Freshly Pegged…in paper
By now you know what this is all about. If not, click here to get schooled.
Then come right back, quick like a bunny, and meet…
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Nicki at The Middlest Sister. Nicki’s blog is definitely one-of-a-kind. She writes a web-comic about her experience growing up with 4 sisters. She isn’t the middle child, as you might suspect from the title. No, that would be her sister, Chrissy. It would be an exaggeration to say this child was the spawn of Satan – let’s just say she was a bit mischievous. The truly amazing thing is these sisters are still friends.
Nicki’s writing is fab, but the thing that sets The Middlest Sister apart is that it is illustrated with pictures she crafts from intricately cut and pasted scrap paper. You can’t believe the expressions Nicki can create with 1/2 inch of construction paper!
Not only is she on the WordPress list of Recommended Blogs, she’s a Staff Pick – one of just a handful selected across all categories as a must-see blog.
You may have noticed something a little different about the Freshly Pegged Badge of Honor today. When Nicki hit 5000 subscribers (about a bazillion ago) she marked the occasion by hand-crafting copies of the avatars of some of her most rabid stalker-fans, er, I mean readers. I was thrilled to be one of those chosen for paper immortality – see how I’m looking at the world through rose-colored glasses? I can’t even begin to fathom how much work she put into that project!
If you don’t know Nicki, go and check out The Middlest Sister, but first read this…
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Rapunzel, Rapunzel
I’m back from vacation! While I was at my parents’ house, I had a chance to go through all the schoolwork and drawings my mother saved over the years. She had all our childhood journals and diaries, report cards, and school projects. It was so wonderful to comb through all that old stuff. Here’s one of the drawings I found, a self-portrait Ashley did with our cat Rapunzel:
It made me remember this day…
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
One of my favorite blogs of all time – she is so talented!!
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Talent to spare!
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Thank you! That means a lot to me 😀
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I love Nicole! And I love this post. That cat looks a lot like my little kitty Zuzu. While I’ve never licked her, she has consoled me on several occasions.
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Related kitty story, one of my employees just told me all the way home yesterday she thought she heard a cat meowing. Got home, parked the car. Each time she walked by, she still heard the faint meowing. Checked the front seat, checked the back seat…she finally popped the hood. A kitten had got up into the engine from underneath!
Thank goodness she was in the corner instead of right over the hot, grindy things. The cat seemed to be OK, and ran away as soon as she opened the hood. Freaky to think she was driving down the road with that cat. I’ve heard of horsepower, but kittenpower???
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Aw man, Peg! This could have been TERRIBLE. We have a few strays in our neighborhood and I always wonder if one of them is curled up under my car. But under the hood??? Crazy cat.
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I know – it was nuts! I sometimes think I hear animals, but I KNOW that’s all in my head.
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I adore calicos/tortoiseshell kitties. Somehow, they always seem to be the sweetest cats I meet.
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Love her blog and that cat one was one of my favorites. Nice to know the backstory.
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Who hasn’t felt wicked-weird and needed a little comfort?
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Thanks 🙂 I know I really should write the backstory more often. I mean to so often, but then I get so excited to post once I finish the illustration that I forget!
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Thanks, Peg! 😀 Thrilled to be here!
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Thank YOU Nicki. My Class-o-Meter of Awesome Talent has edged up, up and off the charts!
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Nicole is one of my favourites. As usual she does not disappoint … that is hysterical. It is nice to see the little messages that pop up when you hover on the pics like they use to. If I remember correctly something was changed in wordpress so she couldn’t do that anymore. It was always a little extra story in the story.
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I never noticed that before – you’re right. How cool!
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I wish I knew how to bring that back!
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Loved it! Is it possible for two strangers to have the same exact memories?
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Another cat-licker?
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Entirely possible.
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Good choice, she’s amazing
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Only the best around this joint. 😉
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Thanks! I still remember making your avatar– I’m glad you haven’t changed it because I love it!
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I remember when you did Joe’s avatar! Loved it.
