One Year Blog-o-versary!
Well it’s happened: I have been at this for a full year!
The experience has been so different and so much more amazing than I ever expected: I am just stunned. Most especially wonderful are all of the great people I have met, both online and in person, as a result of this endeavor.
Because I played around with the blog before publicly announcing it the actual anniversary date is murky. I have decided on today because it was one year ago when I received my very first comment, and from the wonderfully inspiring Jana Bouc no less. Jana’s blog was influential in getting me started on this adventure in the first place, and I have since had the pleasure of sketching with her as well.
Some facts and figures for the year:
| Number of posts: | 65 |
| Number of sketches posted: | 159 |
| Number of email subscribers: | 192 |
| Number of RSS subscribers: | 252 |
| Number of comments: | 838 |
| Number of comment spams: | 15,342 |
It’s been a crazy whirlwind of a year. When I started the blog I hoped that it would get me sketching more, and it certainly has done that. I had no idea though how much work it would be or how hectic it would sometimes make my life. But I also didn’t expect the community, encouragement, new directions and immense satisfaction it has brought to me.
I would like to extend a heartfelt
* T H A N K Y O U *
to the sketchblog community: fellow bloggers who inspire me every day, the many wonderful people who leave encouraging comments and emails, and all the folks out there who come by for a visit now and then or read via the RSS feed or the EDM Superblog. It is the human connection of this experience that has been the best reward of all.
And now, I’m off to drink a glass of champagne 🙂
Related Topics: Food, Holidays, Still Life
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December 14th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Congrats! Looking forward to see more of your work. Your blog is always an inspiration.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Penny, Lee-Roy, Pete, Bec, Mariana, Martin, ClaireOKC:
Thank you all for leaving a note, your very kind words and for joining the celebration!
December 12th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Love your site and your watercolors, and the waterbrush idea was a perfect solution for a “drawer” like me to finally get the hang of watercolors. Gave you credit for your inspiration on my site. Did some neat watercolors lately on a trip, take a look.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Hi Martha! Congratulations!!! I’m one your email subscribers, though I haven’t been visiting lately, work and piles of emails don’t let me visit as much as I’d like to. You had a great idea linking from blogger to here. The easiest way. Hey, thanks for visiting, and yes, try the pause with the animals video, you’ll have lots of poses to choose and practise. Best wishes and my toast to many many more years of blogging!!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Happy Blog-o-versary! Love all your art and that cake looks wonderful 😀 Have many more great blog years!
December 10th, 2007 at 10:39 am
WAY TO GO! A full year of blogging!! Amazing isn’t it– we meet such interesting people and get such wonderful encouragement…. Thank YOU for creating such a terrific space here on your blog!
December 10th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Joyeux bloggiversaire! Your work has been inspiring. Best wishes!
December 9th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Martha! Wow, look at all these great comments!
Happy Blog-o-versary! A year of Trumpetvine Travels is indeed an accomplishment. Funny, though. It seems to me as if your blog has been around longer than that. Must be all the great content. Love how you put it in your post. The human connection is the true reward in doing this kind of stuff — and of course, the additional motivation it can give one to sketch or doodle or whatever. You’ve made great use of yours. Congrats.
Oh, and a glass of champagne sounds like the right idea. 😉
December 9th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Hi Martha, Happy blog Anniversary, Gosh I didnt realise it was you who had dropped by my blog, I love your stuff. If you have time drop over to my other blog in the side bar, yesterdays magic day at the beach photos.
Wonderful day today, breakfast with my 4 week old latest grand daughter and her mother, isnt life great.
December 8th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Laura, Lee, Dianamow, Kathy, Suzanne, Africantapestry, Robin, Jess, Kate, Sherry, Jana, Casey:
Thank you all so very much! Your encouragement and kind words are heartwarming, indeed. And, thank you for celebrating with me!
December 8th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Martha, Thank you for producing this beautiful blog, and inspiring the rest of us. I also thought you’d been around longer than a year! I always love visiting your blog, you have a beautiful, distinctive style. And so I wish you many happy returns.
December 7th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Hi Martha, I just clicked over here to tell you that you were in my dreams last night (illustrated on today’s post) (we were having a slumber party!) and I saw your wonderful illustration about blogging and the announcement of one year. I too thought it had been much longer.
I am so honored to be mentioned and thrilled to have been your first commenter (if that’s a word). Your blog is an amazing work of art and dedication. Your talent and writing and drawing shine through every page.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Congratulations. You have been inspiring me all year, so I raise a toast in your honor!
December 7th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Happy birthday, Martha! I thought you’d been around longer than that, your blog is so accomplished and helpful…amazing. In any case I’m glad you’re here NOW.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:11 am
Hi Martha,
Thanks so much for your advice about watercolours – I’m fired up to try those colour combinations now! Congratulations on your year anniversary. I’ve been blogging for just a couple of months and I’ve become totally addicted!
December 7th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Happy Blog Anniversary, Martha. Like many others here, I find it hard to believe your blog is only one year old. You’ve made a great impact, influenced so many and been so generous with your discoveries and experiences. I very much look forward to what you have in store in the next year.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Congratualtions on your first MArtha! I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with you. Your lovely work and the wonderful information you give is always inspiring. I love your “birthday cake”, so original!
enjoy your next year!
ronell
December 6th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Congratulations on your first year! I completely understand the feeling you have about blogging and the people you have met….isn’t just an amazing experience?
