Blog Feature: My Savior

My feature this month is a talented photographer and team member. Sue's shop is called My Savior. She has been selling on Etsy since 2009. She became interested in photography on her 10th birthday when her parents gave her a Kodak Brownie camera. They were a picture taking family and between the black and whites photos and the old movie reel films, Sue was always involved with some sort of photographing.

As a teenager Sue would go take photos at a local psychedelic shop in her town. She had to come there with her camera and take all types of crazy shots. It was colorful art to her.

Sue is most inspired by God's creations. Everywhere she looks there is something that she wants to capture by her Master Creator.

Sue is an ephemera collector. Paper items of all kinds. Postcards, greeting cards, bookmarks, tags, anything made out of paper. Her other interests are crocheting, and creating collages. She has some online friends who travel the world and send her postcards and is thrilled to receive them.

The ultimate message she would like to convery is that no matter who you are, we are all saved by the Grace of God.

The area she lives in is very influential in her photography. The mountains, the woods, and the flowers. Although she used to love taking photos of NYC but that is hard for her now with limited mobility.

Sue is offering one of my readers this beautiful pink floral note card. Just leave a comment for a chance to win. The winner will be announced April 30th.

New Painting

Here is my latest painting that will be available in my shop soon. I will be adding a few of my smaller paintings in my shop from time to time. I'm not sure what the title will be yet, that is always my least favorite thing to do after I finish. Some names come easily, others are harder to think of the perfect name.

The winner of the birdie pillow AmberRose. Congratulations!

Giveaway Time

I wanted to start off the new year with a giveaway of one of my mini pillows. I really don't make resolutions, but I do have some goals that I hope to accomplish. Just leave a comment of one goal that you hope to pursue this year. I have two goals this year, the first is to have a mobile painting party business, the second is to have a one day creative workshop with a bunch of creative souls this year.

The winner will be announced this Friday.

December Giveaway

Christmas art block.

inspirational art

Last year I started selling these blocks at a local arts festival, and received great response. It is a print of my original mounted on painted wood. The block can be placed on a desk, shelf, or table top. It would be great as a hostess gift, stocking stuffer or holiday decoration for your home. You can place it on a mini easel or stand up on its own.

I am offering one of these art blocks to one of my readers. Just leave a comment of which one that you like best for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Blog Feature: Kate's Pastries

sweet potato bread

This month's shop is not only one shop that I admire on the internet, but I have also had the pleasure to meet in person many times at my local farmers market. Kathleen Moka of Kate's Pastries has been baking every since she was twelve years old for her friends and family. However, she started creating pastries as a business since September 2009.

peanut butter cookies

Kathleen bakes a yummy product of mouth watering mini pastries. She also creates a line of gluten free products including a variety of sweet breads and cookies, sweetened with brown sugar, stevia and or raw organic honey. Her recipes are made with only natural and organic ingredients, free of bleached flour, additives, preservatives, artificial flavor or food colorings. Kathleen decided to make gluten free products after many of her customers asked her if she would consider making gluten free products so their family members could also enjoy. She listened and is glad she did, so their loved ones can also enjoy healthy and delicious baked goods without compromising taste!

chocolate hazelnut cookies

Kathleen's other hobbies which include reading her bible, cooking with exotic ingredients and spices, watching family movies, and spending time with her family.

Before starting her business, Kathleen worked in education as a family development specialist and a preschool teacher.

original nutmeg

She bakes her products in a commercial kitchen that is certified and approved by the Department of Agriculture.

Kathleen advice to someone consdering starting their own food business, first of all, make sure you have a passion for food, do your research on starting a business, ask questions from trusted professionals in the food business, have faith and work smart!

Kathleen has generously offered to give one of my readers a bag of one of her yummy cookies. Leave a comment of which flavor of cookies you like for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Blog Feature: Patty Schaffer

When you first get a glance at Patty's designs you're immediately drawn to the color and orginality. Patty started designing her Etsy shop PS It's In The Details in September of 2008. She is a stay-at-home mom with a degree in Graphic Design and Etsy was the perfect fit for her. Patty could do what she loves while still being home with her children.

