La Salonniere

Brenda Ponnay

I’ve been reading Brenda Ponnay’s blog, Secret Agent Josephine, before her daughter Bug was a twinkle in her eye. I adore Brenda. She’s talented, immensely creative, self-deprecating and funny. Her blog is filled with creative inspiration, fun DIY projects for adults and kids, tales of adventure of her life as a single mom and tons of photos of her adorable daughter, Bug. Brenda is a freelance graphic illustrator with a really fun style. I’m so pleased to feature her here to share a glimpse of what inspires the woman who so generously shares her creativity with so many of us online.

1. B, let’s start with your online name—what inspired you to create your spying alter ego, Secret Agent Josephine?

It was a fluke actually. I was just poking around the internet looking for a free online journal program (I didn't even know what blogs were) and I stumbled across Blogspot.  I opened an account and named it the first random thing that popped into my head.  It's loosely based on the movie La Femme Nikita.  At the time I thought my journal would be secret from the world and I'd go by the anonymous name of Secret Agent Josephine.  

2. Your blog is one of my faves because it’s filled with so much fun and delight. Even when you’re documenting a hard or painful experience, you often still manage to find kernels of beauty, creativity and humor. How has living a life grounded in creativity helped you to maintain perspective through big life changes?

I think being creative is the best way to handle obstacles no matter what size they are, whether that's an artistic project or a big life change.  I probably learned how to be creative when I was really young as a way to solve boredom. We didn't have television and my mom wasn't really the type to drive us to the mall or put us in soccer, etc.  If I ever complained of being bored, my mom would tell me to sit on my bed until I thought of something to do. I always thought of something to do.  And I still do. I never sit still long.  I would credit my Dad for my eternal optimism though.  We're just born that way in my family. I may freak out at night and feel overwhelmed with negative thoughts but I usually bounce back every morning with new reserves. It's a blessing really.

3. Your daughter, Bug, is passionate about color. I remember when she went through her green phase; these days it’s pink. How does color affect you? Are there certain colors that you like to have in your home and/or wardrobe? If so, what do you love about them?

I'm not as passionate about color as you might think. I tend to like warm colors and colors that are in the same tonal range.  I hate combining light colors with dark colors or medium colors with light or dark. I'm kind of strange that way. It might be a generational thing. I find my mom loves dark and light together and so does Bug. Just not me.  I do have some basics I love though. Red, of course.  It's just my power color. Not that I think of myself as a power-monger but I find strength and beauty in it. It's happy and warm.  I also love orange and pink but those are just more moderate forms of red in my opinion.  There are certain things I do really like in my home and wardrobe though.  I like neutrals and black and white or navy blue and white stripes.  The neutrals I think are space holders for me. I need space and quiet and peace in between the big pops of color in my life.  Black and white or navy blue and white stripes are just a Paris thing. I'd have a dozen black and white striped shirts if I could!

4.  You’re a graphic illustrator. Was drawing a part of your young life? When did you know you wanted to pursue illustration and design as a career path?

I always drew. My family always tells stories of me turning over my placemat at restaurants and doodling all over them. I've always drawn stories and put together newspapers for my family as long as I can remember. My Grandpa paid for me to have oil painting lessons when I was six from a friend of his who needed some extra money. I learned a lot of basics at a very young age that has really helped me all my life.

I always wanted to be an artist or a book writer when I was young.  But when I got serious about a career, I put art on the back burner. I thought there wasn't any money in art. So I majored in journalism in college because I liked to write (and my grandmother majored in it as well, it seemed like the romantic thing to do at the time). Of course that led to working on school newspapers and magazines and I picked up my computer layout skills there.  Journalism never really worked out for me but graphic design did.  I worked as a graphic designer for years and then in the last seven years or so have wedged my way into the illustration field. It's taken me a long time to take myself serious as an illustrator so maybe that's why I call myself a graphic illustrator. I do a lot of graphic design with illustrations thrown in.

5.  As a single mom who’s a freelancer—and someone who readily admits to keeping odd sleep hours—how do you manage to juggle work, play and down time?

