It’s November! This means I get the honor of spotlighting Nicole — a warm, witty blogger and inventor of ridiculously clever comic strips she painstakingly crafts using mere scrap paper and scissors.
Perhaps you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t visited her popular blog, The Middlest Sister, where she details what it was like to grow up with four sisters. Not only has it been Freshly Pressed numerous times, but it holds a coveted top spot on the Recommended Blog list as one of the WordPress Staff Picks. And with good reason. She. Is. Amazing.
Now time for the interview! After you’re done, be sure to drop by her blog. You’ll be so glad you did.
The Middlest Sister
First
First Blog Post
My first blog post, “The Refrigerator” is one of my favorite “Chrissy” memories. I came home from school one day and saw all these good report cards on the fridge for the rest of the sisters, awards and ribbons… and then there was this note for Chrissy:
First Kiss 
It was awful. I was in second grade on an overcrowded bus. The kiss was stolen, and I was so angry about it for years and years afterwards because I had wanted my first kiss to be “special.” I decided it didn’t count, but then my next first kiss was also awful and unspecial. And the one after that. AND the one after that. If none of the firsts were going to be special, might as well count the real first one!
First Thing I Think God Will Say To Me at the Pearly Gates
I don’t know the exact circumstances that will lead to it, of course, but I really feel like it’s going to be something a little condescending and petty. 
LAST
Last Blog Post
The Hands-Down Tree [editor’s note: very cool-n-creepy story, the lightning panel she created is fantastic]
Last Thing I cooked 
My favorite, a peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwich! That counts as cooking right?
Last Book I Read 
Last Person I kissed 
My beardy, mysterious husband (I have never seen his face)
Time I Swore Like a Sailor
It’s a hazard of having a house-rabbit. I like to say that “Faye” is short for “Faaaaaavorite pet!” but sometimes, it really, really isn’t.
*****
Thanks so much for playing along, Nicole (I think fuzzy bunny Faye is my new fave…) and for being my November Blogger of the Month!
She's A Maineiac 
Is seems like Nicole and I are married to the same person. That’s exactly what Mr.Rache looks like with his beard.
Funny, Mr. Maineiac wants to grow one (again). Must be the Duck Dynasty/Red Sox trend?
I wore red socks yesterday at work. No one got it… even with my beard. It almost makes me miss Boston… almost.
It IS No-shave November, so there’s an excuse… as if “Winter is coming…” wasn’t enough of one in the far north.
We are? You’ve seen his face?? Don’t tell me– I want it to be a surprise. His mom says he’s got dimples, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
Yes, the dimples are there. And actual cheekbones.
Off to make a peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwich now…
Doesn’t that sound divine? I can’t believe I never thought of doing that until now.
You will not regret it. It is de beeeest.
I have to say I’m not sure why I’ve never thought of that sandwich either, but you can bet one day when the kids are in school, I’m making one!
The real trick: peanut butter and Nuttella! A divine short cut!
Ooohhhhhhh…. I hardly ever actually spread Nutella on things, come to think of it. It probably is good on lots of things, not just a spoon, eh?
Spread the love, baby…
Love your blog, Nicole — and I’d missed the first one — Priceless.
Another great choice, Darla. How do you do this and go to school — or are there notes on your fridge like Chrissy’s?
Isn’t she the best?
I have no idea how I’m doing this. Tons of coffee. Little sleep.
Thank you, Elyse!
Well now this is just unfair. I’d like to redo my interview and have Nicole do the artwork.
Fantabulous! Nicole, you’re just so ridonkulously talented. I loved this, and I hope your mystery man is making up for those first…five?…kisses.
I think Nicole should just go ahead and illustrate all my future posts for me. I’m sure she has loads of time, right?
Blargh, even less time than usual. I’ve been sick all week and haven’t been able to do a thing. So behind!
Thank you, Jules. Our first kiss was kind of terrible, too (I turned my head at the last second because I didn’t know it was coming), but every subsequent kiss has been much better 😀
Those pictures are amazing! Dare I say . . . they could even give your pictures a run, Darla! No, I definitely would never say that on YOUR blog! 😉 (Is this the first post where you haven’t photoshopped something?).
Peanut butter and chocolate chips . . . that Nicole is my kind of people.
Oh, no, you can definitely say that. Her creations are works of art, my litlte powerpoints are sad in comparison.
Thank you 🙂 Peanut butter and chocolate chips have gotten me through many trying times and never once let me down. As a comfort food, as a midnight snack, as a rushed meal even, I highly recommend it.
That story and picture about the first kiss is fantastic.
I think I might have worked with your husband in the past (though I don’t think I’ve ever kissed him.)
Thank you! And I wouldn’t be surprised. 😀
Nicole’s work definitely puts all of my pics to shame! I can draw stick figures, but that’s it – no other useful talents! Does it take you a long time to do the figures, Nicole? Thanks for sharing, Darla. 🙂
Thanks! It used to take me days, but thousands of hours of practice have definitely sped up the process.
