Saturday, June 11, 2011

What Is This Blog.....Continued


Well....that makes a visual bang, yes?
After the previous blog post, and the wonderful and thought provoking comments left (thank you everyone!) I felt that I wanted to make a statement, and at first I wasn't sure what.
It turned out simply to be the above.
This IS where I create.
It's not just the art, or the sewing, or words or tutorials....it is the thought and the photos~~the time to find just exactly what I want to help articulate semi-formed thoughts.
Sometimes it is easy to write a great post and other times it is like wringing water from a stone. Everything is inside ready to burst forward but the door is locked. Nothing happens.
I sit for days thinking.....what do I write of value to my readers? Will they still be there? Am I worth their time? Is it worth *my* time?
Doubt wanders through and makes a mess of things....leaving a muddy trail behind that I have to clean up.
Sometimes I am so busy with the other artistic aspects of life, the blog has to go dormant. But ultimately, this is where I create. The ultimate goal being a product with which I am happy, and something you respond to.
There are no blog police here; between my colorful (and I do mean COLORFUL) background and sidebars, my jazz and *that header* I so love, they know that they are dealing with a rebel! Scream and run away now~~it will save you time later.
And when did it become en vogue to police blogs anyway??? Who are these White-Paper-Bloggers? Pale and colorless, with little to say but to nag about someone else's blog. This is what really stumps me....since it carried over from the previous post! LOL! You knew it was coming.....
I had one person who *LOVED* my blog one week; full of compliments, good following, etc. and in the following week told me it was unprofessional and basically, in not so many words, *not good*. It was *this, that, the other and NOT WORDPRESS*. (and you know what? it never will be because I have tried that beast THREE TIMES and I am leaving it to wallow in it's own pool of blog-folk.....)
WOW.
Be still my gastritis.
Again, I want to say, "THIS IS WHERE *I* CREATE". This is MINE.
That is exactly what YOUR blogs should be too. Where you create what you cherish, what you open your hearts to share, what you love. It's YOURS. It should reflect YOU. It should not be a carbon copy of someone else.
You write it, therefore, it should BE YOU.
Without apologies or question.
The moment it loads onto a computer screen, the person looking should know it is YOU! They have arrived, and they're ready to read, look, laugh, cry, share, love.
At the end of the day, and the post, what more could any of us ask for......
Think about it.



Pax....

41 comments:

Silke Powers said...

Yes, yes, and YES, YES, YES!!!! And did I say, YES!!! You know I totally agree, don't you?!?! Love, Silke

Silke Powers said...

Oh, forgot to say - love the piece of art... great statement!! :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

HELLO SILKE!!!!

She's hooooooooommmeee!!!!
Thank you~~this was of course from the previous post, and yes, I had to make a *little* statement! ah-hahahahaha!!!
Welcome back. :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

GlorV1 said...

I love your blog and how dare someone tell you it was "unprofessional." I think it's very professional and full of interesting and informative info. Good for you, keep blogging here because it's weird over there to WordPress, I think you have to pay, don't you?? Now you go get your Scythe and hop on over to Wordpress and you know what to do. Tee hee. Have a great weekend, got to clean house.

Robin said...

Such wise words! It IS! You ARE! I feel exactly the same! Don't change!!!!!!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oooooooh Yeah Gloria!

Scythe Woman needs to make a return soon.
I think she might be popping back in say in a month or so....after slaying W.P.
And YES, if you want one of the nice looking template, you have to pay for it. But basically, they all are pretty much the same and there is nominal code that can be customized unless you really WRITE html.....
I'd rather slog it out with Blogger! LOL!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robin!

I won't!
(I'm way too stubborn...had you guessed? LOL!)
I have a photo to send you....
Will do it now before I forget.

XXOO~~
Anne

Unknown said...

