Home ::: Blogging
spring cleaning
My daughter Erika, a professional web designer and font freak, had been making noises for awhile about changing the font on my blog. I love Mac's Skia font and have used it here from Day One, even though I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 14, 2010
| Comments (3)
six years
I almost forgot! Today is the sixth anniversary of this blog! Thinking back to when I began, I would not have believed this would become such an important part of my life, and how many wonderful connections... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2010
man, birds, trees
I'm easing into the new year lazily, sorting through holiday photos and loving these two by my husband: a hardy swimmer in the ocean guardedly eyed by gull and great blue heron. By some impulse after a long absence,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 2, 2010
on this day
This morning in the printmaking studio was somewhat frustrating for me. Lucy, our trusty and faithful wide-format printer was not happy. I've been trying to print a trial proof of a template image for my... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 4, 2009
a great day on Bowen
What a fantastic day we had yesterday! The gloriously sunny day began with the arrival of a cousin and her husband from Germany. After a quick visit over tea and biscotti on our deck, we whisked them to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 21, 2009
this and that
This morning as I sat at my computer next to the window, some movement caught the corner of my eye - six big crows were strutting about the lawn, looking for grubs perhaps? I was too slow... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 25, 2009
meeting Miguel
Yesterday evening right here in Vancouver, my husband and I were very pleased and excited to meet Miguel Arboleda, author and photographer of the sublimely beautiful blog Laughing Knees. Miguel had arrived here from Japan a few... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 10, 2009
more blog friends
Thoughts about meeting blog friends are still on my mind. I recently wrote about one meeting among several such meetings on our trip. We had one more meeting on our last day in London. Barrett Bonden of Works Well... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 23, 2009
Tunbridge Wells, Joe, Heidi
Photos top to bottom: The Pantiles area, Heidi (in green jacket) and I chatting, and Joe. One of the great delights of our trip to England has been the opportunity to meet a few blog friends.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 19, 2009
London: blogger meetups
(left to right: Jean, Lady Penelope, yours truly, Stuart, Natalie and Dick) I was very excited to meet a few blogger friends while visiting the UK. The very first meeting, only two days after arriving in London, was with... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 2, 2009
mossy twists
Feeling a bit twisted by busy-ness, yet mossy when idled by exhaustion.... I've so much to write, particularly about a fantastic art exhibition by a favourite artist that we saw on the weekend, and a wonderful walk, and about... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 16, 2009
Women's Month interviews
this morning Writer and blogger-friend Kate A. Laity of Wombat's World is doing an inspiring series of interviews of women: I've decided to use this month -- Women's History Month, of course -- to do a simple yet... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 9, 2009
five years
Is it a sign of age that one begins to momentarily forget how old one is or how long one's been married? I sometimes have to go back to my birth or wedding date and count from... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2009
a new day
Tom Montag and I have collaborated once again to create a postcard with a short poem called A New Day for Postal Poetry. Though they accepted this some time ago, the editors Dana Guthrie Martin and Dave Bonta have... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 21, 2009
cease the fighting
Pablo Picasso: Guernica 1937 (from artquotes.net) I rarely write about politics and wars here yet I must say that I've been unable to put out of my mind the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Mainstream and alternative media... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 14, 2009
99 things to do
I rarely do memes any more but this looked like fun. The rules are simple: bold the things you've done. Explanations are optional. Fun is guaranteed. 1. Started my own blog (surprise!) 2. Slept under the stars (tried for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 10, 2008
an 8th birthday!
I'm absolutely amazed that Mark Woods is still going strong with his blog Wood s Lot! He continues to produce almost daily posts, each full of very interesting and eclectic links on a wide variety of intelligent subjects from the artistic and literary to philosophical and political, frequently including his own wonderful photos of his home region in Ontario, Canada. Each of these posts would be the equivalent of five to ten of mine! Wood s Lot was one of my early finds and inspirations when I first began blogging four and a half years ago and continues to be a favourite daily read. Thank you, Mark and Happy 8th Birthday to Wood s Lot!