By drinking coffee!  Just kidding. I try to work solidly from 9am to 3pm with a break for lunch with Bug. After 3pm I run errands and do household things. Of course Bug is with me a lot of the time while I'm working so I can't say I'm always working when I'm supposed to be working. I try though. Bug is in preschool two days a week which gives me some good solid work time on Tuesday and Thursdays but the rest of the time she sits next to me at her little desk doing her own "work" or she is off playing in the house or in our great big backyard.  She often will spend time with my Mom who lives next door. They garden together and once a week take a shopping trip and go out to lunch at McDonald's.  I go to bed early (8pm!!) but I often wake up around midnight and do more work.  I usually stay up from midnight to 3 or 4 in the morning and then crash from 4am until 6am.  It's strange but it works for me!  Every Friday we go into Orange County so Bug can visit her Dad. While she's with him I usually meet up with friends. So that's where I fit in my playtime. And of course work for me is playing so I don't think I really have to juggle that hard to fit in playtime.  :)

6. One of the things that makes your blog so fun to read is all of the projects you create to do with your daughter. What have been some of Bug’s recent favorite projects?

She's getting the hang of scissors these days so her favorite thing is probably cutting out hearts. I'm constantly picking up bits of paper all over the place.  Thankfully, she doesn't mind cutting up recycled paper. Otherwise I'd fear for the trees!  She loves all the craft projects I do with her. She loved the noodle monster project we did for Alpha+Mom. In fact I often struggle with her over when we can throw out projects we've made. I think she'd like to keep every craft doodad we ever made forever.  It's sort of a battle between us. I do love the collaborations we do though. She makes me a better artist.

7. You recently relocated to a mobile home in your hometown near your family. It’s been fun to read how you’re redecorating it in your own wonderful style. I know you love a good thrift store as much as I do. Can you share a few of your favorite thrifting tips?  

I'm always looking for anything that remotely reminds me of the 60's or 70's. If it looks like something out of Mad Men or something that my parents might have liked when they were hippies then I'd probably like it.  I also look for old paintings too, real oil paintings (not prints) are the best. I don't like cliché paintings of boats or somebody's high school art project but a portrait from the 60's is like gold.  Pottery is probably next on my list of things to look for. It's like a treasure hunt to find something that might be valuable. If it's stamped with USA or McCoy on the bottom, I seriously consider snagging it but of course I look for form and color first. If something is pretty to me then it really doesn't matter to me if anybody else thinks it's valuable.  I guess I just use my imagination. If I can imagine something looking cool in a magazine spread then it's probably something I'd probably buy. I'm always creating stories and vignettes in my mind about where something might have come from.  Would James Bond use this? Maybe Audrey Hepburn or Amelie!

8. Part of your relocation has been a change of landscape. You previously lived in a beach town; now you’re inland. What do you love about your new locale and how have you incorporated some of your previous beach life into your new setting?

Since I grew up in the desert there has always been a part of me that loves it out here. The big skies, the mountain views, the cactus that perseveres in any kind of weather... It can be desolate but it's also quite pretty. Also, there are things out here that I didn't have at the beach like a big backyard. I love my backyard. I think that really helps me from getting homesick. I can't take long walks on the beach anymore but I can garden and play with my daughter and dog in my very own space.

The second part of your question is hard for me to answer! The town I live in is actually very poor and depressed and it can be a real downer to see so many people who can't catch a break. I think one of the traps I see here that bothers me the most is how easy it is to mindlessly shuffle between the big box stores and fast food chains. That's all there really is out here. People don't have time or money to live well.  We don't have gourmet sandwich shops that offer healthy vegetarian options or boutique clothing stores selling handmade organic items. It's pretty much Wal-Mart and Target.  I think living at the beach sort of made a diva out of me. I want better things. I like to cook home meals that are better for me. I like to exercise and take care of myself.  I'm not saying that all people out here are slobs. That's not true at all. But it is definitely a lot easier to be healthier at the beach where the community is more upwardly mobile and people have more leisure time for these things.  So I guess I can say I've brought my healthy beach habits with me.

9. You’ve had to deal with creative theft online—with others taking your content and publishing it on their own sites. It’s an uncomfortable situation that we often don’t like to discuss, but I suspect it happens more often than we think. How have you addressed it when it’s happened to you? What safeguards do you take to try to block future thefts?

