…and it means a lot to me that you took the time to read and comment. I know it can be a pain.
But, I read all the comments. And I *love* reading them. And I try hard to visit the blog of each person who comments (and leaves me a blog url, of course). Usually I spend a lazy weekend afternoon catching up on the blogs of everyone who comments. Amazing talent out there, isn't there? And I try to email people who leave questions.
I do get shy, though. Silly, right? And if you ever meet me, you'll be like, "This girl is shy?!" But, I am. So I read your blog and I don't always comment. I'm trying to get better about it though, and stop lurking.
Anyway, the point of all of this – well, there are two points actually – the first point is as follows:
I got an e-mail from a reader who wanted to know why I never respond to any of the comments.
Well, I do. I just usually e-mail the person who asked the question. But, it occurred to me that there might be people out there who want to know the answers too or who are interested in the back and forth of some of these e-mails. So I'm going to try to respond to comments more publicly from now on. I thought I'd start with two comments from yesterday's post:
Wow, just wow. I'd love to hear more about how you are mixing the watercolors and the gesso…
Posted by:
Ally |
November 30, 2009 at 12:23 PM
In brief, I coat the blank page with gesso (which really makes the watercolor move around) and then as I paint, I occasionally "white out" parts I don't like or want to make lighter with the gesso. And then I watercolor on top. I don't actually mix the paints so much as layer them.
Your
faces look awesome. You can really see how much better you got from the
first one you showed us. I guess drawing can get better with practice.
I always wrote it off for myself, but maybe I should give it a go.
I could talk for four hours about this comment. So, so, so true. I think most people feel that they can't draw. But practice really does make perfect. It's like learning to play a sport or an instrument or anything else. Yes, innate talent makes it easier. But hard work really closes the gap. Listen, I'm never going to be Picasso. But I do think that practice and educating myself will help me progress and become the best that I can be.
And the one thing I've learned about success is that you have to be ready to fail.
A gymnast has to be ready to fall in order to let go of one bar and swing to the next one. If you just keep doing the same thing over and over you don't grow. I try very hard to embrace the idea of failure. I tell myself, my students, my actors, the directors I mentor, all to "suck harder" and "fail gloriously."So give it a go. Whatever it is that you think you stink at. Give it a try. You will get better at it with practice. That's a guarantee.
Onto the second point:
Thank You! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!
I don't say it enough.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for commenting.
Thank you for letting me ramble.
Thank you for the love.
Thank you for the questions.
Thank you for sharing with me.
Thank you for the links.
Thank you for the emails.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you for all of it. I love reading the comments.
And because I can't do a post without a photo, here's a Prima project that I haven't shared before. It seems appropriate for today's post.
Truth be told, I don't love this layout. I think I probably should have left off the flowers that are along the edges. And I do think that I should have painted the black and white "Paintable" paper. It's too white. And probably the photo should be more towards the title in the center of the page. But like I was saying before, you live and you learn. I figure if I take a risk ten times, nine times I'll fail and once it will be so totally amazing that it will make all the failure worthwhile.
Here are some details:
I chopped up one of Prima's stitched Mulberry papers and used it everywhere! I really like how the letters turned out covered in the stitched paper. And you can see how I tried to stitch the paper flowers to match.
Thank you for stopping by!
you are very welcome….
and thank you for all of your ideas and inspiration.
you are very welcome….
and thank you for all of your ideas and inspiration.
you are very welcome….
and thank you for all of your ideas and inspiration.
you are very welcome….
and thank you for all of your ideas and inspiration.
Thank you for your ideas.
Thank you for your finds.
And for the tutorials 🙂
Bye, Kitty
(I feed your blog,
but I don’t comment much.)
Thank you for your ideas.
Thank you for your finds.
And for the tutorials 🙂
Bye, Kitty
(I feed your blog,
but I don’t comment much.)
Thank you for your ideas.
Thank you for your finds.
And for the tutorials 🙂
Bye, Kitty
(I feed your blog,
but I don’t comment much.)
Thank you for your ideas.
Thank you for your finds.
And for the tutorials 🙂
Bye, Kitty
(I feed your blog,
but I don’t comment much.)
Thank you for sharing gorgeous things!
I love your style!
Thank you for sharing gorgeous things!
I love your style!
Thank you for sharing gorgeous things!
I love your style!
Thank you for sharing gorgeous things!
I love your style!