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 6, 2008
poetry postcards
I'm delighted to share with you that Tom Montag and I have had our collaboration Blue accepted and up at Postal Poetry, an exciting new site for individually and collaboratively created poetry postcards. Tom has already expressed his... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 1, 2008
lovely links
Our Earth as Art, 3D Picasso's Guernica, International Rock-Flipping Day
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 10, 2008
a scan test
#1. Originally scanned at 300 dpi. #2. Originally scanned at 600 dpi. My last post on scanning certainly piqued the interest of several readers! I look forward to seeing the results of your play, everyone! Barrett tried it out... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 19, 2008
older female geeks
Natalie d'Arbeloff, artist, cartoonist, author of the amazing 'The God Interviews' and blogger with alter-ego Blaugustine continues to inspire me with her colourful career and many talents, her humour and her energy.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 14, 2008
FOUR
Researching how long blogs have been around, I was surprised to not find a definite answer. Let's just say, this one here still seems to be a youngster on its fourth birthday! The writer behind it is slowing... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2008
January tree fest
The holidays are not quite over yet, today is the 8th day of Christmas after all, AND there's also a new Festival of the Trees to cheer us. The Festival of the Trees is a monthly blog carnival devoted... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 2, 2008
trees of my year
Many of us are looking back on the past year as it's nearing its end. Photography having become more and more a passion for me, I like to look through the year's photos. They may be observations of the little... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 29, 2007
Looking back: Lucia's Day
I am finding that one of the downsides of being a blogger for more than two or three years is that I feel that more and more I begin to repeat myself. Yet, readers come and go though there are... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 13, 2007
a stimulating weekend
On Friday, November 16th, our youngest grand-daugther had her second birthday. November 16th is a significant date for me and as this blog is kind of a diary as well, I enjoyed looking up past posts on this date.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 19, 2007
witchy trees
Come, my dearies, for a tour of my woods See, here is the witches' castle Meet Witch Hazel and Witch Rowana Here's Raven There's our resident treehugger witch.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 25, 2007
moved by beauty
We had a warm sunny day today, almost blindingly bright after a long spell of gloomy rain. The beauty of the fall colours in the trees lining many of Vancouver's older streets gave me great pleasure as I headed... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 23, 2007
the artist and the environment
I've been thinking about what I could contribute to the world wide discussion raised today with Blog Action Day. I decided to talk about my behaviour as an artist as well as a homemaker. As an artist concerned for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 15, 2007
Seven years and Thanksgiving
The amazing wood s lot is 7 years old, and that's a lot in blog years! In addition to his ever rich cornucopia, for the past few months Mark has been posting his own beautiful photos of his home... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 6, 2007
forest in our backyard
About two weeks ago, I made a long overdue first visit with some of my family (who'd been there before) to the very popular, though awkwardly named Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve located in the North Shore mountains behind... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 25, 2007
rock-flipping
Today, thinking about finding some rocks to flip for the International Rock-Flipping Day, we thought the beach might offer up some interesting possibilities. So we checked the tide tables - low tide at 4:00 pm. We headed out... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 2, 2007
August 12th stardust
Like Mouse in France, I wanted to wish on a star, or actually on the Perseids, last night but it was raining. I have more than one good wish and remembrance on this auspicious day: Happy anniversary to our... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 12, 2007
my favourite sculpture
First I saw Ossip Zadkine's De Poeet, then Tuumailua's challenge to bloggers to post their favourite sculptures. So here's my choice of current favourite, especially one located in Vancouver: Magdalena Abakanowicz' Vancouver Ancestors, posted a year ago. I'm wondering... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 3, 2007
catching up
This blog has taken a back seat for a few days while I've been enjoying a visit from our eldest daughter. She lives with her partner some five hours by car northeast of Vancouver in a tiny community, half an... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 11, 2007
interview, revisited
Two years ago on May 11, 2005 I wrote: Melanie McBride of chandrasutra felt that Big Media has been misrepresenting bloggers and decided that it was time we spoke for ourselves and let them (and everybody else know) who we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 14, 2007
thinking blogs
Wow, this blog has been named a "thinking blog" by Peter - poet, writer, husband, father and spiritual guide extraordinaire of Another Country! I'm thrilled and honoured to be included in such good company, and especially pleased that Peter... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 23, 2007
connections
I have often mentioned that finding connections and being inspired by them is very much a part of the way I think and find ideas for my art work. One of my print series is even called Nexus, which... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 31, 2007
broken blog
On Thursday evening (March 1st) this blog suddenly appeared very odd in design and showed only some of my very earliest posts from 2004 on the main page. The links (underlined as of yore!) went to wrong pages using the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 3, 2007
THREE!