We know what it takes to be a Wild Women which real life is all about. Have you read "Women Who Run With The Wolves?" Seems I asked you before. I bet you have. If not it is of your kind of gut stuff. Nice piece of art work. Let me know and I will look up the author for you.
QMM

Unknown said...

Here it is Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
QMM

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

No Peggy, I have not read that, but I think it will be next on my *read* list.
(I have 35 books piled on my nightstand right now...all in some level of being read...yes, I can jump back and forth and know what is going on...)
I think I've probably run with the wolves all my life and just didn't know it...LOL!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Unknown said...

Thank you for the inspiration! I feel energized to figure out my blog re-vamp now :) I have been struggling with what to keep, and what to let go of (as you know) and now I know that the first question I need to ask is whether it truly reflects my creativity. xo Joyelle

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Bingo Joyelle!

It's as simple as *What is YOU*.....
And then jump in with both feet and don't apologize!
I am sure it will be FAB!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Luthien Thye said...

ok ... what's wrong with these ppl? why do they go about telling ppl that their blog is not good? they have too much time is it? did their mothers not teach them if you dun have anything nice to say, don't say anything? SHEESH!!

hah!! it never occurred to me that yea ... ppl do want to read a good post! hahaha!!! all this time, i'm just rambling about my thots in my blog ... very very self absorbed OOPS!!! O_o ... oh NO!!! i should pay more attention to what i write next time :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Luthien,

Your blog posts are ALWAYS good, because it's YOU!!!
No pretense, no foo-foo; you writing about your work or what inspired you to make a necklace~~and that's what it's all about!
So just keep doing what you're doing, because you have a LOVELY blog!!! :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Jo Murray said...

I must be thick as a brick. I thought blogs were meant to be YOU, not bound by someone else's parameters. The blog police should mind their own beeswax and leave REAL people alone.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jo,

Doing surveys to see what *other bloggers* consider professional (or in other words, what THEY want to look at...) is eye opening.
I consider a blog an extension of me, my creativity, life, and any other amusing tidbits that roam through. I think people benefit from knowing they are not alone in the lumps and bumps of an artistic life.
Maybe us *Girls Of A Certain Age* need to kick back! LOL!!!
Just glad I don't have some of those people as followers...ay-yi-yi......

XXOO~~
Anne

Terra said...

Anne, you beautiful and creative artist and thinker, you. I adore your blog; goodness, why would someone criticize another person's blog. Ouch. So keep on writing and I will keep on reading and may I add an "amen" to your words!

Robbie said...

Amen! Well said! My blog is just that! MY blog! So I can post what I want, when I want. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to come back to read it! I'm not maintaining a blog for others! I maintain a blog for myself! Don't change a thing on your blog either, Anne!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Terra,

I appreciate your words as I know you read a lot (A LOT!) and that makes them special!
And yes, you may add an AMEN to anything you want! (or I'll just keep on preaching...LOL!!!)

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robbie!

My blog is written by the rambling voices in my head....heeheehee!!! I just do what they tell me, and sometimes, they're actually GOOD! ;-D
Blogs truly are personal, but can blend our art/business aspects since it is part of our lives as well.
Don't worry; the blog mistress isn't fondly referred to as "Scythe-Woman" for nothing! (which reminds me....I need to get that scythe sharpened and get it slashing....)

XXOO~~
Anne

Lori ann said...

the very best thing about blogging is the personal stamp that each person brings to their own space. and the kindness out there, it's seemingly endless. that's a really cool poster you made, i wish i knew how to do that!

p.s. i do have a white blog, but i like how it looks with photos, kind of gallery like. :)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Lori,

I'd be glad to make you one of the posters
or tell you how to do it.
And...Mea Culpa! Your white background blog was
not what I meant...I mean people with no personality
where everything seems *white*~~devoid of color,
flavor or personality.
Let me know on the poster~~Be happy to do one and
send it; just send me the text!

XXOO~~
Anne....whose large pie-hole gets her in trouble
again! LOL!!!

