My Black Friday Sale

Today I am offering 20% everything in my shop

 use the coupon code blackfriday at checkout, and then visit the other great shops at The CrafStar.

be blessed,

Debbi

Sensational Saturday - or - Lookie What I Found!

The best part of handmade and original artwork is finding a piece that really moves you, and you just can't get it out of your mind.  That's what I want to share with you today.  A few days ago a friend of mine posted an item on facebook that took my breath away.  Of course, I didn't take the time to pin it, or share it, or bookmark it.  So I just spent the past 30 minutes scrolling down my facebook page to find it, and I didn't get sidetracked once!  Here is it....

Isn't it amazing? I can just feel the wind blowing as the tree bends, can't you?

The artist of this piece is Matthew Hamblen, and he sells on Etsy at MattsArt.  Let's see what else he has to offer.

This feels like something from a sci-fi story.  I love the colors and to me it seems almost peaceful.

Here's another one that makes me feel that I could just follow that "water(?)' trail.  While I'm not usually a big fan of abstract, I find Matt's work invigorating.

If you would like to check out the rest of his work, you can click on any picture or the link to his shop at the top of this post.

So, how about you? Do you enjoy abstract art, or more traditional works?

Be blessed,

Debbi

*yes, I know that pictures are overlapping the edges here, but they are so amazing that I didn't want you to miss the full effect.*

A Handmade Artist Feature - Quilts by Elsie

Today I want to share with you an amazing textile artist, Elsie Vredenburg.  She is the driving force behind The Craft Star shop Quilts by Elsie.  Here is a quote from her bio page,

I am an award winning professional quilter, specializing in traditional and pictorial quilts. I also do longarm quilting, and have a line of patterns for pieced lighthouse and barn wall hangings. I also will make custom quilts to order. I teach workshops in freezer paper piecing and other techniques. My workshop listings can be found on my website, www.quiltsbyelsie.com. My quilts have been shown in many national, local and regional quilt shows for the past 25 years.

Elsie is also very involved with various aspects of The Craft Star, and I love having her in my google+ circle.  She is a warm and supportive "friend".  Now let's check out some of her amazing creations.

Here is an amazing example of her bed quilts.  I love the colors and pattern of this Feathered Star Medallion queen size quilt. 

If you're looking for something smaller, how about a quilted wall hanging?  Here is a Crimson Rosella for all the bird lovers out there.

And you can go even smaller with a photo magnet.  They are photo's of her original quilts, and this one is my favorite.  Yep, cause it's in shades of orange. lol.

Elsie also offers fabric postcards, greeting cards, patterns, bags and purses, table quilts, and small quilts.

You can hook up with Elsie on Google+ where she's a regular on our live sales, and other TCS events, read her blog, like her Facebook page, she's on Twitter, and check out her wonderful pins on Pinterest.

oh, yeah, before I end this, Elsie, whatever happened to the quilt challenge?

(You need to hang out with us on Google+ to understand this, lol.)

Be blessed,

Debbi

Getting ready for Valentines Day...at The Craft Star

There's still a few weeks to go before the big chocolate day!!!!  Here's a few wonderful items I found at The Craft Star to give to your sweetie, (or to keep for yourself).

Isn't this Valentines Day wreath AWESOME?  That snowflake at the bottom is a perfect accent, and the butterfly at the top reminds us that summer is coming.  I found this in the shop of Designs by Tiffany.

Valentines Day is not just for adults either.  Every year my mother-in-law gave each of my children a chocolate heart with their names on them, and they so looked forward to that.  And I picked this necklace because this is the song I sang my youngest to sleep with every night.  You are my Sunshine. All of my children are my sunshine, so if you have kids (or not) you can give this necklace to the babies mommy. :0)  You'll find this necklace in the shop of Jabber Jewels. 

And this last item is my contribution to the Valentines Day band wagon.  My original baby elephant card.  The sketch is my late mothers, and whenever I recreate one of her designs, I feel close to her again.  Isn't he a cutie?  On the inside it says "Be My Valentine".  Who can resist?  This is listed in my shop Yankee Burrow.