There's not much you can do. Especially when the theft is happening by websites set up in China. I don't have the time or money it takes to hire a lawyer to track them all down.  If I see overly blatant stealing I contact the offender and ask them to take it down or link me. Most do.  Most people don't know better so I try to kindly educate them.  I've watermarked my photographs mostly so I can prove they are mine if one ever gets lifted. It won't stop people of course but it slows them down.  I know there are programs you can set up on your website to stop right clicking but people take screen shots so it's sort of a hopeless battle. I think my best revenge is knowing that I have a thousand more images in my head that I can create on a whim while they will always have to copy me.  

10. I love the idea of creative bartering—helping each other with creative projects by swapping skills. You often write of you and your family members helping each other in this way. If you could put out a wish for creative bartering right now, what would you wish for?

 I love to trade graphics for website coding.  I don't code but I get asked to design websites all the time. So often I'll design a website in Illustrator and then hand it off to a friend who does know how to code.  I'll trade anything though.  Less taxes!

11. What adventures might readers see in the lives of Secret Agent Josephine and Bug in 2011?

I'm dreaming of travel. I'd like to go to a trade show in New York and possibly a road trip to Northern California to visit my family. I don't know if that will happen because funds are tight but I'm dreaming. I'm also thinking of making marmalade and of course lots of crafts. I've got an idea of making my own book light brewing in my head right now. I've never played around with electrical wiring before, that could be a real adventure.  Bug also starts kindergarten this September so I'm sure that will bring a slew of adventures into our lives too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a nod to Brenda's mom, Susan McConnaughy, in #6, I couldn't end this interview without mentioning her equally creative dad, Tom McConnaughy. Tom the Trucker has been my online pal for years. He's an avid knitter who's been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Tom specializes in slippers. He's making me a pair with black and orange stripes--San Francisco Giants colors--which I plan to wear as good luck charms during baseball season.  ;) You can check out Tom the Trucker's Etsy shop here. "Honk if you knit!"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and finally, a word from Bug:

 

All photos copyright Brenda Ponney. Used with permission.

Blog:  Secret Agent Josephine

Portfolio

Flickr:  Secret Agent Josephine

Twitter:  @secretagentjo

Facebook:  Secret Agent Josephine

Leah Piken Kolidas

Leah Piken Kolidas is a mixed-media artist who has been at the forefront of the creativity movement in the blogsophere for many years. She’s the creator of the popular Creative Every Day year-long challenge and Art Every Day Month challenge each November. Leah has a knack for leading creativity groups in a way that feels inclusive and gentle. A visit to her blog is nothing short of inspirational, whether she’s explaining the process she used to make one of her own pieces or inspiring you to create your own. She lives near Boston with her husband and four kitties. Leah is my oldest blogging friend and I’m thrilled to feature her here.

1. Leah, this is a very exciting year for you—you and your husband are expecting your first child. Congratulations! When are you due?

Thank you, Marilyn! We're so excited. Our baby girl is due May 10th, 2011.  

2. You’re continuing to lead the 2011 Creative Every Day challenge, you seemingly didn’t miss a beat during Art Every Day Month and you consistently create your own wonderful art. How have you managed keep up through your pregnancy?

During the first few months, I was taking it a lot more slowly and just doing what I could, without any guilt about it. I'm sure I'll have to do more of that in the first few months after the baby arrives!

I feel very fortunate that Art Every Day Month happened at the beginning of my second trimester, when I was just getting my energy back. It would have been a lot harder to manage during those first few months when I was feeling so sick and exhausted. I'm trying to take advantage of this time, when I'm feeling great! 

3. You’ve always seemed to me to be a sensitive and intuitive person. Has your muse brought different images or previously-unexplored ideas to you during your pregnancy? 

I can't help but create about what's going on with me, so being pregnant has definitely affected my art. Some folks noticed during Art Every Day Month that my color palette was different. I noticed the more curvy, motherly feel to my work. Making art now feels like a dialogue with my body and my baby, so it's a lot of fun to witness, as I create intuitively. 

4. Trees are a recurring motif in your art. (I love your trees, by the way.) Why do you think you’re so drawn to them? How do they speak to you?

I attribute my love of trees to growing up on the edge of a State Forest. I spent loads of times amongst the trees with my siblings, friends, and by myself. I see trees as living beings and I'm in awe of their beauty and strength. 

In high school, I started exploring my sense of spirituality and trees became a symbol for me of the life-death-rebirth cycle, a symbol of infinity. I remember I made a huge infinity symbol out of paper leaves in my senior year. 