Sunshineshelle said...

Anne, what the hell have I been doing that I haven't stopped by one of my FAVOURITE blogs for a couple (few?) weeks??? Apologises to me (not you my dear) because I've missed out on some of your goodness, colour & unique voice... out with the bland and politically correct and lets celebrate personality, individual thought and friendship, otherwise we may as well all wear a uniform & ask permission to have an opinion ;)
Love ya Anne!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!!
Shelle, join the out to lunch club! I *just recently* got all the blogs I was following back in my dashboard, which has lead to a sudden influx of POSTS to read! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Hey, life happens, especially this time of year.
And I'm not wearing a uniform unless it's bright red and had either RED Doc Martens or RED high heels! (and some sequins too....look out Wonder Woman! I want the golden lasso!)
I think everyone has just gotten back to being able to communicate, though I am still having on and off problems with blogger~~But happy you stopped by! :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

kj said...

anne, i agree with everything you've said and i think your poster rocks! another talent i now know you have.

but what i like so much about this post of yours today is now heartfelt it is, how much you've shared of your deepest love. i know what you mean, i think exactly, when you talk about coming HERE to create. i do that too: some nights i post something new and i am so giddy all night wondering who will say what.

you create, you share. it's not your job to see how what you do affects people like me, but through blogging i get to tell you.

what a joy. i like this serious heart, anne. it compliments your wild silly heart just right.

i'm glad to be around,
xoxo
kj

Pam @ Frippery said...

Please yourself my dear and you will please your kindred spirits and like minded friends. Who cares about the rest. If it isn't authentic, it isn't worth reading or writing. Keep your blog just the way YOU are. I enjoy every bit of it.
Hugs, Pam

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I love the wonderful jazz soundtrack on your blog! I usually turn down the sound when reading blogs, but I make sure it's on for yours!

yoborobo said...

Oh, I'm late again! How UNPROFESSIONAL of me. LOL! That is going to be the 'word of the day' here. Personally, Anne, I would be bored stiff if you had a 'professional' blog, so please continue to be creative and magical and wow us all with your art and your words. The thing I like best about blogs is that they are each so different, and as you get to know the person and their art, it really does feel like you've entered a room, where everything in it has been carefully selected. It's like grown-up 'show and tell'! Wait, that's an UNPROFESSIONAL sentence! hee hee.
Don't change nuttin. xox Pam

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Karen,

Now, I cannot stay serious too long or I'll lose my rep for exceptional rants and reporting on the humorous side of *me*....which basically is every day.
I too wonder when I post something what emotion it will evoke from readers; I think that is the fun/danger of it~~being honest is always a chance to take, but it's a good chance!
I guess what I create here is a life of it's own, that reflects my other endeavors.
I'm good with that....

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

It's like when I come to YOUR blog...I know right where I am...and I love it.
That's how it should be, you know?
Here's to us unchangeables! A stubborn lot we are!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Debra~~

YAY!!!
You have excellent taste in music...heeheehee!
Seriously, I have had a lot of compliments on the jazz track and it is a constant effort to keep it up and with active music. Some of the best pieces must have issues with licensing, because they will be out there and then drop.
I need to figure how to host my OWN player....
THANKS!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

PAM!!!

YOU'RE LATE!!! (oh my, how unprofessional...hahahahaha!!!!)
I won't change if you promise not to; I love your blog just as it is, and never knowing exactly what I will find, be it Skellies in the works, cool art or the latest family adventures (or sometimes misadventures...).
But then, that's what makes it GOOD.
And here's to good and personal and creative.
I like them all!

XXOO~~
Anne

Elena said...

