My Magazine Cover & Bloggy Love!

This was a lot of fun! Create your own blog magazine cover from your own digital photo over at Flickr through their Big Huge Labs application here.

I wanted to have more leading stories on my cover, such as "Why Did This Blogger Pick Such An Odd Blog Name?".... as I'm sure you're all wondering about that, and have been too polite to ask, but alas, it just wouldn't fit! I will include the story behind that later, as you read on....

Mary, at My Little Red House and Cindy at My Romantic Home brought this little Flickr toy to every one's attention -- go look at their magazine covers if you haven't already. Thanks ladies!


M. Kate, at LA VIE EST BELLE , a beautiful and informative blog based in Malaysia, sent this wonderful surprise package to me!

I had expressed my astonishment over the beauty of a display she once showed on her blog of dried pressed orchids, so she surprised me with a pressed orchid flower fan! She also included a beautiful hand painted lotus painting with my name in Chinese, a handmade bookmark with my Chinese name, which means "Pure," two Malaysian postcards, and a beautiful and delicate handkerchief with the word "HEI," which means double happiness; a word used mainly during Chinese weddings. It was wrapped in beautiful red double happiness paper, and the note on the left was in a double happiness envelope, so MKate wished me much happiness and good health always!

MKate, this brought tears to my eyes! I can never thank you enough! Before blogging I never would have dreamed of knowing someone so well who lives the other side of the earth! Blogging has surely made our world a smaller and more friendly place, and being your friend has certainly brought a lot to my life! Thank you so much!


My cup really does runneth over these days, as Kathy, from Have Suitcase Will Travel presented this delightful little award to me. I love Kathy's blog as she has such a great sense of humor and a kind heart and she's had so many interesting experiences traveling all around the world! Plus she is the only blogger I know of who adds things to her blog sidebars everyday to accent her recent post --Kathy, that must take a lot of time to do but it is so much fun to see!

This award was created by Gail at Squared Off. Gail's son, Alexander, made this drawing of his Mommy! Isn't it so cute?

I would like to present this award personally to Junie Moon! June is a wonderful and talented crafter! I don't know how she accomplishes all she does. She sews, knits, embroiders, makes beautiful cards from her photographs, paints, and always has something new and interesting on her blog every week day. Please go over and say hello and enjoy her delightful blog!

June was the very first person to comment on my blog when I put up the funny name Mille Fiori Favoriti in December 2007! I began a blog because I wanted to save the links to the many fun and interesting things and places I found on the Internet, and I had the idea to do that in a blog format so I could keep track of them , and also because I could add the instructions and descriptions and photos, etc, instead of just dropping a link into my "favorites' file.

It was an attempt to make a "bouquet" of my favorite things, and at the last minute I translated the title into Italian just for the fun of it! I never expected other bloggers to find me and comment!

Obviously my blog has evolved since then, and the wonderful world of blogging has opened many doors to me that I never knew existed. I enjoy reading and discovering new blogs everyday, and it has been wonderful making friends with all of you that read mine!

So, in no particular order, Vee, Tara, Diane, Cori, MKate, Donna, Marie, Nanatrish, Melanie, LisaB, Mrs. B, Rue, Dana, MaryAnn, Judy, Nihal, Marina, Dot, Joanne, Marg, Beverly, Jeanne, Sherry, Willow, Betsy, Shelagh, Steviewren, Alex, Strider, Lavinia, DeeDee, Pat, Kathy, Sue, Rosie, Penny, Kari & Kjisa, Gina, Louise, Martha, Mary, Pamela, Linda, Tracy, Kim, Kathleen Grace, Catherder, Esther, Katy Lin, Brenda, Michelle, Karla, Sandi., Debi....anyone who has left a comment on my blog ... and please forgive me if I left anyone out.....you have ALL made me smile! Please accept this award and pass it on!

This cute smiling face should be everywhere!