MY TWO-YEAR BLOGIVERSARY - AND GIVEAWAY!

"WINTER'S GRACE" - JANE STARR WEILS

(What my outside world looks like - Brr!)

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"DAISY AND BUMBLEBEE II" BY ALANA HARLEY

(What I WISH my outside world looked like)

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"CHILD AND WOMAN IN THE MOON BOAT"

- BY NANCY BRIGHT

(What my inner world looks like!)

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Today is my second blogiversary! I started blogging on January 20, 2007 and had written 10 posts by the end of that month. I guess I had a lot to say! I've slowed down a lot now. I only wrote 89 posts in 2008, as compared to 254 posts in 2007.

Anyway, I thought it would be a good time to talk about attributing the art work that I use in my blog. I have to admit, when I first started, I was pretty clueless about attribution. And since I don't have a digital camera, I do use a lot of art and photos from the Internet. Plus, I borrowed a lot of art from other bloggers, who didn't attribute either.

But now, I make an extra effort to find the artist or photographer of the work I use, even if I'm borrowing it from another blog. I recently ran across the name of the artist of the Boat Moon painting. I have been "over the moon" about this painting for several years. I've featured it in a post, and have printed it out for collage work. But since I borrowed it from Daisy's blog, where it was unattributed, I didn't have a name or artist for it.

(Actually, I thought it was a book illustration from the 1920s-1930s. It just has that style.) I'm happy to finally, belatedly give credit to Nancy Bright.

Although I had never heard a word from anyone about misusing their work, I was kind of scared that I would some day get a dressing down from an artist upset that I had so cavalierly taken their precious creation.

Nine days ago, out of the blue, I got an e-mail regarding the painting of the daisies and the bee, above. Here's what Alana Harley had to say: "Hey, I am the artist who painted that painting. I was surprised when I did a search to find my work out there! lol."

Well, she doesn't sound too upset!

Then, just three days later, I received an e-mail from my favorite fantasy artist, Jane Starr Weils. (I did credit her work.) Here's part of what she had to say:

"Hello lovely lady!

I just had some wonderful friends of mine - Jenna and Doug from Greenelady Music show me your page they just found showcasing my work and their music!!!!! :)

I just wanted to write and say - well...Wow! And thank you! I am very honored that you like my work to feature it so as well as Greenelady music! Have you heard their album?! Sighs..tis absolutely lovely! Lovely!!! (Julie adds: No, sorry, I haven't checked it out yet.)

. . . . I do appreciate that you recognized and enjoyed all the Celtic knotwork in my work.....I have a lovely friend / fellow artist in the UK that actually thought I was from the UK due to all my knotwork woven through my pieces! Well, tis my heritage! I love it!!! I have actually settled now in upstate New York!

Basically, just wanted to write to say thank you! Am grateful you enjoy my work!

Keep writing! Happy creating to you!!!!
Love light and laughter
Jane Starr Weils"


I was thrilled to hear from Jane, as I just adore her work. I own three of her prints and have featured her art several times in posts.

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In honor of my Two Year Blogiversary, I am going to give away YOUR choice of a Jane Starr Weils ---
MOUSEPAD

FRAMED TILE

OR JOURNAL!

All you have to do is leave a comment here. You can be an old or new reader. It doesn't matter if you are from the US, Canada, the UK, Europe or Australia. (Or anywhere).

I will draw a winner's name in one week.

Meanwhile, here are some links you might want to check out:

Nancy Bright's website: http://www.seatoskyzine.com/alanasgallery.htm (The Boat Moon painting is available as a greeting card.)

The post where I feature a lot of Jane Starr Weil's art: http://celticanamcara.blogspot.com/2008/09/celtic-lady-at-crossroads.html

Jane's website: http://www.janestarrweils.com/

Greenelady Music website: http://www.greeneladymusic.com/