(fyi....the card is actually white, but there is no heat in my studio for me to spend any time in there to take pictures, and it's too windy outside, so right now this is the best I can get.)

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?

Be blessed,

Debbi

The Craft Star artist feature - Yankee Girl Art

Today I want to share with you the wonderful art of an amazing artist on The Craft Star, 

Carol Bruno of Yankee Girl Art.  

Carol is from New Jersey, a fellow Yankee like me, only I'm originally from the other side of New York State, Tonawanda to be exact.  Carol is a lover of nature and it reflects beautifully in her art.

Here's one that Hannah would love, especially after her week at the Dude Ranch.

This watercolor painting of a running horse is so perfect, I can almost feel the wind whipping through her mane. 

This is a signed original, so you won't find another one like it anywhere.

This watercolor of a bunch of sunflowers has been my favorite since I first joined The Craft Star...actually all of her painting have become my favorite, hahaha, along with her painting of the beach.  I could so see myself relaxing in these beach chairs, feet dipping the in the surf.

Carol also has 2 other shops, This Girls Stuff, which is all vintage (yea vintage) and The Girlfriends, where she sells customizable original artwork of girls having fun, celebrating the friendships we girls share.

You can also like her on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest.

You can click on any link above to visit Carol, and while you're there at The Craft Star, check out the other amazing shops there too.  You'll be glad you did...

Be blessed,

Debbi

Monday's Best is pure Joy

 Joy Handpainted Silks is an Etsy shop jam packed full of color, and texture, and amazing fashion.  Joy is also an active and supportive member of the BESTeam, a group of Etsy artists dedicated to supporting and promoting each other through our blogs and other social media.

I love visiting Joy's shop, she has the most AWESOME silks.  Wanna see?

I had to share 2 pictures of this Teal Swirl Peacock Feather Shawl. I love the flow of the pattern, and the mix of blue and gold of the peacock "eye".  Each scarf (and shawl, and ruana in her shop) is individually hand painted, signed, and numbered, so no 2 will ever be the same.  Now that's a unique fashion statement. 

Joy started painting silk in 1989, and created several different lines throughout the years to celebrate her love of life, and passion for beauty.

Joy has recently added jewelry design to her list of talents.  These Misty Orchid Mother of Pearl earrings are printed with a photographic transfer of an original silk painting.  And this Peacock Feather Shell Pendant has the feather hand painted directly on the shell.  This would also look great with the peacock shawl, don't you think?  Joy was born raised in Pennsylvania, and has also lived in California.  But for the past 23 years she has called Oregon home, with her family.  Joy shares that "painting silk creates a wonderful natural rhythm in our life. The weekly stretching, painting, steaming, prepping, shipping and photography are creative activities that I center my home life around."

I'm going to leave you with a peek at one of my favorite pieces in Joy's shop.  The Sedona Sunset Handpainted Belly Dance Hip Scarf.  While I don't belly dance, this scarf would still look great on me....or you.  You'll find special promos on her facebook page, and you can take a virtual tour of Joy's studio and watch her work on her website.  It's really cool, I've been there. :)  So click on any link to find Joy, and share the Joy with your family and friends.  Right now she is offering a 15% discount if you use the coupon code ETSYXO at checkout.

Etsy / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Website

Be blessed,

Debbi

An artist full of color!!!

"An artist in love with color, and a dreamer in love with art".  Those are the words that so aptly describe the artists behind Borrettoart on Etsy.

We have the Carolina Balloon Fest here every October, and to see those massive balloons fill up, and then ascend into the sky is amazing to see, and this Hot Air Balloon original acrylic on canvas captures the essence of that sight perfectly.  I find it amazing that these paintings are not created with a brush but with a special palette knife.  That really gives these works of art a depth you would not otherwise see in an acrylic painting.  Boretto Art is a a pair of artists that live together and work together in Sydney Australia, and a lot of their paintings are of the beach, or the Sydney Opera House.