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No, thank you, it was awesome!, I have it displayed on my blog somewhere, I think in a banner called Awards, so it’s probably covered in cobwebs
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You’re so right, Peggles – if Nicki’s gesture for her 5,000-follower mark isn’t proof of how awesome she is, I don’t know what is! Well, okay, this entire post… Every post…
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I have this vision of her among piles of scrap paper, gleaned from dumpster diving behind Hobby Lobby, hunched over with little eyebrow scissors in her cramped and bleeding hands, squinting into the dim light of a guttering candle.
How great is that!
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Not too far off…
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WOW! She cuts out and creates all the pictures? Amazing how she can bring these cut outs to life! I’ll definitely check out her blog. Thanks Peg! 🙂
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You won’t be disappointed – she’s amazeballs.
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Thanks! I hope you like them! I have so much fun making them.
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Peg, you weren’t kidding about the amazing construction paper artwork! I failed Kindergarten art class.
I haven’t licked Reggie, but I have smelled his feet. (Is that weird?) They smell like Fritos.
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Fri-toes! How odd, my husband was just saying something about Frito-toes last night.
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Love the pictorial essay! What a great art project.
Congrats on the Freshly Peggage Nicki!
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Thanks! It’s an ongoing project:)
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Nicole is one of my most favorites and I was another lucky winner for her talents. She made my header for my blog and I love it! She got my dog Sam spot on! She is one classy lady. 🙂
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Isn’t she? That mass-avatar experience blew me away!
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Aw, thanks Jackie! 😀
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Congrats on the Freshly Pegged, Nicole! You never cease to amaze me with your creations! I couldn’t love your blog more, really.
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I’m delighted to be able to host major talent like Nicki…and you.
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Thank you! I love your blog right back 😀
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I always look forward to Nicole’s posts! They make my day.
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Thanks! 🙂 I cut paper like it’s my job
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did you make these when you were young? they are so cute and adorable!
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Hi Terry! I started making them nearly two years ago as a way to preserve family memories and to make my family laugh when we were going through a hard time. It worked! I have a lot more family memories to preserve, so I think this project is going to last a while 🙂
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2 years ago? So when you were young. 😉
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Hahaha! I guess you’re right!
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What a great post! Congratulations on being Pegged AND pegging the badge. Brilliant!
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Isn’t that FPg badge version great? Now everyone will want one!
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Thanks Elyse! Peg showed me my badge and I squealed…. I LOVE IT!
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That’s great. I have often been tempted to lick my cat – although he has never licked me so I guess I have no reason to. Off to check out Nicki now!
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Hahaha! Hope you enjoy the comics!
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I love The Middlest Sister! So creative and talented. It makes me smile every time I visit.
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Thank you, Grace! 🙂
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I can’t even begin to fathom the amount of work that goes into these, but fathoming sure isn’t necessary for enjoying! Hee. 😀
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I know, Deb, staggering to think of!
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It’s a lot of work, but so much fun! I love my tiny, paper world…
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Never miss a post, and never fail to smile. Genius. Love the badge she created… and the posts Nikki recommended. Great work!
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Thanks 🙂 That is so nice to hear!
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Thanks so much for letting me in on the (not so) secret that is Nicki’s killer blog. I love it!
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She’s the best!
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Thanks for checking it out!
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Oh what a cut up!
Thanks for the heads up on her blog – just hilarious (with a brilliant touch)
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Ha! You know, I’ve never got that one before! Love a good pun 😀
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We live in such a fast paced, instant world – it is such a pleasure to see the work of an artist who puts so much effort into telling a story.
When I was growing up, paper dolls were all the rage. We often made our own clothes, so when I see Nicki’s little girls, I am reminded of the hours we spent with paper and scissors and crayons – dressing our dolls!
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I remember that, Margie! We used to buy the paper dolls and then make our own clothes for them. Sometimes I’d try to copy the dolls themselves, but the grinning, crayon happy faces weren’t very high fashion.
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Do you remember how the dolls came in a cardboard folder that had pockets on the inside to hold the dolls and clothes!
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Oh yeah, I loved those. In fact, up until recent years I used to buy and sell vintage dolls including paper. Not much of a market for those, but they were fun to play with again…er, I mean SEE again.
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How is nobody discussing the licking of the cat??! I just laughed so hard.
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