Come September

Lucy, our Redhead.

It's late August and the hot summer is waning, and we are patiently awaiting our first eggs from our hens.  Each day we check, but no sightings thus far.  We were told that September would be the magic month, and we're counting on it.  John tells the chickens they need to earn their keep, at this point.  They are spoiled rotten, with special treats in the morning and in the evening. These tidbits include of variety of items... blueberries, pasta, potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, cooked beans of the green and black varieties, and other such sundry foods... whatever is "leftover" in the fridge or whatever has been a part of our dinner. Each evening we sit with our girls in the garden while they stretch their legs, running around after bugs and flapping their wings.  It's a good time to relax, enjoy a glass of wine, catch our breath, water the remaining tomatoes, peppers, and okra, and simply just be.

Our four girls on the loose, Lucy, Ethel, Alice and Flo.

Life has been good this summer, and the chickens have been amusing, offering much entertainment for us.  So I decided that this blog post, my first in about a month (!), will celebrate these wonderful critters.  

I found some really cool things on Etsy to share with you.

One of my most favorite pieces of chicken art... Chicken Lover by chickory

 A sweet little vintage chicken basket sold by simplychi

Rooster shirt for kids (though I might want one!) by happyfamily

 

Fun little earrings by lizzglizz

Chicken sisters from recycled sweaters by 4EweDesigns

Rooster by hartart13

A wonderfully cheerful vintage box sold by VintageStarrBeads

 

Welcome sign by cottageartshop

Chicken pendant and necklace by HeatherKent

 Lovely rustic yet chic pillow by Samantha2818

Aged garden art by mountainiron

Chickens in wood by bestlovedchild

 And a funky chicken with tattoos by corelladesign 

 Until next time, keep smiling, keep singing, and run barefoot in the grass, y'all!

A Day of Remembrance, Treasuries of Resolutions

Over the past couple of weeks, I have created treasuries on Etsy to illustrate the New Year's "resolutions" that I included in a blog post at the beginning of this year. And it seems appropriate, here on Martin Luther King, Jr Day, to post them all here.

Let Us Fill the World with Color and Cheer...

features sourlemontree, rawletterartpress, bbusbyarts, opendoorstudio, thegardenshed, ArtMind, jennreese7, studio1980, GlazedOver, LoveArtStudios, ginnyhuber, RoughMagicCreations, WoodenNickelsJewelry, caelum, Sigmosaics, and AdroitJeweler

Let Us Dream Big Dreams...

features Raceytay, FairestLJ, arianemariane, MichelleVerbeeck, SunMune, LittleGreenRoom, vadjutka, GlazedOver, urbanwalls, staroftheeast, shawnaerback, visionquest, LaTouchables, brizel4TheAnimals, silkstory, and littleputbooks

Let Us Sing Joyfully...

features ThePaperTray, gildinglilies, KathrynRiechert, haberheartworktoo, maiaart, bridgemanstudios, thepapermooonstudio, elizalenore, twirliewhirlies, nickandnessieshome, NatureIsArt, tilesmile, magymai711, melbean, ekdGoodies, and studiostebbylee

Let Us Walk Gently on the Earth...

features Uzura, ShySiren, theaterclouds, seasondelights, stonestudios, zJayne, lancasterart, RubyChicOriginals, RobinMariaPedrero, magdalinen, SpaGoddess, maternalNEST, dpholkdesigns, seaoats, FleurDetaillee, and LoveForEarth

Let Us Be Graceful and Grace-filled in our Journeys...

features littlebugjewelry, LGraceOriginals, malam, staroftheeast, veroque, justmare, aliherrmann, Raceytay, 5gardenias, SewnNatural, philosophyofnature, JCSpock, waterrose, karineleger2, jacinta11, and BungalowBathBody

Let Us Imagine Peace, Freedom, and Laughter...

features purushapeople, thecoloursoflife, TrashandTrinkets, MarianneLoMonaco, syringaspring, loveartworks, naokosstoop, DesignedToCharm, ImageNationphoto, itswrittenonthewall, suzannaanna, KilnGoddess, aerochow, mFryerDesigns, SentimentRedesigned, and localcolorist

Let Us Treasure Our Friendships...

features bluethreadsmelody, polarity, marieflyfly, maclancy, steinschmuckdesign, andreatdesigns, allartsy, f2images, SewnNatural, zirkulas, VickiWadeFineArt, OliveandRuby, artish, AugustMoonArt, justmare, and Aimeshad

Let Us Make Time for Reflection...

features moonseats, crumblescookies, bysweetmom, Xenotees, thewheatfield, rubymountaindyeworks, JewelryByTomomi, janeheller, fromArtisanHands, DeBaunFineCeramics, prettypennydesigns, KozelArtReview, donnageissler, creatocrat, margotbianca, and CloverHollow

And Above All, Let Us Love...

features PunkinSeedProductions, latenightdrawings, hideminy, Xenotees, hildes, ekdgoodies, persimmonsgal, mbartstudios, MursBlanc, SmilingGirlStudio, riricreations, TheLovelyLetter, DeadSerious2010, barnowlprimitives, Heartistics, and EmpireCityStudios

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed these Etsians' creative works. Until next time, give a hug, share a smile, and love the ones who walk into your path.

Holiday Favorites

Today I'm featuring some of my favorite and very affordable items from Etsy... wonderful goodies for the holidays. Whether as gifts for someone you love or a little treat for yourself, these things are simply lovely and magical! Enjoy, and follow the link to the seller's shop to see more of their creations.

A sweet little snowflake necklace by tahoegirl...

Gorgeously pure felted cuff by JaneBoFelt...

Beautifully framed photograph by blindwolfspirit... and it's a bird! (Those who follow me know I always have a bird or two in my collections!)

