Created for decor8‘s Fabulous Stationary contest, which I learned about through Leah’s Creative Everyday blog…isn’t blogging fun?!

The challenge for the contest was to match one of Fabulous Stationery’s cards with 3 rooms.  That sounded like too much fun and so I set aside time to do it.  Unfortunately, this was all of my creation that I could get on my scanner so this just had to do it, but it worked pretty good within my technical limitations.  I chose the purple/magenta paisley card with green print because it would work in my house! 

Then, Tinker left me an award:  The Blogger Reflections Award.  Rules:  reflect on five bloggers and write at least a paragraph about each one (this is much like the CowTipping Award I got several months back from Ascender Rises Above); leave your chosen bloggers a comment so they know they’ve been awarded; put the award icon on your site.

This last is problematic.  I got a Rocking Girl Blogger award from Taexalia and I haven’t been able to figure out how to get the icons so I can post them (see above comment on my "technical abilities"). Anyone out there no Typepad well enough to tell me how to grab the icons?

So anyways, now I have to name 5 bloggers (but you see, I’ve already named several, without a paragraph on them, who are always favorites)(read Tinker’s link – she has a post on Zucchini that will start you day off with a good laugh).

This is the short version since I’m choosing blogs I don’t necessarily read every day because of time, but blogs which I greatly enjoy when I have time (because I think I’ve over nominated my daily reads):

1.  Create a Connection.  This is the be all and end all of interviews, creativity, swaps, photo days, try days and  dialogs of Melba McMullin who is hosting a  weekend workshop, Just Be Connected, October 12-14 in Cape Code, MA this fall for all you creatives (attendees or vendors).  Melba has created quite a universe of connectivity amongst bloggers here and deserves any award she gets!

2.  Elizabeth’s Blog:  Lizzie has been redecorating this summer but is back to posting.  She lives across the Atlantic and yet we have become almost daily visitors with each other.  This is what blogging is all about!

3.  One Hand typing.  I get over to this blog monthly or so and then wonder why I don’t wander over and browse more often (well, time and all that).  Lovely writing (really lovely writing – the kind that makes you think she must plot it all out before she sits down, but I doubt that.  More natural talent but no less wonderful to read because of that.) and always interesting.  Treat yourself.

4.  Brain Based Biz. Robyn McMaster’s blog is a bit off the beaten path –  not the artist creative but the intellectual creative.  She roams all over the place in subject matter and I find her always interesting and thought provoking.

5.  Caro’s Lines.  Love her artwork.  Enjoy her writing.  What else do you need? (and I note that Tinker gave her this award too, but I there you go – great minds think a like).

Had a grand day in the studio (even with the side trip of playing with the contest) yesterday.  Getting ready to drop 2 pieces off tomorrow at Arts Council of Calvert County’s gallery – community month (here is Minnow who is a mate to Merrow and who will go along with Empty Nest).   I find them a bit expensive gallery rent wise and time wise so am not a member but thought I should go ahead and take advantage of 2 pieces for $10 opportunity so I’m dropping that off on my way to visit in Virginia with longest friend Linda who is on this coast for a bit.  Regular readers will remember that last year  (my blog 5/26/06 – but I can’t figure out how to link to it)  Linda was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer.  I am happy to report that she is doing very well and her cancer count is very low.  Her doctors are very happy.  I am ecstatic. 

There is a party happening, the reunion of a band which includes Linda’s younger brother, her ex-husband and my first boss (we’re talking 40 years ago!!! yikes!) which, I just learned, has an island theme.  So I have to at least do my toes today so I can wear flipflops (if I can find my sparkly ones) and that and my long skirt will just have to do since I’m not a very flowered shirt kind of gal, nor is Husband likely to have something useful like that in his closet.  Daughter is coming to dog sit since Husband is  working  the main stage at the Virgin Fest and dogs need food and companionship.  Much coming and going this weekend!

thought for the day:  How many things do we avoid doing because e are afraid we will fail?  It’s a nasty feeling, isn’t it?  That pit in your stomach, that shrinking feeling, hoping no one will notice.  It’s a loner version of that feeling you get when you stumble over a shadow and look accusingly down at the sidewalk.

Failure is an acquired taste.  It is an indicator built into our creative mechanism.  Failure indicates that you have moved outside of your box into an unknown zone, and that whatever you tried didn’t work perfectly.  It is not an indication that you should jump back into your shell..  It simply means you are stretching your definitions of yourself in every way.  It also is not something to avoid…The truth is that all successful people have failed many, many times.  They just don’t let failure stop them.  They take it in stride, learn from their mistakes, and move on….Winston Churchill failed 6th grade…The Beatles were rejected by Decca, a major recording label, because guitar music was on the way out…Steven Spielberg dropped out of high school as a sophomore.  When he returned later, he was placed in a learning-disabled class…."Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." [Albert Einstein].  Rekha Ohal, The Necessity of Failure, Sculptural Pursuit magazine, Fall 2007.