Artful Blogging ~ More Than a Magazine (Review)

Artful Blogging ~ Visually Inspiring Online Journals

Sunday evening we had the opportunity to browse in Barnes & Noble, and I found myself looking for the latest issue of Artful Blogging. I picked up the Autumn 2012 issue and leafed through it in the store, and was impressed with the stunning images and – yes – artful – layout of the magazine.

To be honest, I was a little intimidated, thinking (again) that I may never reach that level of artistry and talent in my blogging. Just when I was about to put it down, I came across page 13 labeled “Partial Post,” and started skimming the page. Then I read it again, more slowly. It was a post by Jennifer Blair, and the thoughts and feelings she described were so similar to what I’ve been going through lately it was almost scary. I decided to plunk down the $14.99 and take that big, beautiful, 145-page magazine home with me.

The next day I took the kids to an indoor playground just so I could read it! I must say that it was well-worth the price; so much so that a subscription is going on my Christmas list. I’ve read it now almost cover to cover. The amazing images are now not so intimidating as they are something to aspire to in my own photography. The women describing their journeys in the accompanying articles helped change my attitude. Read some of their quotes below, and I think you’ll see why. (For some reason I decided to start at the back after reading page 13 again, then I jumped around a bit. The names below are linked to the featured blogs.)

Inspiring Quotes

I let go of my other fears by making this one fear greater than everything else – the fear of a wasted life. – Jennifer Blair, page 13

But we believe great things are in store…a new chapter is opening and we are more than willing to fill in those blank pages with God’s help. – Becky Strahle, page 125

It’s funny looking back to how I was: out in the world, dealing with contractors, builders, and stressing over deadlines. Now, with a few ‘tiny’ changes, I am finally at home in the place my life I was meant to be – one miniature, one photo, and one keystroke at a time. – Cynthia Sperin, page 68

(I was thrilled to find a dollhouse miniatures blog in Artful Blogging! I started my business as an online miniatures shop, and miniatures are still an important part of my life. Cynthia Sperin has also written Cottage Style In Miniature, just published this year. )

Nothing is more appealing than a joyfully written blog. – Ishtar Olivera, page 67

You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss, via Lucy Akins, page 60

I believe that we are indeed making our own modern womanhood, especially here in the blogsphere, by rejecting the image we’re fed over and over again in the mainstream media of what society tells us a woman should be and putting or own voices and images out there and saying, ‘Look! I am woman, I don’t fit in any box and that’s OK! In fact it’s more than OK, that’s how it should be.’ – Elizabeth Morrow, page 54

Many times the need to find something to blog about is just the prompt I require to try something new, complete something, or merely find beauty in something already existing. – Michelle Allen, page 46

True originality is being yourself and believing in yourself, without comparing yourself with the rest of the world. – Irene Berni, page 79

Photography makes me feel more immersed in my surroundings, and I feel blogging allows me to share these captured moments. – Sarah Russell, page 88

And my favorite…

Today has been cancelled. – Anna-Maria Wolniak, page 24

Just A Bit More

Lori Avery features wonderful tutorials on her blog Katies Rose Cottage, including Photo Transfer To Wood and a Burlap Rose.

Follow the Stampington Blog for DIY projects, giveaways and more.

Sign up for Stampington’s Post Script Newsletter “filled with special sales (including our 99¢ Back Issues Sale), FREE article and vintage ephemera downloads, featured handmade DIY projects, how-to video tutorials, contests, and endless inspiration. When subscribers open each newsletter, they are automatically entered into a drawing to win a special bundle prize worth $75 – $100.”

Don’t miss these items in the back of Autumn 2012 issue:

Register your blog with Technorati to increase exposure and traffic (Tools To Get You Blogging article, page 140).
Index of all blogs featured since the first issue on page 138
Brief article on blogging etiquette on p 137.
“Banners We Love” on page 132.
Preparing your photographs for print, page 130.

Artful Blogging is published by Stampington & Company. I found their wonderful web site, The Shoppe at Somerset online shop, and e-crafting.com shop (digital magazines and downloadable ephemera) last December after purchasing their Somerset Studio magazine.