300th Post

I was planning to do a blog post about my grandson (stay tuned on that one), then realized this would be my 300th post since beginning my blog on October 17, 2007. It seemed only appropriate that I commemorate all of the writing and posting of photos I've done over the past couple of years. Yikes Almighty! That's a lot of hot air . . .


I’ve always been one to keep a record of my life, whether through diaries with little keys (I was pretty young when I kept that kind of diary), or through the daily writing of Morning Pages (something I’ve done for the past several years). In high school, I was elected sophomore class historian (I don’t remember doing a single thing, but I sure liked the idea of it). My mom has given me all of the family photo albums and scrapbooks, and I don’t even want to say how many photos albums I’ve assembled. I have boxes of ephemera filled with the letters and cards I’ve received, programs from plays, wedding and obituary announcements, and just the stuff of everyday life I couldn’t bear to throw out. I have a scrapbook filled with all of the anniversary cards my husband and I have given to each other – 37 years worth! So when I decided to keep a blog, it seemed a logical extension of keeping a record of my life. Only in a much more public way. I know not a lot of people leave comments (there are a few who are very faithful and I am so grateful), but I know there are a lot more who read because occasionally they’ll tell me in person or through an e-mail that they have been reading and enjoying my blog. Comments are encouraging, but they aren’t what motivate me to keep blogging. I guess maintaining my creative blog is just another way to record my life, to share my creative highlights, and if in the process if I encourage or uplift someone else, or even momentarily entertain someone, that’s just bonus.


One of the things I've been toying with is starting a monthly newsletter. I've put together a questionnaire that I will be sending out to my friends and previous art students, soliciting their feedback on first, whether they would be interested in receiving such a beast, and if yes (please be yes), what kind of things they would like to see and read in it.

If you find you have a few minutes, I would sure love to know if you would be interested in receiving my newsletter, and even if you aren’t interested in receiving it, what types of things do you think make for an interesting and dynamic newsletter. You can reply to this post and leave a comment with your thoughts, or you can send me an e-mail at: dayna@alleyartstudio.com.

1. Would you be interested in receiving a monthly newsletter from me?

2. If yes, what type of information would you like for it to include (please let me know which of the following sound appealing):

a. Upcoming classes I will be teaching

b. Classes offered by other teachers/groups/organizations/artists

c. Art opportunities, i.e., swaps, Round Robins, collaborations, etc. offered by me?

d. Art opportunities, i.e., swaps, Round Robins, collaborations, etc. offered by others such as blog sites, art stores, art galleries, etc.

e. Would you like to receive creativity tips?

f. Would you like to receive project information, instructions, creative ideas?

g. Would you like for me to offer challenges?

h. Would you like for me to highlight another artist’s blog (with a link) in each monthly newsletter?

Any other suggestions for what you would like to see in a monthly newsletter?

To respond, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail and just do something like:

1. Yes
2. a-h yes! (or something like yes to a, c, f, and g)

Thanks so much for reading and supporting me through 300 blog posts! And here's to the next 300 . . .

Friendly Blog Award

I've been nominated for another blogger award! This one came from my blogger friend Shelly, who offers up the beautiful Paper Mischief blog. Shelly and I met at Art and Soul last fall, and have become blogger buddies, reading each others blogs and cheering each other on. Thank you, Shelly, for thinking of me. Okay, back to the award. Here are the guidelines that go with the Friendly Blog Award:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers.

Aww, shucks, Shelly. Thanks.

The requirement that goes along with accepting this award is that I pass the award on to six other bloggers. Ummm, that's tough because there are so many beautiful blogs and talented artists out there. But here goes, here's my list:

1) Laura is new to blogging, but check out her nice blog, Studio 332 (and you get to listen to some wonderful music while visiting!).

2) Anji is someone I've met through blogging and she is so gracious to read and post frequently on my blog. I'm appreciative of her dedication and she definitely meets the criteria of this award. So get thee to her lovely blog, On Ruby's Hill.

3) I've only recently discovered the blog of Randi Feuerhelm-Watts, but I found her because she posted on my blog after running into her name on my blog (is that confusing, or what?). I had mentioned her in a blog post because my Visual Journaling class had used her book of cards as inspiration on a journaling night. When I went to Randi's blog, I was all atwitter at the funky beauty of it. So now I know you're going to want to check out Randi.

4) One of my favorite blogs as well as favorite artists, is Katie of Joyously Becoming. Katie is just a beautiful woman in all ways and it is reflected in her blog.

5) A friend of Katie's and a very talented artist, is Judy Wise. Her blog is called the same, Judy Wise, so hop on over and get your fill of bright, vibrant, juicy colors.

6) My last nomination goes to a local artist who has a gallery/store in Salem, the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery. I only found out recently that Mary Lou has a blog, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, so please check it out and leave Mary Lou a comment . . .


There you have it, my six nominees for this award. I've had a fun afternoon revisiting some blogs I haven't visited in quite some time.

Lookie Lookie At This!

Last week I received a message from a friend I met at last year's Art and Soul, Laura. Laura has a relatively new blog, Studio 332, and she sent me a very brief e-mail: Visit my blog for a surprise. Well, I visited and here is what I discovered:

Laura is a very talented artist and seamstress, so go check out the goodies on her blog (and she has some mighty fine music that starts playing, too).