Blogger To Blogger, Passing on the Love

Receiving a blog award from a friend who is also a fellow artist and a fellow artist who is also a friend is extra special, especially when that award is bestowed by none other than the uber talented Lisa Kettell http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com/ of The Faerie Zine. Lisa has so many irons sizzling in the art fire, I can barely keep up. And, when the award bestowed is for good blogging, and it comes from a fellow blogger, that is truly a compliment. We may not all compete in the true sense of the word, but certainly we share much of the same audience of readers. Never has a more supportive place been found than that special cyberspace spot where my fellow artists, bloggers, writers and friends gather, hopping from blog to blog. And although we can't and don't get to each and every daily, it is always a welcome stop when we do. So, thanks, Lisa, and in the spirit of the award, I am to pass it on to at least seven inspiring bloggers, so here I go.

1. Linda of Adventures of Molli http://adventuresofmolli.blogspot.com/. She was one of the early bloggers in the Blythe world, and if it weren't for her, I'm not sure I would have found my blogging muse. Her blog is like a Disney movie, so sweet and entertaining, with sneaky adult (not X just grown-up) humor popping up to suprise you.

2. Joanne of Ad Libitum http://joannethiemehuffman.typepad.com/, also of the snarky adult highbrow art humor I love, and she is a faithful visitor and commentor to other's blogs.

3. The Paper Crown Queen Blog http://papercrownqueenblog.blogspot.com/. I don't even know whom this is, and I love it!

4. Art and Blythe friend Maija http://www.maigirlz.typepad.com/, who sent me to #3, so I've got to thank her. We're going to have a Marie A debate any day now.

5. Jo's Labour of Love http://labouroflovex3.blogspot.com/ . This is Mary Ann's http://firstborn.wordpress.com/ sister's new blog, which is off to a fine start.

6. Mica http://garboodles.blogspot.com/ from ZNE and Etsy, with the most incredible work. So glad I found her via Angelahttp://geminiangelsart.blogspot.com/. Mica and I have a swap coming up, and I am so excited!

7. And Gail Schmidt from Shabby Cottage Studio.com http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/ whose design team I am on, and who has the most wonderful shops and blogs - that's right, plural on both, so here's a plug to her new art challenge (with prizes!) blog at Mind Wide Open http://mind-wideopen.blogspot.com/. Everyone is free to play here!

Did you notice how I snuck 10 in there? Follow these links. You won't be disappointed.

Dreams of Printing Presses Danced in Her Head

7 rms, great view, no BRs, no BTs, piano room, nursery, indoor garden, nice roof, priceless. This lovely little abode, about 18" tall, is the creation of The Seven Shabby Sisters of Shabby Cottage Studio http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com, of which I am one. A Shabby Sister, that is. See that nursery slash laundry room with the three little kittens on the right? That's my room. Hard to see, I know, but I am hoping a combination of pictures will be enticing enough for the publishers from Quarry Books to take a second look.

The house was created for an art call for collaborative efforts to be including in an upcoming book, organized by published artist L.K. Ludwig http://www.gryphonsfeather.typepad.com. Our house was organized by SCS owner and shopkeeper and house-assembler Gail Schmidt http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com. Gail finished the overall house exterior, the intricately-shingled roof and the trims as well as cutting all our rooms to fit exactly after we mailed them to her. That required a lot of engineering. We will hold our collective breath regarding publication.

Meanwhile, my two recent Marie Antoinette pages are for the same book and another collaborative effort, that one organized by Lisa Kettell http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com. Tonight I got to "know" one of the other five contributors to that a little better by writing about her.

You can check out my interview with the cheery Ann-Denise Anderson over at ZNE Dollz http://www.znedolls.com and see her springy works there and on her blog Whimsical Fancy at http://whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com. Can't wait to see her Marie pages now that I've seen her work! Wish us luck on publication.

Want to See Where I Live?

So, you DO want to see where I live, huh? Well, you'll just have to buy the book! Okay, so perhaps I am getting ahead of things here; let me explain. The Seven Shabby Sisters (plus or minus one) of the Shabby Cottage Studio Design Team http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com/store/WsAncillary.asp?ID=7 have combined to create our own little shabby abode to submit for possible publication in a compilation of group art efforts by L.K. Ludwig http://gryphonsfeather.typepad.com/gryphons_feather_studio/call-for-art.html.

The rooms were randomly assigned and are about four inches by four inches. No square footage here! You just try decorating a room on that scale and no budget to boot! Anyway, here is my room. Stay tuned to Shabby Cottage Studio http://www.shabbycottagestudio.com for the unveiling of the entire house. And cross your fingers for us that we get it published. I can't wait to see the whole thing either, and thanks to SCS owner and house manager Gail Schmidt http://shabbycottagestudio.blogspot.com/, formerly of Indiana, too!

By the way, my room is the nursery with the Three Little Kittens and their mittens on the line, better to see in person. The people are actually from a vintage family photograph, although I have never known what relatives they are. Background paper from SCS, German scrap kitties from Blythe-lover Moline on etsy http://www.moline.etsy.com/ and blocks image from http://sandraevertson.blogspot.com/ Sandra Evertson's Instant Memories Babies, which allows free non-commercial use without permission.