Featuring Mary Freeman

Mary has been a blogger friend of mine for the past three years. Check out her blog here. Our paths have crossed several times, but unfortunately we have not met each other in person. Hopefully that will change this week since we are planning to meet for coffee.




Most of Mary’s work comes from her processing internal issues and time spent in quiet reflection. Mary developed her style through trial and error and experimentation.

Mary began making cards and prints of her journal pages and paintings in 2010. She also leads visual journaling workshops at her church and to small groups in her home studio. Mary teaches several techniques for creating backgrounds, but her main focus is on what she calls heart work. Getting down on the page what's going on inside is her main focus. She is continually amazed to see how putting down paint and using various supplies can facilitate the "seeing". Mary has also led workshops in several retreat settings. She always has a journal prompt available to help begin the process.

Along with her painting Mary loves to read, decorate, and re-arrange furniture in her home and other friends’ homes. Mary was featured with her reflections of faith and thoughts in an online magazine called Sprout.

Mary is generously offering one of my readers three cards from her shop A Splendid Adventure. The winner can pick them. Just leave a comment for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

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.

Hand painted Pumpkin

I got some inspiration from my Thanksgiving card. I decided to paint my design on this pumpkin. Instead of going the traditional route this year I decided to change it up a bit. I also was thinking of adding dimensional paint to accent the lines. What do you think? I also admire Alisa Burke's creative fall pumpkins here.

These cards are available in my shop.

The winner of Katies Pastries is #15 Jus and Kat. Congratulations!

Sunny Day

Finally I have taken some time to paint a new landscape to my collection. I at first struggled over the background probably because I got a little rusty over the summer break. I decided to repaint the sky

because it didn't look just right to me. The end result to me looks better on the second try.

The winner of the PS Its in the Details cute little strawberry lemonade collection is Kitty Cat!

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.

Mickey Mouse

I thought I would show you this adorable print that I saw at the World of Coke Museum last summer in downtown Atlanta. Isn't he adorable! The winner of the beautiful necklace from Zuda floral necklace is Cabootique congratulations!

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.

Tutorial and Blog Winner!

I decided to add a little flair to this white t shirt with the stamp I made a few weeks ago. Come take a look on how it was done.



I carved out a drawing that I had made before. I reversed the image on some parchment paper before tranferring onto the stamp block. I used a pencil to draw all over the back of the paper the image so I could transfer the image. Then I carved out my stamp with Speedball carving kit.

I placed a piece of chip board in between the shirt, so to protect the back.

After I finished carving out my stamp I used acrylic paint with Delta Creamcoat Textile medium. The textile medium transforms the paint to become a textile paint. I randomly placed the flowers down the shirt.

I added a second row of flowers and allowed the shirt to dry. I let the shirt cure for seven days before steam heating on medium on the back of the shirt. That's it, simple and unique fashion tee for the summer!

The winner of the tote bag is Little Sistah Studio. Congratulations!

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.

January Giveaway!!!

It is time again for my giveaway for the month of January. I was trying to decide what item to select, so I came up with one of my birdie ACEO (Art, Cards, Editions or Originals) prints. An artist card is like a baseball trading card that artist sell or trade with others. I thought it would only fitting to have my first birdie I created as the prize!

Come and post a comment for a chance to win. Only people who have not won in the last 90 days are eligible to enter the contest. I will send you an email and you have 3-4 days to respond. If I don't hear back from you I will select another person. Sorry. Leave a comment by 2pm January 23rd. The winner will be announced that evening.