A very earthy leaf cuff, oh so gorgeous, by lochristine...

Being a handmade soap user, I always look for great soap dishes too, and here's a very pretty one with deep grooves by Creativewithclay...

And a wonderful winter photograph, perfectly titled The Spirit of Change, by theeye...

To close it all out, a sweet wired bird ornament by MyWireArt... there are several styles in her shop...

Hope you take a closer look at each one of these pieces on Etsy, and until next time, remember to buy handmade and support the intentional and wonderful work of artists!

Happy Holiday Sales

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!! This morning, I posted sales in my Etsy shop. There are a few items marked 25% off the list price for Black Friday only, and all my Gems for Neck and Ears are marked 20% off the listed price from today through December 24. Follow these links to check out these sales. I will be phasing out all of my gemstone jewelry from the Etsy shop and from my inventory at home by the end of the year, so now's the time to buy. Once it's gone, there will be no more.

Black Friday sales...

Gems for Neck and Ears sale...


I hope you all have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving and that you enjoy a precious time with family and friends. Be sure to hug the ones you love!!

Holiday Giveaway: The gift of sharing

It's that time of year again... the holiday season! It's a time to think especially about our blessings, say a prayer of thanks for the goodness in our lives, and share wonderful times with family and friends over a table filled with bounty. But moreover, I hope that each one of us will think on those people among us whose lives are not as fortunate, who struggle physically, mentally, or financially, and I hope that we each find a way to somehow offer a ray of hope to them, whether it is through a charitable donation, hours spent in volunteer work, or simply a smile and a touch on the shoulder.

I am especially thankful for the color in my life, the colors of the woods, the birds, the mountains, the colors of the characters I meet online and in my daily life, of my friends and family, my local community. So, as a way to show my thankfulness and as a way of saying thank you to those who have supported my online and physical shops, who have become steadfast friends, either online or up close, I am offering this giveaway for this holiday season.

Here's all you need to do.
1) If you haven't yet become a blog follower, please do so, and IF you are on Facebook, please "like" my page there too.
2) Once you have done these things, simply post here a special thought or memory of your holiday season (what is special about it for you, how you will celebrate, a childhood memory, OR even how you will help make it better for someone else).
3) Then tell me which of the three necklaces offered you would like to have.
4) Be sure that I have your contact information... either Etsy shop or email info!!

Choose from:
Necklace #1
18 inches with the jasper oval drop adding approx 2 inches. In earthy colors with hematite hearts, cubes, and rounds, yellow and white quartz, serpentine jade, glass seed beads

Necklace #2
16 inches with lovely shades of mookaite, turquoise rounds, mother of pearl discs, Czech turquoise crystals, sterling silver, and glass seed beads

Necklace #3
18 inches of peach, rose, and browns with jasper pendant (appx 2 x 1/2 inch), unakite, shell, faceted cat's eye, and glass seed beads

The giveaway will be open until Thanksgiving Day, November 25. The winner will be randomly drawn and notified that weekend so that the package can be mailed by the first of December.

So share your holiday thoughts and let's all share a smile as we read them!

Treasuries and Gift-Giving

Believe it or not, we've found ourselves heading into the season of gift-giving. Yes, it's here already! Sellers on Etsy are gearing up and hoping for good holiday sales, and treasuries are popping up with wonderful gift ideas. Today's post showcases treasuries in which I've been featured, but I'll begin with one I curated with the idea of Christmas wishes in mind. Is it too early for Christmas Dreams showcases things I'd love to get in my stocking or under the tree!


Be sure to follow the links to see the treasuries and featured items up close.

Innovation Design's treasury is titled Favorites, and I'm thrilled she included me!

She has featured my October Fire painting, a 16 x 20 original oil created from a photo I'd taken in 2009 of our autumn trees.

Diramar of Innovation Design creates beautiful crocheted scarves, necklaces, arm warmers and more. Here's one of my favorites, Cotton Candy, a perfect gift!

Bright, hot, and vibrant, this Red treasury by ColettesBoutique features one of my new mini paintings.

My Cardinal painting is a little 5 x 5 acrylic on canvas.

ColettesBoutique has beautiful jewelry for sale, and here are some truly fabulous earrings, but be sure to visit her store for more beauties!

GreenPost's Ornament treasury is filled with wonderful holiday ideas, as you can guess from the title. Kendra has featured another of my new mini paintings.

My Itty Bitty Poppies painting is another 5 x 5, an oil on canvas.

Kendra at GreenPost makes wonderful eco-friendly paper goods filled with flower seeds that can be planted, so her products serve two purposes! Here are her Cardinal tags, but wouldn't they also look wonderful on a Christmas tree?

GinnyHuber's Mountain Morning is a delightful collection of autumnal colors! I just love it!

Ginny has featured my mini Mountain Morning painting, a 5 x 5 acrylic on canvas.

Ginny makes wonderful felted wool products, brooches, envelopes (one of which is my business card holder), scarves and more. Here's one of my favorites, her Changing Leaves Scarf... so perfect for this cooler weather that is moving in.

And finally, a Laid Back treasury by DreamVintage which features relaxing and peaceful finds in shades of gray. She has included one of my bird paintings.

Winter Song is a 12 x 12 oil on canvas which showcases a tufted titmouse in the heart of winter.

Didem of DreamyVintage creates lovely jewelry that is, yes, vintage and vintage-inspired. Here's one of my favorites necklaces in her shop, made of porcelain and lace... so pretty!

With holidays fast approaching, I hope you'll remember to buy handmade, perhaps from some of the featured artists here, and support artists, whether locally or online at Etsy or other web venues. Until the next post, enjoy your days, be thankful for your friends and families, and share a smile with a stranger!