Poggy's book. Passing it on Monday...

I am sending Ellen's book to Alex on Monday the 23rd.

Bren - sorry for the delay, my husband had not sent mine out yet when I gave him QueenBees to send so I had him put them together and made sure he sent them off straight away!!! I should have my car back soon so I can make sure I know exactly when and where things are going!

if you've received your "first" partner's swap, please remember to rate them - with this wonderful group, I do not think we have to wait until the swap is finished to do so - everyone is working so hard to move these along -

(this is a wonderful opportunity to give some hearts, dear friends - everyone has put a LOT of extra care and kindness in their efforts!)

have a wonderful week, MaryB

Liz, I know just how you feel - once, a very important letter dropped down between the seats in my son's car, while he was taking some things to mail for me - didnt' find it for almost TWO MONTHS! (that says something about the inside of a teenager's car!)

by then it was probably too late to send the thing, but we did anyway - it turned out ok, which was good - -

it is SO great to find out that you are okay and wonderful to hear from you! have a good week MaryB

Poggy...will keep checking the mail, eagerly awaiting my next journal! Hope you all have a great week! warm wishes from the UK! :-)

((in case anyone is interested - - the USA only swap that has been going, just reached ten swappers and I closed it today)) -

I WILL be starting another, but will wait a couple days to see if the int'l version gets any higher than 8, where it is now (that's a pretty comfortable number too) - - and would then start them both together, like I've been doing.

(keeping track of these is not "hard" but it is a little confusing if too many have different dates! whew!)

anyway, if anyone IS interested, just be watching, or let me know that you want to be informed when I open the next "set" -

have a good week MaryB

Mary, I would love to be informed for the next set for international, would have joined the other but just concerned as I am away for 2 weeks in may so will be difficult, but after that would love to take part in another, maybe one with a theme, like quotes or song lyrics or any other ideas...what does everyone think? warm wishes, Alex

I received Mandy's journal today, yeah! The kids have a track meet tonight, so I'll work on it tomorrow and get it back in the mail!

Alex, that's a fabulous idea - I'll wait to hear from some of the others, but think that we've gotten our feet wet now, we could handle something with a little more "challenge" - -

so let's hear from you - what do you think?

a "Themed" Journal RR?

Liz and Queenbee's journals are on their way.

Two International Journals are the limit for me. Postage for one will be around $50 and the other will be near $100. So, no more for me until I get mine back! Then, I can start all over.

I think a themed journal would be fun. Actually, we could all do the same theme, or each person could pick their own theme and specify what it is inside their journal when the send it out, that would be kind of fun too, you'd never know what you'd have to add to the next journal.

I was also thinking of each swapper picking their own favorite "artist" - that could be singer, poet, or "physical" artist (painter, scupltor, etc) - and every person then interprets something that person did/said/wrote in their own way - adding those to the journals??

what do you think? MaryB

and OUCH bren - I had no idea - gosh - maybe this was a little overwhelming....

I don't add up the postage, I just take it one journal at a time, lol. I consider art to be my guilty pleasure and spend way too much money on it.

Bren they must have the postage wrong...I ship international all the time I know I am doing it the opposite way round (UK to USA) but postage is more expensive here in the UK. Or do you mean the total cost of postage all together at the end of the swop?

Sounds good Mary, gosh would be hard to choose favourites, mine change a lot..although some stay te same, does sound like fun though, I have never done a themed one before but in some ways I feel it will be easier for me as I have something to go on, if that makes sense? :-)

and I don't quite understand - bren, you send to ME - and we are both in the US - or were you meaning the other int'l swap? I just cannot imagine how it could be that high - I send a box occasionally to Nepal, stuffed full for some orphan children there - and even that only usually runs about $15-20. And those are HEAVY!

I'm really sorry - like I said, I had no idea - I never intended anyone to see this as a hardship. MaryB

I think she is adding all the postage up for the whole swap. If it costs $5 each time and you have to mail 10 times, that's $50, which could put a dent in your budget once you have more than one going in the same month!

Sorry about the confusion. Yes, that will be the approx. total postage for all the journals. And that is for sending everything priority mail.

I knew how much it was going to cost and signed for only what I could afford financailly. Plus, it's more fun paying to send and share art, then to spend the same amount on new art supplies. I realized I have to use what I have first!

Mailed Jewel's journal today :)

Lyuba aka tIREEN

received Liz and Queenbee's journals today from bren - wow, they are fabulous!

(also received another journal from one of the other rr's - so i'm in journal-delight!!) and talk about INSPIRATIONAL!!

I'll get them worked on over the weekend, and hopefully sent Monday.

MaryB

Quite a few of our journals have already been to FOUR partners (counting the original owner, of course) - and we are only 17 days OLD!

