The Most Recent Recipient of the Rose Medallion

I haven't posted much this week and one of the main reasons is the creative inspiration that I have received from Gretel Parker at Middle of Nowhere whose recent post On Being A Creative Butterfly has jumpstarted and motivated me into the artistic mindset that I've needed to get back into for quite some time now. So I thought it was only fitting that Gretel be the new recipient of the Rose Medallion so that I could honor her by sharing her blog with the rest of you.

The "Rose Medallion" is given by us to blogs that we find to be of exceptional merit in design and content. The blogs given this honor are those that we have found particular enjoyment, inspiration, and/or insight(s) in reading--blogs that have exhibited a passion for living.

Gretel is an amazingly talented artist in illustration, graphic and printing arts, and three-dimensional works of art using the exquisite art of felting. Her whimsical artwork has a moving quality that touches me deeply, as it not only resonates for me as an admirer of her work but goes the extra step of striking creative chords inside me so that I feel moved to begin creating my own artwork. Don't ask me why this is so, it just is. It is because of Gretel that this week I've been able to begin painting again after a hiatus (or "brick wall") that has lasted since since last fall. Thank you, Gretel!

Now, this "creative butterfly" needs to finish post so I can be off to the art store to buy another tube of watercolor I don't have.

The Most Recent Recipient of the Rose Medallion

The "Rose Medallion" is given by us at Rosehaven Cottage to blogs that we find to be of exceptional merit in design and content. The blogs given this honor are those that we have found particular enjoyment, inspiration, and/or insight(s) in reading--blogs that have exhibited a passion for living.

This week we are honoring Jodi DeLong at bloomingwriter. Jodi is a freelance writer that has brought her passion for gardening and sprinkled its seeds in blog form so anyone in the world can visit and be enriched by her wealth of garden knowledge, her passion for gardening and the written word, and her infectious personality that simply glows through her blog. We have subscribed to her blog so we don't miss one post! We recommend that you do the same.

The Most Recent Recipient of our Rose Medallion for Excellence Award

We are pleased to award another Rose Medallion for Excellence. This time the award goes to Kari and Kijsa and their blog Ask Kari and Kijsa.

For those that love beauty, a visit to Kari and Kijsa's blog will be a treat beyond description. The two sisters have created a gem of a blog with a gorgeous layout, aesthetic, and look. It is so appealing to Cindy's fellow designer's eye that she often likes to go and just look at it like a favorite book. But great design can't stand on its own without soul and heart--which their blog just exudes. We cannot even find the words to describe it adequately. Go visit their blog and you'll see what we mean!

The Most Recent Recipient of the Rose Medallion

The "Rose Medallion" is given by us at Rosehaven Cottage to blogs that we find to be of exceptional merit in design and content. The blogs given this honor are those that we have found particular enjoyment, inspiration, and/or insight(s) in reading--blogs that have exhibited a passion for living.

This week we are honoring Catherine Holman at Catherine Holman Folk Art. This seemingly undiscovered gem of a blog is a real treat to peruse. Catherine is an amazingly talented folk artist, and she showcases her folk art, her home, as well as her faux painting techniques at her blog. We have particularly enjoyed her recent Christmas Home Tour series this past week wherein she shares photographs of her lovely home as it is decorated for the Christmas holiday. The beautiful photos have gotten us into the holiday spirit (we needed some extra help this year) and have given us so many wonderful ideas for our own home.

Take the time to go visit Catherine's blog. You will NOT regret it!

It's "Rose Medallion" Monday

The "Rose Medallion" is given by us at Rosehaven Cottage to blogs that we find to be of exceptional merit in design and content. The blogs given this honor are those that we have found particular enjoyment, inspiration, and/or insight(s) in reading--blogs that have exhibited a passion for living. We hope that the "Rose Medallion" recipients this week will be pleased to display it on their blogs.

We are honoring the following blogs this week:

Peripheral Vision--Inner Sights by Lynda Lehmann
Lynda is a multi-faceted artist whose work (which she features on her blog) offers a vibrancy as well a sense of inner strength and serenity. Take time and browse. You'll be glad you did! We guarantee you'll walk away with some inspiration to create something. We did!

Miss Peach's Meowz
Featuring the adorable and lovable kitty cat Miss Peach, this blog is a must-read for us on a daily basis. The photography and art (not all "kitty related) is a true joy to view. Many times there is a gem of poetry that makes us come away with a lightness of heart that only really lovely writing can induce.

Greenie Gardens
This blog is a real favorite of ours simply because of the passion for gardening that is expressed there. The photographs are lovely, regardless of whether one has a green thumb or a brown one. Covering quilting, cats, roses, and life in general, this blog is a wonderful example of what living life with passion encompasses.

The Rosehaven Cottage "Rose Medallion" for Excellence

We, at Rosehaven Cottage, are pleased to announce the introduction of a new award exclusively from Rosehaven Cottage--The Rosehaven Cottage "Rose Medallion" for Excellence.

The "Rose Medallion" will be given by Rosehaven Cottage to blogs that we find to be of exceptional merit in design and content. The blogs given this honor will be those that we have found particular enjoyment, inspiration, and/or insight(s) in reading--blogs that have exhibited a passion for living. We hope as the "Rose Medallion" is awarded, that the recipients of this honor will be pleased to display it on their blogs.

The first recipient to accept this award is Daisy the Curly Cat whose whimsical blog has brought us such enjoyment and laughter we cannot begin to put it into words. Her Sunday Comics are wonderful gems that make us giggle (sometimes full on hysterical laughter like when Daisy drove a car). If you have not discovered Daisy, please visit her blog and enter the world of a wonderful little cat with great fashion sense.

The second recipient to accept this award is Holly at 2 Kids and Tired. Holly is a very talented writer that is raising two darling boys in the way that boys should be raised -- with lots of love! She writes about life and her blog is inspirational and thought-provoking. Her occasional blogs entitled "Conversation At Our House" featuring conversational exchanges with her boys always bring a smile to my face.

The third recipient to accept this award is Kylee at Our Little Acre. Like I imagine her gardens to be, Kylee's loving approach to blogging is infectious with its enthusiasm for gardening, creativity, and life. As I have written about her before, "Kylee is a wonderful writer, photographer, and gardener that has captured so much in her endearing blog that I wait with great anticipation for each new installment to brighten my day and inspire me". This is what Kylee says about her own blog:

"These are the adventures of a rural Ohio gardener (me) and a camera that
seems to be stuck in macro mode much of the time. I share what I know and what I'm learning about plants, flowers, butterflies, insects, and birds, and because
my life only consists of 95% gardening, the rest of me is thrown in from time to
time." [See what I mean?]