No Trick! Just a Super-Duper Treat!

I just received a message from Etsian, daiseedeb, that harvestorm creations has been featured today on her blog, thinkyummythoughts. What a treat!

She chose to feature my "Pumpkin Fairy" ACEO ... a very timely selection!!

Be sure to check out daiseedeb on Etsy and visit her blog for lots of positively yummy thoughts and fantastically fun features!

"Frozen Dreams" Gets Featured...

Just one day after posting my newest ACEO, "Frozen Dreams", to my Etsy Shop, harvestorm creations, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that it was already featured in an Etsy Treasury created by Etsian, GulfCoastCottagePDF.

The Treasury (pictured below) is titled, "I dream of..."

I am honored to have "Frozen Dreams" included in such a spectacular collection of artistic works! I have discovered a number of new artists in this Treasury and have added a number of them to my Favorites!

Fun And Whimsical Pinkglitterfae Art

With Halloween only two days away, my husband and I have been watching any and every horror movie we can find on the télé! Therefore, I was super delighted to open this awesome ACEO from pinkglitterfae that I received as part of my September ACEO Mini Bounty win.

This fun and whimsical ACEO is titled, "Faerie," and was created by Betty, the artist behind pinkglitterfae, in response to an ACEO Bounty Challenge to paint 'movies'.

In the item description, Betty says that she created this piece as a spoof of one of her favorite horror movies 'Carrie'.

She also says that this ACEO "would make a great gift for someone with a warped sense of humor."

Well, I just love this card, so I guess, as the saying goes: If the shoe fits.... ;-)

I am a long-time admirer of the art created by pinkglitterfae and am so very excited to finally have one of her pieces in my personal ACEO collection!

According to her Etsy Profile, Betty is a mostly self-taught artist from Canada who tends towards whimsical art, fantasy, folk art, angels and mermaids. She says that she has taken classes over the years in order to keep growing, but found that the best thing for her was to try and find her own style.

Betty has a fun and creatively inspiring blog, Pinkglitterfae Art, where you can go to see/read about her latest artistic endeavors and happenings in her life. You will also find some interesting personal information about this wonderfully talented artist such as a list of her Favorite Books and Movies, which include:

• Artists Way ~ Julia Cameron
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV Series
• Mists of Avalon ~ Marion Zimmer Bradley
• Northern Exposure DVD
• Pride and Prejudice ~ Jane Austen
• Quantum Success ~ Sandra Anne Taylor
• The Jane Austen Book Club
• Touched by an Angel DVD
• Water for Elephants ~ Sara Gruen

To see more art by pinkglitterfae, I encourage you to check out her EBSQ Artist Portfolio Gallery or her online Flickr Gallery. And, as pinkglitterfae says in her Etsy Shop Announcement, "make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy your visit."

Art By The "Lazyhawk" Marlene Hawkins

Getting back to my fun-filled showcasing of the goodies I received as the winner of the September ACEO Mini Bounty, I am very pleased to present these three ACEOs that I received from Marlene Hawkins, the artist behind the works available in the Etsy shop, Lazyhawk.

This first card is an acrylic painting that Marlene created in response to an ACEO Bounty Challenge to make a card featuring a "Spring Abstract."

I'm not exactly sure what kind of material Marlene painted this beautiful abstract on, but I can honestly say that, by far, this is the sturdiest ACEO I have ever received!

The second card that I received from Lazyhawk is an original watercolor painting that was created in response to an ACEO Bounty Challenge to create a card featuring a "Mermaid Watching the Northern Lights."

Know that the picture of this card does not do this wonderful work of art justice at all!

Marlene used green and blue metallic inks on the mermaid's tail and in the water to give these areas fabulously placed highlights and dimension - you just can't see these special touches very well in the picture.

This third card titled, "Eye-Pod," was listed in response to an ACEO Bounty Challenge to create a card using a "Play On Words" and I just love it!!!

Marlene mounted this print of one of her original watercolor paintings onto rigid foam board so that it arrived ready for me to frame or display in any number of creative ways.

According to Lazyhawk's Profile, artist Marlene Hawkins is a proud member of the Designing Artist Women's Group (DAWG). She loves to create art, make craft projects, and also loves to make jewelry.

She is a self-taught artist and has had no formal training since the art classes she took in High School. Her favorite materials include acrylics, watercolors, ink, and colored pencils.

Finally, I just want to make you aware of how Marlene takes the art at Lazyhawk to the next level. She makes cards and magnets from her works and will even personalize these for you upon request.

