Confessions of a blog reader...

It's 4 or 5 years since I discovered the world of art and craft blogs. Some of those early ones I looked at are still firm favourites - Cathy Cullis's blog (which was called November Moon back then), Tiny Happy and Mouse Notebook. I started my own blog in response these and many others, to be part of this huge conversation about art and craft that's being made on kitchen tables (and verandahs!) around the world.

Along the way my blog reading comes and goes depending on how busy life is (and how awful my internet connection has sometimes been). Often I don't visit for months and then catch up in a gluttonous binge. Sometimes I just keep up with what people are doing on flickr, and hop across to a blog from there. I rarely leave comments on blogs, much more often on flickr where it's quick and easy, and you don't have to decipher and enter code words to prove you're not a robot!

This christmas holidays the internet gods have been kind and life has been pretty slow and relaxing. So I've had time to venture beyond my usual blog haunts, I've added some new ones to my side-bar you might like to check out...and I've even left a few comments!!

I haven't been hugely productive artwise this holiday, but these are 2 small paintings I've managed to finish.

Starting the year

I'm starting the year with just one resolution, to be positive. Especially when I'm feeling emotional or defeated to go and do something positive, some sewing or lino chiselling, something that keeps me going forward instead of getting bogged down!

Over on flickr I'm playing catch up, I didn't post any of my work in the second half of the year so I'm trying to get all those into my photostream over the next couple of weeks. My internet connection is so slow in the evenings that I'd practically given up, but I've discovered I can get a lot done in half an hour in the mornings...so here I am!!

The sketchbook challenge is on for a second year, so I'm going to have another go at it... this month's theme is doodling.

I have set myself a little writing challenge, to write a haiku a day, I've bought myself a cheapo diary that just has room for a poem and a note about what I'm reading... here are a couple from the first week.

Lightning in the night
circling the house again
rain wave on the roof.

Last weeks pumpkin soup
seeds pushed in the ground sprouted
stems with twin green leaves.

I wonder how your resolutions and challenges are going. Cathy Cullis has a lovely post about daily challenges with a philosophy that is very forgiving!!

Hopefully I'll be back next week with some artwork to show! Have a great weekend.