I personally love going to the beach...any beach would be fine with me.  There is something about feeling the power of the ebb and flow of the waves as they come in from way out in the ocean to visit you on the sand.  Staring at this Summer Breeze Original Acrylic Painting, you can almost feel the pull of the surf trying to carry those swimmers out to sea.  When you order a painting from Borrettoart locally, it comes framed and ready to hang.  If you are ordering from overseas, the painting will come rolled and will need to be restretched. 

As a framer, I can tell you honestly, that framing is no problem at all, any reputable craft store with a framing section can do it at little cost. The last painting I would like to share, I absolutely love. I can't help but stare into the eyes of this beautiful woman on their Original Arabian Nights.  You can almost hear the jingle of the bells on the camels as they glide across the sand.  My personal favorite.  A really great thing about Borrettoart is the affordability of their artwork.  You don't have to take out a loan to have "real" art hanging on your wall.  You can click on any of the above links to go visit their Etsy shop.  And you can also find them in cyberland by clicking on the links below.

Etsy / Website / Facebook / Blog

And if you're an Etsy artist with a blog, come and join the BESTeam for fun, support, promotion, and friendship.

Debbi

Saturday Shopping Link Up - decorate for fall

Yesterday was the first day of fall, and I said to myself "self, what a great idea for this weeks linky party".  So I went "shopping" on Etsy for some fall/autumn home decor items and this is what I found...

a set of 4 handpainted wine glasses from JudiPaintedit.  What a beautiful way to set the table for your holiday get-together.  Judi will also custom paint glasses to meet your special need.

And I love this owl.  Funny how you never really notice owls during the heat of the summer, but when the temperature starts to dip, and night comes early, you can hear them more.  This Owl Drawing is an original artwork from the hands of LainyArt.  She can make a custom portrait from your photograph, and in her shop you'll also find handpainted scrabble pendants for you jewelry designers out there.

And you simply cannot decorate for the fall season without pumpkins.  Personally, I'm not into Halloween and jack-o-lanterns, so this Trio of fleece Pumpkins is perfect for me.  Weighted at the bottom to stay where you put them, you can find these in the shop of SimpleJoysDecor.

So, now's the time for you to look through your shop and/or blog and find something to share with the world, then link up below.  And it doesn't have to be just from Etsy, share from Folksy, Artfire, or even your own website.  Just join, and then share the fun.

I told you I'd bee back

Well, a week without Internet service, and my blogging schedule is all messed up.  But in my life, what else is new, lol.  Not only have I not been able to blog, I haven't been able to visit the Hive to see what's new.  So today I buzzed on over there, and this is what I found...161 notifications.  Boy, I guess the world wide wed just keeps turning even without me, :~P.  So let's see what's up...

Joni from PopArtMini's started a Friday facebook follow...always good for some new fans, and great to find new pages that you might like.

Here's something interesting...The Hive is looking for a few good people.  Actually they are looking for Design and Demo team members.  What a great opportunity.   Play with new crafting tools and then get to write about them?  That's my kind of "job".  Now if you haven't joined the Hive yet, what are you waiting for? It is a great place to start, and keep, your creative juices flowing. 

Before I leave, I just want to share this with you.

Lynn made this amazing and elegant card, and I love how she shares just how she created this wonderful work of art.  You can see more of her work at her blog.

Well, I'll see you all tomorrow, bright and early for my weekly linky party.  And the theme is ummmm, FALL.  Yeah, that was a hard theme to think of, with today being the first day of fall and all. hahaha

Happy Creating!

Debbi

Besteam feature on Solhful

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but many of the photos in the Etsy shop, Solhful, left me speechless.  Such beauty, such romance, such.....well, you know what I mean.  Ana Cole is the talent behind the camera, and she is truly a romantic at heart.  Only a heart full of peace and love can see the beauty found in nature, and then she enhances it till you just feel peacful yourself.

