It's deja vu all over again!

Yes, my friends. I had the thrill of seeing my name up on the finalists list for the Artisan Award again this year! (Just to be clear...this is not the winner's list. This is the list of people who made it to the next level down.) The list of finalists was much smaller this year. Here it is:

Deborah Paise
Cindy Beach
Heidi King
Melissa Riker
Sandra Farrell
Lynsay Mahon
Beth Prout
Ellen Raymond
Amy O'Neil
Jennifer Thomas
Ilina Crouse
Ashely Van Camp
Ann M. Fitton
Jan Tinklenberg
Deborah Pippin
Rochelle Gould
Staci Lynch
Amy Bollman
Mary Bieber
Lynn Pratt
Jennifer Picard
Jennifer Diercks

As you can see, my buddy Wendy did not make the finalists again. This makes me sad, because Wendy is really one of THE most gifted artists in this business I know. What is up with that?

The truth is that when you come right down to it, judging art is a difficult business. What one person finds pleasing another will not, so it is very subjective. I can truly say that after looking at the display boards full of cards, scrapbook pages and 3D items, there was some amazing stuff entered that did NOT win. Why? I don't know. Looking at the art that did win, a great deal of it was also quite amazing. How to choose winners out of all that...I don't know that I would want the job.

Will I enter next year? I said that I wouldn't. But I truly do not know how I will feel about it this time next year. Knowing I once again got close makes me think maybe I should. But then...I spent a lot of time and money both years trying to reach the top and not doing it. I don't know if I will feel up to it. I don't know if I will even have time. We'll see!

In the meantime I have found 7 out of my 10 projects on the display boards. What made me feel good is that all of my scrapbook pages made it. It's much harder to get a scrapbook page on the boards, since there are so many more cards.

But honestly, the thing that makes me feel the best about convention is all of you who come up to tell me how my blog makes you laugh. Really, what could be better than helping people laugh? I could be an Artisan Award winner, but if I had to give up the gift of humor to do it, I would not trade that for all the Artisan Awards in the world. It makes me feel good to know that I can give people a gift of laughter. Thanks to all of you who have come up to tell me so. That is far better than any award than anyone could give me.

The rest of the day was fun. We got to the Salt Palace just before General Session started.

They always open up with the new theme song. This year's is pretty catchy.

Shelli (may she live forever!) gave us the opening talk.

The stage set is very cool!

The keynote speaker was Sue Rusch.

Then Jill Kocherhans and Bonnie Thurber did some demonstration and of course, they sang together for us. They were very good!

After that, we had lunch with the Controlfreaks and did our usual swap, except this time we swapped 2 cards each. I'll be showing you those in due course. The afternoon was spent first going to the Demonstrator Theater and after that, I skipped out on the classes to get a chair massage, a gift from my friend Janice. I had never had one and it was awesome! Then I went back to Janice and Lisa's hotel room to hang out until dinner time. We went to have nachos at the Blue Iguana, after which I headed over to the Awards Night.

I've been a demonstrator since 2003 and in the 7 years I have done this, I have gotten to know some amazing women, some of whom were honored this evening. Dawn Griffith, Ann Clemmer, Patty Bennet, Sharon Armstrong, and Rhonda Wade are all ladies I have met and so it was a thrill to see their names up on the boards. And especially to see so many Controlfreaks getting awards...it was awesome!

The evening's entertainment was a country artist called Charley Jenkins, who was very talented and fun to listen to!

They drove the tour bus right into the main stage area!

It was a fun evening!

And now for the next swap card I have to show you. This was my other swap from yesterday:

Ingredients: Stamps - Friends Never Fade; Paper - Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla; Ink - Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade; Other - 5/8" Old Olive Satin ribbon, Scallop Trim border punch, Ticket corner punch, gold brads, sponge wedges, dimensionals.

GOJUS!!!! (YILM!) I love these colors together, don't you?

