A year ago today….

…I began this blog.  Today is my blogiversary! I realized yesterday that my very first post about a project I did with middle school students was published on Feb. 10th 2009.  The year went by so fast that I almost missed my blogiversary!  Interesting that I’m about to embark on another adventure with middle school students, this time in my own town of White Salmon.  The teacher wants a glass mobile hanging from the skylight at the entrance of the school.  I’ll tell you more about that when I have some photos to share.

When I began blogging, I searched for and read hundreds and hundreds of tips about ‘how to’ blog, ‘why to’ blog, ‘when to’ blog and everything in between.  I stumbled my way through setting it up, adding widgets, pages and links.  I watched my stats every day and confess I still do.  I am always thrilled to see how many readers have found me and actually return to read more.  And when someone leaves a comment, well I’m just plain over the moon delighted that I stirred you into responding!

I have to thank a couple of mentors who are wonderful bloggers as well as artists.  They were so compassionate and gentle while leading me through the tiniest of baby steps to get this blog and me to where we are today.  Drumroll please…..

Setting Moon over Cascades

The first Thank You goes to Cynthia Morgan of Morganica, who always inspires with her blog and is so brilliant at everything blog and glass related.  I believe she knows everything in the universe and if you haven’t read her blog, you’ve been missing out on great fun, instruction and inspiration.  A glass artist, writer, and so much more, go read her blog right now.

Summer Sky

Thank You to Toni Johnson of Daily Vignette who made sense of my rambling questions.  I didn’t exactly know how to ask for what I wanted to do, but Toni always managed to decipher what I wanted or needed.  She then not only took me there, but told me the next step as well.  She also co-developed and co-authors Vision and Verb a collaboration from ‘women of a certain age’.  A phenomenal photographer as well as glass artist and friend, if you haven’t read Toni’s blog yet, go read it now!

Red Yellow Blue

Somewhere along the midway point, I met Kathleen Krucoff, who writes Reflections of a Glass Artist. Talk about the motherlode of information!  She knows everything about blog and internet marketing.  One of the most creative people, a gifted, talented artist working with glass and metal.  Web designer and author of numerous blogs, she also happens to be married to a wonderful photographer, Daniel Krucoff.  Yes, you know the drill…go read her blog right now.

Triple Splash

There are many others who have helped me along the way, with inspiration and suggestions of topics to cover.  Lastly, I want to thank you, dear reader for encouraging me by the simple act of inviting me into your space, and listening to what I have to say.  I love hearing what you have to say so don’t be shy, let me know you were here.  You’re the reason I’m here, after all!  Tell me what you’d like to see here in upcoming posts.

Insert for Japanese garden sculpture.