If you have a favorite subject in mind and do not find what you are looking for in Lazyhawk's Shop, Marlene invites you to contact her and let her know. She welcomes the opportunity to see what she can do for you!

Halloween/Samhain Sale From The Pagans Of Etsy!!!

In honor of Halloween and Samhain, the Pagans of Etsy are having a sale! Over 25 shops are offering you discounts and freebies until October 31st in celebration of this very pagan kind of holiday.

Please search Etsy for the term "PaganHalloween" to find promotion items or simply click here!

As a proud member of the Pagans of Etsy Street Team (POEST) I am happy to celebrate Samhain and Halloween by offering a 10% discount on everything in my shop from now thru October 31st.

Additional sales and specials being offered by other POEST members during this time include the following:

• AthenasDisciple is running a sale with 15% off of everything in her shop thru October 31st.


• CobaltQuilter is offering 15% off any items in her shop tagged paganhalloween.


• DragonRags will have 20% off all items from October 27th thru November 2nd.


• DragonsMoon is offering free shipping for addresses in the US. For those residing outside of the USA, she is offering 15% off all items in her shop. In addition, Tarot Readings are currently 31% off. Plus, she has also promised to include a Freebie with any purchase.


• ElysianFields is offering free shipping to buyers in the USA.


• FollowTheRedBrickRd is offering 10% off any purchase and 15% off purchases of more than 3 items. As an added bonus, you will receive free shipping in the US for purchases totalling over $20, and for everywhere else, free shipping is available for purchases totalling over $30.


• GreenWomanCrafts has all of her Halloween items on sale and is also offering free shipping to customers that purchase multiple items.


• GypsySkies has 20% off of all items in her shop.


• Hattielicious is running a 15% off everything sale from October 18th thru October 28th.


• HowlingCaterpillars has 20% off all Halloween items from now thru Nov 2nd.


• JansBeads has free shipping on all items and will be including a surprise gift with each order. This offer also applies to her other shop, janissupplies, as well.


• LavenderDragonHerbs is running a sale including such specials as: buy any 25 pk Incense and get a 4 stick sample pk free; buy any 1 Tea and get 1 extra ounce free; buy 1 Dog or Cat Sachet and get 1 free; buy a set of Moth Sachets and get 1 extra Sachet free; 25% off all Gift Baskets; 15% off all Tinctures; and 10% off all other items in her shop. In addition, each purchase will also earn you an entry in her shop's monthly $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway.


• ltafrank will have a 10% off everything sale from the 25th to the 31st of October.


• LWaite has more than half of her items marked $2 - $6 off.


• MagicalAlchemy is offering free shipping on all herbs.


• MagickMermaid has a 10% off total purchase sale in her shop.


• Merigreenleaf has 15% off all Halloween/Autumn items.


• NascarWitch31 has 15% off all jewelry until October 31st.


• Nefaeria has $5 off of Haindl Rune Oracle readings.


• ShadeSongs has 20% off all items in her Halloween Section.


• StarryDance has 10% off everything in her shop.


• SusanSee is offering 20% off of everything in her shop.


• TheBirchTree has a number of items on sale thru October 31st located in the Halloween Mega Sale section of her shop.


• TheMoonlitSea is offering 10% off everything in her shop.
  


• Tunrida has reduced the price of her Oracle Runes to $20 thru October 31st.


• Vidia2be has 10% off everything in her shop and will include a free gift with any purchase.

"Pablola" Gets Featured...

While clicking and commenting my way through some of the Etsy Treasuries last night, I was delightfully surprised to discover that one of my ACEOs, "Pablola," was featured in a Treasury created by Etsian, PHANTOMHEART11.

The Treasury (pictured below) is titled, "Say Hello to My Little Friend".

I feel very honored to have one of my works featured in a Treasury full of such wonderfully awesome, colorful and creatively captivating pieces - including a couple from two of my favorite Etsy Artists, GalleryJuana and Kitty107.

Always Artistic ... The Name Says It All

As I am still continuing on with my Mini ACEO Bounty Blog Bonanza, I wish to share with you today the six (yes, count 'em ... six) ACEOs I received from Etsy Artist alwaysartistic.

According to her Etsy Profile, Pam (aka alwaysartistic) lives in Southern Alberta, Canada and sells framed and unframed prints, as well as greeting cards both locally and around the USA. She says she is an amateur photographer who has always loved taking pictures and that she has gotten more into it in the last few years ... and am I glad that she has!

This first ACEO, titled "Techno Birdhouse," was created by Pam in response to an "ACEO Bounty" Challenge on "Where Birds Live." I just love the post-production altered effect of this image.

