First Signs of Autumn

Here is a collection of wonderful pastels and a beautiful greeting card by my friend and collaborator Lindacaterpillar. She has two shops on etsy which feature her amazing art work.

The weather today was beautiful, tinged with that last-day-of-summer-first-day-of-Autumn feeling.

The trees haven't turned yet but they soon will.

The leaves haven't fallen yet but they soon will.

The glorious colors of Autumn aren't here yet, but they will be, soon. Find this beautiful card in this shop.

This year's pine cones haven't fallen, but they will do, soon.

Have you seen my Linda's two Etsy shops? In one she sells art; pastels, watercolors, acrylics and photographs.
In the other she sells cards made using that art. Come and visit her, revel in color, beauty and unique work that she has there waiting for you!

Today her beautiful pastel of a yellow Autumnal leaf was chosen to be in this Etsy Treasury:

Team Work

As you know, getting your items seen on the Internet is a labor intensive and complex endeavor. I have been working with a fellow teammate to feature our items together in the hopes that both items will become more visible on the Internet. Lindabutterfly and I are members of a wonderful team of artisans who work together to help promote our products and websites. Linda is and artist whose incredible work can be seen here and here. We have recently listed two of our items together on our etsy shops to be sold for a discounted price. We thought that these items complimented each other beautifully and would make a wonderful gift item. The listings for these items can be seen on our etsy shops. They can be purchased in either Linda's shop or at my shop. This experience has been a great deal of fun and we think you will be as pleased as we are with the results of our team work.

Magic, Fairy Tales, and a Sprinkle of Whimsy

The magical artwork of Victoria Vusova has captured my heart. After browsing her wonderful shop, I knew her work would be perfect to add to my HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE. Her brightly colored works of art will put a smile on your face. Reminiscent of the fairy tales that enchanted me as a child , I chose these beautiful pieces to feature. Do not miss her shop at http://vusova.etsy.com/ and think about making one of her pieces of art a gift for that special person on your shopping list.

Home for the Holidays

I love being in my home for the holidays. It's warm and cozy by the fireplace, delicious food is readily available and wonderful aromas fill the air. My home is comfortable and decorated with art that I enjoy seeing every day. Many years ago my brother brought me a painting done on plaster which he found on a trip to Greece. It looked as though it had come straight from the walls of an ancient dwelling. That painting was one of my favorite gifts and still is to this very day. A gift of art can be very special and become an item that adds to the beauty and warmth of a home. The shop of Lupe at http://artgarden.etsy.com/ carries beautiful prints and paintings that would make a lovely addition to a home. The print she calls Visions of Home is the one that first caught my eye . The girl you see through the door could be me coming in from my garden. It inspired such a feeling of warmth and tranquility in me that I had to add this artist to my HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE.

Poetry in Motion

I have just had the most pleasant visit to the shop of Jennifer Gordon, writer and mixed media artist. Her beautiful work is for sale on etsy at http://stilettoheights.etsy.com/ where you will find original works of art , prints, illustrations, journals, cards, mirrors and jewelry. Her prints have an ethereal look about them , many featuring women who appear to be lost in deep thought. It was hard to choose the photos I wanted to feature here because I liked them all. I chose Amelia as one of them because she was a woman I greatly admire. These beautiful works of art are truly poetry in motion.

Just Great Designs

I took a peek at the this wonderful shop this morning and saw so many things I liked I had a hard time choosing which photos to put up on my blog. The very talented owner of etsy shop

http://eclatdesigns.etsy.com/ is a wonderful photographer as well as a jewelry deigner. This is what she tells us in her profile:

"I started making jewelry fairly recently and discovered that I have a passion for it. It started when, at the age of 29, I got my ears re-pierced. I suddenly developed an interest in making earrings. I think it was my rational mind's way of curbing my shopping. I had so much fun making earrings that I expanded to necklaces and bracelets. I never thought of myself as particularly "crafty," but I find that the more I do, the more I want to do. Making jewelry relaxes me.As for photography, that's something I've always done. It's always been personal for me. There are few things I enjoy more than spending a day alone with my camera. I have photos all over my house, in frames, albums, boxes, and totes. They are not just shots of friends and family; I love scenes that are evocative of good memories. I decided it might be fun to share those scenes and see if they struck a chord with anyone else."

This is just a small sampling of the kinds of items that can be found in the wonderful shop of Crafty Moose. From French beaded flowers, to dolls and mini works of original art, this shop has something for everyone. I chose these items because each one has special meaning for me. I love beaded flowers and like to collect Santas. Venice,Italy is on my list of the top 10 places to visit, but unfortunately I missed Burano. The picture below has convinced me that next time I go, Burano will be on my list of places to see. Get your holiday shopping list ready and pay this shop a visit. Don't forget to visit Crafty Moose's blog too.

Welcome to Paradise!

Everyone has a place they consider to be paradise. Mine is the beach and that is why I chose the handmade sign above as my favorite. Joanne uses Belizian wood for these custom signs. They are so cheerful and colorful. A sign like this would be perfect for anyone's paradise. Her paintings are equally delightful.