I have a pretty good hangover so I don’t have anything witty to add to this conversation, but i like the inclusion of saying something so….something.
Grateful and enthusiastic reply!
You had specially commissioned pieces for your post. Amazing.
I know! I was sooooo excited when she sent me these. My blog has never looked so good.
Oh I don’t know about that. I thought your blog looked fantastic in that backless Vera Wang dress at the Oscars.
teehee…well thank you for saying so, I worked out for days and ate nothing but grapefruit for that damn dress! Most days I opt for being bloated on the couch in sweats though.
Just keep that news out of the National Enquirer or they’ll be following your blog everywhere.
I am one of those people who had been living under a rock, and I had not subbed to The Middlest Sister. I KNOW. After reading this, I’ve remedied that.
You will love it there, always entertaining and the things she manages to create with just paper are incredible.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the comics 🙂
I do live under a rock but I think Le Clown showed me the way quite a while ago (the way to Nicole’s blog that is).
Good ol’ Le Clown!
The rabbit ate a Francesca Lia Block book? NOOOOOOO!
Awful, isn’t it? Luckily, she didn’t get a nibble out of Witch Baby, my favorite.
The heaven one is amazing!
Thanks 🙂 I had fun with it. Good ol’ God!
I see The Middlest Sister everywhere. And I’m sad to say, I’ve never visited. Not good. Going to head over there now. LOVE the interview, Darla!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
I hope you enjoy my cut-paper memories 🙂
Awesome interview! Loved it. And Nicole, my husband still, after 17 years, talks about how I turned away right before our first kiss. Luckily he tried again and the rest is history. 🙂
Hahaha! Yeah, my husband won’t let me live it down, either. 😀
I went, I saw, I followed. Should have done it months ago, honestly.
Thank you, Darla.
You are most welcome, X!
Thanks so much!
Never miss a Middlest Sister– but this was extra fun! Nice job Darla! I love the way you pulled it all together.
Thanks so much, but really I didn’t have to do anything but let Nicole to all the work (I should make her do all my posts from now on)
Well, I’d say you’re a good team! Great post, all around.
Oh how I heart these. They’re magical pieces of paper. Mad props to Darla and Nicole for an excellent Q&A session. And now I know that I’ve been missing out all these years by not putting chocolate chips in my peanut butter sandwiches. This error will be rectified immediately.
They are magical pieces of paper, so well said. I finally tried the chocolate chips in a PB sandwich and it was divine.
Thanks, Weebles! 🙂 I have Faye shred all my junk mail. Her happiest day was when I gave her the Yellow Pages.
Ha!
Also, Nicole, maybe you should put Faye to work doing this:
This video is too cute. I bet our guinea pig could do this.
Try it! Maybe they’ll love it!
I must get a bunny ASAP.
So amazingly creative! But I can’t even begin to imagine having four siblings, never mind four sisters!
Can you imagine what the teen years were like? Then again, I had five brothers so I’ve seen the other side of things and it’s not pretty.
And I can’t imagine it any other way 🙂
Not only can I imagine having 4 sisters, I can’t imagine having the patience to create these scenes. thanks for the introduction.
I don’t know how she does it. I can barely cut open a package of cheese.
Thanks! I find it very calming. And it appeals to my love of teeny tiny things.
The art alone seems daunting to me. Wow. What does she do with these pieces after the blog post is finished? Love this idea.
It’s incredible to me how she dreams up each panel. But then to actually create it using only paper blows my mind.
I file them and then rescrap them. I hate to do it, but I really don’t have that much paper (or money to buy more paper), so I rely on what I have already and what comes in the mail and what pretty food packaging I can squirrel away.
Being a middle sister, I can empathize. 🙂 Although I’m not as crafty as she is…but I do make quilts, so, maybe I am.
Oh, yes, I hold quilters in very high esteem! I adore going to quilt shows and seeing all those amazing works of art on display.
So do I! It’s an art form that has come a long way since the days of quilts being simply utilitarian.
Nicole is one of my favourite bloggers. She always brightens my day while fascinating me with how much detail she gets into her pieces. I love these stand alone ones she made especially for this interview. Talent with a capital “T”.
Aww, thank you! It’s comments like these that keep me going 😀
OH I love her blog! What a fun interview! off to explore this blog now… 🙂
Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the comics 🙂
Talk about raising the bar…who can compete with a Firsts and Lasts that has such cool artwork? Great interview with the oh-so-talented Nicole!
Thank you, Peg! 😀
Awesome! The artwork’s sublime, trackbacks were a bonus, and mysterious bearded husband…too true. (Glad I don’t have one of those.) Darla, I’ve been away too long…so sorry. Nicole, is that Angie Z. on the bus in the seat in front of you? Or coincidental look-alike?