I spend a lot of time on the Internet.  It's my primary mode of communication, marketing and (thanks to emusic) where I get my music.  I love how it's so full of potential.  There's a lot of information floating around there, a whole lot of sharing.  I have my routines for how I handle my day, work that needs to be done, marketing that needs to happen.  I don't live in a vacuum after all.  I feel like I give it a lot of love.  So on days like today, it's great to get some in return.

The blogging community is one of the most amazing things to come out of the Internet.  Seeing other peoples' creations, reading about their inspiration provides a peek into the thought processes and experience of others.  The creative process is complicated.  Generally it tends to involve piecing together visuals, experiences and wisdom from books, music and movies.  They swirl around in the brain a bit, then boom! the idea springs.  We all experience it differently.  And that's what makes every blog unique. 

I have a few that I try to read routinely because they speak to me - in a combination of visuals, words, and inspiring creations.  So you can imagine the thrill I experienced when one my absolute favorites, Will Oaks Studio, gave me a couple of awards for my own blog - the I Love Your Blog Award (in French, no less) and the I Love Lucy (Cheer Me Up) Award.  This provides me with a fantastic opportunity to mention some of my own favorites.

First, the rules. 

* Copy the award image above.
* Pass it to the bloggers whom you think are deserving for these awards.
* Leave a message for them.
* Pass as many as you want.
* Leave a comment for the person who gave you this award.

Now,  the recipients.

Ae Fond Kis - art & inspiration on the journey through life

Beautifully Wired - always beautiful creations

Kikay Designs - an anything goes blog

Shrimp Salad Circus - just really, really fun!

Check out these blogs, you'll be glad you did.

Street art and graffiti are part of the urban landscape.  Like trees, sidewalks and storefront (sometimes on these things), it's ever-present.  Its something I tend to take for granted.  Only when I take time to fully notice my surroundings does it pop out.  Knowing nothing about the art, I only notice random bits of color and new techniques.  And I don't know how to define it.  Posters that may or may not be old, but are incorporated into paintings, are they graffiti?  That truck on Lafayette on Bond street, is that intentional or a random accident? 

Becki Fuller has the answers.  Not only does she have a keen eye for finding these images, she documents them.  Based in Brooklyn, she follows international artists as they bring their work to this city.  Noticing new trends she chronicles the work, and sometimes the work in progress.

Becki and graffiti artist Luna Park have paired up to start The Street Spot.  The site features amazing photography of new work and follows artists as they move from the streets to the galleries. With witty commentary and true knowledge of the history and urban landscape, you can learn a lot about this every changing city.

I've thankful for many things (I can't put a number on it, for fear of sounding like the Spanish Inquisition from that Monte Python sketch).  Among the awesome things in my life are cross-stitching and the radical crafts community. 

I've been making things for ages, in a bit of a vacuum.  Friends are supportive and inspirational, but for years I felt like I was alone in my interests.

But the Internet doesn't allow lonliness for long.  Crafting communities like Made It Myself, the American Craft Guild and Craftster offer forums and information for crafters.  I've met so many people with AMAZING creations through these sites.  Building my own business, I am no longer alone with my questions and issues. It's also great to share tips with others.

My absolute favorite on the Internet for sharing has to be Flickr.  Because I express myself mostly in visuals (though I seem to have developed a voice as a writer), it acts as my photo diary.  I'm able to share the pictures I snap around my neighborhood and in my travels.  By joining groups I'm also able to get feedback on my creations.  This has proved invaluable. Flickr also hosts an amazingly robust needlework and embroidery community.  I'm constantly amazed finding new artists and what they make. 

Yellow Springs Arts is part of this stitching community.  They're hosting a Radical Craft Show in September and feature one of my Fortune Cookie Designs on their blog.  No longer in a vacuum, I've reconnected with old friends, maintain established ones and have found some very cool new people.

I received a message the other day from the person who runs Passion For Beads.  She's given me the One Lovely Blog Award.  What a surprise, how exciting!  I've been reading her blog, My Daily Living, for some time and am thrilled that someone so talented likes what I'm doing.

If I haven't said it before, the Craft community is amazing.  So supportive, so helpful, I love being a part of it.  As such, I'll be passing this award along some other handmade blogs I cherish.

Kikay Designs

Monkey & Squirrel

Beautifully Wired

Yarn of a Tail

Will Oaks Studio

Madame Magpie's Shiny Things

be2be

illi handmade

Sherri Gallagher Beadwork

Sugar Smitten

Metal, Cloth & Wood

It Really Adds Something

Generations of Knowledge for Day to Day Living

Kizz Designs

Mineral Love

Part of contribution to the MPL Project is blog writing.  This excites me to no end.  With the new blog I have a different voice, it gives me something different to think about. I'm not only expanding my creativity working with these phenomenal painters, but also understanding where creative energy comes from and how it is nurtured.

You can read my latest post on the MPL Project website.