Tag: audience participation

Thanksgiving Remix Countdown

November 10th, 2009

My partner in culinary crime gave me a fantastic idea the other day: Thanksgiving Recipe Remix Countdown. I’m rather unnerved by the true politics behind this holiday, so let’s focus on two things I stand behind 100%…good food and gratitude.

I’d like to make/post some unconventional recipes that involve traditional Thanksgiving dinner ingredients (turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, squash, etc.).

So this is my open call for recipe submissions. Please send me your favorite interesting autumn comfort food ideas, and let’s get this thing started.

I haven’t decided exactly how to honor the participants in this little project yet, but I promise it’ll be fun. So send away!
Miscellaneous Mysteries FTW!

July 25th, 2009

It looks like the overwhelming majority of readers who took the poll would like to see me post miscellaneous images, even if I can’t give proper credit. However, I’m going with Ghoul Friday’s suggestions and my own gut feeling. I will:

1) Will not take credit for the image (of course!).
2) Always include a disclaimer about the unknown source, and ask for any information readers may have about it.
3) Make it clear that I do not intend to sell or reproduce the images for profit (and they’re not to be used by others for this purpose).

Thanks for the input! I’m excited to share some of this fun stuff.
Blogger’s Ethical Dilemma

July 21st, 2009

I need public opinion on an issue I’ve been toying with for a while. Over the years I’ve collected thousands of wonderfully entertaining images I’d love to share. The problem? I can’t cite sources, and often can’t credit an artist (though I’d be thrilled if anyone recognized the images so I could add proper credit).

I was thinking of having one post a week where I compile a few of these random images. Is this “wrong?” Would you guys be opposed to it for ethical reasons? Please click one…

Thanks!
Flickr Poll

April 28th, 2009

Hm…let me get a little feedback here. Should I show a group of flickr finds with a specific theme each week? Answers are anonymous…

And please let me know if there’s a type of image you’d like to see more of.
SheWalksSoftly Coloring Contest Winners

April 1st, 2009

Here are the wonderful winners of last month’s coloring contest.

WINNER:

This trip-tastic collage by Skywalker contains so many of my favorite things: vintage illustration, anatomy, chocolate, sideshow freaks, colorful insects…I love it!

Please go check out Skywalker’s blog, Terra Incognita. It’s always a wonderful collection of eye and brain candy.

Honorable Mentions:
Jason, you have officially colored the hell out of a bike! 🙂 Check out those movement lines! You can almost hear the whooooosh…

Thanks, Megan! Very nice job, especially with shading. This could be a professional illustration in a children’s book about mind-body medicine (if only those existed!).
SheWalksSoftly Coloring Contest

February 18th, 2009

I’m trying something entirely new here. Humor me, if you will.

I know that many of my readers are quite creative. I came across this image in a random google image odyssey the other day, and would love to see what you talented folks could do with it. I think it’s an appropriate coloring contest picture, given my love of all things relating to the science of mind/body/spirit.

So…color away! No rules! Digital, traditional art materials, anything. You can upload it and send a link, or email it to shewalkssoftlyblog@yahoo.com.

Right now you might be saying “Dana, who has time for a coloring contest? Don’t you realize the economy is a shambles? People have more important things to do than color bicycling bits of anatomy!”

Fair enough. But here are a few reasons to consider it:

1) Art is therapeutic. Take your mind off things. Relax. Be silly. Have fun. You deserve it.
2) Entries will be showcased and lauded on the interwebs. This can be fantastic cross promotion for your own site/work/blog.
3) The winner will receive a custom made SheWalksSoftly plush creature of his or her choice, made to order

Deadline: April 1st.
Holiday Horrors Week

December 11th, 2008

I saved a whole bunch of kitschy atrocities during Thrift Horror Week for Holiday Horrors Week.

And now the time has come.

Starting Monday, I’ll be posting a week of the worst holiday memorabilia I’ve come across. I’d love your help if you have photos, links or suggestions.
Mystery Prize Contest Winners

November 23rd, 2008

I knew at the start that this would be a fairly impossible contest to judge. Since it was an experiment of sorts, let me start with what I learned.

The bad news: Old fashioned word of mouth does very little for blog readership. It seems that promoting oneself is as important as I feared it would be.

The good news: Support from friends and some wonderful new readers was so touching that the bad news feels entirely irrelevant. 🙂

OFFICIAL CONTEST WINNER: The kind and talented Adalia, whose persistent enthusiasm for this site has been a huge inspiration.

OTHER WINNERS: For their support and promo efforts, Matt C. Louisa, Matt P. (you all know you’ll end up with prizes, too)

HONORABLE MENTIONS: For linking to me and/or general awesomeness, Notinman, Agmac, Shinygrape, Photo a Day, Kerry Kate, Jimmy Pickering, Creepy Cupcakes, PaTrick, Anne Heathen, Friendbeast, Mad30…my dad, from whom I inherited many of my “unique” sensibilities, Aunt Karen, Kayla, Artie, Rich, Charlotte, Spider, Travis,…(and undoubtedly others I forgot or am unaware of)

Although the contest is technically over, if you do anything to support this blog, please let me know so I can express my gratitude.
Next Theme Week?

November 14th, 2008

So far, I’ve done Potion Week and Thrift Horror Week.

Soon, I’d like to tackle a new topic so I’ve listed a few among the countless ideas swirling in my head. I’d love your help choosing one!

Or leave your own idea in the comments. Thanks!
The SheWalksSoftly Mystery Prize Contest

October 26th, 2008

I’ve had a fantastic time writing this blog so far. I’m trying to determine whether I can continue posting while in grad school.

My conclusion: if I gather enough readers who want the site to stay afloat, I’ll keep it up.

I’ve yet to attempt any real self-promotion. Sure, there are many strategies to optimize search engine rankings, ratings, stats, etc. (which I admit I haven’t explored because I didn’t want this to feel like a “business”). I’m wondering if decent growth is at all possible through a good ol’ fashioned sense of community.

Therefore…

I want to try an experiment in the form of a contest. I’ll put together a special gift package for the person who makes the biggest effort to share this blog. Even if you don’t aim to win the prize, I’d greatly appreciate any small support such as:

1) An email forwarding the link
2) Bulletins/links on social networking sites
3) A referral or link from your own blog/website
4) Use of social bookmarking
5) Any/all of the above, or anything I haven’t thought of…be creative

It’s the effort that counts. Just make sure to tell me what you did!

Deadline: Sunday, November 23rd.

I’m perfectly willing to hand out multiple prizes if warranted, and promote your projects in return. Although there’s a deadline for the actual prize, I’ll always do what I can to help those who help me.

I wonder what will come of this…