Artful Blogging Magazine Review

Artful Blogging. Isn’t that something we all aspire to? Or at least to making our little corner of the web a better place? And wouldn’t it be nice if it were easier to find those other bloggers with that same aesthetic? Somerset Studios has done just that with the publication of their quarterly magazine Artful Blogging. In it they strive to bring us those precious little corners of the web that are just that bit better, that bit more inspiring.

Artful Blogging began in the spring of 2008, and a year later, they still have plenty of creative blogs to discover and explore. I recently went through both the Spring and Summer 2009 issues and picked a few favorites to share.

Gillian Hamilton of New South Wales, Australia has a yummy blog featuring journal pages and jewelry. Her photographs of her work are excellent which always makes a big difference.

Dina Wakley from Arizona is primarily a scrapbooker and art journaler. I had her pages in the magazine bookmarked without looking at the name and when I went back to write this post I noticed it was the same person whose online journaling classes I was drooling over just last week. She has a grunginess to her pages that is just so appealing.

Irene Tan is a scrapbooker from Malaysia. Her work is just so full of depth. I would love to hold it and explore it and I still don’t think I would be able to “get” everything about it. You really must check out the Nature mini album pictured.

Penny Elizabeth Neil lives in Greensborough, Victoria, Australia. I relate to her because of her love of collecting and her ability to find the beauty in vintage things others might throw away. She makes beautiful jewelry from many of these found items.

Texan Debra Cooper is an artist whose blog I have followed for a long time so I was excited to see her blog included. Not only are her journal pages full of color but she seems to live her life with intention. The intention to fill it with not only color but also joy, creativity, and inspiration. Her recent photographs from both Mexico and Portland make me want to pack an art bag and run away for the weekend.

Finally, this article would not be complete if I didn't mention Aimee Dolich. I first saw Aimee's art in the Facebook group Journal Pages (insert shameless plug) that we run together. I am so incredibly jealous of her lettering! Aimee is also one of those people who goes out and grabs life by the reins instead of letting it be something that happens *to* her. I don't know how she manages all the things she does with two little girls.

Artful Blogging is one of Stampington’s $15 magazines. Is it worth it? Simply put, yes. It isn’t just a directory. It’s filled with wonderful photos and stories, also. Each one has a little bit of info about blogging in the back. And it will save you many hours surfing, sifting the wheat from the chaff. Just tell yourself it’s softcover book. It works for me.

Art Journaling Giveaway Winner!

Thank you all for entering the Art Journaling giveaway. I did the drawing the old-fashioned way and put all names on slips of paper and shook 'em up in a gallon size can. Then, the boytoy drew out a name.


Congratulations, Maureen, you won! Email me your mailing address please. primseydolls (@) yahoo.com If you'll also tell me your favorite color and whether you're a vintage or modern girl I'll put some other goodies in your package, too. :)

Thanks, everybody, for playing and don't worry, I already have my next one planned. :D

Stampington Magazines and an Art Journaling Winter 09 Giveaway!

Recently Sarah Meehan at Stampington & Company sent me a treasure box of inspiration. Included in the box were Somerset Studio Magazines from March/April and May/June, Artful Blogging Magazine, the February/March/April and May/June/July issues, and the digital copy of Art Journaling Winter ’09. Stampington now offers the digital copy of the premier issue of AJ magazine because the paper copy sold out. Stick around to the end and I’ll tell you how to get your hands on this copy of it for nada, nothing, not a thing. :)

I have not looked at Somerset in a very long time. Honestly, I think a lot of the art submitted had started to look all alike and I got burned out on it. I was very pleasantly surprised with these two issues, however. In fact, I have so many little paper bookmarks in them if you were to pick them up wrong it would all come down like confetti.

The March/April issue focused quite a bit on paper dolls so it has a special meaning for me. I also marked the Somerset Workshop as something I can’t wait to try out. When did they start doing that?! I also got a big kick out of a little story in the back called “but it’s SpiderMan” which looks to be an excerpt from their magazine, Life Images.

Now the May/June issue is what really got me hot and bothered, though. Where to start? There’s an article called “Spirit of Steampunk” by Ramona Szczerba that looks very interesting. I noticed a couple of the vintage collage images we’re used to seeing but totally turned on their heads. And then sideways. And back again. Because this art’s interactive. And cool. Did I mention that part? Check out Ramona's etsy shop because that's where the real fun is. While Somerset published work that incorporated some of their favorite images, in the shop you'll see a much wider selection. Definitely not to be missed.

The Melange section has always had the edgier stuff and this issue’s batch of art doesn’t disappoint. Want to be a princess but not your run of the mill Disney fairy princess? Maybe something a little funkier? Check out Margaret Cogswell’s crowns! Yowza! These I love. I want one to wear everyday while I’m creating. It would be part of my ritual. When the crown goes on, the muse comes out to play. And in this interview of Margaret by Beth Livesay, she stresses that they are “…definitely made to be worn.”

Still in the Melange section is an article called “Becoming Change” by Sarah Natalia LeDoux. I literally gasped aloud when I saw these photos. I am only sharing one page layout with you because I really want you to go out and pick up the issue to look at this article. It’s a collection of pieces about progress and change, Bob Dylan and the Civil War, the country’s identity and our personal identity. It’s amazing and stunning and delicious fodder for journal work. Sarah doesn’t have a website listed unfortunately.

The Artful Blogging magazines are a whole ’nother blog post so be watching for that in coming days.

Jen Osborn did a great review of Art Journaling Winter ’09 here on the Glitter and Grunge blog. I highly recommend it. It’s extremely inspiring. And in its digital form it takes up less space, doesn’t collect dustbunnies, and the dog never chews it up!

Which brings me to the giveaway... Since I love journals and was sad that so many missed out on the first issue of Art Journaling, I want to give away this digital copy to one lucky commenter. So leave your John Hancock below. Tell me if you have one of these issues and what you thought of it. Just say hello if you want. I’m in and out of town until Sunday so I’ll close the comments at 6 pm Central time then and draw a name so I can mail it out Monday. Good luck!