Well it's about freakin time you stopped censoring yourself! Screw conformity. We are meant to be different. I'm so sick of people imposing their own little rules on everyone else. We're going to end up being a society living in the same houses, looking the same, dressing the same, talking the same, churning out the same hate (art, words, thoughts) whatever. Oh wait, I think that's already happened...just look at the news or certain parts of suburbia. You do know I'm on my soapbox now right. Forget the shallow comments of that narrow minded person...you've far exceeded any so called professionalism and proven yourself to be a true artist. Then again, you didn't have to prove it to anyone but yourself. Do you see your 'greatness' now? Ok sorry for the rant and disconnected thoughts. I need breakfast...cranky. :)

Janine said...

This is a great post.
You are right, a blog is absolutly personal. And I love that sign:"This is were I create".
This is the essence of blogging
Hugs
Janine

Georgina said...

Sounds like that session went south!! Well, my friend, you also know how I feel about that...we discussed it in our last marathon phone call!! LOL You've got one of the best blogs ever...EVER!! And you're just as funny and insightful via the phone too!! LOL

I agree with all that you say and believe. I'm at that point right now as you were discussing...trying to wring the ideas out of a stone...words don't exactly flow like water...might want to add molasses to the mix!!

Boo to the nay-sayers...and good riddance too!! Just continue doing what your doing and keep evolving too...that's what we do best as artists.

Loves ya,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!!
ELENA!!! (got that patch on??? heehee!)
I do think there is a particular pressure, more so today, for people to specifically conform to certain rules.
Which of course *I ignore* as I have for years....
Seriously, this was brought to light by the survey I was involved in and it seems there are some very passionate bloggers who, like us, blog their heart and not what *the masses* expect.
So just gently step off the soap box so I don't have another one in a cast.... ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Janine!

I think I could make those for people.....truly, this is where we ALL create! :-)
And it needs to stay that way to keep it interesting too!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Georgina,

I'm glad I don't have to write TODAY as the brain is either taking a NAP or has shriveled up to the size of a walnut......hahaha!
It is interesting that when I made the little sign for the blog, and I posted it, there was this moment of *wow...I really DO create here*.
We create different on our blogs, but it is a specific discipline that requires a certain amount of work and thought. (the latter, which I am without today)
I have a little pin on name tag from a show I was part of; it says "Anne M. Huskey-Lockard Artist"
I have it hanging above my work table, along with a copy of a letter I received as a thank you for a piece of art work.
I think it is important, as artists, that we really VISUALLY REMIND OURSELVES occasionally.
it's so easy to get caught up in the gotta's and hafto's of everyday life.....

XXOO~~
Anne

Anonymous said...

Yep, it's ours and something we choose to share. Otherwise it would be like saying you want a friend but they have to be just like some in-vogue personality or go away. No, our blogs are an extension of us. Too often I forget to thank people who comment on my blog and I realize it later. It's rather a pattern of mine with my ADHD and I hope people won't quit commenting because of it. I am who I am and part of that is being very forgetful. Hopefully my sparkly, wonderful (okay, I am playing around with this part) blog is good enough in spite of me! Why in the world do we want to bloghop if the personalities aren't going to be showing? Plastic world enough, I want real personalities in the blogs I read. I guess I can get on a high horse too!
Timaree

marianne said...

sorry i missed the first part. a friend & i had this conversation too. i started my blog to help me focus on my art and it does that admirably. it may be photography, mixed media, musings about shows and galleries, but it is all me and serves me well. it has also brought me great friends who don't seem to mind the all overness (or the music). i love your blog for the same reasons- the interconnectivity is huge. rock on anne-

Clare said...

i was reading a blog about the bloggers blog - - and she said that when she gets negative comments she deletes them 'cos its her right and its her blog and i agree. this medium is a way to express ourselves, our journeys or adventures, thoughts, musings - whatever. if people want to look - great - leave comments, connect absolutely great, wonderful - you put effort into your writing - creating and yes sometimes people don't like it, sometimes they connect and wow it gets them. If people don't like it delete them - gone. there's too many negative people in this world - i love your style, there's something edgy about it - i think i can learn quiet a bit here!

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