I'm A Versatile Blogger

You know when you tell yourself that awards, like visible panty lines and really bad perms, only ever happen to 'other people'? Yeah, right. Imagine my surprise last week when Roz dropped me a line to tell me that she had given me The Versatile Blogger award at her online digs!  Very fab, no? Now about that VPL and perm...

• Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award: thank you Roz! Rock on, with or without boots!

• Share seven things about yourself... 

1- I am very accomplished in the kitchen, especially insofar as cakes and chocolate are concerned.

One of my latest creations. 

2- I love animals. They are a never-ending source of joy and worry.

 My darling dog William at bath-time, taken yesterday.

3- I adore autumn-winter. As I struggle through the heat wave that currently afflicts my parts of England, I torture myself by leafing through images of Chicago, which I last visited in January 2008. It was a brisk -25C, the sky was the deepest cobalt blue I had ever seen and the pound was worth twice against the dollar. I returned with armfuls of Marc Jacobs from the Nieman Marcus sale and now I wish I had the DeLorean so that I could zip back by the lake covered in lumps of ice as big as me, and down the Magnificent Mile with a spanking new AmEx.

 Chicago in winter 2008. Super-mega-massive bliss.

4- I'm a vampire expert which is really no surprise as my PhD is mostly about Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. I have a signed pic of Tom and Brad in Interview with the Vampire which is odd and amusing because I cannot stand either of them. Tom was ok, but has now gone Scieno-wacko, and Brad has become so painful to look at that I wish he reached for some Botox and a Mach 3.

Good-looking guys in better days.

5- When I was very small, I thought I would become a Marvel artist. I loved to sketch and draw and always used to storyboard the plots that I would then get my Barbies to enact. My favourite character is Spider-man.

My Marvel hero. 

6- I have lots and lots and lots of shoes.

Choosing what to wear. 

7- I once appeared in British Vogue, having been snapped up in the streets at London Fashion Week. Obviously, that happened when I was thin.

In the pink (hat). In Vogue in 2004. 

• Give the award to 15 blogs you've recently discovered. They are all versatile because they talk of writing, creating, teaching, renovating, photography, autism, painting, studying, gardening and cooking. In no particular order, do pay a visit to:

Artist Amelia Critchlow

Artist Brambly Thicket

Artist Linda Dacey

Artist Ange

Artist Nats

Bona-fide-author-in-waiting Phil Moore

Photographer Galia Alena

Photographer Katarina Kri

Writer Sarah Salway

Writer Caroline Smailes

Writer Nik Perring

Writer Leah Raeder

Writer Valerie O'Riordan

Writer Tia Brink

Writer and gardener Laetitia Maklouf

Comments

[Amelia]

Hi Stephanella,

thank you for this. I am soooo very rubbish at doing the blog award whatsit thingy! I have had a few which I've never done anything with . . . . . maybe I should start. But first, let me say thank you for the award, it's nice to know you think I am a versatile blogger. It's really interesting to hear what you like too, it gives a picture of the you behind the wonderful and outstanding writing . . . . :)

Amelia.x

[Brambly Thicket]

What a delightful surprise on a Monday. Thank you so much. I have never gotten a bloggy award before. I will go home to my blog now and do my best to muster up 7 things and pass on the award to others--after I follow all of your links and check out these other versatile bloggers you've listed, of course.

Thanks again!

[Leah Raeder]

Steph, thanks so much for the honor!

I can't believe you speak fondly of winter in Chicago, though. Clearly there is something wrong with you. But I guess you'd roll your eyes at me if I rhapsodized about a rain-softened English lea, right? :P

[Nats]

Hi Steph.
What a cool surprise. Thanks! I'm glad that you enjoy visiting my little online home. I'm discovering some interesting gems amongst your other choices.
And yes, I agree with Leah regarding your fondness of icy temperatures ;) x

[dirtywhitecandy]

Steph, I hardly know where to start. Your pic in Vogue has to be the coolest thing this side of a shopping trip in icebound Chicago. And those shoes... My favourites are the nude-coloured slingbacks on the far right. And the paws.
And... I also used to draw comics for my Barbies to enact! So not only have you and I been corresponding this week about the coincidence of you knowing the place I grew up, it seems you also had one of my childhood habits!
So glad I nominated you for this - it's been a pleasure getting to know you better. R x

[Phil]

Love the pic of William's paws in with the shoes!! Classic!!

Thank you for nominating me you gorgeous thing! xx

[Katarina]

Thanks very much Steph. It's been great to see something new about you again. I'll do mine soon :)
x

[Sarah Salway]

Just look at the cake. And those shoes! And my award... Thanks x