Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Tuesday Artist Highlight - Lori Anderson

Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs and Pretty Things is definitely a person to be watching. She is  going places - and quickly. Designing jewelry, organizing Bead Soup Swaps and Blog Hops, hosting groups and forums on facebook, doing trade shows, teaching classes, charity work, writing books and doing book tours - physically and online, and many other things on top of raising a fine young man. In all these hats she dons Lori manages to be kind-hearted and sincere in her dealings. Lori is always there to lend a hand, lead someone on through encouragement and always driving people around her to be better people. She is successful and helping others to do the same. That  is a quality hard to find these days and why she is our spotlighted artist of the week.

With the blog hops, giveaways, and her blog in general Lori challenges people and grants opportunity they may never have been able to realize had they not stumbled upon her or had the good fortune to personally meet her. I am one of those people and I am humbled and consider it an honor to befriended by Lori.

Here is an example of a thought provoking write up entitled Be Good to Yourself & Your Business Will Bloom. She wrote this as a guest blogger on Kind Over Matter a wonderfully positive and inspirational blog focusing on all things handmade and the people behind the making of these products, as well as healthy business ethics. It is a wonderful read on a wonderful blog - check them out!

Her successful online Bead Soup book tour was set up in tradition of the Bead Soup Blog Party . It truly was a perfect way to introduce the book to her following and those who are curious about bead soups and blog hops. All participants that were included in the book took part of this blog hop and hosted giveaways. It was a fun way to celebrate the spirit of the book and the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Lori has hosted and organized six Bead Soup Blog Parties and they have all turned out greater works than the artists themselves could dream possible. The idea is that two beaders are partnered up, they swap beads from their stashes and when they receive what their partners have picked for them to use and mix in a few things  they may add from their own stashes - they get busy creating and then blog about it. At revealing time participants and everyone else who is invited through blogs and other social media outlets visit as many blogs of fellow participants as possible and see what was started with and what it all became. We all come out richer, wiser and more confident. What a beautiful thing, as simple as it may seem, Lori has given us.

This is only a glimpse into who the person our artist of the week is. If you would like to learn more about Lori check out her site, her  blog, look her up on facebook, you'll be glad you did. I will be doing a review of the Bead Soup book within the next week, check back in - you won't want to miss it.

Create something beautiful and make it with love...

12 comments:

  1. Lovely summary of a beautiful person (and friend!)

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    1. Yes, Lori is like a magnet anddraws people together and into action... she is true.

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  2. What a lovely tribute to such a wonderful person! Thank you so much!

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    1. My goal was met then... I wanted to show the world what a beautiful and talented individual Lori truly is. There is nothing but wonderful to say... thanks for your kind words.

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  3. It is all true.... she has inspired all of us to be kind to ourselves and to others and to be REAL and to blog our little hearts out!

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    1. Yep, yep, yep - she did indeed! So I did,lol! I just wish I could share it with the world!

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  4. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone as real as Lori! She truly is one of the most kindhearted people I've ever been blessed enough to know. Awesome post!

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    1. Thanks for your words that speak from your heart. It is my hope to have as many as possible see this, so that they too can know Lori and love her too!

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  5. Lori is the kind of person that is put into our lives for a reason. She has certainly helped me be a better artist and person. Thanks for a wonderful tribute to a beautiful person!

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    1. Kel, I agree with you full heartedly. It was my pleasure, Lori deserves it and I only spoke from my heart. I am better for having Lori in my life and would do anything to help her and make things easier for her - she does so much for everyone.

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