Sunday, July 27, 2008

My Pile Of Bricks And Internet Genealogy Magazine

When I was a little girl my father gave me a pile of bricks. It was one of the best presents I was ever given. I built a mansion, a ranch house, a fort, chairs, tables, a fireplace - you get the picture. It was my entertainment, my diversion. I could be anyone I wanted and live anywhere I wanted.

The bricks were out under a lovely weeping willow in the side yard; under my bedroom window where I could look at my creation before going to sleep each night. I was the only one who found the creations of note. There was no home show tour of my pile of bricks.

When I started Shades and footnoteMaven I viewed them as my adult, digital age, pile of bricks. I chose to be the footnoteMaven. My digital bricks, like their real world counter-part, could be anything I wanted them to be. And so I created Shades and footnoteMaven around things that interested me. My pile of bricks after all.

Those wandering the web stopped and commented on what I had done. I made some wonderful friends. Then it happened, the digital equivalent of the home show tour of my pile of bricks.

Internet Genealogy Magazine spotlighted Shades Of The Departed in its September 2008, Net Notes.

I could not be more pleased and proud. (I feel like those parents with the bumper stickers proclaiming their child student of the month!) It's a beautiful, well-written article by Donna J. Pointkouski, What's Past Is Prologue, describing Shades.

Donna and Internet Genealogy Magazine, thank you so much! Thank you for the tour of my pile of digital bricks and my fifteen minutes of fame!

I now have something wonderful to hand down to those for whom I will be their ancestor. A copy of Internet Genealogy Magazine, September 2008 (I bought a few). Something that will tell them of my passions and how I lived my life. What family historian could ask for more? What pile of digital bricks could ask for more?

14 Comments:

Blogger Kathryn Doyle said...

Congratulations, fM. None of us are surprised. We are all amazed at the incredibly detailed research you do and the beautiful, creative way that you present it.

July 27, 2008 at 8:26 PM  
Blogger Becky Wiseman said...

I'll second what Kathryn said...Congratulations, fM and well deserved too.

July 27, 2008 at 8:55 PM  
Blogger footnoteMaven said...

Kathryn & Becky:

Thank you both so much! You are two of the wonderful friends I have made.

fM

July 27, 2008 at 9:34 PM  
Blogger Moultrie Creek said...

I just read the article last night and was glad to see Shades getting the attention it so justly earned. You've done a fabulous job making your site a real treasure and something we all look forward to reading.

July 28, 2008 at 2:24 AM  
Blogger DearMYRTLE said...

Congrats fM. It couldn't happen to a nicer gal.

July 28, 2008 at 3:08 AM  
Blogger Lidian said...

Congratulations fM - you deserve it so much! You are an amazing writer/researcher. This is only the first of many, I trust...

July 28, 2008 at 7:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is the best pile of bricks I have ever seen!

Congrats fM!
Borders better not disappoint me. They better have copies on the shelf.... or I'll pick up a brick - Ignats and Krazy Kat style - and...
(Ok, that's going to far!)

Shades is truly a treasure!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

July 28, 2008 at 7:59 AM  
Blogger Family Curator said...

Hats off to you! Here's to many many more productions.

July 28, 2008 at 8:43 AM  
Blogger TERRY SNYDER said...

Congrats Ms. fM - It couldn't happen to a nice more deserving person. And your pile of bricks analogy captures the heart of every family historian.

July 28, 2008 at 10:26 AM  
Blogger Kathryn Lake Hogan said...

Congrats fM! I was thrilled to see Donna's article about Shades when I received my copy of IG last week. You consistently present detailed and well researched articles on your blogs. Well done!

Kathryn

July 28, 2008 at 11:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, bravo, BricklayerMaven! I knew you were oh-so-special when I first met you. It was inevitable that the whole world should find that out, too. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!

July 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

fM,

I'm glad you liked it. You've definitely built a castle with your little pile o' bricks!

Donna

July 28, 2008 at 6:23 PM  
Blogger rebecca said...

Congratulations! You most certainly deserve the recognition for your fantastic work!

July 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM  
Blogger footnoteMaven said...

Thank you all! For reading Shades, for your support, and your wonderful comments.

You are the best and I couldn't do it without you.

fM

July 29, 2008 at 4:00 PM  

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