ONE, TWO, now THREE years of blogging! I've surprised myself, when I recall my very tentative beginnings with this "art" project, as I like to think of it. Thank you all for your inspiration, encouragement and warm friendship. UPDATE:... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2007
five things
I've been tagged for a meme called FIve Things You May Not Know About Me, thanks to Jean at This Too. My, I had to think long and hard on this since I've already revealed much about myself on... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 25, 2007
a blog survey
If you are a blogger, you may be interested in filling out this quick survey Why Do You Blog? It took me only a few minutes to do. Thanks to Cassandra Pages for the pointer.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 22, 2007
first time
Qarrtsiluni's current theme is "First Time". I'm happy to note that my submission "First Love" is up, so please go have a look.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2006
must-see artworks
The new Guardian's Art Blog looks interesting. Critic Jonathan Jones kicks off with his picks of 20 great art works for a definitive list of the 50 works of art to see before you die. Readers' suggestions to add... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 30, 2006
wombat's world
checked out a link back to my blog from Wombat's World -the writer was going to Finland to see the Astuvansalmi rock paintings!
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 9, 2006
rock paintings & blogs
I'm thrilled whenever I come across images of ancient rock art unexpectedly and this has just happened twice over two days. Regular readers will know that it's a subject of great interest and inspiration for me even in my own art making.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 19, 2006
September 1st
Hey, it's September 1st already! For much of my life it has represented a beginning of a new year, as a child going to school, then as a university student. Later I went to school as a teacher for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 1, 2006
meeting bloggers
For the first time in two and a half years of blogging, I personally met another blogger face to face yesterday. Susan and I haven't known each other for very long, but when I learned she and her partner... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 17, 2006
short shorts
'Short shorts' is qarrtsiluni's summer theme. If you haven't yet, do read the eclectic and thoughtful submissions so far. Consider submitting your piece of writing, art or photograph. Rachel's Chevra kadisha is movingly beautiful and sad. It made me think... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 18, 2006
artist's hand
Many Finnish bloggers have jumped on board Valokuvatorstai or Photo Thursday. Each week Thursday a new theme is presented. Inspired by this...
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 17, 2006
thirteen cent pinball
Our youngest and very talented daughter has caught the blog bug! I am proud to introduce Erika's blog thirteen cent pinball.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 15, 2006
I'm back!
We just arrived home this evening from a very interesting six-day driving holiday to Alberta and back, with lots of stories and photos to share for several days to come! A warm thank you to everyone who emailed and sent... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 10, 2006
human or robot?
I am seriously considering setting up comment registration with TypeKey. It is free for everyone, even if you don't have a blog. It requires registering only the first time. I know it's a bit annoying, but isn't it a great way to find out if the commenter is a human or a robot?
