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.

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.

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.