I love this one.  I can just feel myself laying in this field and watching the clouds slowly make their way across the sky.  Maybe even see a horse and a clown in the cloud formations.  Do you remember doing that as a child?  Wonderful days filled with fun, not worries.  so let this beautiful print, "No Coward Soul" sooth your spirit.  Title inspired by the quote,

"No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear."
-Emily Bronte

Ana incorporates her love of classic literature into many of her pieces.  To be surrounded by these beautiful works of art, and beautiful words, is sure to enhance your home, and lift your spirit.

The process Ana uses to show peace in the above scene, she also uses to make her colors pop off the page.  Like this delicate Calla Lily bouquet. You can almost smell their sweet fragrance.  I take photos, and like to scrapbook, but I don't have the knowledge to make my photos look like this.  I truly feel that it takes more than just knowledge of a photoshop program, it takes a special "eye" and heart to create something so wonderful.  Ana has that "eye" and that heart to create images that evoke emotions and stay with you even after you turn away.  And isn't that the mark of a true artist?  Ana uses only the best paper on her creations, so you will be able to enjoy them for years to come.  She has even taken her phots and put them on stretch canvas for that special arty feel.  Like this Yellow Rose on stretched canvas.  At 11x14, it's a perfect size to make a focal point in any room.  Whatever you choose to purchase from this shop ships already matted and in an acrchival sleeve, boxed and wrapped in a pretty ribbon.  I spent my childhood watching my mother paint, and helped her mat and frame her art for juried shows, and I have worked at Michaels as a framing specialist, and I cannot stress enough just how important it is to use supplies in your framing that will keep your art lasting a long long time, without yellowing or staining.  After all, the art you buy today could end up on the Antiques Roadshow in just a few generations, lol.  Ana writes a blog, and it is so interesting. She gives tips and shares her work, plus she shares other great BESTeam shops, so it is a must read.  And her very own web page which I found totally cool. Someday I'm gonna have one like it, sortof, haha.  You can also follow Solhful on facebook.  Right now Ana is sending 10% of her profits to African famine relief.  So when you buy from this shop, you are also helping others.  Enjoy!

Debbi

If you are an Etsy artisian that likes to blog, click here.
If you are a blogger that sells on Etsy, click here.

Besteam feature on Empty on the Inside

I have a new friend.  Maybe not a best friend (yet), but definitely a BESTeam friend, and her name is Annie Oliverio.  She paints.  I want to paint.  She paints cards.  I love getting cards.  She writes a blog.  I LOVE her blog.  See...kindred spirits, lol.  When I knew that I had the fun of featuring her shop Empty on the Inside this week, instead of a "normal" feature just talking about her shop, I wanted y'all to get to know her.  You see, I have been following her blog for a few weeks, and this girl is interesting.  She is not afraid to share.  So I sent her a message asking if she had anything special I could share, like an embarrassing story.  And she did not disappoint, hahaha.  So here it is, in her own words....
My fate was sealed long ago, my destiny to a life of paint, brushes and small paychecks formed far back in elementary school. It can all be clearly traced to a single event from my childhood. My beloved second grade teacher, Mrs. Brannick, passed out a math quiz one afternoon – what could it have been in the second grade – adding a few small figures together? Certainly nothing too complex. But as I sat staring down at the figures on the page, puzzling, I realized that I had – rather urgently – to use the bathroom. Mrs. Brannick had told us that we could only go to the restroom once we finished our math test and Mrs. Brannick’s word was law. Her admonition only served to add to the confusing jumble of numbers in front of me. I knew this stuff! But my brain refused to process, my fingers suddenly couldn’t be persuaded to be (literally) counted on and in fact, there was nothing but a gray blankness in my mind. Focus! But my only focus, the single thought in my head was: I must use the restroom. Now. As my fellow classmates completed their tests one by one, my sense of desperation only deepened. I knew I’d be the last to finish – if I finished – and in the meantime, my bladder was sending me dire threats and urgent warnings of imminent disaster. Of course the inevitable happened. My self-control abandoned me and I had an accident right there at my desk, in my classroom, surrounded by 20 or so of my peers. The humiliation was swift and deep. I do remember the awful moments after this embarrassing event – the laughing and pointing – but the hold-over is that ever since, I struggled and still struggle with any kind of math or figuring. Formulas and equations and long lists of numbers make me queasy; trying to add in my head gives me the same feeling as looking over the edge of a skyscraper. Without the comfort of a calculator I am completely lost. And so now it is that I surround myself with colors and lines and shapes with no need to discern their angles or lengths, areas or sizes. Even so, I always make sure that I’m never too far from a bathroom.

