New Friends for a New Year

I am so excited to have so many new Followers to this blog. Many of these ladies have amazing blogs of their own and I wanted to introduce some of them to you.

First is Brenda from Cozy Little House. She lives in East Texas and takes the most incredible photographs of her home and gardens. In fact, Brenda just cost me $300.00...I was so inspired by her photos that I upgraded the wonderful camera Wendy and Rob gave me for Christmas to a higher end model that will do macro photography. (Oh, no...I feel the first stirrings of a new creative obsession coming on!) Brenda was kind enough to feature My Sister's Cottage in her "Welcome Wagon Friday" post today which has brought some wonderful new followers to this site. Be sure to check out Brenda's other blog, too, at A Fairy In My Garden. Hank had no idea that there could be a fairy garden in East Texas, too...quite the competition for his "Wizard's Forest".

Then there is Linda from Ohio whose blog is French Hen Farm. Linda and I have discovered so many similarities in our lives that we're wondering if we might have been twins separated at birth. Linda crafts with her little sister, who is an eight-year breast cancer survivor. She describes French Hen Farm as a big, red barn surrounded by perennial gardens, an old willow tree, and 100 acres of farmed land. She and her sister love antiques and have semi-annual barn sales at their farm...don't I wish I lived closer! Her sister collects McCoy pottery, as I do, and, strangest similarity, we realized from photos on our blogs that our fathers, who both passed away in 2005, look quite a bit alike. And Linda's favorite Christmas cookie? Why tea balls, of course!

Another of my new blog friend is Debbie from Pennsylvania who is a four-year cancer survivor who loves crafts, dollhouses and Victoriana. Her blog is called Debbie Dabble. Grab a box of tissues before you read her post about the elderly man with lung cancer who made her a dollhouse...you can find it here http://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/2010/12/home-tour-victorian-doll-house.html .

And then there is Amy from Oregon whose blog is Into Vintage. She loves making new things from old things, and especially loves vintage textiles.

And Joyce from Michigan whose blog I Love Pretty Little Things features some wonderful craft ideas.

And Linda from Minnesota, whose blog Itsy Bits and Pieces reflects her love of "junking".

And I can't leave out Sewn With Grace , a blog created by Renee from Michigan. She creates beautiful hand-sewn and knit items that will make you want to rush to the fabric store and try some of them yourself.

And so many more...I will feature more of my new Followers and blog friends in future posts but this should be enough to get you started on this morning's tour through blogland. Enjoy!