Blogs and Blogging Survey Results & Winner

My Blog (art journal page)
Thanks to everyone who participated in my blogs and blogging survey. It made for interesting reading.  I did a semi-scientific compilation of the 19 responses and this is what I found.
Frequency of blogging/blog reading -
4 people blog daily
8 people blog about 3times per week
5 people blog 1-2 times per week 
1 person blogs less than once a week
This surprised me because I blog daily, and I assumed everyone else did, too!  Although a few people (4) really like their favorite bloggers to blog daily, most (8) don't expect it at all.  My favorite response was from someone who said that she would rather read fewer, better posts than more often, less interesting posts.  I am feeling like this gives me permission to not have to blog everyday (although I'm sure I'll still be a 5-6x per week blogger).
Most people (8) read blogs daily, but this was again a lower number than I thought. 4 people read about three times a week and 2 people read once or twice a week. Of the 8 people who responded, 4 read throughout the day and 4 read once a day (either with their morning coffee or in the evening).  I read blogs every day and throughout the day myself.  I'm a bit more obsessed than most of you, it appears!  The lesson I take from this is that I should probably consider ramping down a bit from my blog obsession.
Formatting
Most people (10) have never or rarely changed their format. 5 people change theirs occasionally, and 1 person changes hers often.  Of the 4 people who expressed an opinion, 2 really like changes and 2 people really don't.   I'm definitely in the never changed camp.  I like that people will instantly recognize my blog when it pops up on the reader.  But I do need to update some of the sidebars (i.e. blogs I frequent, classes I'm taking, etc.).  I'd also like to find a way to run a photo gallery of my art. Finally, I really need to add tags to my posts.
Live or loaded?
Most of you (11) blog live.  About 5 of you load up your blogs in advance.  I suspect that it's the same group that posts daily. Again, this was a big surprise to me.  As a daily blogger, I set my posts to run at 1:00 am my time,  so that it's available for my UK friends first thing in the morning.  I think that if I start blogging less regularly, then blogging live makes more sense.
Collaborative Blog Activity
A whole bunch of you are interested in doing something collaborative.  I'll put my thinking cap on about that one and try to post something by the end of the week.
So, did anything surprise you here?  Did you learn anything that will change how you blog or read blogs?
And last, but not least, the randomly drawn winner of the Wings card is #3 Lizzie!
Lizzie, send me your mailing address, and I'll drop the card in th email to you.

Let's Talk Blogs & Blogging (with an incentive)

I've been thinking about my blog and blogging lately, and I've got some questions for you (as a blogger and/or blog reader).  I'd love your answers to these.  I'll gather them together and post a summary early next week, along with my thoughts on these questions:
1. Frequency:  how often do you blog?  How often do you read other blogs? Do you read them at a certain time each day? Is it important to you, as a reader, that your favorite bloggers post every day?
2.  Format:  do you change the format or look of your blog often (or ever)?  As a reader, do you like seeing changes or not?
3. Live or loaded for the future? For you bloggers, do you usually publish a post right after you've written it or do you write one or more to post at a future date?
4. With regard to my blog, I've been blogging a mix of scrapbook pages, cards, photography and altered art.  Is the mix about right for you as a reader or would you prefer something different?
5.  Do you have any interest in doing a collaborative blog project with me, like a blog hop or guest blogging or a swap?  If so, let me know which ones.


Here's the incentive:  the artwork featured today is a card I made using a color copy of one of my all-time favorite collages.  It's called "Wings," and I think of it as a signature piece because features a lot of my signature style.  It's featured everyday on my blog.  On Monday, April 5, 2010, I'll randomly select a name from those who have posted a response to these questions and send them the card.


And don't forget to stop by Thursday for something special and bit different!


Thanks for your input!

November Class Review (and a winner)

Graffiti Art Journal Cover (click to enlarge)

I took three classes during November. . . well, sort of.  I completed two and bailed on the third. It was partly my fault, but I think the class structure was also partly to blame.

1. Dina Wakley's Graffiti of My Life Art Journal Class, offered at Get it Scrapped. This class was fabulous!  I learned several new art techniques, especially working with stencils, gesso, spray inks and acrylic washes.  It also taught me a lot about how to build up layers on an art journal page.  Finally, I learned a new book binding technique.  Lots of techniques = lots of bang for the buck in my book.  In addition, I walked away with a completed art journal that I love, love, love. I love the size of it, and the feel of it in my hands.  I love paging through it, and I love the cover (pictured here).   The class did not focus on the written part of art journaling, but Dina has other classes for that, and I will take at least one of those in December. The class consisted of 8 lessons, spread over 4 weeks.  Each lesson included a thorough, illustrated PDF, and, even better, a video!  These were fun to watch and really helped me understand HOW to make the techniques work. There was also a class forum and gallery where you could ask questions and share your worker.  Priced at $45 - it was definitely worth it to me.  A winner!
Edited to add: I just found this link to the blog from a fellow classmate who put her journal to music.  If you like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, it's awesome!  Even if you don't, it's worth clicking here.

