Earth Day Extravaganza

In honor of Earth Day, on Tuesday, April 22 the proceeds from any and all purchases made at harvestorm creations will be donated to The Nature Conservancy's Plant A Billion Trees Campaign. One tree will be planted in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil for every dollar donated!

In addition, for the entire day, everything at harvestorm creations will be 17% off.

Why 17%? Because 17 is the number of acres equal to the size of my ecological footprint. If you're curious to know the size of your ecological footprint, you can find out by taking the Earth Day Ecological Footprint Quiz like I did.

So how does my 17 acres compare with others? According to the quiz, the average ecological footprint in the United States is 24 acres per person. So, relatively speaking, I thought I was doing pretty good. But then as I read on I learned that worldwide there exists only 4.5 biologically productive acres per person and that if everyone lived like me, we would need 3.8 planets. Yikes!!!

I'm going to do my part this Earth Day and help to make a positive difference in the state of our planet. After all, as Wendell Berry once so wisely said, "The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy and, after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope." I couldn't agree more.

So, if you'd like to take responsibility and do your part to help take care of the Earth (and treat yourself a bit of art in return) come on over to harvestorm creations on Tuesday, April 22, and take advantage of 17% off of everything in my shop during my Earth Day Extravaganza. And, you can feel extra good about your purchase knowing that every dollar you spend will be donated to The Nature Conservancy's Plant A Billion Trees Campaign. One dollar. One tree. One planet.

I have set a goal of $50 to be raised and donated by myself and friends of harvestorm creations. I will continue this campaign even after Tuesday the 22nd has passed ~ after all, isn't every day Earth Day? If you would like to make a direct contribution to help me reach that goal you can do so by simply clicking on the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign button in the side-bar along the right-hand side of this page.

Finally, for your eco-shopping pleasure, here are some other good-natured Etsians who will also be offering specials in their shops on Earth Day. Be sure to check them out as well:

• Alchemille will offer 20% off of many of the items in her shop on that Special Day. Read more here.

• ArtbySusmitha is having a SALE - 20% off all JEWELRY in her store from NOW through the end of April 22nd.

• AthenasDisciple has 25% off all items with green in them now through Tuesday 4/22! Read more here.

• Foret is offering a 15% discount until April 22, 9PM Eastern Time in honor of EARTH DAY.

• Hedgewitch will be offering FREE shipping on all purchases and will be donating ALL proceeds from sales to Friends of the Earth. Read more here.

• HowlingCaterpillars has created a special Earth Day Sale section in her shop with a number of items marked 20% off plus free shipping.

• Ideasign is running a special with 20%-33% off of sale items in his shop now through Friday, April 25.

• jennifersquires is running a Buy One 8x10, Get One FREE promotion in her shop thru Friday, April 25.

• LaPetiteFleur is offering Free USA Shipping on Earrings for Earth Day - through April 22.

• LittleSun has a Tree Hugger Greeting Card on sale for Earth Day. Read more here.

• magickmermaid is having an Earth Day Sale on April 21 and April 22 with 10% off all prints in her shop!

• Marilyn G at suchandsort and cigarboxbeads is having an Earth Day/Week sale with 10% off and free shipping thru April 28.

• pouch is offering a 10% discount on a selection of vintage fabric totes so you can ditch the plastic bags and use something much nicer instead! Read more here.

• Silverofthevalley is offering free shipping on all items purchased throughout April 22nd. Every purchase also gets a mini silver cleaning cloth, anti tarnish tab and a lovely small natural cotton drawstring bag.

• TheBirchTree will be giving away a free hand printed card with every purchase made on Earth Day.

• wildlifer78 has a 25% off sale running in her shop until 11:00 pm (CST - one hour BEHIND Etsy Time) on Tuesday, April 22. Read more here.

Ebullient Expression In Blue

This week's Blog Carnival topic for us EtsyBloggers is "Bull" ... anything to do with bull: the animal bull, something with the characteristics of a bull, the word bull, or words that contain the word bull ... in this case e-bull-ient. The word ebullient means zestfully enthusiastic, full of joy, or unrestrained high spirits.

During my exploration of last month's ZNE Book Club selection, Collage Unleashed, by Traci Bautista, I created a washed photocopy collage which I titled Playtime. I created this piece as a reflection of my feelings of childhood. Because of the playful and energetic spirit of this piece, I found ebullient to be an appropriate description for it and therefore a perfect choice for this particular Blog Carnival theme.

The various elements included in this collage were inspired by the things that I do when I want to reconnect with my inner child: sing, wish, adventure, dream, imagine, dance, love, play, explore, and laugh. I chose to use bright colors to reflect the boldness I associate with being a kid (and is not boldness a characteristic commonly associated with bulls as well?).

Playtime has already sold, but I wanted to share it with you here just the same in the hopes that the joyful mood that it awoke in me might also be stirred in you. I really did have a great time working on ... or should I say “playing with” this e-bull-ient piece!

April Showers Bring Clay Flowers

There’s a storm brewing in Virginia and you’d better be prepared because ... it’s raining clay!! Do you have any idea just how far-reaching the possibilities are for creating with Polymer Clay? I thought I had a pretty good idea ... and then I discovered the works of Stormy Designs.

Stormy Designs boasts Polymer Clay offerings of Designer Art Jewelry, Sculptures, and Accessories for your Body and Home. In addition, Stormy Designs also does custom work ~ creating designs made in your choice of colors and sizes. I have chosen to feature some of my favorite handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations from Stormy Designs here for you to see.

Self-described as a “young” female Senior Citizen living in central Virginia with her dog and two ferrets, I was surprised to learn that the terrifically talented artist behind Stormy Designs only began working with polymer clay in April of 2007.

On the Stormy Designs website, she tells of how she was “pushed” into trying her hand in polymer clay by a dear friend of hers in Australia. She writes, “I am so glad that I listened to her because I love working with polymer clay.” Well, I’m glad she listened to her too, because had she not, the world would not have the opportunity it does to experience the wonder of the Polymer Clay creations available at Stormy Designs.

On her Blog, Stormy goes on to write: “I have found that I love sculpting mostly. There’s just something about forming that lump of clay into something like a flower or a dragon. I love using inclusions like spices and glitter in my clay and experimenting with textures and techniques. The medium is SO versatile and SO much fun to work with.” Can't you just hear the booming of Stormy's creative thunder in that statement?

And, right now Stormy Designs is offering what I like to think of as a rainbow of sorts to its customers. Throughout the month of April, Stormy Designs is running an April Showers Sale with 10% off the purchase of 1 item ~ 20% off the purchase of 2 items ~ 30% off the purchase of 3 items ~ and 40% off the purchase of 4 or more items. Plus, you get a FREE GIFT with each order AND Stormy Designs now offers FREE SHIPPING to the U.S. and Canada!

So grab your galoshes and ride the storm out over at the Stormy Designs Blog, Etsy Shop or Website. You never know ... you may just find a fabulous polymer clay treasure that will have you singing in the rain!