Patty truly gets inspired by paper and all its pretty patterns. She worked part time at a scrapbook store a few years ago and would literally get so excited when the new orders would come into the shop. It was like Christmas when she opened the boxes of new product! She keeps an inspiration notebook as well. Patty rips out images from magazines that inspire her and tapes them into her notebook. Maybe a color combo strikes her as pretty, or a technique someone used. Anything at all that sparks an idea. She uses those ripped out images as a springboard for her own designs.

In addition to designing her beautiful paper products, she also loves photography and is known affectionately by her family as Paparazzi Patty. She also loves gardening. Patty grew up around her family's greenhouse business and has always had a love of flowers. She enjoys working her herb garden and planting container gardens and perennials. Patty lives on seven acres and has dreams of lots and lots of gardens filling her yard someday!

Patty's studio is nestled in a corner room. She has lots of supplies stuffed into drawers and closets. Patty hopes to one day have her own separate studio built.

Patty is generously offering these Strawberry Lemonade Collection Trees to one of my readers. Just leave a comment for a chance to win. The winner will be announced August 29th.

Blog Feature: Jenni Horne

A breath of fresh air is what first comes to mind when you lay your eyes on Jenni Horne’s lovely artwork. Her images are very contemporary, but also offer a touch of nostalgia to your senses.

Jenni has been teaching art for the past fifteen years, after painting murals on nursery walls at her friends’ requests. She was more than willing to help although her concentration in art school was printmaking and sculpture. Jenni feels that teaching has helped her to look at subjects in their simplest form. She just started painting more seriously in the past four years

Jenni is inspired by many things daily. But you will most often find her painting trucks, bikes and birds. Her amazing journey finding her own voice in painting all started with a momma bird, her nest and babies. She fell in love with them immediately and a series emerged. Eventually she became inspired by other subjects like bikes, trucks, and then campers. She is also influenced by her online community which helps keep her ideas fresh and new.

When Jenni isn’t painting she also likes to sew, decorate her home, run, work out and read. She has several genres on her night stand table to keep her entertained.

Jenni is generously offering this lovely print to one of my readers. Just leave a comment about one of your favorite images by Jenni for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Bloomin Giveaway

It has been a while since my last giveaway due to family school activities, and my mother being ill. So, I decided to take this opportunity to allow one of my readers a chance to win one of my handmade ornaments. Just post a comment for a chance to win. Also, if you post this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook this will double your chances to win! Just leave a link about the giveaway in your comment. Also leave your email address. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Shop Feature: Zuda Gay

Simply breath taking is what first comes to mind when I first laid eyes on Zuda Gay's pendants. At first glance seeing all the intricate detail you almost think that the flowers are real.

Zuda has always loved playing with clay from the time she was a little girl. She has worked with various types of clay over the years and discovered polymer clay about fifteen years ago. She had usually only worked with one color clay before, but eventually discovered the various colored clays. She has been working with them ever since.

Zuda is inspired by all of creation, especially flowers, plants and animals. She believes that all of God's color combos are perfect! The talent of others also inspire her.

From time to time Zuda also likes to sew. Her granddaughters especially like to draft her to make them prom dresses or for some other special occasion.

Zuda creates in a spare bedroom in her home. She has a wonderful workbench with an attached overhead light as well as a magnifying light so she can capture all the lovely details in her flowers.

She is generously offering this fine coral and green necklace as a giveaway to one of my wonderful readers. Just post a comment for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

I Feel Spring Coming

Spring is most definately coming to my area because my eyes are starting to water, and I have the sniffles. Even though this is not a good season for me initially, I love seeing all the beautiful array of flowers begin to bloom. I created these lovely little paper flowers from some designs in my sketchbook. I printed them out on this pretty decorative paper and attached buttons with some three dimensional paint on a few. They are perfect for scrapbooking, or creating your very own note cards.

Post a comment about what you like most about the spring season. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Shop Feature: Two Hand Design

A breath of fresh air is what I feel when I see the work of Two Hand Design. Vicky is a designer that creates these delightful paper products from a letterpress. She first started printing by hand in high school but first discovered letterpress in art school and has been hooked ever since. It took her quite a few years to find a press but she is now the proud owner of a Kelsey 6 x 8 tabletop.