I "asked" for a 5-day turnaround, and look at you guys! - tattoo ME impressed!

This is a fabulous swap, and a wonderful group - hugs to you ALL!

MaryB

I received Tireen's journal yesterday!!! It is awesome!

Mary was thinking that maybe a nice topic for next journal swaps may be...'these are a few of my favourite things!' lots of scope there? Have a great weekend everyone :-)

Alex, I think it's a great idea! But I also agree that it would be great to wait a little before starting 'topic' journal swap... :)

Oh, and your journal was send to QueenBee yesterday! It's gorgeous journal! :)

Lyuba aka tIREEN

quick update - I just got home from the hospital - spent the weekend there, so I'm behind just a bit - I'll get on these journals and get them sent ASAP!

Hope it doesn't cause too big a bottleneck, everyone, I'm really sorry - ]

hugs, MaryB

Oh no Mary, is everything okay?? I hope so! Mandy's journal is on it's way to mlc3837, watch for it. Mary, don't know what I can do for you, but if you need anything, let me know!

thanks, Jewels, and no, I'm okay now - just a bad reaction to some meds - I'm a bit weak, but getting back on track - I still have THREE journals here, but have been working on them steadily (Queen Bee and Liz from THIS swap, and one other from a different swap)

I WILL get them sent by the end of the week, I promise! (they will be going to Ellen, I'll let you know when I send, dear hearts.

Have a good week, everyone, MaryB

Mary be well, love and prayers sent your way! :-)

Jackie (poggy) Just received Ellen's journal today will work on it tomoorow evening and get it off asap...fab journal so far Ellen! Looking forward to the others heading my way, have a great rest of the week y'all!

Beautiful pages, Bren!

Okay ladies, I have two here and I am looking at them and just amazed at their beauty! I feel so intimidated and not sure where to begin! I feel like what I have been adding is just weak and boring,rut like.

Mary, don't put pressure on yourself to rush the journals on. We all understand - health first!! We will wait patiently until you are back to your creative self.

Sending energy your way, E,

I uploaded some more photos in gallery :) Sorry about poor quality, but they are taken with my cell, since my camera is currently away from me... :P

Lyuba aka tIREEN

Jewels, Ellen's journal will be mailed to you tomorrow, so guess as usual should be with you in about a week, had lots of fun with it, great journal Ellen! Have a great weekend. :-)

Thanks for posting pictures tireen, again i forgot to take some of ellen's journal, thinnk I just get a little giddy with it all!! Bren your artwork is stunning!

thanks for the kind thoughts everyone, you really are such a fabulous group of FRIENDS! warmest hugs to you all!

Queen Bee and Liz's journals are heading to Ellen, today. Enjoy them, and the two of them fit PERFECTLY into the box, so ya might wanna just keep sending them together like this.

I just never even fathomed how inspirational and wonderful this has been - it's awakened so many NEW ideas and crafting thoughts, from every single page I've seen! Thank you ALL so much -

I hope you are all having a great week, MaryB

Just looked at the gallery - wow!

I have one page left to do in two books and they will be sent.

Poggy123's journal went out today to QueenBee :)

Lyuba aka tIREEN

Jewels, I just mailed Ellen's journal to you..have fun!

Just got Mandy's! Will be sending it back out on Mon.

PLEASE everyone, when you post that you have sent a journal, please tell us WHO'S journal it is - I am keeping track of each journal's progress, and would like to know where they are "in the process" -

thanks, so much

ALSO - post here right now, please, if you have a journal in your possession right now, and who's it is.

MaryB

sorry i haven't posted anything ladies!! i went quite a while without any journals.. i received two this week- mary's and brenda's. i'll be working on them over the weekend and shipping 'em out to poggy123! i'll leave another note when i sent them! fun fun fun

I have Penny's and Alex's. They are to be mailed to Liz tomorrow. My 8yr old son has many health problems and this past week they were keep me busy. He is having a surgerical procedure either this week or early next. These are routine for him due to his condition or conditions he has. I do swaps to keep me sane!

I will take any journals to the hospital with me to work on.

Have a great week!

I mailed Mandy's out to mlc3738 last week and haven't gotten another yet for this round robin.

For the USA Round Robin I just mailed QueenBee's to you, Mary, and haven't received another yet, so I currently have no journals here.

Queen Bee...love and prayers for your son..hope all goes well! No journals here at the moment! Am worried as I go on holiday for 2 weeks on 17th May, so will be out fo action for those weeks, so unfortunately this will cause a delay for all of you..the domino effect! Hope this is ok....

QueenBee, We all send our wishes for your son to have a good week and a quick recovery - and you take care of yourself also, dear heart.

