Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Is blogging dead?

It seems that most people are not really blogging any more. Is blogging dead?
Do you still read blogs? I have to admit I don't really read many anymore myself. But I am not sure if it is because most of the blogs I used to read are no longer being updated (including my own), or if it because I am hanging out in different places now.
 For example I am spending a lot of time on Instagram and Periscope.
Cloth and Clay Angel available in my Etsy Shop

Instagram
I enjoy Instagram for the many artists who post there. I think I have been posting on Instagram for about 3 years now. In that time I can say I have really grown so much as an artist. Just looking daily at the work that artists post there has inspired me so much. I have learned about so many techniques and ways of selling art. I have been encouraged by the many generous people who have liked and commented when I have posted my own art. It has given me a sense of community and comradery. I have learned about supplies, how to use them, and where to learn more involved techniques through tutorials and online courses.
And looking at so many different kinds of art has inspired me to make decisions on where I want to go with my own art. The latest buzz is that now that Instagram has changed its algorithm it won't be the same anymore. We will have to see if that is true. But for now it is my "go to" social media.

Periscope
Periscope is a fairly new video streaming app that is linked to Twitter. I have never been a huge fan of Twitter, but I find Periscope pretty fun. Basically people use their phones to live stream whatever it is they are doing or want to talk about. There is a quite huge art community on Periscope. The app is only little over a year old, and in that time lots of artists have taken to it. There are also a lot of art and social media business coaches on there as well. I enjoy it for the many artist who show off their methods for creating digital art, simply because I am in the process of learning it myself and seeing someone actually do it, and hearing what tools they like is invaluable. Especially because tools are so expensive. It would be so hard for me to try to navigate all the possibilities by myself. I also listen to a few art and business coaches, and their advice has been really helpful.
So I do enjoy Periscope.

So this leaves me with the question; is blogging dead? Is it worth continuing with? I am pondering this question a lot lately. Do you still read blogs? Do you find them worthwhile? I would love to hear your thoughts!

xoxo
Annie

Thursday, March 10, 2016

My Backyard Chickens


Here is a little video of my baby chicks! They were born on August 1, 2015. We got them in the mail on Aug. 3rd and they were in perfect shape!

We are part of a pilot backyard chicken program in our town. Sadly one of them turned out to be a rooster, so we had to take him to a farm in Wisconsin. I was really sad about it but he was crowing up a storm! Not exactly conducive to suburban living!
The Speckled Sussex turned out to be a rooster!

So now we have 3. We got our first egg on Christmas day!

We have 3 different breeds. An Easter Egger, a Golden Laced Wyandotte, and a Buff Orpington. They are all wonderful layers.

OXOX
~Annie