Vicky's love of Folk art, mid century graphics, nature, pattern design, home decor, children's book illustrations inspire the work she creates. Sometimes her inspiration is a color combination or just an arrangement of items. She also likes to sew and to paint in watercolor in her spare time.

She carries beautiful gift tags.

Precious Molskine notebooks to carry in your bag or purse.

She has graciously offered this beautiful set of note cards to one of my readers. Just post a comment for a chance to win! The winner will be announced next Monday February 21st.

Featured Artist - Bohemian Mushroom

I had the pleasure of being next door neighbors to Celeste Theodore at a local festival this past fall. Not only did I enjoy talking with her during some down time, but I completely fell in love with her beautiful ceramic pieces.

Celeste started out with an interest in taking a jewelry class at a local community college, but it was full. So, she decided to take a ceramics class. She fell in love with it, and never took the jewelry class. After learning all they had to offer during several semesters, she sought out a professional potter with whom to apprentice. She found one downtown in her hometown of Chicago, and learned and practiced throwing, hand building, glaze calculation and how to run a gallery. She apprenticed and learned the business there for two years, where her infatuation with the artwork turned into true love for working with clay.

Celeste believes the world is a unique combination of creators and collectors, and in God's infinite wisdom she fell into the former category. It started that day in class, when she first put her hands in the clay, and it was amazing. Creativity flows from her hands, and she doesn't know what she would do if she could not use her hands to make things. Celeste desires to master the techniques she uses or conjures up, though she can't put her finger on exactly what inspires her. You can look at her pottery and see the fruit of her inspiration.

She moved to Fort Myers in 2001, and built a studio in the back of her home. The commute to work is just a short walk from the coffee pot to the work table in her many-windowed studio, where she can enjoy the weather - whatever it is, generally sunny.

Celeste has generously offered this lovely polka dot blue tube vase to one of my readers. Just leave a brief comment about what inspires you. You can also check out her etsy shop. The dealine is this Friday January 28th.

New Year Calendar Giveaway

To start off the new year I wanted to offer my 2011 desk/wall calendar to my readers. Just post a comment for a chance to win. Tell me a goal or resolution that you have for this year. The winner will be announced next week.

New Tote Giveaway!!

Here is my second attempt to block print on a tote bag. I like how this turned out, and after the suggestion of my daughter, I added a border around the flower. The border gives it that special finished look to compliment the flower. I am so happy the way it turned out I decided to have a giveaway. Let me know what type of items you would carry if you had this tote.

Post your comment by next Wed. 4pm EST. I will announce the winner later that evening!

March Madness Giveaway

It is so hard to believe that the month of March is almost over with. So you know what that means? It is time for another giveaway for one of my lovely followers to win. Just post a comment by Sunday March 28th 8pm EST., for a chance to win one of my little glass pendants. I will contact the winner on Monday.

Giveaway!!

I wanted to start off the month by having a giveaway with one of my new journal/sketchbooks. Just post your comment here for a chance to win. The contest ends on Friday 8pm EST.

New Fall Tags & Contest

I have not painted lately, hopefully that will change next week. I do however have some new gift tags that would make the perfect hostess gift tag, or for that fall birthday. I will have them available in my shop within a day.

I haven't had a contest in a while, so to kick off the fall season I will be giving a pack of four of these tags to one person. Just post a comment about what you like about the fall season, for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Friday. Have a great weekend!

The Winner Is!!

The March winner of the print titled "Eden" is #10 Trish! Congratulations !!!

March Giveaway!

It's time for another giveaway from my shop. I am giving away one of my prints titled "Eden". This print is from an original piece of art I created. The colorful, forest including two fanciful birds continue on with my series of birdies. I so much enjoyed creating these whimsical birds and working with all the bright colors. The print size is 8 x 10. There is a white border wide enough to matte the image for framing. It is also signed by the artist (me).

Just post a comment for a chance to win. Contestants who are eligible are those who have not won in the last 90 days. The winner will be announced next Friday March 2oth. You have until 3pm to post EST. I will announce the winner name later that evening. Post your email address and respond within three days.

The Winner Is!

The winner for my January giveaway is #25 Thelma Art! Congratulations Thelma.

Stay tuned for next months giveaway.