I just like commenting because I love your stuff. I really enjoy your blog. If you do less replying back on blogs and more posting on yours then I’d be good with that! There’s only so much time in the day. 🙂
I just like commenting because I love your stuff. I really enjoy your blog. If you do less replying back on blogs and more posting on yours then I’d be good with that! There’s only so much time in the day. 🙂
I just like commenting because I love your stuff. I really enjoy your blog. If you do less replying back on blogs and more posting on yours then I’d be good with that! There’s only so much time in the day. 🙂
I just like commenting because I love your stuff. I really enjoy your blog. If you do less replying back on blogs and more posting on yours then I’d be good with that! There’s only so much time in the day. 🙂
That looks so cool! I just love how you work with color. It’s something I aspire to.
That looks so cool! I just love how you work with color. It’s something I aspire to.
That looks so cool! I just love how you work with color. It’s something I aspire to.
That looks so cool! I just love how you work with color. It’s something I aspire to.
I really need to be willing to fail more (I’m working on this). You know that I love your style and really enjoy your blog. I must say that it surprised me to receive an email response on a comment a while ago, but it made me feel important to have you take the time to respond. You are most welcome Julie.
I really need to be willing to fail more (I’m working on this). You know that I love your style and really enjoy your blog. I must say that it surprised me to receive an email response on a comment a while ago, but it made me feel important to have you take the time to respond. You are most welcome Julie.
I really need to be willing to fail more (I’m working on this). You know that I love your style and really enjoy your blog. I must say that it surprised me to receive an email response on a comment a while ago, but it made me feel important to have you take the time to respond. You are most welcome Julie.
I really need to be willing to fail more (I’m working on this). You know that I love your style and really enjoy your blog. I must say that it surprised me to receive an email response on a comment a while ago, but it made me feel important to have you take the time to respond. You are most welcome Julie.
i have to disagree about that layout…i think it’s just perfect the way it is. the little touches and details are what make it ‘yours’!! 🙂
i have to disagree about that layout…i think it’s just perfect the way it is. the little touches and details are what make it ‘yours’!! 🙂
i have to disagree about that layout…i think it’s just perfect the way it is. the little touches and details are what make it ‘yours’!! 🙂
i have to disagree about that layout…i think it’s just perfect the way it is. the little touches and details are what make it ‘yours’!! 🙂
Wowzers, that layout is just beautiful Julie…so are you! =)
Wowzers, that layout is just beautiful Julie…so are you! =)
Wowzers, that layout is just beautiful Julie…so are you! =)
Wowzers, that layout is just beautiful Julie…so are you! =)
Oh I love how you did the letters! Truly wonderful!!! I never would have thought to do it with stitched paper (before readying how you did it, I wondered how on earth you stitched chipboard! lol!)
Oh I love how you did the letters! Truly wonderful!!! I never would have thought to do it with stitched paper (before readying how you did it, I wondered how on earth you stitched chipboard! lol!)
Oh I love how you did the letters! Truly wonderful!!! I never would have thought to do it with stitched paper (before readying how you did it, I wondered how on earth you stitched chipboard! lol!)
Oh I love how you did the letters! Truly wonderful!!! I never would have thought to do it with stitched paper (before readying how you did it, I wondered how on earth you stitched chipboard! lol!)
I love your blog and I was so thankful that you answered my question about what papers to paint on one time, even though I don’t think I thanked you at the time. Also wanted to say thanks for all the inspiration!
I love your blog and I was so thankful that you answered my question about what papers to paint on one time, even though I don’t think I thanked you at the time. Also wanted to say thanks for all the inspiration!
I love your blog and I was so thankful that you answered my question about what papers to paint on one time, even though I don’t think I thanked you at the time. Also wanted to say thanks for all the inspiration!
I love your blog and I was so thankful that you answered my question about what papers to paint on one time, even though I don’t think I thanked you at the time. Also wanted to say thanks for all the inspiration!
amazing!!! love it:)
amazing!!! love it:)
amazing!!! love it:)
amazing!!! love it:)
love the details on your page and the thoughts in this post. =)
love the details on your page and the thoughts in this post. =)
love the details on your page and the thoughts in this post. =)
love the details on your page and the thoughts in this post. =)
Wow, beautiful! I really need to learn how to stitch on chipboard!
Wow, beautiful! I really need to learn how to stitch on chipboard!
Wow, beautiful! I really need to learn how to stitch on chipboard!
Wow, beautiful! I really need to learn how to stitch on chipboard!
hey!
i received your visit and comment these days and it made me so flattered (thats how it writes?).
Well, i want to say you are a really inspiration, and i visit your blog every time you update (that means almost daily).
I’m actually from brasil, so my writting in english is not even close to good, but I can read it just fine… thats why I dont leave much comments, because it takes an effort to write a sentence, and I end up feeling silly, thinking how many mistakes i must have made, lol.
