I’ve been asked by fellow artist, Tracy Alden, to participate in a different kind of blog hop – no special product or technique, no particular manufacturer – just a Creative Blog Hop where I share a little info about myself (I answer the same four questions posed to each hop participant) and introduce you to other creatives you might enjoy. I’ve followed this Creative Blog Hop back through several months and have discovered so many talented artists involved in so many different genres. You can do the same. Just follow this link back through the blogs starting with Tracy Alden who blogs at Art Resurrected.

Tracy and I have actually never met face-to-face; it’s one of those cyber-relationships. We met while working together for Globecraft & Piccolo a couple years ago. I admire her attention to detail in the makings of her jewelry – it’s truly amazing what this woman creates using resin. She also has a passion for science. Check out her blog posts to see how amazing her work is.

So let the questioning begin!

1. What am I working on?

This week I’ve actually been working on an art journal spread for an upcoming class. It’s a class I offer each month in my Studio and I really enjoy the challenge of creating a new spread each month. I challenge myself to use just a few products and limited color palette. This month being October, and the fact I live in the mid-West (Michigan), I wanted to focus on the beautiful colors of our Fall season – over the top of all these words.

2. How does my work differ from others in my genre?

I don’t know that it does really.  A lot of us play around with the same techniques and products but our goal is to develop our own style and that’s what I aim to do. I have friends and students who tell me they can pick my projects out of a lineup because they’re familiar with my work so I’ve developed a style known to me but I wouldn’t say it is all that unique and different from others – just personalized to my taste and likes.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

There are days I wonder the same thing! Crafting keeps me sane. There’s nothing more relaxing than rolling paper flowers, spreading Distress Inks on tags, or painting with glue to add glitter to a tiny, intricate piece. It’s the mundane repetitive tasks of the crafting process that I find so relaxing; the mind can just go blank and release all worries, cares and bad thoughts. It’s the combination of those same mundane tasks that push me to add more – more technique, more product, more texture, more dimension to create a final piece that is pleasing to my eye.

4. How does your writing/creative process work?

That’s a tough question. Lately it seems my creative process is taking a vacation. I hadn’t been inspired. I attribute some of that to the fact that most of our local scrapbook and stamp stores have closed over the past three years. I used to draw inspiration with a visit to my local craft store while looking at all the pretty papers and embellies. The ability to touch them, pick them up, turn them over – physically and in my mind – would inspire and start the creative process flowing. Seems much harder now to find inspiration from product that can only be seen on the Internet and not held in my hands.

Then out of blue I hear from Tracy Alden. When I asked why she chose me, this is what she had to say: “Linda has the amazing talent to take the most ordinary paper, wire, frames and old objects and turn them into heirlooms to be treasured for years.” So that was my answer – get back to my roots. Go dig up some old junk or leftovers and play with them a bit and turn them into something pretty! Thanks, Tracy! I needed that little reminder.

Now, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Laura Drahozal who blogs at Remembering Life’s Moments. Laura and I actually met when working in the same local scrapbook store several years ago. I’m in awe of her talent when it comes to Dreamweaver Stencils and metal work and her work with the Silhouette cutting machine. Take a trip through her blog and relish in all the beauty.