Now That's Style!

Many of you have seen the Stylish Blogger Award being passed around and Julia has nominated me/my Blog for the mention. Many of you have already awarded fellow Bloggers I regularly read and are my top 10 favorites. Thank you Julia for the opportunity to share a bit MORE about myself with the best part being able to share other Blogs to share. One of the cool things about these various Blog awards is that the recognition provides an opportunity to click outside our routine internet surfing and check out some other great sites you might not have otherwise stumbled upon. The world is so full of talented people and cool places I’m sometimes overwhelmed. My to-do, want-to-learn, need-to-meet and must-go-see lists are overflowing! My friend Julia is living the life that many of us can only dream about. They raise their own food. Do you know how hard that would be? Well, Julia and her family are doing it and you can read of their not so easy adventures on her Blog, Henhouse Pottery. I enjoy reading Julia’s Blog because not only is it always well written but I can be a e-voyeur-farmer while having my morning tea!

So, as I’m sure you have read on other Blogs that were nominated there are 4 requests:

1) Thank the person who gave you the award, by providing a link to their site.

2) Share 7 things about yourself, that other bloggers might not know.

3) Give the Award to 15 newly discovered or interesting bloggers (I had even more).

4) Notify each of those bloggers to present the Award (I’ll try).

7 things about myself that you might not know and are not too offensive:

- I’m a voracious reader –I read a book (novels of all genres) about every 10 days.

- I go to the thrift store every week (where I buy my books for about 35 cents).

- I’m just over 6’ tall.

- I cried when Mr. Rogers died.

- I am afraid of the dark.

- I love dark and white chocolate but I don’t like milk chocolate.

- I’m a terrible baker.

And in no particular order I’d like to introduce you to 15 other Blogs I enjoy reading and hope you’ll find at least one new link from these, or a link from one of their links!

Melanie Testa

Dahlhaus –Heather Dahl

Patricia Griffin Studio

Little Flower Designs –Linda Johnson

Geninne’s Art Blog

Whitney Smith -This Artist’s Life

Kesler Woodward –Painting in the North

Artists Who Blog

Connie Norman

Cowgirl Goods

Fibermania

Twisted Sister: Artwork by Jamie Fingal

Leslie Tucker Jenison

Lilla Rogers Artist Rep

Studio Art Quilt Association –Alaska

Judy Coates Perez -Painted Threads

Speaking of Blog Buddies

Primordial Sea 2005 89” x 62” by Judy Coates Perez

Judy Coates Perez of Chicago, IL has featured me on her Blog! Judy is not only a celebrated fiber artist but she is also a talented potter! I recently found out about her clay skills through her Blog –Painted Threads. I was very familiar with her creativity in painting whole cloth but to find out she was also a potter made me feel as if we were kindred spirits –not to mention our mutual LOVE of squid (the animal not the food!). Her illustrative talent has seamlessly transferred to the media of her choice. Judy has also been published in many National Art Quilt magazines, books and even DVD’s. The 2010 Quilting Arts Gifts, pictured at the left, features a beautiful pattern for a tree skirt Judy designed. Given her vast talents in creating as well as teaching I’m completely flattered to be included on her Blog –Painted Threads. Thank you Judy!

The network of global inspiration, sharing and friendship that one can find through Blogging continues to astound me.

Robotic Circular Travel

Last night my muscles were sore because I had bent a lot of steel. After getting dinner wrapped up for the family, I sat down on the sofa with a favorite beverage and got to peruse my new American Style magazine -a big treat for me! On page 13 under Finds, there were two of the coolest little robots by artist Amy Flynn. She calls them Fobots (Found-object robots).

After checking out Amy's website and blog, I also checked in on a few of my other favorite artist's end-of-day posts. Judy Coates Perez happened to post "A bit of fiber inspiration" on her Painted Threads blog and guess what...more incredible robots! These Mixed Media Felt Art Robots were by Susan Hinkley. Check out Susan's blog called Small Works in Wool. I had left a post on Judy's blog about Amy's Fobots, and this morning I read Judy's post on "More Robot Love" and Amy's Fobots had come full circle! I LOVE Blogs for their power of sharing and ability to connect so many talented people and incredible works of art that we normally wouldn't even be aware of.

In the last 24 hours I "visited" Amy Flynn in Raleigh, North Carolina; Judy Coates Perez in Chicago, Illinois; Susan Hinckley in Twin Cities, Minnesota all the way from up here in the Far North of Alaska! Now, if we can only figure out a way to get frequent flyer miles through our artful blogging...