Since i decided to write more today, let me say that I think you must be a very special person, with a soul full of brightnees (and I’m not religious, dont get me wrong), and you can spread good feelings to people around you, even through the internet! its always good and “uplifting” to stop by your blog!
thanks for sharing all these things with us!
sorry for the mistakes, hope you can get the idea 🙂
hugs
hey!
i received your visit and comment these days and it made me so flattered (thats how it writes?).
Well, i want to say you are a really inspiration, and i visit your blog every time you update (that means almost daily).
I’m actually from brasil, so my writting in english is not even close to good, but I can read it just fine… thats why I dont leave much comments, because it takes an effort to write a sentence, and I end up feeling silly, thinking how many mistakes i must have made, lol.
Since i decided to write more today, let me say that I think you must be a very special person, with a soul full of brightnees (and I’m not religious, dont get me wrong), and you can spread good feelings to people around you, even through the internet! its always good and “uplifting” to stop by your blog!
thanks for sharing all these things with us!
sorry for the mistakes, hope you can get the idea 🙂
hugs
hey!
i received your visit and comment these days and it made me so flattered (thats how it writes?).
Well, i want to say you are a really inspiration, and i visit your blog every time you update (that means almost daily).
I’m actually from brasil, so my writting in english is not even close to good, but I can read it just fine… thats why I dont leave much comments, because it takes an effort to write a sentence, and I end up feeling silly, thinking how many mistakes i must have made, lol.
Since i decided to write more today, let me say that I think you must be a very special person, with a soul full of brightnees (and I’m not religious, dont get me wrong), and you can spread good feelings to people around you, even through the internet! its always good and “uplifting” to stop by your blog!
thanks for sharing all these things with us!
sorry for the mistakes, hope you can get the idea 🙂
hugs
hey!
i received your visit and comment these days and it made me so flattered (thats how it writes?).
Well, i want to say you are a really inspiration, and i visit your blog every time you update (that means almost daily).
I’m actually from brasil, so my writting in english is not even close to good, but I can read it just fine… thats why I dont leave much comments, because it takes an effort to write a sentence, and I end up feeling silly, thinking how many mistakes i must have made, lol.
Since i decided to write more today, let me say that I think you must be a very special person, with a soul full of brightnees (and I’m not religious, dont get me wrong), and you can spread good feelings to people around you, even through the internet! its always good and “uplifting” to stop by your blog!
thanks for sharing all these things with us!
sorry for the mistakes, hope you can get the idea 🙂
hugs
Love your layout Julie! Always soooo inspiring. I may not comment but I come often to admire your work!
Love your layout Julie! Always soooo inspiring. I may not comment but I come often to admire your work!
Love your layout Julie! Always soooo inspiring. I may not comment but I come often to admire your work!
Love your layout Julie! Always soooo inspiring. I may not comment but I come often to admire your work!
this is very sweet of you. 🙂
i think most people comment because A) they really admire the person’s work and have to tell them or B) they want to break the communication barrier between the computers in order to possibly make a new friend (me).
so it’s sweet of you to address this! i do believe you’re shy. 😉
xo amy
this is very sweet of you. 🙂
i think most people comment because A) they really admire the person’s work and have to tell them or B) they want to break the communication barrier between the computers in order to possibly make a new friend (me).
so it’s sweet of you to address this! i do believe you’re shy. 😉
xo amy
this is very sweet of you. 🙂
i think most people comment because A) they really admire the person’s work and have to tell them or B) they want to break the communication barrier between the computers in order to possibly make a new friend (me).
so it’s sweet of you to address this! i do believe you’re shy. 😉
xo amy
this is very sweet of you. 🙂
i think most people comment because A) they really admire the person’s work and have to tell them or B) they want to break the communication barrier between the computers in order to possibly make a new friend (me).
so it’s sweet of you to address this! i do believe you’re shy. 😉
xo amy
Thank you :-). Yours is without doubt my favorite blog. You are so generous with knowledge and techniques. It is always an adventure coming here.
Thank you :-). Yours is without doubt my favorite blog. You are so generous with knowledge and techniques. It is always an adventure coming here.
Thank you :-). Yours is without doubt my favorite blog. You are so generous with knowledge and techniques. It is always an adventure coming here.
Thank you :-). Yours is without doubt my favorite blog. You are so generous with knowledge and techniques. It is always an adventure coming here.
Love, love, love how you used the Prima paper. I have looked at that paper before, but was unsure how I might use it…great idea!
Love, love, love how you used the Prima paper. I have looked at that paper before, but was unsure how I might use it…great idea!
Love, love, love how you used the Prima paper. I have looked at that paper before, but was unsure how I might use it…great idea!
Love, love, love how you used the Prima paper. I have looked at that paper before, but was unsure how I might use it…great idea!
