Blog Interview #8 ~ Nicolette Anderson, Nickieblog

Nicolette Anderson is a lovely person and an artist/illustrator who I am lucky enough to know personally ~ she lives just 5 minutes down the road from me! However, we met through an online art-based site originally. She joins us for our interview this afternoon. So Nicolette please tell our readers a little bit about yourself ...
I am a 43 year old mother of 3 teenagers, happily married to my best pal for almost 23 years now. After spending 13 years of being a stay at home mom, I returned to working out in the world 4 years ago. I WORK as an executive secretary at the University of Alberta, but I AM an artist in real life.

Why did you decide to blog?
After discovering art journaling and the online community, I thought it would be easier to post my work in just one spot, instead of spreading it all over. Blogs had just started to take off, and I thought it might be kind of fun!

What is the name of your blog?
Nickieblog. Nickie is the name that my family has called me since I was small.

If I'm not mistaken, you've been blogging since 2004. What date did Nickieblog start and what did you talk about on your first post?
I introduced myself to the world September 27, 2004, and told everyone that I was going to share with them the people, places and things that made my life so wonderful.

Do you prefer to blog with words or pictures or both?
I prefer to post my art, almost exclusively.

Please describe a friendship you’ve established through blogging.
I have made many friends throughout the world, with my blog. There have been so many; it is hard to choose just one. A special one to mention would be Vickie Enkoff, a wonderful inspiring woman who always was very positive and upbeat. Vickie had a rubber stamp company, and loved art journaling and altered art. She took all of my online classes, and was one of my best cheerleaders! Vickie was wheelchair bound, and suffered from chronic pain, although she never mentioned her struggles. She passed away in August of 2007. Many of her friends made memorial posts for her on our blogs at that time.

What does your "About Me" read on your blog?
Oh gosh, how BORING! I realize it just says Nicolette Anderson, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada…..I guess I should jazz that up!

What feature do you like the most about your blog?
I love doing challenges for Illustration Friday, and posting them….they always force me to stretch my imagination!

Is there anything you’d like to change on Nickieblog?
I have been thinking of redoing the whole layout, and adding more of my own art. I just have to find the time for this major project. When I see other blogs, I see how far the design elements on blogs have come since I started! Everything is much more personalized.

Do you ever blog when you don’t "feel like it" ~ and if so, why?
Sometimes I do, and it is because I know that I have so many subscribers. I don’t want to let them down!

What themes would best describe your blog?
Whimsical, light hearted, fun….I hope it makes people smile.

What is your blogger count at, at this precise moment?
128,226

Do you have any interesting directions you want to take your blog in, in the future?
I would like to post more art journal pages, and feature more art involving the everyday. That is where my heart lies, showing the beauty in the everyday.

Do you sell your artwork through your blog?
I sell my online lettering and doodle classes from Nickieblog. I sell a little artwork, as I do have some greeting cards online.

You were published recently --
Yes! It was in Portals Zine, in Issue 6 which was about Art Journals.

Have you ever been featured in Arful Blogging?
No, but it would be a dream of mine!

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Blogging and the online art community opened up a whole world to me, and let me realize myself as an artist. It allowed me to make life-long friendships, like the one I have with you, Dawn, and lets me share with the world the things that feed my soul.
I highly recommend it!

Visit Nicolette at www.nickieblog.blogspot.com