she refers to as "a very part-time librarian" in Minnesota. She has two young children and since November 2005, she has blogged on her ArtsyMama blog.Good morning Kari. First of all, can you tell us why did you start blogging?
I started blogging when my children were babies. I was doing creative projects and wanted to create a dialog with others interested in crafty things. I thought keeping an online "creativity journal" on my blog would be a good way to connect with others when I was feeling like I was in a bubble.
What did you talk about on your very first post?
I declared my intentions for the blog. I said, "I decided to plop down on this little spot in cyberspace and start a blog. A place to throw out thoughts, ideas and inspirations. This blog is an attempt to be more aware. To take in my life moment by moment. It's an online scrapbook of sorts; layers of images, text, pieces of this and that. This is my life. Welcome to it!"
Do you blog with words or pictures or both?
Both, but to be honest, I mainly look at the eye candy if I'm looking for inspiration. If it's a parenting blog or a "green" blog I read the words.
Both, but to be honest, I mainly look at the eye candy if I'm looking for inspiration. If it's a parenting blog or a "green" blog I read the words.
Have you met people through blogging?
Absolutely! I have been to many art retreats and am always thrilled to put a face (and personality) with the blogger and meet in person. It's wonderfully fun!
Describe a friendship youʼve established through blogging.
I have developed many wonderful friendships through blogging. Just yesterday I returned from ArtNest, an art retreat in Utah that never would have happened had I not been a blogger. The retreat is put on by the amazing duo of
Candice Elton and Julie Collings. I first met Candice at Silver Bella 3 years ago. I'll never forget getting on the airport shuttle and heard her say, "are you ArtsyMama?" Too funny! We completely hit it off and then I met Julie in person at Silver Bella the next year. We became friends and she told me about how they were both putting on this retreat in Utah a few times a year called ArtNest. It was my dream to go and spend some time with them and other amazing artists. That dream came true just this past week!I worked with Sara Duckett of Sadie Olive design. I sent her the photos and she worked her magic.
Have you ever been featured in Artful Blogging?
Yes, the very first issue!
What does your "About Me" read on your blog?
I am a stay-at-home-mama and librarian. I love to follow the trails of inspiration all around me and craft my daily life. I share it all here as my creative diary. Thanks for visiting a corner of my world!
Do you ever blog when you donʼt "feel like it"?
I challenge myself to blog every few days. I usually "feel like it" but sometimes feel like I don't have anything to share. That helps me to see things differently. If I don't have a craft or project to post, then maybe I'll take some pictures and share a different aspect of the creative life. It helps broaden my outlook and I pretty much always come up with something to share.
I am a stay-at-home-mama and librarian. I love to follow the trails of inspiration all around me and craft my daily life. I share it all here as my creative diary. Thanks for visiting a corner of my world!
Do you ever blog when you donʼt "feel like it"? I challenge myself to blog every few days. I usually "feel like it" but sometimes feel like I don't have anything to share. That helps me to see things differently. If I don't have a craft or project to post, then maybe I'll take some pictures and share a different aspect of the creative life. It helps broaden my outlook and I pretty much always come up with something to share.
Is there anything on your blog youʼd like to change?
I'd love to have a search feature, make my archives more accessible and also categorized. I'm not a techie at all so I just don't make the time to do these things. I'd rather be creating.
Creative, inspiring, ever-changing, eye candy.
What is your blogger count at, at this precise moment?
440,621 total visits...about 500 per day. 724 posts.
Do you have any interesting directions you want to take your blog in, in the future?
I have started a private blog that runs for a whole year called A Year of Color. I enjoy that it has a focus on a color theme for each month and examines it from a variety of media. I think for ArtsyMama, I would like to continue to think of new ways to build and enhance our fantastic blogging community and support one another.
I have started a private blog that runs for a whole year called A Year of Color. I enjoy that it has a focus on a color theme for each month and examines it from a variety of media. I think for ArtsyMama, I would like to continue to think of new ways to build and enhance our fantastic blogging community and support one another.
Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?
Being a blogger has had a profound impact on my art and my life. It has developed into much more of a "habit" and something that fulfils me and enhances my life in so many ways. I have found this vibrant blogging and art community to be wonderfully unique and generous. Thanks for being a part of it. Thanks! This was fun!
Visit Kari at www.artsymama.blogspot.com
Being a blogger has had a profound impact on my art and my life. It has developed into much more of a "habit" and something that fulfils me and enhances my life in so many ways. I have found this vibrant blogging and art community to be wonderfully unique and generous. Thanks for being a part of it. Thanks! This was fun!
Visit Kari at www.artsymama.blogspot.com
3 comments:
Another interesting interview Dawn! These are becoming a highlight of my day!
Glitter is good! Pink is good! Her work is GREAT!
Super interview, and a wonderful new blog for me to visit!
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