Happy Blogaversary to ME !!!

So guess what ? Yesterday, March 8th, marked One Year of Blogging for the Queen of Arts !

Woo Hoo ! Happy Blog-aversary to me !

I knew this date was coming along and have been working diligently behind the scenes with my very special Computer Geek Extraordinaire, David, to change some things around here for my blog-aversary ! We were away for the weekend in Montreal for some family fun and I had to wait until today to do my blog-aversary post.

David has taught himself a whole bunch about blogs, blog templates and html and using my original art work and my background design, he created this whole brand new look for the Queen of Arts Blog ! We still have a few little tweaks left to do but thanks to the Man, we were able to launch the new look today. I love it so ! I am so grateful for David's remarkable talent and his tenacity to get things done just the way I wanted them ! Thank you, Sweet Man !

I am also grateful for my Blogland adventures everyday ! It never ceases to blow me away that there are so many supportive, creative, talented and generous people that I am fortunate enough to connect with everyday through our Blogland exchanges. Starting this blog one year ago was my way of reaching out and trying to find a community but I never imagined the love, the kindness and the genuine pleasure I would receive as a result ! Now I can hardly imagine my life without Blogland !

Here is a huge example of how wonderful blog-pals can be ! I know the sweet and lovely Carolyn from 8 Golden Paws through our Blogland connection. We comment back and forth on each other's blogs and found out that we both had a huge interest in going to the Squam Artist Workshops in September 2009. A few emails and a great phone call later, we are going both going to the retreat as room mates, classmates and friends anxious to share our art adventure ! How cool , Right ?!!!

And guess what ? We have never even met face to face ! And yet, my sweet Blog-pal Carolyn, sent me this by Priority Mail this morning :

And inside was this sweet pink note :

And wrapped in this lovely striped tissue paper was THIS :

Magnificient Queen Of Arts Blog Birthday Crown !!!! Gorgeous on the front

And on the back !

The Queen had to call the King to take some pictures of this wonderful treasure ASAP ! (Please ignore the bedhead hair !)

Happy Bedhead Queen !

Lovely Shot of the Crown !

The King's Arty Shot - notice how the eyes of the Queen are echoed in the crown ?

How lucky am I to have such a friend ? It made me feel so loved and cared for to get this thoughtful and beautiful gift from a person who has never met me face to face but already knows my heart ! So very, very sweet ! Thank you so much, carolyn !!!

(Attention - Give Away Coming - Attention - Giveaway Coming !!!)

So to complete my one year blog-aversary post, I am offering a little giveaway in honor of my love and appreciation for my Blogland friends. I will put together a little care package of Queen of Art treats, such as a note card or two with prints of my journal pages on them, a few Rock My World Rocks, some pretty painted papers to use in your own collages and some other little trinkets of love ! In order to enter the giveaway, please leave me a comment on this post sharing one special lesson that you have learned as a blogger. This Friday, March 13th, I will ask the King to draw a random comment and send the Blogland Love Package off to the winner !

Thank you so much to all my Blogland friends for making my world a kinder, better place and for all the wonderful, inspiring adventures each and everyday ! Sending out big love hugs !