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 28, 2006
Art Daily returns
As Sam plays 'As Time Goes By' once again, Ignacio Villarreal announces the return of Art Daily, like the phoenix arising! He writes movingly of overcoming health and financial problems and bringing back his 10 year old pet project and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 8, 2006
prunings, rockpiles & pennies
Some recommended reading today: 1. PRUNED is a blog about "landscape architecture and related fields", which includes earth art. I've been browsing through the archives finding treasures like panographies. PRUNINGS I to XX on the sidebar offers many eclectic and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 25, 2006
troubles and treats
Saturday morning I had a major shock on opening my blog and finding a commercial page on it and my own contents gone! It's been hacked and stolen, I think! My email was also down, though the alternates on different... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 19, 2006
introducing poplar road
© Anita Rathje "Warning: the following story is not suitable for young readers or anyone with a sentimental attachment to rodents (or chocolates, for that matter). [...] I felt inspired to relate the latest in our little Nutcracker battle,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 6, 2006
introducing appleturnover
"i am finding that one way to connect my children together and to myself is to find something very simple to do. today my big girl built a nest out of bedding and was a robin in it, and i... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 4, 2006
a welcome back
A funny thing about blogging - one meets other bloggers and after a while many feel like they are good friends even if we never meet. When one of them quits blogging it's like losing a friend. This happened to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 17, 2006
thank you
On the occasion of the second anniversary of this blog I offer all my dear readers this virtual bouquet of thanks for your wonderful friendship! What an amazing network around the world has opened up with this blogging phenomena.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2006
Four Things Meme
Another meme! I've seen variants of this floating around the blogs for some weeks and now I've been tagged by Linden! Here goes, it's tough to limit some of these to four: Four Places I Have Lived Varkaus, Finland in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 26, 2006
live each season
This blog is nearing its second anniversary and I'm forgetting some of what I've written, so almost every day of late, I am looking back at entries of a year ago that day. It's like I sometimes would do... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 17, 2006
baking and a meme
Today I'm baking stollen with marzipan filling, a German Christmas bread that is one of our very favourites. Because of food sensitivities to wheat and dairy in two daughters and yours truly, I'm also experimenting with a small batch... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 20, 2005
Art Daily gone
THE END, it says in white letters on black, like a death notice. Art Daily has closed forever and I'm very sorry. Ever since I found it in my early days of blogging it had been on my daily rounds... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 4, 2005
first of December
The first day of December already! I just learned that 'the name is from the Latin "decem" for "ten". December was the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February',... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2005
Mappi & my etchings
Finnish blogger Maria emailed me recently to ask if she could present some of my etchings on her blog and of course, I was pleased to assent. There they are now, beautifully displayed on MAPPI. Reading her very perceptive comments... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 18, 2005
a blog adieu
"This blog is thinking about hibernation. I'm an Adorable Little Rodent (TLB blog ranking) with hundreds of hits a day. But I'm getting bored with my humble self and I want to spend time on other things." Sadly for us... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 12, 2005
qarrtsiluni
I'm late in congratulating the "parents" on the birth of qarrtsiluni, a new cooperative blog. Beth of Cassandra Pages announced it best, so do go read it. I love the name, an Inuit word which means "sitting together in the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 6, 2005
a rubbing
This is a rubbing I made of a wonderful image embedded in the cover of a book I found in the library a few days ago. 'Indian Rock Carvings of the Pacific Northwest' by Edward Meade (1971) has numerous... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 1, 2005
a cultural institution
Yesterday I received this very interesting message (hyperlinks mine): "I'm contacting you from the Saatchi Gallery, London to enquire about your website. Here at the gallery we are in the process of expanding the way information is linked to websites.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 27, 2005
good links
Here's a small collections of links I've been saving to share for your reading pleasure: 1. More about Smithson at Print Australia and Modern Art Notes 2. As a lover of rock art and earth art, I was excited to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 15, 2005
virtual conversations
It's almost 1:00 am, and I'm up after two hours of trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep. These bouts of insomnia come and go, so I accept it and indulge in a cup of herbal tea, some reading and making notes.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 6, 2005
freedom blogs
I rarely touch on politics in my own little blogworld, but thought this international effort worthy of a mention: Reporters Without Borders selected around 60 blogs that, each in their own way, defend freedom of expression. The organisation then asked... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 17, 2005
Interview
Melanie McBride of chandrasutra felt that Big Media has been misrepresenting bloggers and decided that it was time we spoke for ourselves and let them (and everybody else know) who we actually are, who we link to and why we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 11, 2005
anniversary & rocks
Well, today is this blog's first anniversary and what a wonderful ride it has been. Many thanks to all you faithful readers and commentors and the still growing numbers of visitors who have been and are still making this new... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2005
Blogging and Art
A few days ago I made a short reference to the PEW study about artists and the internet. Ivan Pope has also linked to it, and continued to blog about how the web is creating a generation of Pro-Am (Professional... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 10, 2005
artists & the internet
"Artists, Musicians and the Internet: They have embraced the internet as a tool that helps them create, promote, and sell their work. However, they are divided about the impact and importance of free file-sharing and other copyright issues." This is... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 4, 2005
an artist's blog
Anna sent me an email suggesting I read and comment on Rachael's post of Thursday about artists blogging. Go read Rachael's first, including the comments, then come back here for my response, which I decided to post here: I've... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 16, 2004