Saturday 4 April 2015

Happy Easter - Two Years of Blogging!

 Happy Easter Everyone and Welcome to Magpieheaven. Today is a special day for me, as  the 4th April 2013 was very first blog post! Leandra Franich of PaperArtsy suggested I give blogging a try, and what a wonderful learning experience it's been! I now know what a Patwit is, for a start! I didn't know if anyone would want to look at what I created, or read what I had to say - I didn't quite know what Followers were, or how you might acquire them! Since then I've learned so much from wonderful artists; made fantastic friends; learned a little about taking photos and a lot about craft blogging! I still feel there's a great deal more to discover and those two years have flown by! And talking about flying, here is the first project I ever featured on my blog!




It was an exploding box from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. I owned some Graphic 45 paper; around 3 or 4 shades of Fresco Finish paint and a very small selection of PaperArtsy and Crafty Individuals stamps! I had seen a box created by Linda Cain and I was just dying to have a go at creating! It was a gift for an old friend who loves butterflies' wings and it still sits on her piano!



On that first post I said that I hoped my blog would take flight, but I didn't know the fun in store! Blogging and crafting have really been two of the best things that have happened to me! I've loved having a chance to create projects through which I could tell a story as well as tiny worlds to escape into...




There have been so many fun projects to get inky and painty with



 and I've received beautiful artwork from friends, like these hares created by the very talented Lyn Tivenan in charcoal and pastels - my next project is to frame these!



And tags and ATCs swapped with friends and followers...



Kirsten Sheridan, Lin Shields and Emma Taylor's work features here. I've discovered the delights of making art dolls; collage; mixed media canvasses and explored the world of crackles and glazes! Now I'm beginning to have the confidence to use my own artwork along with the lovely stamps and digital images available.



 Peg dolls are my current obsession.



These pegs make fun gifts and swaps! I recently gifted the Bird-Lady peg to my dear crafting friend, Lucy...



And this double-sided Elizabethan Lady was a gift to my friend, Lyn,the creator of the hares. On one side we have Hermione from The Winter's Tale and on the reverse, her daughter Perdita. The two little figures suggested the springtime awakening of hope and reconciliation that Shakespeare's play always evokes for me.




As a celebration of two years of blogging I would like to gift one of my clothes-peg dolls to a friend or follower who makes a comment on this blog. I am working on her at the moment so what she looks like will be a surprise. I will pick names from a hat and post here who I have chosen to receive the doll in a fortnight's time.



I should like to say a very special Thank You to all those who have read my blog over the last two years and left such kind and encouraging comments. I would also like to thank all of you in Blogland who share your creativity through your blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to you I have been truly inspired and visited places I could never have dreamed of!

18 comments:

  1. Congratulations on 2 very very speedy years of blogging - where does time go! Your art - and your words around them - are always worth stopping by for. Love your peg dolls, so I really hope my name gets pulled out of your hat, lol! Happy blogaversary, and Happy Easter too. xx

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  2. I adore your exploding box! what a treasure. Your work is so beautifully done and I have loved sharing art with you my friend. A very Happy Easter to you and your family xxx

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  3. Wow time flies - I love the faces you use on your peg dolls and would be honoured to own one if I was lucky enough to win xx

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  4. What a wonderful post! Looking back and forward! Your art is a treasure to behold and whoever wins the peg doll will treasure it indeed! Happy two year anniversary and happy Easter!

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  5. A really wonderful post, so lovely to read how it all started for you and to see how far you've come! Happy blog anniversary and it would be lovely to win a beautiful peg doll Xx

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  6. you are such a gifted artist, i am glad you are blogging and that i've met you through blog-land! carry on sister and keep the inspiration coming! xo

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  7. Your posts are always wonderful to read as well as inspiring from an art point of view. I remember Leandra introducing us to you on the PA blog and am amazed it's 2 years ago......where on earth have those two years of my life gone, lol! As the others have said it would be an absolute delight to win one of your lovely dolls so I shall keep all digits crossed for the next two weeks. Happy blogaversary and many more to come!

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  8. Congratulations on your 2 years in blogland Julie, and a very happy Easter xx

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  9. Happy Blogiversary, Julie Ann!!!! Here's to many more years of following along with your blog!!!!

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  10. Happy 2nd anniversary! I'm so happy that I've found you and your blog! You are super sweet and super talented! You know I love your peg dolls and I'd be so happy to win one. Still didn't get around to make any myself, but I haven't forgotten ... The wooden pegs I have are much smaller than the ones you use, maybe that's what holding me back (excuses, excuses!). Keep the good blogging up! Here's to many fun blogging years ahead! ♥

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  11. Belated Happy blogaversary Julie Ann, your blog always gives me pleasure, i adore visiting and reading your wonderful and creative visions/stories and i always go away feeling inspired and smiley.

    Thank you for sharing such wonderful creative projects, i do love your peg dolls they are loads of fun. Whoever wins will be very lucky.

    Here's to more from you the very talented and lovely Julie Ann :-) xxx

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  12. Happy 2 year blogaversary Julie Ann!! It cannot be only 2 years as your blog reads as though you were born to do this!!
    Here's to many more posts filled with creativity and beauty!!
    I do hope your Easter season has been a most splendid and blessed time for you and your family!
    xoxo

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  13. Congratulations on two fabulous years of beautiful art Julie Ann!
    Happy Easter x

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  14. Congratulations on 2 years of blogging - sadly I'm a newby to your blog but I love what I've been seeing so far - I shall be back to explore old posts and keep up with your new ones!

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  15. Goodness, is it two years already?? Many congratulations! I remember that lovely exploding box. It is always a pleasure to visit your blog & see your wonderful creations & always a delight to meet up with you at various craft shows. I hope you continue to be obsessed with making peg dolls for a while yet, I absolutely love them.

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  16. Huge congratulations on your 2nd blogaversary, Julie Ann - you're a powerhouse of inspiration and story-telling here in Craftyblogland, and it's a better place for having you and your work in it! I would love to be in the hat for the chance to win one of your glorious peg dolls, thank you. And I look forward to handing the PA baton over to you on Sunday afternoon!
    Alison xx

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  17. Congratulations on your second blogaversary dear Julie Ann!
    I am so grateful to have found you and thank dear Magpie Dianne in Canada for that.
    You are such a tender hearted and talented creative soul...
    thank you for sharing your artful life and creations with us.
    Here's to many more years of creativity...inspiration and sharing!
    Thank you also for the chance to be the lucky winner of one of your magical peg dolls.
    oxo

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  18. Congratulations on your Blogaversary - so glad you took up the blog challenge otherwise we would have missed so much wonderful inspiring artwork! I do hope that one day we will meet! Wishing you many more years of creating fantastic art and blogging! Hugs, Chrisx

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