My very first blog giveaway win! And considering I was one of 5 who won out of 849 comments (before the comments had to be closed), that's almost a little like winning the lottery! Especially since I won a fabric giveaway, such perfect timing with my present sewing adventures, from one of my favorite artists! I've been meaning to mention Emily Martin of "inside a black apple" fame so many times here on the blog. And really I think I've postponed it because there's just so much to say about this lovely lady I don't really know where to begin. And as I've mentioned before sometimes when I feel overwhelmed with what to say, I end saying nothing :) But eventually I do get around to it and today's the day.
First I want to say thank you to Emily for this wonderful giftie! I received her bundle of fabric in the mail this week, including buttons, a beautiful postcard with one of my expressions of choice, as you know, "you are lovely", and the best part a sweet little handwritten note that says "happy making". As busy as this creative lady must be, to take the time to send out these thoughtful packages is so kind.
And when I say "busy", that is an understatement. I honestly don't know how Emily does it all but as one of her many daily blog visitors, I see that somehow she manages, and she manages beautifully. To say she is an inspiration is also an understatement. There isn't anything that Emily can't create and everything she does create from paintings, drawings, dolls, stationery, sculpeys, t-shirts, tea towels, and on and on and on is so delightful and charming ~ you can't help but want to have one if not many of her creations at home with you, which is why everything sells out in minutes in her monthly updates at her Etsy shop. So if you want to start collecting her work, you gotta move fast on Etsy!! I was fast enough last year and bought one of her "Sophie" dolls, and now Sophie sits across from me in my studio, flanked by my bla bla cat and red ozzie rabbit by le train fantome (another artist who's creations I adore!).
While I've never met Emily in person, I can only imagine that she must be as kind as she seems. Her blog is one of my favorite daily reads, not only for the constant creative inspiration (she certainly has inspired me as an artist to try many different mediums in my creative expression) but also because after a year or so of reading it, I'm continually drawn to the genuine, giving and gracious voice behind it, not to mention a very savvy business woman at the ripe old age of 25. I've seen Emily handle a couple of touchy situations on her blog, and she always does so with honesty and grace. If you're an artist wanting to start a blog and you don't know where to begin, definitely visit Emily's blog. I find she manages the perfect balance of featuring her art, sharing details of her personal life with honesty, while still keeping her privacy, sharing useful sources and tidbits, recipies, music and movie recommendations, featuring other artists, and some posts that are purely creative expressions of hers ~ Each and every post is thoughtfully written with simply pretty photography. I imagine these are just some of the many reasons almost 1,000 people commented on her fabric giveaway. Did I mention that she also has very fun fashion sense? You can also visit Emily at her "fashiony blog", called some girls wander. While her self-described "cottage industry" is certainly beyond thriving, I'm sure this is just the beginning for Emily and the black apple and I am excited to see where it all goes for her.
With all of that said I just want to say thank you again to Emily for being such an inspiring lady in this world of creativity ~
and before I forget, over the holiday weekend I made this apple pie recipe Emily shared on her blog, both the crust and the filling and it was DELICIOUS...definitely one of the best apple pies I've ever had!
and to pass on the sentiment "happy making" to you on this creative thursday!! I'll be right back with today's painting!