As I've gotten older, trees continue to mean different things to me. I love the way the roots mirror the branches above, a symbol of the internal and external. There's something feminine and motherly about the curves of a tree that I'm drawn to. And I'm also interested in the way the branches of trees relate to structures in the body. Overall, I see trees as a symbol of life and I adore painting and drawing them. 

5. Several years ago you led an online group through the lessons in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Are there any lessons or exercises from that book that continue to weave through your life today?

That was such a powerful book for me. There are lots of lessons from it that continue to come up. 

One of the simple, yet profound lessons I gained from that book was the idea that treating yourself well can impact your feeling of self-worth, which can then lead to further blossoming of your creativity. Taking good care of yourself also includes having compassion, trusting your inner urges, and taking action on your ideas. While I may not agree with everything Cameron says, there's so much juicy stuff in that book if you dive into it.  

6. You and I share something in common: we’re both introverts. As someone with such a public profile in the creative community, how do you practice self-care when you need to turn inward to recharge?

Hooray for introverts! 

I need a lot of time to recharge. Having a blog has been really wonderful in helping me feed my need for connection, while also allowing me to retreat when I need to. I tend to plan when I'm going to post, but I also cut myself some slack if I'm needing to stay offline for a day or two to simply read, be outside, or paint, without any personal interaction. I know that I can step away and dive back in when I'm ready without anything imploding. 

7. At what age did you know that art would be a vital part of your life? What kind of art did you enjoy making as a young person?

I'd say I was fairly young when I knew this deep down. My mom kept drawings I made when two years old, so I've been making art as long as I can remember. I knew for certain that art would be a vital part of my life by the time I hit high school.  

As a young person, I used to enjoy writing little stories or comics and illustrating them. I liked to draw people and cats. And I also remember enjoying making illustrated workbooks for playing school with my siblings and neighbors. Most of my artwork was drawing-based when I was young. I didn't start playing with paint until high school. 

8. Which mediums do you enjoy working with these days?  Have you had to make any adjustments in terms of the materials you use to ensure a safe pregnancy?

Right now, I love playing with collage, acrylic paint, and inks, in various forms. 

I've always been sensitive to smells, so I stopped using oil paints after college. And as much as I've loved learning how to use encaustics in the last few years, the smells from that get to me too, even in a well-ventilated area, so I don't use them anymore either. The materials I use now are safe for use during pregnancy, but I'm more careful about getting paint on my skin and I wear gloves if I know I'm going to get messy. 

9. Your creativity challenges are known for being inclusive, low-pressure communities. How did you arrive at that style as a leader? Did you have a good or bad experience along the way that convinced you that a gentle approach could lead to more art being made by a wider group of people?

I think it's partly just my personality. I'm not a boot camp instructor type and I don't like working with that type of leader. I have had experiences, both good and bad, that led me to the approach I take with my creativity challenges and I can think of a couple examples from college: 

I had a drawing teacher who really pushed me to challenge myself, but she also had a gentle, encouraging way about her that allowed me to feel brave enough to experiment and blossom as an artist. She gave this one assignment to do twenty 18"x24" drawings of one object in a week. At the beginning of the assignment, I was drawing these more controlled, bland images of my object (a pair of scissors), but by the 10th drawing, I was getting really wild. I absolutely loved that series of drawings and I learned a great lesson in the process about letting go. The environment the teacher provided gave me permission to play openly and learn this lesson for myself. 

I had another teacher that had a very different outlook. She was talented, but she was also very opinionated and critical. She felt things had to be a certain way or they were no good. End of story. I didn't like the way she spoke to me or to other students. Creating for her class, I felt stiff and constricted. Nothing felt good enough, so I didn't feel able to open up and create freely. I didn't like the work I was creating and soon I found I didn't want to create at all. 

Through different experiences like these, I found that for me, the best approach is a gentle, encouraging one. I want the creativity challenges I run to have that feel. I think a challenge helps motivate and inspire, but it also needs to be open enough that people feel there's room to make their own rules and grow in ways they didn't know were possible. 

I also believe that everyone is creative, but for a variety of reasons, many haven't felt free enough to create, therefore, I try to make the challenges as inclusive as possible, open to a wide range of styles, mediums, and abilities. I really love seeing the way people blossom when given the smallest amount of encouragement and permission, so I do my best to create that kind of environment for others. 

