Blogland is celebrating today

Many of you across blogland are celebrating in vivid color today to honor our dear friend Terri Kahrs at Pringle Hill Studio. Terri had a very important birthday this year, and Lynn from Her Creative Spirit (yep, the same Lynn who has the flower tutorial) organized a special tribute to Terri by having a "few" of Terri's friends make ATCs honoring her day. I was really honored to be in such a select group of artisans who paid tribute to one of the most wonderful, caring, and generous persons I've had the pleasure of "meeting" in blogland. Even though we reached our Autumnal Equinox late last night, and fall is officially here, those muted colors of autumn are seldom present in Terri's art. If you've never been to her blog, you are in for an eye popping treat.

Want to see the stellar group of artists who contributed to this project? These are all the ATCs gathered by Lynn, boxed in a beautiful handmade box, and sent to Terri to celebrate her birthday today. Again, if you've not been to Terri's blog, you can click here to access the link that will show all the birthday ATCs and the box they were sent in. I am thrilled to be part of this community of bloggers who also sent miniature birthday masterpieces and surprises to honor Terri on her special day. Sorry, I'm not going to divulge how old Terri is. She'll have to tell you herself.

A funny (OK, pretty sad) thing happened on the way to this project. Lynn apparently was trying to contact me, but this was during the time I had a problem with my cox e-mail, then my internet hack attack occurred. No one could reach me. My e-mails were either bouncing (juno account) or unavailable for me to access (cox account). However, Lynn persisted, sent friends to track me down, and I was honored to say "YES" to this project, although when I learned about it, the deadline was quickly approaching, just days away in fact.

Unlike some artists, it takes me awhile to come up with a design. Unlike in industry, where I can immediately see the problem, then design the solution, art does not come easy for me. After a couple of days of contemplation, I realized I had the perfect solution to the design question. I quickly went to Margaret's blog because I knew I had seen a tutorial there that would be perfect, if I could just pull it off in the remaining time I had.

Originally I planned to create a dress that could be removed from the card. I had planned to make either a magnet or a brooch and attach it in some way to the card. But as time slipped away, I ended up making a simple card because I knew how positive and supportive Terri had been when I started my dress-up project.

I'd like to thank Margaret for the tutorial that helped me design this gift, and Lynn, who thought to include me in the surprise. And of course, a big happy birthday to Terri who has brought so much color into everyone's life she touches. Happy, happy, dear friend. May you have at least as many more.

Today's blog is one I stumbled on (some of the best are). It is called Not Paper, although I'm not sure I understand the name. This blog features collage artists from around the world. If you click on the "more" button at the bottom of each article, you will see more photos, a link to that day's blog or web site, and an interview with that day's artist. If you don't have time, or aren't interested in that day's artist, just keep scrolling and you'll see some really amazing art on the home pages. This is one eye popping blog if you are a collage artist, or if you love collage as much as I. I assure you, you will get inspired by at least ONE person's collages.