Friday, April 17, 2009

A dream come true....and my 100th blog post!


 




Yes indeed, this is my 100th blog post. When I started this blog on February 10th of 2008, I never envisioned making my 100th post. At that time, as a newbie blogger, I was concerned about making my first few posts, and doing it right. And here it is, 14 months later, and I'm up to posting for the 100th time. So for me, this is kind of a milestone of sorts, and one I'm happy to celebrate.
But even better yet, I have some very exciting news to post about on this special 100th post. I'm marveling at the "timing" of this, and thinking perhaps it was meant to be. My exciting news is that my art work has been published! Yes, a dream and goal of mine has come true. And I'm thrilled about it, even bouncing off the walls.  The new book in which my work is published is Collaborative Art Journals and Shared Visions in Mixed Media by L.K. Ludwig. It's supposed to be available in June, but can be pre-ordered on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/reader/1592535208?%5Fencoding=UTF8&ref%5F=sib%5Fdp%5Fpop%5Fidx&page=139#reader-link.
This is the first and only time I've submitted my art for publishing. It came about this way. Over a year ago, I joined a very cool yahoo art group, one of my favorites, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExpressionStudio/. I became acquainted with, and friends with, two wonderful artists in that group, Darlene Wilkinson and Gail Pierce. Darlene saw the call for art for this book, and invited Gail and myself to participate in a collaborative effort to make a book for submission. She chose the theme for the book as "Circles". Gail and I enthusiastically accepted her invitation, and got busy making eight pages each on manilla folders, and sent them to Darlene, who made her eight pages and then compiled our book and sent it in. We heard back that our book was being considered for being included in L.K. Ludwig's book, and of course we were thrilled. Then for the next year, we didn't hear another thing about it, or receive any communication. 
So we've been in the dark about this for over a year, and didn't know until a few days ago when her book was coming out or that our Circles book was included. But now we know, and we're all so excited about it. We are each supposed to receive a complimentary copy of the book, but we don't know when it will arrive. I'm chomping at the bit to get mine, because I don't know which pages of our book were published. And beyond that, I'd love to see and read her book.
So, that's the story on this "adventure", this dream come true for me. When we submitted this book, I was so, so hoping it would be accepted for publishing. And yet, I was wary of having too high expectations, and then possibly being disappointed. I tried not to put too much importance on this, or obsess about it. So yes, it was a dream and goal, but one I tried to keep in perspective. And it's so wonderful to end up achieving this goal, rather than end up disappointed. 
I want to give a lot of credit and thanks to my friend Darlene, who initiated this whole idea and our book. Because without her, and if she hadn't so kindly invited me to take part in this....well, this never would've happened for me. Thank you so much Darlene! This book was my first collaborative effort, and it encouraged me to persue other collab efforts with other artists, although those weren't for the purpose of submission for publishing. 
The five photos in my last post and the three in this post are of my eight pages in our collaborative Circle book. I've wanted to post these on my blog for over a year, but wasn't able to do that due to the rules of submitting for publication. Now, I can finally post these, which makes me happy. I'm a very happy lady today, for a number of reasons. Today is a good day for me.





25 comments:

Anonymous said...

GINORMOUS CONGRATULATIONS, VAL! I am so pleased and proud to know someone who is a published artist! Also, congrats on the 100 blogs! Wow, how time flies!

Aimeslee Winans said...

Congrats on your 100th post, Val, and I'm so happy for you that you are happy for being in DK's book. I remember you just starting this blog and although I go long stretches between comments, I do keep up with it thru my reader most of the time. It's amazing how time flies, even if the book time didn't fly by, lol. Mucho congrats, girl. Go out and celebrate, you earned it. :-))

Genie said...

BIG CONGRATULATIONS Val, Pleased as punch for You, Lovely work

Laurie said...

So happy for you! Just more proof that we don't know what we can do until we try. The sky's the limit!

Shannon (Faith and Chocolate) said...

WOW! CONGRATULATIONS, VAL!!!
100 posts... I think I'm coming up on mine too! That is so cool... and to be published,as well! I love your art, sweetie... it really has some heart and soul in it! I am so happy for you!
Hugs,
Shannon

Unknown said...

okay, kiddo, the first pic in this post is in the book and the one below with the 3's on it. Glad that you posted the pics so I could tell you which pages I saw on Amazon. The 3 of us sure worked well together, thanks for helping to make this happen. HUGS!

Cally said...

Congratulations! What a wonderful feeling it must be to have your work published - I am very happy for you! (I'm a reader of the Book Arts group, and often check out your blog.)

Julie said...

Wow! Congratulations Val on all counts! How fantastic to be published.

Seth said...

Wonderful news Val. And congratulations. Two very big milestones in your career as an artist and blogger!

Anonymous said...

Hi Val, CONGRATS!!!! On both 100 blog post and being published!!!! Your work is great and you are such a kind gal, always positive and encouraging others around you!! It couldn't have happened to a nicer person!

mary schweitzer said...

Oh Val, I'm sooo proud of you! You must be over the moon. Your work is always so inspirational and inovative. I am lucky to have you as a friend.
Mary

cindy said...

Congratulations Val!
How wonderful for you to be published! My best to you. I always enjoy your art and checking in on your blog!
Cindy

Linda East said...

OMG this is so great...congratulations sweetie...see I told you all of that hard work would pay off...TOTALLY AWESOME... Luv U LE

Brenda said...

Congrats on your 100th post and BIG congratulations on getting published. Fantastic.

Susie Jefferson said...

Congratulations on your 100th post - it's a real milestone! And congratulations too on your upcoming publication - another milestone. I bet you are still on Cloud 9! I'm thrilled for you.

morningDove said...

very deserving to a fantastic artist. congrats on your 100th post. and may this be the beginning of many more of your desires answered in the year to come. the book sounds very interesting, love your work.

my word verification starts with "val" how cool is that!!

Carina said...

Kudos and congratulations on your accomplishments. It was generous and informative for you to describe your path to publication. Maybe some of the rest of us can walk in your footsteps.
I will keep my eyes open for the book at my local bookstore.

ART*ticulation said...

Val It's a great 100th post, how perfect was that? :>)

You are very welcome, your work for the book is outstanding and I’m so thrilled we got the chance to do it and work together. Best of all to share in all the excitment!

A huge congrts on your first publication!!!

Sandy said...

Congratulations on being included in the new book and on your 100th post. What great, ground-breaking news for your 100th post. I enjoy your artwork. Keep creating and blogging!

Linda Jo said...

Congratulations, Val! What a huge achievement.... and your art is so wonderful.

Jean Lennon said...

Congratulations Val what an achievement. Thanks for the comments on my blog. Jean

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Val - congrats on being published and your 100th blog post!!!! Way to go! Marva

Melissa S. said...

Val--Congrats all around...first on your 100 blog posts and second on the publication! Wonderful blessings!

Elis Cooke said...

Oh Val-- what wonderful news! Congratulations! i think if anything like that ever happens to me I would feel like a big girl artist lol! Beautiful work-- it should be published! namaste Elis.

ScaryCheri said...

Val, congrats on your 100th post(belatedly) and way to go on being published to you and your friends. What an honor. Love your circle pages. Very creative. Hugz from the oil fields in North Dakota(which is why I haven't been around lately), ScaryCheri