10. I have no doubt that your child will grow up with a deep love of art-making. What’s one thing we can do with and for children to help them feel safe to create art?

Children have a great way of being free with their art and only seem to shut down when they get discouraged by others. I think it's important to encourage children to create as they please, to play, and to go with their instincts. 

Here's an example of an exercise I use to loosen up sometimes. I've done it with children and the art they create from it is so imaginative and inspiring! 

You'll need a piece of paper, a drawing tool (pen, pencil, crayon) and some music. Put the music on, ask the child to put pen to paper, and then have them close their eyes. Tell them to draw with the music while keeping their eyes closed. You can do this for about 30 seconds or for the full song. Then have them open their eyes and look to see if they see anything in the scribbles (a face, an animal, a house, a flower, etc.) They can then spend time bringing out what they see in the drawing. It's amazing what children will see in the scribbles. 

Thank you to Leah for a creative and inspiring interview!

Leah Piken Kolidas is a mixed-media artist and creativity guide, living with her husband, their four meows, and their baby on the way, near Boston, Massachusetts. She has a love of silly socks, hot chocolate, laughing loudly, and the turquoise shoes. Leah sells her artwork at BlueArtGallery.com and blogs and runs creative challenges at CreativeEveryDay.com. 

Website:  Blue Tree Art Gallery

Creative Challenges:  Creative Every Day

Etsy:  Blue Tree Art Gallery

Twitter:  @leah_art

Facebook:  Leah Piken Kolidas

Art Every Day Month (November)

Shelagh Duffett

Artist and photographer Shelagh Duffett is brimming with creativity. She paints delightful folk art,  shoots gorgeous photographs and even creates her own recipes. Shelagh resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is mother to an almost 21 year-old daughter and guardian of a plump grey tabby named Monty. I’m so very pleased to feature her here and hope you enjoy our conversation about some of her creative endeavors.  

1.  Shelagh, when did you decide you wanted to make your living as an artist?

When I was little, my dad got the idea of using white shelving paper (which came in long rolls) for me to draw on and as a result, the most amazing murals were duly created by tiny me, landscapes which morphed into seascapes, into fairy lands into random scribblings into outer space...all manner of things. I still have one of those rolls and it amazes me when I look at it! Very inspiring. Tells me that I was always creative.

My first "real" job was as a film editor for television news and that evolved into camerawork and producing, directing, etc. for various networks and private companies. So I guess images have always been a huge component of my working life. The painting came purely by accident.

In 1999 we had an old Huckleberry Hound lunch box that I did not want. I'd heard that they were quite collectible so decided I would sell it. Our local flea market was not an option and I had heard about eBay and wanted to give it a whirl. At that time, there was only "eBay," no eBay.CA or UK or whatever, it was in its infancy. Well...the lunch box sold for $125. Hooray! I immediately scoured the house for teacups and interesting bits I could sell. In the meantime, I had been given a box of acrylic paints for my birthday and for fun had painted a quirky folky fish. One day, I was looking at it and thought, "Hmmm, eBay has an art section..." I listed it, and it sold to a person in California! I was delighted and then felt guilty that maybe the buyer thought I was a "real" Nova Scotia folk artist. I immediately painted another to assuage my guilt and that sold to someone in Toronto, the next painting went to Vancouver and the rest is history! I've been doing it ever since. It enabled me to stay home with my daughter as she grew up.

2.  Has your creative path taken any surprising turns that you didn’t anticipate when you began your artistic journey?

My art has definitely improved since I started. The old answer is true, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice." I think the surprising thing to me is that I am still doing it. My art is all over the world now and I have to admit that gives me a thrill.

3.  Your folk art paintings are colorful, vibrant and fun. Do you have a painting schedule you like to keep, or do you wait for the muse to strike?

I used to paint almost every day whether I wanted to or not. It was my "job" and I had to paint to earn money. The more I painted, the easier the ideas came and the process of sitting at my art table became part of my daily routine. Now that I sell prints of my work, the pressure has eased a bit and I am not painting as much as I used to. I'm also busier with blogging and market selling and doing work for other venues. I hope to get back at it in a more regular way this month.

