Long Time No Blog!

Hello Strangers!  I can't believe I haven't posted since last September! Wow, that time went fast... Dang it, I missed the holidays & the new year...

I think I needed a Blog Break. Any of you who are also self-representing artists or crafters know how overwhelming it can be, not only making your products, but handling all your own marketing & promotions, answering emails, taking care of admin duties, etc. It's never-ending! Not that I'm complaining, I'd much rather be busy than sitting around twiddling my thumbs, but sometimes it's just necessary to take a holiday, even if it's just a break from blogging or emailing or shipping, or even from making stuff.

I've temporarily closed my Etsy shop while I concentrate on a B.I.G. project that's taking way longer than I'd hoped. But it's very exciting & I can't wait to tell you all about it! Stay tuned...

The Paper Chase
Thanks to all the generous people who posted bundles of paper to me - I received way more than I ever expected - I really appreciate it! I'm going to close the Paper Chase Project for now, due to my current workload being a little on the heavy side. To those people who have not received their collages yet, please accept my apologies for taking so long, but rest assured, I haven't forgotten you & I'm taking the opportunity while my Etsy shop is on hiatus, to finish the last of the collages & pop them in the post.

I'm also rather behind with my emails at the moment too (I'm not what you'd call a prompt emailer at the best of times!), so if you've written to me & are wondering why the hell I haven't written back, please be patient, I'm ploughing through my inbox as fast as I can!

Art Fights Fire
Mosey on over to the Kaotic Kraft Kuties blog & read all about a fab fundraiser for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. There's amazing art being raffled - including my modest li'l contribution above, which is a collage on wood panel - & the draw is being held at the Outré Gallery in Melbourne on the 25th of February. There's still time to buy a raffle ticket - it's such a worthy cause!

The Bushfire Appeal shop on Etsy has been going like gangbusters too. I donated a few things myself, which have now sold, but the shop is still very well stocked with goodies generously donated by wonderful Etsy sellers. So far the shop has raised an incredible $13,500! It's truly heartwarming to witness the generosity of the people who've organised this fundraiser, & all those who've donated & bought. So if you're in the market for something unique & wonderful, & would like to support a very worthy & needy cause, go buy something!

Now that I've dusted off my blog, I think I'll start posting more regularly again. I just installed TypePad's new TypePad Connect feature, so my comments are all spiffy looking & threaded now. I think it means I can reply directly to commenters & they can receive email notification when I do - much better communication! You can even install Connect on non-TypePad blogs, it seems.

I bought some eensy-weensy ultra-cute little canvases on tiny easels today (I just love small-scale things!) & I'm going to make some mini artworks on them for a Blog Giveaway in the next few days - so watch this space.

Until then, toodle-loo my friends! Stay warm or cool, depending on where you are...& go eat some chocolate or hug a kitten or something!

Comments

[Raven]

Glad to see yer back...We've missed hearing from you! :)

xxx

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Oh thank you! I can't believe it's been 5 months! :)

[Peta Pledger]

I look forward to what you have in store for us in 2009.

Peta x

[Alex Louisa]

Welcome back! I've not long had Typepad Connect on my blog too. It makes things SO much easier. And it does look just a bit spiffy! You'll love it.

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Thanks Peta! And thank you for the paper! Sorry I'm not very organised with the Paper Chase but I'm doing my best to catch up!

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Thanks Alex...yes this is so much nicer, especially having a little face to connect to people's comments. One things for sure, intriguing avatars prompt people to click through, as I just did to your blog - gosh your work is A-MAZING! Absolutely lovely.

[Tina]

Hello! Welcome back. I just discovered you!!

[Tepi]

Welcome back!

[pip of meetmeatmikes]

Oh you are back! Hurrah!!!

[Jessica Doyle]

Welcome back to the blogosphere! I've taken breaks to from blogging. It is needed at times :)

Something I've began doing last year was writing more than one post at a time, and saving them as drafts or scheduling them to post at a later date.

Happy belated NYE 2009 MagicJelly!

[puglyfeet]

Glad to see you back, Magic Jelly :).

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Thanks Tina! You've got a beautiful blog! :)

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Thanks Tepi! Nice to see you too! :)

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Hurray! *strings bunting around blog & starts pouring pink lemonade*

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

That's not a bad idea - may as well do that while you're in the blogging mood! Happy '09 to you too!

[Karena (Magic Jelly)]

Hi Pugly! Great to see you! :)

[Marcyanna]

Welcome Back! I love your work! Can't wait to see what you've been up too!

[Johanna]

She's back :) I thought it was just going to be me my goody two shoes award at the top of your blog forever :) can't wait to find out what the big project is!

[Aldwin Sendaydiego]

A very nice post and a very helpful blog. Keep on posting interesteing articles that can help readers as well as bloggers specially the newbies like me. Thank you very much.

[Little Mo and Friends]

the girl is here gorgeous..she looks a little mischievous! Karena, blog again!