BlogHer Panelist-Content and Community Building (Beginning)-Your Social Media Solar System
While many know Nancy Malay as “The Christmas Lady”, these days she creates a variety of vintage-inspired items for every Holiday, born from the spirit of old postcards and antique toys. In her cozy home workshop in Faribault, MN, she meticulously handcrafts her pieces using paperclay, papier mache and cloth. Embellishments of mica, antique trimmings, German glass glitter and tinsel add the sparkle and look reminiscent of earlier days.
She is a licensed artist/designer for Midwest-CBK, recently creating a collection for Christmas and Halloween, which will launch in January, 2012. Nancy was chosen by the prestigious Early American Life magazine as one of the Country’s top artisans, and listed in the 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts Holiday issue in two different categories. Published in numerous national magazines, including Prims, Celebrate 365 and Country Women, she was also selected by Better Homes and Gardens to design a step-by-step snowman project for their Holiday Crafts magazine for 2010 and 2011. Her studio will be featured in the Fall issue of Studios magazine.
When not working on her art or browsing antique stores or flea markets, Nancy’s other passion is gardening. It’s another way of expressing her creativity through the color and texture of the plants, designing beds that bloom all season long. She enjoys teaching online classes, but also loves inspiring new artists with individual sculpting classes offered in her studio. Her husband, Rick, and three grown sons are always supportive and encouraging. Nancy’s motto~”Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”.
Contact:
Web: http://www.nancymalay.com
Blog: http://www.nancymalay.blogspot.com
Comfort and American style define the heart and soul of Nancy Soriano, whether she’s consulting with companies on their brand extensions, cooking Sunday dinner for her family, or pursuing her own creative projects. During her 10 years as editor in chief of Country Living magazine, Nancy redefined “country” to embrace casual, comfortable living as the core value of American style. She brought readers a fresh, updated look as she grew the magazine into a multiplatform brand that included book publishing, live consumer events (like the Country Living Fair), an online presence through 
“Eleven years old and willing to help” is how Olivia Bouler described herself to the Audubon Society when she contacted them about tragedy in the Gulf. Aspiring ornithologist, artist, and saxophone player, Olivia wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, a place where she spent many vacations with her cousins and grandparents who live in Louisiana and Alabama. Knowing birds were going to suffer, she had to take action. Inspired by her hero James Audubon, Olivia wrote to the Audubon Society about a fundraising idea, using her talent as an artist to give bird drawings to those who donated to wildlife recovery efforts. Olivia drew and donated 500 original drawings and thousands of limited edition prints throughout the summer of 2010. 
Sarah Jane Wright, textile designer, children’s book illustrator and artist behind Sarah Jane Studios, started off her career as a one woman ETSY shop and had no idea how her business would grow in just a few short years. Sarah’s earliest memories involve pencil and paper, and from a very young age she knew she would spend her life as an artist. Unsure how to get her name out there, she started a blog, and opened her ETSY shop with a collection of prints, and has since become a childrens’s book illustrator with Harper Collins Children’s Books, a fabric designer for Michael Miller Fabrics, and is now the 10th highest seller of art on ETSY. Sarah also loves to embroider, and this year she has launched some best selling embroidery patterns which feature her whimsical and classic illustrations. This October she celebrates 4 years of running her design business from home. Sarah’s artwork has been featured in Parent’s Magazine, Romantic Homes Magazine and newest picture book, A Christmas Goodnight written by Nola Buck, debuts this fall. Sarah lives in Utah with her amazing husband (who is the backbone behind this creative at-home operation) and their three young children.
What does an Advertising Art college drop out + retail sales super seller become when she grows up? An entrepreneur! When Stacie Tamaki had the opportunity to create some bridal veils for a fashion show back in 1997 she jumped at the chance. Not because it was something she’d always dreamed of doing, she did it because it sounded interesting. Years later her custom couture bridal accessory company, The Flirty Bride, needed a website. She thought what better way to get one than to learn how to make it herself. The very first site she created transformed her into a sought after web designer and developer for other small business owners. After starting her own blog in 2006 and experiencing the benefits of blogging, Stacie became a blogging evangelist who now teaches small business owners about blogging and using social media to market their products and services.
Susan Branch is the self-taught artist and author of fourteen Heart of the Home books. From her Martha’s Vineyard studio, she writes about the “home arts” of family, cooking, gardening, sewing, and the little things that make life sweet. Susan illustrates her books in watercolors and hand writes every word in pen and ink. You’ll see some of her work in the new Celebrations cookbook debuting at THE CREATIVE CONNECTION event in September. Susan has a monthly newsletter, famous in certain circles, named “Willard,” after her grandfather. Susan’s artwork has graced many products over the years, from pajamas and teapots, to hooked rugs, calendars, and scrapbooks. She also designs quilting fabrics for Cranston’s “Quilting Treasures.” Please visit her “ancient, but still beautiful” 14-year-old website, 
Tara Gentile is a creative business coach who empowers passion-driven entrepreneurs to actualize their ideas, visions, and dreams – turning them into dollars and cents. She brings a creative approach to branding, product development, and marketing that incorporates both strategy and high touch design.
Terry Walters is at the forefront of the clean-eating lifestyle movement. She is the author of the highly acclaimed cookbooks, 