(Incidentally, I had a “repeat performance” later that same year stranded mid-line at the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride in Disneyworld, effectively ruling out a career in the Navy.)

Hahaha, I love this woman!  And I love her cards.  She has such amazing talent.  This one is titled Winston.  My PeeWee gives me that look every time I get comfortable in my chair with my laptop on my lap.  The look that says "hey, that's my lap". teehee.

The cool thing about Annie's cards is...they are empty on the inside.  Hence the name.  She has purposely left the inside blank so you can add your own feelings and words to each card you purchase.

This toy truck greeting card would be perfect for Owen.  He loves trucks, and trains, and anything even remotely boyish.  He also like to watch High School Musical, but don't tell his dad, hahaha.  Sorry, I know this is all about Annie, but I just couldn't help myself :~D

Annie's cards are all hand painted and original.  So when you give an Empty on the Inside card, you are giving the best.  Better than Hallmark or American Greetings.

Considering the cost of mass produced cards nowadays, Annie's cards are very reasonable, and well worth any price to share some art with someone you love.

This last card was a custom order.  So if you need to have an extra special card created, Annie is the girl for you. 

Now for her blog, Dough, Dirt, and Dye.  This is a must read.  Funny and insightful, and just full of, well, Annie's world.  It's a fun world.  And in addition to all of this, she has a facebook page too.  So click on the links above, the you'll want Annie as your BESTeam friend too.
Debbi

If you are a blogger that has an Etsy shop, click here.
If you are an Etsy artist that likes to blog, click here.

come meet the CAPSteam

We belong to several different Etsy teams, and I thought I would start to introduce you to some of my CAPSteam buddies.  CAPSteam stands for Christian Artists Promoting Shops team, and I feel the need to promote some of these great shops.  This will be an ongoing feature, since there are 483 members of this team, lol.

The first shop is also our team captain...Christie Cottage.  This shop carries jewelry supplies, original artwork, and hand sewn objects.  The item I chose from this shop is this wonderfully bright original acrylic painting.  It is a 16x20 standard size, so framing this would be oh so easy, and would look perfect anywhere.


Our next shop is tomroche, one of our CAPSteam leaders.  Tom is a retired Navy man (so was my dad, and is my granddaughter) and makes the most amazing creations with wood.  From trivets to jewelry boxes to cutting boards, the attention to detail is outstanding.  I love these Fat Cat, Kitty, and baby cutting boards.

And my last shop for now is our other team leader WatercolorsNmore.  Roxanne is an extremely talented water color artist.  And in her shop you'll find a broad range of items in a broad range of pricing, so anyone can afford some original artwork.  I love my country, and I love this American Eagle.  It is acrylic and watercolor and measures a cute 6x6.

Be sure to stop by these shops and enjoy browsing all they have to offer.

our cherokee weekend

This past weekend Chuck and I ran away from home.   Now, being foster parents, running away is not as easy as it sounds...but we did it!  Once we decided to take some time for ourselves, and had the kid weekend arrangements all made, the question became...where to go?  We thought of the beach, we really love the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in fact Amanda and Brandon got married on the beach at Nags Head.  But with the temperature here in the foothills already hitting the lower 90's, the beach was just going to be waaaaay too hot, so we opted for the mountains, to Cherokee North Carolina.  What a wonderful time we had there...I highly recommend this to everyone.  We went thru the museum, and then thru the Oconaluftee Indian Village.  This is a guided tour thru a recreated Indian village, and amazing.  No matter how old you get, there is always something new to learn :)

Our tour guide, (the one with the pony tail) was so very knowledgeable, and passionate, about his people.  And this tour really got my mind in a whirl of ideas for our shop.  So today I decided to do a little window shopping on Etsy and would like to share what I found.  First, some art...

