Thanks to Kim for the Eye-Opener. Let's Support Each Other in Art and Life

I received this lovely award from single mom, artist and photographer Kimberly Miller. It said "for the coolest blog ever." It wasn't just modesty that made me crop off that part; it was the fact that it's just plain true there are way cooler blogs, and Kim's is one of those. So, I am honored to receive the award from her and to be in the company she listed for her other fave blogs. She had some of mine, too, like Kari Ramstrom's Artsymama.

But what really struck me about Kim's blog were her brutally honest words. I've visited before, but I'm not sure I've ever taken enough time to really read in depth. She touches on a lot of artists' worries, like making a living. She talks about raising her son alone. She talks about finding a decent job to match her skills in this economy. She includes her poetry. And her photographs are outstanding. Check out her self-published book on Blurb. She also has gorgeous calendars on Red Bubble.

Her comment to me was invaluable because it sent me to her blog once again, where I was reminded we artists need to support each other as do we moms, and maybe most importantly, as should we all as human beings. So. Go read her blog. Look at the pictures. Feel the pain and worry in her poems. And buy a book or calendar. Or two. It could be you next time. Or me.

Sharing the Love

The 45 Days of My St. Valentine's

Valentine's actually started around here more than 45 days ago, but I'll just count from here as that is when I received the gorgeous, luscious, delicious, wonderful, enchanting, adjective-laden box (very top 5 photos) from Andrea Hamilton in MN, my partner in Kari Ramstron's "Artsymama's For the Love of Supplies Valentine Swap." http://artsymama.blogspot.com/. I was so eager to sign up for this after the holidays, and lucky to get in, as the waterfall of signer-uppers caused Kari to have to close the swap early. Heck, Heather Simpson-Bluhm's Hippity Hop Easter Swap http://12-days.blogspot.com/was closed the day I saw the announcement, and I was Johnettie-on-the-spot, I thought.

Anyway, I truly think I got the best deal, best swap, best partner! Thank-you, Andrea! This was her first swap- unbelievable!. Look how thoughtful- she sent a sweater for my Blythes, with the coolest bottlecap pin. The lid was so cool, with the nametag and Betty Boop earrings that I could not even open the box until someone, anyone, came home to help me enjoy the process. I should have just invited the mailman in, but we all know what that leads to, and besides, I have a mail lady.

So, back to this box: oodles of embellishments and supplies, two postage stamps I've never seen before of dolls (and I like both stamps and dolls), vintage jewelry, gorgeous lace and ribbons. I don't know how I'll be able to use any of it.

Meanwhile, the bottom three photos are what I sent to Andrea, using a lot of Love, Elsie! products from KI Memories. I also enclosed a lot of similar things, so it is almost eerily funny how we like a lot of the same things. Thank you again! I will definitely be celebrating V-Swap Day from now until February 14.

Little Pieces of Me

Pictured above and below are a few shots from around my house that I was inspired to share after seeing fellow blogger Kari Ramstrom of MN http://artsymama@blogspot.com/ published in the November issue of Romantic Country. How exciting for her!

Call me weird, but I like to keep my table set so I can enjoy my dishes, table linens and candles and rearranging them with the seasons. Since my kitchen is mustard and cranberry, this setting works about half the year. Then I like to go all white in the late winter/spring, and I also like to break out the silver and gold and maroon for the holidays.

The bowl of potpourri in the living room was an unfinished paper or bamboo bowl from TJ Maxx that I painted brown and turquoise. The word stones and glass pebbles came from Pottery Barn in a silver bowl/candle holder thingy I got on after-holiday clearance at Bath and Body Works for something like $2. Gotta love a sale!

The shells and bottles of sand go with my nautical/neutral bathroom and the little Halloween tableaus with grinning vintage ghouls and Peanuts are just temporary kitchen decor.

Swap Goodies

Here are some things I finished up tonight to get in the mail for Artsymama's sweet and sinister swap. Photos of all the goodies are on Flickr, a free, public photo-sharing community herehttp://www.flickr.com/groups/493018@N23/. I stuffed the bear myself for something sweet, although I purchased his sweater, which is tres chic. I also painted and decorated a tiny hanger for the sweater. The felted pinkeep cat is for moi, by Elona's Originals on ebay. He is about 6 inches tall. Next, I covered the band box with black and white papers and tucked lots of sweet and sinister goodies inside, and added ribbon, a Beware sign and skulls on top. The Halloween dress card is made from a template from Somerset Studio and is one of my all-time favorite card shapes. It has real pockets (with candy and a bone) ric rac and ribbon trim, buttons, and can also fit on the tiny hanger. Hope my swap partner likes her package!

Sweet and Sinister Swap In Progress SIP

Here is the Haunted House I made last night (possibly) for my Sweet and Sinister Swap with Artsymama's group on Flickr. I say possibly because it is supposed to be black and white with thouches of Halloween colors, and this is possibly a little too colorful.

The potions bottle should be a shoe-in though, as it is black and sparkly, with a skull, black and silver fibers and my black cat charm attached. Makes a nice gift I think, as the charm can be detached for wearing, making into a pin or displaying on a tiny easel. The other swap pictures posted on Flickr are all luscious, so I am a little bit intimindated to send my offerings. I hope they pass muster- wouldn't want to be the target of an evil spell or something.

Speaking of Flickr and my new-found love for it (see below), there is a Cupcake group on Flickr which I have joined. Surely someone who not only paints but crochets cupcakes should be in this group! I just love like-minded (weird) people!

My other Flickr group is a Zetti group. Zettiology is the company of Teesha Moore (see links) and her husband Tracy, whom I have written about before. There are over 1,000 pieces of art (and now 5 of mine) in the Flickr Zetti group for admirers of this style. It is a color celebration! Check it out.http://www.flickr.com/groups/zettiology/.

Happy Blog Party Day!

...Celebrating the wonderful publication of Artful Blogging by Somerset/Stampington. Visit this link among many: http://www.artsymama.blogspot.com and check out all the artsy stuff around you and everywhere....