What a wonderful entry, and I can so relate. Just like in your case, nobody who reads my blog, well, actually nobody who knows me, not even my close friends, would think of me as shy. I am though, and I usually don’t start talking to someone, unless they start talking to me first. After that, it’s easy to see why they don’t think of me as shy, because then it’s hard to get me to stop talking LOL. My comments usually are pretty long as well LOL.
Anyway, I did leave you a comment a few times, and I didn’t get a reply. You did however sent me an email as a response to a particular question, something I appreciated very much. I like leaving comments, both to show how much I love the work displayed but also to make new friends. When no comments come back to me, I usually stop commenting myself, not because I feel hurt in any way, but because it’s hard to keep up with all the commenting, and in the end, I just comment on the people I have established some sort of relationship with. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, your lack of comments hasn’t stopped me from visiting your blog regularly, oh yes, I’m officialy by my own admittance a stalker LOL. I love your work, I love how you share your techniques with your readers and how you’re not afraid to criticize your own work. Also I’m usually very inspired by your positive nature… I so like the tone, the atmosphere that radiates from all of your entries. I’ll stay a stalker, that’s for sure!
xxx Peggy
What a wonderful entry, and I can so relate. Just like in your case, nobody who reads my blog, well, actually nobody who knows me, not even my close friends, would think of me as shy. I am though, and I usually don’t start talking to someone, unless they start talking to me first. After that, it’s easy to see why they don’t think of me as shy, because then it’s hard to get me to stop talking LOL. My comments usually are pretty long as well LOL.
Anyway, I did leave you a comment a few times, and I didn’t get a reply. You did however sent me an email as a response to a particular question, something I appreciated very much. I like leaving comments, both to show how much I love the work displayed but also to make new friends. When no comments come back to me, I usually stop commenting myself, not because I feel hurt in any way, but because it’s hard to keep up with all the commenting, and in the end, I just comment on the people I have established some sort of relationship with. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, your lack of comments hasn’t stopped me from visiting your blog regularly, oh yes, I’m officialy by my own admittance a stalker LOL. I love your work, I love how you share your techniques with your readers and how you’re not afraid to criticize your own work. Also I’m usually very inspired by your positive nature… I so like the tone, the atmosphere that radiates from all of your entries. I’ll stay a stalker, that’s for sure!
xxx Peggy
What a wonderful entry, and I can so relate. Just like in your case, nobody who reads my blog, well, actually nobody who knows me, not even my close friends, would think of me as shy. I am though, and I usually don’t start talking to someone, unless they start talking to me first. After that, it’s easy to see why they don’t think of me as shy, because then it’s hard to get me to stop talking LOL. My comments usually are pretty long as well LOL.
Anyway, I did leave you a comment a few times, and I didn’t get a reply. You did however sent me an email as a response to a particular question, something I appreciated very much. I like leaving comments, both to show how much I love the work displayed but also to make new friends. When no comments come back to me, I usually stop commenting myself, not because I feel hurt in any way, but because it’s hard to keep up with all the commenting, and in the end, I just comment on the people I have established some sort of relationship with. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, your lack of comments hasn’t stopped me from visiting your blog regularly, oh yes, I’m officialy by my own admittance a stalker LOL. I love your work, I love how you share your techniques with your readers and how you’re not afraid to criticize your own work. Also I’m usually very inspired by your positive nature… I so like the tone, the atmosphere that radiates from all of your entries. I’ll stay a stalker, that’s for sure!
xxx Peggy
What a wonderful entry, and I can so relate. Just like in your case, nobody who reads my blog, well, actually nobody who knows me, not even my close friends, would think of me as shy. I am though, and I usually don’t start talking to someone, unless they start talking to me first. After that, it’s easy to see why they don’t think of me as shy, because then it’s hard to get me to stop talking LOL. My comments usually are pretty long as well LOL.
Anyway, I did leave you a comment a few times, and I didn’t get a reply. You did however sent me an email as a response to a particular question, something I appreciated very much. I like leaving comments, both to show how much I love the work displayed but also to make new friends. When no comments come back to me, I usually stop commenting myself, not because I feel hurt in any way, but because it’s hard to keep up with all the commenting, and in the end, I just comment on the people I have established some sort of relationship with. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, your lack of comments hasn’t stopped me from visiting your blog regularly, oh yes, I’m officialy by my own admittance a stalker LOL. I love your work, I love how you share your techniques with your readers and how you’re not afraid to criticize your own work. Also I’m usually very inspired by your positive nature… I so like the tone, the atmosphere that radiates from all of your entries. I’ll stay a stalker, that’s for sure!
xxx Peggy