2.  Shimelle's Blogging for Scrapbookers.  I loved this class.  It inspired me to create this blog.  It gave me the confidence to figure out the technology.  It introduced me to many of you.  It gave me the answers to questions from what to write about to how to format it.  The class materials were superb. They began with a introductory PDF explaining all the basics about how to set up a blog and ended with an amazing booklet, "A Year of Prompts."  In between were three weeks worth of week day lessons. Each lesson covered a different potential prompt that could be used for blogging and/or scrapbooking.  Each lesson had suggestions for posts if you had 2 minutes, 30 minutes or several hours to spend on your blog. Each lesson contained an illustrated PDF, written in Shimelle's clear, insightful language. Plus, there was an online forum to discuss issues, form friendships and get even more questions answered.  Truly an invaluable class for any scrapbooker or artist who has a blog or is considering starting a blog. The most amazing thing. . . the whole class only cost $15!  I have no idea how Shimelle manages to price her classes so reasonably, but she always does.

3. Jessica Sprague's Holidays in Hand. This class left me confused and a little frustrated. It was a seven day class, which, I think, should lead you to complete a series of prompt cards to help guide your holiday activities and an album in which to feature your holiday activities.  I say "I think" because the purpose of the class and what you were supposed to do each day was never really very well explained . . . at least to me. Sorry, I just didn't get it.  Now, part of it may be my problem because Jessica Sprague's site and classes are definitely geared to digital or hybrid scrappers, and I'm not either.  The class included a bunch of free downloads, which others really seemed to appreciate.  Also, to be fair, I could have given it more of a chance, but I bailed when I couldn't see the big picture.  The other thing I should mention is that it was free!  It was a good way to see if Jessica's style fits yours, and, I learned that, for me, it's not a good fit.

I'd love to hear what other people thought of classes they took in November.

OH, I almost forgot . . . the winner of the Christmas ATC's is Jacky!  Jacky, email me your address (to rinda1961 at yahoo dot com), and I'll drop your prize in the mail.  By the way, I made two of the ATC's.  I made the Angel and the Santa.  By the way, Jacky was the only one who got two entries in the drawing by correctly guessing the "A" was mine.  To all who guessed Reindeer and Madonna, those are very much in my style.  For those who want to know what an ATC is, check back later this week.  I'm planning a post about them!

Updates, A Poll, and A Giveaway

Updates
Thank you to everyone who has stopped by my blog! I'm thrilled that people are responding so well to it.  I wanted to provide a few updates/answers to posts from the last few weeks.

First, the Dina Wakley class "Graffiti of My Life" is almost over.  We still need to do the book binding and covers, but our pages are done.  I'm featuring one of my favorites up top.

Second, Kathy M asked if I was looking to teach in my area, and the answer is generally yes.  I really enjoyed teaching at a LSS in town before it closed.  I just don't see myself travelling very far to teach because, as much as I love to teach, I don't love it enough to go through the work of finding a venue and establishing a new group of students. Ideally, I'd like to do something locally.

Third, with regard to my post on finding a signature style, Keitha wanted to continue the discussion.  So, I have a few things to add.  Tami, at Get it Scrapped, will be teaching a class called Styles. In it, she says you will experiment with a variety of different styles to see what appeals to you and what your style might be.  I remembered an exercise I found in Ali Edwards book, A Designer's Eye for Scrapbooking.  She suggested taking six of your favorite layouts and jotting down for each one:  the materials you used; any special techniques you used; and what you loved about each one.  By reviewing your notes, you can get a sense about what your style is. I've done this exercise occasionally with my layouts and pieces of art and found it very helpful.

Fourth, Mel asked what I plan to do with my Latino Service piece.  Right now, my plan is to hold onto it as part of a collection I'm developing on Latino Heritage. I've been very intirgued with the idea of organizing my various art pieces into collections that share common themes and/or techniques.  The idea is not fully developed yet, but one goal I have for this blog is to help catalogue my art into these various collections.

Fifth, I did decide that this piece is done.  It just needs a title and a signature.  Thanks for your feedback!

Sixth, Gennifer asked what I planned to do with my "Organic Art" pieces.  I think I will frame those and hang them in my studio someday.  The someday being when I actually have a studio!  I envision a white mat and black frame.

Seventh, Jen commented on how much she liked the idea of collage dominoes as gifts.  I have photographed a few and attached the picture below.

Finally, Kimberlee guessed that art created by Michael DeMeng in my "strong sense of style" post was art by Liz McGrath.  I checked our Elizabeth McGrath's website, and she makes some very, very cool stuff.  In related news, Michael DeMeng is back from his trip to Mexico, and he's got some awesome new posts on his blog.  Check it out!

A Poll
I am interested in what you most like seeing on my blog, so I'm setting up a poll.  I envisioned the blog as showcasing my mixed media art (like this and this), but I've had very good reactions to the cards and scrapbook pages I've featured.  Yesterday, I just went with one of my photographs. (If you want to check out a post that features a card, two mixed-media pieces and a scrapbook page look at this one.) Please take a second to vote in my poll and let me know what you most like to see here. If for any reason, you can't vote, you can still participate in the weekend give-away. . .

Weekend Give-Away
For the weekend give-away, simply vote in my poll and then post below saying "I voted."  Feel free to add other comments as well. As always, you can post as anonymous, but will need to put your name in the comment, so I can tell who you are to send you a prize. I'll pick a random winner Sunday night, 9:00 p.m. California time.  The winner will receive a collaged domino!