Sunday, March 7, 2010

Spring and Swaps!

There are some things I love about being involved in art groups and Etsy Teams. One of them is swaps.

I'm participating in a spring swap which was introduced on my ACEtsy Team (a team for ACEO creators).
Anyway it's bunnies, flowers, eggs, babies, new life...anything that says Spring! And oh, I'm sooooo ready for spring.  After I finish the cards I will post photos for you to see. So stay tuned!

I have lots of beautiful pieces of miniature art from some talented online artists. Who knows one day maybe those pieces will be worth millions!  :)  But until then I just enjoy the awesome art from some people who have become wonderful friends through these online associations.

Oh, and here's the link for the Spring Swap details: http://catscradlecreations.com/blog/2010/02/21/spring-atc-swap/

Friday, March 5, 2010

Luck of the Irish...or in this case the Irish Corkie


Irish Corkie Primitives is one of the member shops in the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy.  I love her signs. Some are quite humorous like the one I've chosen for this blog post. I love this one.  So check out her interview and while you are at it stop by her Etsy shop and blog.



1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?
I named my shoppe Irish Corkies Primitives for my yellow lab Corkie, her full name is Bailey’s Irish Cork.

2. How long have you been on Etsy?
I have been on Etsy since 2006, but really started selling there about a year ago.

3. What type of items do you offer?
I offer hand-crafted primitive signs, primitive shelf-sitter blocks, and peg racks. I hope to expand into more furniture items in the future.

4. How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting for the past 10 years or so but have really focused on my primitive signs for the past 6 years.

5. Who or What inspires you?
I love the olde look and feel of times gone by and I just love how prim signs and decorating can make your home feel like it is from the 1800’s with a few modern throw ins.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My favorite item in my shop is the Thomas Jefferson quote sign…I made one for my husband and it is proudly displayed on our Americana wall in our great room.

7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)
http://irishcorkies.etsy.com
http://irishcorkieprimitives.artfire.com
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Sly-Pond-Primitives
http://irishcorkiesprimitives.blogspot.com/
http:/slypondprimitives.com/

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Scrabble Addict

Okay okay I admit it! I HAVE BECOME A SCRABBLE ADDICT! Isn't that the first step to recovery admitting it! LOL  One day I heard there was scrabble on Facebook and after that it was all over.

I'm up to 4 ongoing games and all I can think about when I'm off the computer is I wonder if it's my turn. How sad is that?  

So if you are on Facebook and want to play a game just send me an invitiation. I'll be waiting!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Counting Blessing's - Tammy Moody

Tammy Moody is quite a talented person. I first met her as an ACEO artist. She's a member of the Designing Artist Womens Group ( DAWG) Team on Etsy.  She's jumped in an become one of the driving forces on the Team to support Lisa.  Her animal art is awesome. They look so real.




Tammy has also gotten into greeting cards. She self trained herself on graphics software and does some really cool cards.  Here's one on the right.....isn't it adorable...speaking of counting blessings....having Tammy as one of my online friends is definitely a blessing to me!

1) Tell us about yourself.
My name is Tam Fleetwood Moody. I have been creating art since I was a little kid. I am a self taught artist and have been taking college classes on and off for the last five years. I hope to eventually get my degree in the art field, but am uncertain at this point which avenue I will travel. I am just looking forward to being able to take some college training at some point in the very near future. I am a realism and portrait artist for the most part and I dabble in illustration and graphic design as well. I create greeting cards online at Greeting Card Universe and sell my cards independently too. I also sell my paintings and drawings online and independently. Norman Rockwell is one of my favorite illustrators.

2) What are your preferred mediums and art scale (miniature, large art, etc) My preferred mediums are prisma colored pencils, charcoal, ebony pencils, and acrylics. I prefer large scale art, but in the last several years have been trying to move into a smaller scale because I enjoy making ACEO cards. In the last twenty five years, I have painted on anything from old spoons, buckets, and shoes to cowskulls and emu eggs- so there are lots of places people might see my work. In the last five years, I have developed a true passion for digital arts and am learning more each day and developing my skills in that area. This is something I definately will expand on when I begin taking the art side of my college classes. I think it is important to keep an eye on current trends in art and right now, digital artistry has quickly become a mainstream.

3) What are your inspirations.
Gosh, I could find inspiration anyplace, in an old garage with lots of machinery, animals, in a field of clover, nature and people, I like patterns and objects that repeat, so I can find inspiration in my spoon drawer for that matter. lol Doesn't matter where I am at, I can find something to work on or focus my attention on and create it. Guess it comes from having to entertain myself outdoors as a kid. We made cars from cucumbers, mud pies, castles in the snow and forts and dug outs- so I have always been creating. It also helped that my Mom would encourage me to create- no matter where we were at. She'd give me a stick and tell me to draw her pictures in the dirt outside, or crayons and paper indoors.

