Saturday Spotlight: Jeanie from The Marmelade Gypsy

Hi, everyone!   Kris from Junk Chic Cottage and I wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Kris's and my blog. 

      

Today my guest is Jeanie from The Marmelade Gypsy.  I love Jeanie's zest for life and how it comes through on her blog, whether she's showing one of her creations, or giving a tour of someplace wonderful she's visited!  Also, we share a love of cats! :)

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy getting to know Jeanie better!

I am so delighted that Susan invited me to join her at Must Love Junk this Saturday. I've been following her blog for sometime now and have delighted in learning about new bloggers through her Saturday spotlights.



I blog at The Marmelade Gypsy and have been doing so for almost six years. Until I retired last fall, I had worked for East Lansing Michigan's public television and radio stations. One day during Christmas break (we are located on the campus of Michigan State University) one of our colleagues suggested a blogging workshop in the computer labs. Since we were launching into a more aggressive social media presence at work and doing that fell into my public relations position, I figured it would be smart to learn. Besides, I'd already been following a few of my online art group member's blogs. I really was curious about having my own.

What started with the intention of being an art blog -- a spot to share my own creativity, art and photography with other mixed media artists -- turned into a combination of art, travel, food, family, books and creativity. I suppose that shouldn't surprise me -- a lot of us mixed-media types tend to live our lives that way, too. We can't limit ourselves to just one thing -- we like to sample it all.

I wonder what my partner Rick, or his kids, thought the first time they saw themselves up there -- splashy pictures, stories recounting good times and challenging ones! They never told me to stop and the posts kept coming (and would I have stopped? I'm not sure!).

 

My blog readers have taken them to heart, delighting in Rick's bike rides or bread-making adventures, celebrating Kevin's wedding and checking out the art of the truly talented Greg.

There are other recurring characters and places at The Marmelade Gypsy. The blog was named after my sweet orange boy-cat, Gypsy Rose (I thought he was a girl when I named him). Gypsy had his own fan club and when his time came to move "up to the heavyside layer," as they sing in "Cats," blog friends helped me get through one of my greatest emotional challenges.

But they were openhearted and enthusiastic when they welcomed Lizzie Cosette. I adopted her after a friend found her with kittens in an abandoned garage. Now and then there is a Lizzie photo and the cat fans let me know they like it!

Marmelade Gypsy visitors will periodically sit in on wine tastings with the Cork Poppers, our wine and dinner group. I'll share the wines we enjoyed, the prices and some of the "reviews" from the crowd. We do know how to have a good time!

Many of the Cork Popper posts will have a decorating or food element and that's something that will pop up on The Marmelade Gypsy now and then. Home is important to me and whether it is a holiday, a new recipe or find, a favorite garden or a celebration, there's generally something to share! I do love a good celebration!

Travel figures into The Marmelade Gypsy as often as possible! Some of my favorite posts have been about Paris (or, as Audrey Hepburn said in "Sabrina," "Paris is always a good idea!"), Amsterdam, the Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts, New Harmony, Indiana or spots closer to home, including Otsego Lake (where I spend much of the summer) and other spots in Michigan.

You might find a book review (especially since I've been a bit lazy keeping up my second blog, Chopsticks and String, which was all-books). And yes, you'll even find some art and plenty of photography. What started as a spot to share just about anything I can make with paint, paper and glue still serves that purpose -- at least sometimes.

I recently posted my 1,000th post. I had no idea so long ago that in this time, I would share so much and make so many friends. Genuine friends. I've stayed with them while traveling and welcomed them to my home; I've turned virtual friends into "real" when we met for lunch or dinner when I've been on the road, and once on a "let's really meet in person" trip to Chicago. We swap holiday cards -- real cards, with envelopes and stamps that come in the mail! We may talk on the phone or exchange surprise gifts. We support each other. We look after our own, with concern when one is unwell, with joy when it's time to celebrate. When we meet, there is no awkward pause. We are friends.

Someone once asked me, "Why do you do it? It must take an awful lot of time." I suppose it does -- writing, visiting, replying to comments (I try to do that in person if there is an email address). And in some ways, it is my best-spent time. For I am among friends. I learn from you, I laugh with you, I share with you. What reasons could be better?

I hope you'll stop by. The Marmelade Gypsy is much like the weather here in Michigan. If you don't like it one day, wait around for the next. It's bound to change!


Jeanie, thanks so much for sharing with us! Please visit her at The Marmelade Gypsy then head over to Kris's blog to read about Kathleen from The Lavender Bouquet.
Have a great day!