 I picked this first one because of the vibrant colors and theme.  The Cherokee were a peaceful tribe, and preferred to stay home then go to war.  They had several festivals during the year which included the corn dance.  You can find this Feather, Gourds, and Indian Corn in oil in the Etsy shop of JoEllenArt.

And what is an Indian without a horse?  Just look into the eyes of this painted pony.  He's staring at you, lol.  This is an ACEO card OOAK original by Rosalie Rushing.  You can find this Indian Horse named Cherokee in the Etsy shop of biggirl4664.

Then there is the pottery.  Watching how the woman in the village made her pots was very interesting.  Did you know that the Cherokee did not spin their clay?  It was all done slowly with nothing but their hands shaping the clay.

 The colors of this Cherokee Pottery Mug are very vibrant and bright.  This is in the Etsy shop Purplevelvet711.

This vase is hand painted with a beautiful Indian maiden and her wolf.  This vase measures 11" high.  You can find Cherokee Indian Woman with Wolf at the Etsy shop TheMichelleK.

And last, but certainly not least, my latest favorite craft, beads and jewelry.

 Nothing says Indian like the color turquoise and beads.  These Beaded Native American white buffalo earrings were designed and hand crafted by a registered Native American, and you'll find them in the Etsy shop Tribalimpressions.

Now this bracelet is name "The Digusdi" which means cousins in Cherokee.  Our tour guide tried to teach us a few phrases in Cherokee, but boy was that difficult.  You can find this at the Etsy shop jstinson.

I hope you enjoyed my trip, and that you find something Indian to get for yourself.

Debbi

Besteam feature on youaremysunshine

"you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey,

 you'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away"

Imagine my pleasant surprise when I found that I get to feature Nina from You Are My Sunshine on Etsy...again.  I love this shop.  Everytime I see her banner, I start to sing this song.  I used to sing this song to my youngest son when he was little (he's now almost 28, gahhhh), and what a pleasant surprise to read on Nina's profile that she also sang this to her boys.  Great minds, and all! haha.  Here are just a few new items she has added since my last shopping trip.  Yes, I am a satisfied customer :) .

She is know for her fabric flowers, but how she incorporated them into jewelry is wonderful...

like this elegant flapper bracelet.

She also upcycled this mini purse, and dressed it up with, you guessed it, a beautiful flower.

And my all time fave is this "dazzling, calling for attention" brooch.  And it certainly does that!

With 907 sales, and 555 feedbacks, all 100% positive, you can rest easy that your money is being wisely spent in Nina's shops.  And speaking of shops, I don't know how I missed this the first time, but Nina has a second shop on Etsy...My Sunshine Vintage.

I would have finished this feature long before now, but I literally got lost in this shop searching for just the right items to share with you.  With 913 items to choose from, I was happily lost in this vintage world.  I love all things old...at least older than me...haha.  When they first started playing my songs on the classic station, I cried, and while antiquing with my hubby, I used to say "I wonder what it was like back then".  Now I say "hey, I remember those". 

Like these bright and colorful vintage tinker toys.

Now, I didn't play with these myself, but my kids would have. 

And these potholders would have been something my granny would keep in her kitchen.

Way too pretty to use.....and speaking of granny, check out these glasses!!!  My "much older" sisters used to wear glasses like these, HAH!

And for one of my favorite memories ever...Alice in Wonderland.

I grew up in an old farmhouse, and my mother (who was a great artist) painted an Alice In Wonderland mural on the wall in our back breezeway.  Remember breezeways???  So this mural was the last thing we would see going out, and the first thing we would see coming home.

My Sunshine Vintage is also an established shop with over 1500 sales, and 100% positive feedback.  You really must check it out, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there.

You can also find Nina on facebook and twitter, and follow her blog for more shopping fun.

~Debbi~

If you are an Etsy seller that blogs, or an blogger that has an Etsy shop, check out the BESTeam for fun, support, and promotions!