Overwhelmed

Hi all, just a quick post tonight, more later this week.  I'm still gathering my thoughts and working on my projects from CREATE this past weekend.  I had an absolute blast in Michelle's workshops, but I still can't begin to put it all into words, and I need to take better pictures and get them onto my computer, so I don't have much to post yet.  I'm also gearing up for a new job, so I'm swamped at work with tying up loose ends and transferring projects and stuff.  But I did want to put up a quick post acknowledging that Diana Taylor at Velvet Moth Studios has kindly nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award!  Thank you Diana!  I didn't even know what it was, but here it is:

Now there are rules, it's kind of like one of those things on Facebook where someone says "post one word about how we met and then repost this on your wall" except that this time I'm actually going to play along.  But I'm bending the rules.  Here they are:

1. Thank the person who nominated me and leave a link to their blog. {check!}

2. Include the award image in this post. {check!}

3. Give 7 random facts about myself. {oh boy...}

4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and leave a link to their site. {I don't even keep up with 15 bloggers regularly - link list notwithstanding}

5. Let the other bloggers know they've been nominated. {okay!}

So here goes... seven facts about the Carrie...

1. I hate spiders.  They are terrifying and evil and scary and I hate them.  99% of nightmares I have involve spiders.  And they keep insisting on taking over my herb pots. 

2. I've lately discovered a fondness for tending plants.  I won't go overboard and say "gardening" because I don't have a garden, I have a few pots.  But I like taking care of them.

3. Speaking of plants, I love lavender.

4. I also love tea.

5. Yes, I associate lavender with tea.  Also with other edible things, like scones and ice cream (I swear I'm making lavender ice cream before the summer is out.)

6. Speaking of tea, I can't drink coffee. 

7. I struggle with depression and anxiety, both of which come and go and neither of which are pleasant but generally I get through.  Art helps.  So does dancing.  And to be honest, so does a daily dose of SAM-e. 

Moving on to the blogs that most inspire and impress me, in alphabetical order so as not to imply any particular rank:

Michelle Ward:  http://michelleward.typepad.com/michelleward/ (my hero ;))

Nathalie Kalbach:  http://nathaliesstudio.com/ (just met her this weekend, and already I love her blog!)

RunningWave:  http://runningwave.blogspot.com/ (a good friend of mine from work, and a very cool collage artist)

Soul Aperture:  http://soulaperture.blogspot.com/ (found through Crescendoh - I just love her photos, they're so calming and beautiful.)

Velvet Moth Studio:   http://velvetmothstudio.blogspot.com/ (is it cheating to nominate the person who nominated me? I don't care, I love her soft and elegant pieces, and her eye for color)

Zingala's Workshop:  http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com/ (my mom! she's the source of my crazy creative gene, and my art ADD, and she's currently making fantastic jewelry)

If I nominated you, don't feel pressured to play along.  Just know that I check in on your blog every day and think you're pretty freakin' cool!