Well, it's 1 AM. Cinderella needs to go brush her teeth and take her meds so she can get up bright and early for even more fun. Ta!

Comments

[Debra]

Wow, thanks so much for posting all this. Congratulations on getting the Artisan Award too. For ppl that can't go, this is honeydew!

[Kelly Robson]

Hi Jan, Well done on all your creative achievements! I heard of you through Dawn Griffith's blog, and I also love your humour. I only wish I could tell you in person too, however Australia is a long way away. Isn't it cool how Stampin' Up is gradually taking over the world!?!

[stamperbeth]

Yipee! Thanks for posting the finalist list, I actually made it! WOW!

I love your blog Jan, and your art. You Rock!

Thanks, b.

[Cali]

Hi Jan, All your hard work and talent are recognized by all who read your blog. It's too bad that you do not see us laughing as we read, admire your writing talent, but especially to ahhhhhh and oohhhhh on your wonderful cards and projects. This medium is so great - it simply lacks the full loop if readers don't comment. And, I am guilty of that - I probably only comment twice a month. I will work to up that if you will continue to work so hard on all you do. Deal?
Cheers, Cali

[Mitzi Luttrull]

Congrats on being a finalist for the Artisan Award. I say keep trying. You are one of the most talented stampers I know. And your gift of humorous writing is tops!
This is a beautiful card that you are featuring. I love the deep colors together. Have fun at Convention. And thanks for posting pics online for those of us who are not there.

[Stephanie Perry]

Great pics, looks like such fun! Congrats on being an Artisan Award finalist, Jan, you are so very talented. I agree with you that it must be supremely difficult to choose amongst all the submissions from thousands of talented individuals. But you do deserve to win, IMHO, so I concur with the previous commentor - keep trying, girl!! And we'll be here as your cheering section!

[Anita]

Gorgeous card Jan! I'm sure it really is difficult to judge, but it still amazes me that you're ONLY a finalist...of course, that's still 100 % better than my position since I couldn't bother to enter LOL

your blog does make us laugh...so please keep doing THAT!

[Holly Flores]

congradulations on becoming a finalist. It is hard to judge, but if you look at all your followers of your blog and all your comments, you know you are already a winner and have touched lives with your wit and creativity. How great is that! not many can say that or even know it. Feel good about this.

[Serena]

Yes, I have learned not to drink anything while reading your blog unless I want to choke on it but even if you never typed another humorous line I would still return day after day to see the magic you work with cardstock and ink.

[mary jo]

Jan, I'm estatic to hear you value all of your loyal readers happiness and saneness more than and Artisan Award!! I've never met you but feel you are a soul mate and I would love to be your neighbor. Just keep being yourself - you have many talents. MJ

[Sherylee]

Hi Jan,
Wow, another post to make *us* smile - thank you.
Your humour rocks the world, keep on keeping on 'cause we sure do love your gojusness.
As another comment says, pity you can't see us when we are doubled with laughter!
Sherylee in sunny NW Oz.

[Jeanne Nielsen]

Congratulations on "almost Artisan!" Still quite and honor and I faithfully subscribe to your blog even if you didn't win! Absolutely love your Friends never Fade card!! Gorgeous colors!

[Ellen Raymond]

Hi Jan - congratulations on almost being an Artisan! I'm so excited by your list, as my name is on it as well (Ellen Raymond). It makes me think that maybe I will try again next year....hey, why not? I love your creations, and I do wish that you had gotten the award. Thanks for sharing, you've given me the inspiration to (perhaps) try again!

[diane mcvey]

Thanks for the update! So glad you made the finalists, but sorry you didn't win. I agree about the subjectiveness of art...it is definitely a personal taste thing! It would be VERY hard to choose a winner, I think...so many deserving people! You should be honored to be a finalist!
I, too, get many smiles from your blog. And you are right...without humor, what is there??!! It's so necessary for a complete life!
Have a great trip home; can't wait to see more info on the convention! Take care. :D