I received this award from two wonderful blogging friends, Toni and Etha, whose work I admire immensely! The idea that they would think of me for this award is a huge honor and a big surprise. I must digress here for a moment. When blogging hit SCS, I resisted for over a year. I was thinking, and please don't hate me for this, "What a bunch of self absorbed people! Why on earth would anyone want to read what I have to say about anything, and why would I want to read what they have to say?" I promise I'm not a mean person, I just didn't get it. The only reason I started a blog was because one of the companies I designed for wanted me to have one, so I started it. What has happened in these short four months is that I have made real friends, whose lives I care about, and whose art I admire. Who knew?

Here are the rules:1. You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Here are my choices:

Amy, of Tsuruta Designs. Amy's work is the exact opposite of mine. She actually has restraint. Every card she makes is a perfect little jewel of simplicity. Her design sense is impeccable. Also, she shares the fun trips she takes around the Seattle area. I can pretend for a moment that I don't live in the dry, flat Oklahoma Panhandle when I visit her blog. I have invited myself, my husband and our three sons over to her house, she's expecting us.

Lauren, of Groppi Girl Blogs. Lauren usually works in the most soothing pastels. Her designs are simple and beautiful. I sometimes think of her work as my paper prozac, because it's so soothing, everything works together, there are no jangling YIKES! aspects to her work. Plus, she has run a half marathon, which makes her a super stud. She also has a shameless obsession with Disney Land or World or one of those, which makes her incredibly immature, I mean childlike!;)

Carolina of Carolina's Creative Pad. Carolina's work is just stunning. Layers and scallops and ribbon, oh my! She always has just the right touch for every card, her workmanship is amazing. She is also really good at describing what she does on her pieces, which sometimes I am too lazy to do.

Bev, of Savor the Journey. She designs for Hanna Stamps, and I love her fresh, fun colors and designs. I also enjoy her sunny and supportive dispostion, it's so clear in the virtual world, that you know it's real. Some things you just can't fake!

Cammie, of My Blog. Carolyn King, (Cammie), is a stamp designer and designs for other companies as well. She's making a pretty big splash in the stamping world right now, and is just going to get bigger (her spash, not her literally!). I pick her not just for her artistic ability, which is obvious, but because she still makes time for the people making little spashes, like me!