4.  Have photography and painting always coexisted in your creative life or did you come to photography later?

Photography came first. My dad had a camera and used to develop his own pictures when he was younger. I was fascinated by the process. I bought my first camera when in my late teens and have been taking pictures ever since. I actually prefer photography over painting. I think it is the immediacy and simplicity that appeals. You compose with your eye and then just click the shutter. Painting is much harder, more time and skill involved. A bigger investment of yourself.

5.  How does photography complement your painting and/or vice versa?

I think that they are both about composition, colour and light. The way the eye travels around the image. The feeling I want to evoke. They are similar. I like graphic simple images with lovely light. 

6.  You’ve sold some of your photographs via stock photography sites. Can you share an example of how one of your photos was adapted that particularly delighted you?

Gosh, I have only come across a few examples and quite by accident. In microstock photography, once your image is sold the purchaser can do what they want within the guidelines of the license. One usage that pleased me was randomly coming across one of my pictures of junk food on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution site ("Facts and Figures" at the bottom). It was there as an example of what not to eat but exciting nonetheless. That picture was also used in a biology textbook in Hong Kong.  An image of the Eiffel Tower was used in the Philadelphia International Flower Show's poster. One of my most popular photographs of a pair of red shoes has been used by an Italian advertising agency in their logo. That one was seen by someone else and reported to me. Really, it is rare to come across one's own microstock images in use.

7.  You write a wonderful blog, Alice in Paris Loves Art and Tea, which came in 2nd in the People’s Choice award in the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards. As a successful artist, why is blogging important to you?

Thanks, Marilyn! Blogging is important to me because it is another creative outlet. It also helps me to spread the word about my art (marketing) and things that are important to me (championing). For example, in 2009 I read the book Three Cups of Tea and was very moved by the work done by Greg Mortensen. I decided to take action and with the help of my blog readers we raised over $1000 for his foundation. I also love the friendships I have made and the ideas I discover through blogging. I find it quite inspirational at times.

8.  The recipes you post on your blog look positively scrumptious, yet seem easy enough that even a non-cook like me could make them. You’ve even authored a cookbook, Nova Scotia Potluck. What local dish do you recommend that visitors try?

Gee, that's a tough one. I suppose fish chowder or fresh fish and chips would be what I'd recommend to any visitor coming to Nova Scotia. Depending on the season, maybe blueberry pie or lobster. We've got some great restaurants here and fabulous cooks so one would never have to worry about not eating well.

 9.  You’ve lived in Halifax most of your life and seem to have a genuine love affair with the city, as evidenced by your beautiful photographs of it. How do you maintain a fresh eye behind the camera when you’re shooting your hometown?

Really, Halifax is an easy city to take pictures of. It is beautiful. I have my camera with me most of the time and I never know when a picture will hit me on the head and say take me! Depends on light and place. One of those weird things, images jump out at me unexpectedly.

10. Recently you’ve sold your artwork at Halifax Seaport Market. What have you enjoyed about the farmers market experience?

The Halifax Seaport Market is a wonderful ecologically constructed building right on the harbour and it is filled with light. I have only just started selling there and so far I am enjoying it. I think the location makes a difference; I don't think I could be selling if I was in a dark enclosed space. One thing have to say about the experience is that it is quite different to be talking to customers face to face rather then via an internet connection. Much nicer really. I have enjoyed the people buying and those just chatting and the vendors as well. Working from home is a bit isolating. The internet helps with that but nothing can compare to real humans.

11. I always love to see your beautiful travel photography. Is there one destination you’d like to visit in 2011? What do you envision photographing once you’re there? 

Marilyn, I have no plans for this year, yet...but I would LOVE to walk the Camino de Compostela de Santiago...have wanted to do it for YEARS. Something about a long meandering walk meeting people from all areas of life and different countries, seeing Spain and living simply for a few weeks really appeals to me. Having just said that, New York appeals too.  :)

Thank you to Shelagh for such a delightful interview!

Congratulations to Mari, our random commenter winner, who will receive a free registration in Shelagh's photography e-course, Sensational Snap Society. Thank you to all of the commenters! And thank you, Shelagh!

Blog:  Alice in Paris Loves Art and Tea

Photography e-course:  Sensational Snap Society

Paintings:  Alice in Paris at Etsy

Photography:  Broomhill Pictures at Etsy

Facebook:  Shelagh Duffett

Twitter:  @AliceinParis