Also, LOVE, LOVE your illustration. Wish I’d done it! The icing looks delicious!
December 5th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Congratulations on your first anniversary, Martha! I am always so excited when you have a new post–they are just a pleasure.
I did not think that I had time to draw; you have taught me to make use of “waiting” time in airports, on the plane, or in the restaurant.
To many more posts to Trumpetvine!
December 5th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Congratulations from me, too.
I’ve been following your blog and advice for several months and yes, I do whip out a pen and paper more often now.
Here’s to another fun year!
December 5th, 2007 at 6:26 am
Not only congratulations, but thank you for sharing your wonderful work. I have been doing realistic graphite for a couple of years, but I have been missing that real contact to the world that you don’t get in a studio, your work has inspired me to get out of the house and try other styles! I look forward to another year of great sketches!
December 5th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Martha, a belated congratulations to you! I think I’ve mentioned this before, but you’ve been an inspiration to me for several years! I’ve always been on the lookout for travel sketchbooks. Before I started my own blog three years ago, I found your Trumpetvine sketchbooks in a google search, I think. I tried to order some copies somehow but was never able to. I was so happy when you started your blog! I enjoy seeing your lovely, subtle sketches very much. Keep up the great work!
December 4th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Shirley: And to answer your question, before this blog I did the Trumpetvine Travels zine (2 issues). That’s probably what you remembered 🙂
December 4th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Joanie, Kay, Marilynn, Kirk, Why, Bill, Jenny, Nancy, Vivian, Lin, Shirley, Sherry, Joy, Candelia, Nancy, Teri, Barbara, Colleen, Marta & Sandy:
Thank you all so, so much for your wonderfully encouraging comments. It’s so heartening to know that you all out there and that you enjoy sketching and sketches as much as I do.
Thank you for joining my celebration!
December 4th, 2007 at 11:16 am
CONGRATULATIONS and Thank You for all you contribute and inspiration!
December 4th, 2007 at 10:41 am
You have been a wonderful inspiration to me, especially with your rebound sketchbook techniques. I also have enjoyed your watercolor and ink drawings which give us a view into your world. Congratulations on your first blogging year!!! and yes please, I’ll have a glass of bubbly also!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:52 am
Let me add my sincerest congratulations to the accumulating pile! I am a frequent visitor to your work and find it very inspiring. To date I have made 7 reloaded moleskines and am about to begin filling the 5th one. I have made the smaller size that you work in, but I prefer using the larger Daily Planner. Without your precise and warm instructions, I would still be lost in finding “just the right” journal. I love making and using them. So “Thank You” ever so much, and please keep the wonderful posts coming.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:23 am
Martha,
I enjoy your blog so very much. It’s great. Thanks.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:57 am
Happy blogaverasy to you!! And many more I hope. It is such a pleasure visiting here. Love that cake! So creatively done.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 am
I am new to your blog, but love it. New to sketching and watercolor, but am inspired by your work.
Here’s to many more years.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:38 am
I was never interested in sketching until I came across your site. You are an inspiration and generous to a faul. Best Wishes
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:14 am
Feliz cumpleanos! I always enjoy your posts, and always learn something new.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:50 am
when I get up early, and the sun is noy yet up, I like to to look at your journal pages and imagine I am in some of those places..Thanks for the wonderful experience of following your joyful journeys….
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:20 am
Happy BLOG birthday! I look forward to your wonderful journal pages and also didn’t realize that your blog was that recent. Please keep sharing – I love ink drawings with watercolor washes and yours are my continuing inspiration. Why did I already know about your work when I first started this journey in 2005?
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:12 am
CONGRATULATIONS, MARTHA! I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO EVEN MORE IN 2008!
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 am
Happy Birthday !!!! :>D
A year of interesting posts :>)
December 1st, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Congratulations! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. Because of the reviews, interviews, and your description of your methods and materials, it’s really a value-added product 🙂 — hope you have many more anniversaries.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:57 pm
*hic*
Hope you enjoyed your glass of champagne. I sorta’ swiped the bottle.
Here’s to another great year of for your blog!
December 1st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
CONGRATULATIONS Martha!!
Gosh, I’m surprised you’ve only been at this for a year.
Yours was one of the blogs that inspired me not only to start blogging but also to start sketching again. And of course everyone who makes their own sketchbooks has read your classic post on reloading a moleskine. I still refer to it everytime I make a new one.
You were the first person who added me to their blogroll (I didn’t know what that was at the time) and I’ve been honored to have you visit and comment on my blog.
Making art has become an important part of my life again as a result of stumbling across your work. I don’t say this lightly but you have made a profound difference in my life and I’m very grateful to you for that.
As long as you’re blogging I’ll be a subscriber.
Happy BLog-o-versary!!
December 1st, 2007 at 5:47 pm
congrats!! luv ur work!
December 1st, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Congratulations! I look forward to each of your postings and always enjoy the content. Keep up the good work! Thanks. Kirk
December 1st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Congratulations! I don’t comment too much as I’m a busy artist, too — trying to do a lot more watercolor sketching, thanks to inspiring work like yours — but I take time to look at every blog notice you send out and enjoy your sketches very much. Thank YOU! Keep up the good work.
December 1st, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Thanks for being a great inspiration to us all. Congratulations.
December 1st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Huge congratulations….and yours was one of the sites that got ME all fired up to do this. So thanks to you! And we keep passing it on….