4) Describe your art style.
Realism

5) Do you do anything other than painting (jewelry, crafts) I love to create crafts, quilts, quilt tops are a real passion- again with the patterns and repitition.

6) If you blog, what is your blog link.

7) Where do you sell online?
I sell online at Greeting Card Universe, Ebay occasionally, Etsy at times, Cafe Press, Zazzle, Overstock.Com, Fine Arts of America.

8) Are you opened to commission work?
When I have time, yes I do take commissions.

9) What was your favorite piece of work? If you have a photo, include it.
I haven't created it yet.

8) Do you sell in a brick & mortar shop? If so where?
Just out of my home in the community. I have been invited to several galleries, including one in California and one in New York, but so far haven't decided to go that route. I do show from time to time though when I receive invitations.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Teresa and Her Prim Treasures


I always admire people who sew. It's kinda like carpentry, you gotta be precise or it doesn't fit. I'm not one of those precise people....sometimes I color outside the lines if you know what I mean.

The pillow pictured is one of my favorite items in her shop and it is part of the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team's Spring Fling Celebration. To see more wonderful items search OFGSFC on Etsy.com


1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?
My Etsy shop name is Teresa's Prim Treasures. When I first started attending craft shows and needed to apply for a tax ID number I was told your name had to be in your title to avoid filing for a fictious name. I loved "Primitives" and wanted others to "treasure" my creations for years to come. So, putting all 3 of these together I came up with Teresa's Primitive Treasures for my website. When I opened my Etsy shop I shortened it a bit to TeresasPrimTreasures.

2. How long have you been on Etsy?
I joined Etsy in September of 2007 but didn't list anything to sell until 5 months later. So I began selling in March 2008.

3. What type of items do you offer?
My husband makes shelves, cabinets, cupboards and anything wooden I ask him to craft..... most of the time.... and I do the sanding and painting. I also love to paint and sew! You will find all 3 types of work in my shop. I love working with wool and hand stitching!

4. How long have you been crafting?
I started sewing Amish dolls and dressed bunnies back in 1989 for a local gift shop..... so that would make it 20 years! Really hard to believe! I've been so fortunate to be a stay at home mom and craft for that long.

5. Who or What inspires you?
My mother is my greatest inspiration! She has a house full of antiques and ideas for projects. I love looking at old books and surfing the web for interesting patterns!

6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I would say my Tattered Prairie Dolls. I created and named them after my nieces and my first Granddaughter. They have done quite well for me over the years!

7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)
You can find my website at http://www.teresasprimitivetreasures.com
My Blog at http://teresasprimtreasures.blogspot.com/
My Etsy Shop at http://www.teresasprimtreasures.etsy.com

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Spring Celebration


Are you ready for spring? I am and so are my sisters in the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team (OFG Team) on Etsy! Look at some of the beautiful handmade items in this celebration.


The Celebration is to be held February 15th through March 1st.   You know the old saying, "You Snooze, You Loose" so click on the Old Farmhouse Gathering Spring Fling Celebration banner above and type in the search bar OFGSFC to have first pick!  Many of these items are just one of a kind! :)

Saturday, February 13, 2010

St. Valentine & Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. It has become a special day to recognize and show appreciation for your Sweetheart, whomever that person is. It could be any loved one, your spouse, your child, special friend, parent. A day of love.  Did you wonder how Valentine's Day came about?

The day has its roots in Christianity during the days of the early church (269). It seems there was a Roman Priest, Valentinus, who was executed because he defied the emperor.  The Emperor Claudius the second had this idea that men without family & wives were better soldiers so he decided to outlaw marriage. Now we know that not to be true...men are happier and better off with us women! LOL

Well Father Valentinus didn't think too much of this so he celebrated  the sacrament of marriage in secret.  The Emperor caught wind of it and sentenced him to death. Legend has it that while awaiting his execution, Father Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. The night before his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

From then on  Father Valentinus became the symbol of love.

In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Prayer to St Valentine (from The Catholic Primer)

 
O glorious advocate and protector,
St Valentine,
look with pity upon our wants,
hear our requests,
attend to our prayers,
relieve by your intercession the miseries
under which we labour,
and obtain for us the divine blessing,
that we may be found worthy to join you
in praising the Almighty for all
eternity: through the merits of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

May you have a blessed St. Valentine's Day full of love and happiness.

A Day in the Past

Facebook reminded me that  8 years ago I was at the coliseum in Rome. The most amazing observation I made was that it was so quiet. People s...