Alex, you have been totally "up front" with us from the beginning, and we all knew that you had plans to be gone for this time - there is no one here who could say they were caught "unprepared" by it -

you have a safe trip, and just absorb as much inspiration and great ideas as you can, so when you get back home, you can just pour it all out onto the journals - -

hope there will be some waiting for you when you get home.

One thing to note - it is highly likely that I will not be able to be online every day, for a while - but will be checking in at least 3-5 times a week, if possible.

Let's all have a safe and nurturing month, and take each day as it comes - the journals ARE in motion, and you have ALL been so wonderful about keeping us posted - I don't think there is any cause for worry with any of these little gems.

take care, all of you, and warm hugs to everyone, MaryB

I received Mandy H's Unicorn book. I will work on it in the next few days.
Jackie

Liz... 3 journals will be in the mail tomorrow for you to decorate to your hearts content! Sorry I have been slow in getting them done and sent. Always seems like something pops up that needs my time.

Shelly

Thanks Mary B ..what a great bunch of folk in this swop, well hopefully I shall be inspired visiting your lovely country..Baltimore and Vriginia here I come..so looking forward to it! :-)

Forgot to post the other day - Bren, Tireen's journal went in the post to you two days ago, so you should be receiving it soon! Liz

Holy crow!! THREE MORE ARRIVED TODAY!!! I got Alex's, Jewels', and Poggy's... I am almost done with mlc3837's - watch out Bren, I am going to be busy this weekend, so you will be getting a boatload!!! ;)
They are all so beautiful by the way!!!! This group is EXTREMELY TALENTED!!!

I think it is actually great that severak of these are travelling together - gives them each someone to visit with on the trip! hahaha

Anyway, if you are in the US, as I'm sure you know, postal rates are going UP Monday, the 14th -

SOOOOO...a hint to you if you are in the US, if you have some journals sitting around, waiting to be sent - do it by Saturday, of you will get stuck with the higher rates! just a "head's up" -

Have a good weekend, MaryB

BUT - - the "second ounce" and above, rates are going DOWN!

ALSO - "priority" and "express" packaging, even if it says "Domestic Use only" will NOW be valid for international packages!!

not sure if anyone knew that, smile MaryB

I got tIREEN's book today. I'm finishing up a journal from #2, then I'll get to work on it.

I'm going to have to clear up some of my workspace for the flood of books coming!

As I've alluded to on some of these swap pages, sometime perhaps mid-summer, I'm thinking of having a "Hand-made" journal swap, like these - and I've just seen some gorgeous TINY journals - like 3"x5" (index card size), up to maybe 4" x 6" - I think that just might be perfect - toss the idea around in your heads a little bit, and let me know what you think....

I think it would be FUN - and would be SO easy to mail them!

MaryB

Mary, I'm in. I've had so much fun so far and I've been introduced to a brand new world of art journals. Just please don't go USA only, pretty, pretty, please.

The idea of small size will keep the postage down. E.

I agree Ellen, and a great thing about the tiny journals, is that they would be EASY and pretty cheap to send international - so it will definitely be int'l - might also have one USA only, cuz some prefer that too -

(I'm moving sometime mid-summer and want these six rr's to wind down before tackling that, but it will be perhaps August or Sept - everyone who has been in any of these rr's will be emailed when it's time)

thanks for the encouraging word, I'm looking forward to it, MaryB

So sorry...the journal (mandy's) will post this Monday. Have been in hospital all week. Again...Sorry!! :)

just a reminder everyone - PLEASE rate your partners, if you haven't already - everyone has worked SO hard on these, and is doing SUCH a fabulous job posting and keeping us aware - -

thanks, MaryB

Meaghan - I'm SO sorry to hear you've been in the hospital - please take care of yourself - get your strength up, and get enough rest, dear heart -

sending you gentle thoughts and well wishes, MaryB

Meaghan..so sorry to hear you have been in hospital, sending love and prayers your way from across the pond! Alex x

Hope all is well, mlc!

Hey Mary, I received the package with two journals today. Will get right on it.

I am in for the tiny journals. I have been making with my boys for their grandmothers and for me!

No journals today, but I know I will be getting some soon. I am going through withdrawls!

Happy Belated Mother's Day to everyone. Even if you are not a mother, you mother someone every day~

Well guys that is me for a couple of weeks..so hopefully I shall return to a couple of journals, so I apologise again for the delay I may be causing...I return to UK on 1st June, and will get down to the journals straight away...have fun y'all and take care, wrm wishes, Alex :-)

Hi Everyone! I'm Susan (suzylucie). I have started a flickr group for the round robin journal swaps. This is not a requirement but an additional resource