And, while slightly off topic, (since this is not an ACEO), I nonetheless want to share with you another wonderful piece by alwaysartistic that I was thrilled to acquire back in May of this year.

It is titled, "Aging Tulip," and is a 5"x5" print of a photo taken by Pam through the viewfinder of a Kodak Duaflex camera using her Canon Rebel XTi camera.

Can you see now why I am so very glad that Pam is pursuing her love of photography? I love what her works allow me to see!! :-)

This next piece that I received from Pam as part of my Mini ACEO Bounty win is titled, "A Knight..." and was created by her in response to a Challenge that I actually initiated on the subject of "Arthurian Legend."

So, as you might expect, I was very pleased to learn that this card was to be included in my winnings. Whoo-hoo for me!!

Finally, Pam was generous enough to include a set of four ACEOs as part of the Mini ACEO Bounty. This set was created in response to a Challenge to depict The Four Seasons.

Pam is a proud member of the group, Photographers of Etsy, and was also a Featured Etsy Seller in the Blog of ara133photograph. To view more of Pam's photography, please visit her website, Photography by Pam.

Snitterdog and The Greene Fairy's Adventures in Pookie Town

To be clear, Snitterdog, The Greene Fairy and Pookie Town are all Etsy Shops maintained by a wonderfully talented and, I must say, quite witty and humorous woman named Kerry who currently lives in Savannah, Georgia.

According to Kerry:

• Snitterdog is the place to find unusual, funky artwork
• The Greene Fairy is a shop with nature inspired treasures and handmade cards
• Pookie Town is a fun little place for casual, friendly jewelry

Now, when someone takes the time that Kerry clearly took to package these fantabulous goodies that I won as part of the September Mini ACEO Bounty, I cannot let that go without comment. Tucked nicely into a Super Strong Moisture Resistant Scotch Mailer were three individually wrapped/packaged items along with a copy of my invoice and a lovely, hand-written, personal note from the Artist herself.

This first ACEO is from The Greene Fairy, and is titled, "Sea Shell in Blue." It was listed by Kerry in response to an ACEO Bounty Challenge to create a work of art on the subject of "Beach Scenes."

One of the aspects of visual mediums of artistic expression that I find most fascinating is the way that various interpretations can exist side-by-side for any singular piece or series of works. For example, in addition to seeing a sea shell in this ACEO, I also see the figure of a woman relaxing while surrounded by a beautiful, soothing blue aura!!!

From Snitterdog, another of Kerry's shops, I received this awesome ACEO Mat for a 5 x 7 Frame. This was shipped with a foam core support behind it and slipped carefully into a clear protective cellophane sleeve.

Now, let me tell you, the quality of this Mat is second to none!! The edges are slightly angled, or beveled, if I am thinking correctly here. And it is thick, sturdy and perfectly pristine white.

Another item I received from Snitterdog was this ACEO titled, "Teabagging Elisabeth Hasselbeck." And, exactly as was promised in the item description, it arrived in "protective, perky, obnoxious packaging."

It was wrapped in bright fuchsia tissue paper and secured with a straw-like ribbon wrapped all-ways around the card. The ACEO was mounted with acid-free artist's tape onto a cleanly cut piece of foam core and sealed in a clear cellophane sleeve to protect it from being bent or damaged in any way during the shipping process.

Kerry says that, "Teabagging Elisabeth Hasselbeck" was inspired by an ACEO Bounty Challenge on the subject of "balls." I absolutely love it!!! (And see? I told you she was quite witty and humorous!!)

According to The Green Fairy's Etsy Profile, Kerry is "into painting, drawing, recycling, and cheese" and in Snitterdog's Etsy Profile, she states that she's "into painting, drawing, debauchery, bacon, and doggies."

She also says that she is "fond of Wisconsin winters, dry humor, tequila, and pop culture of the 1980's." When asked, "Why?," she claims that it is because she is "very much a dork" and she goes on to blame her weirdness on the fact that "she is from Wisconsin."

For a great read and to learn more about and follow along with "Snitterdog and The Greene Fairy's Adventures in Pookie Town", (by the way, I made that title up, so don't hold it against Kerry if you don't like it ... her humor is better than that!) be sure to check out Snitterdog's Blog.

And if you are looking for a real visual treat, take some time to browse the contents of Snitterdog's Flickr Site as well.

Backroom Treasures From A Stone Cottage Studio

Over the past few days, my mailbox has been bursting with ACEOs arriving from my recent Mini ACEO Bounty win and I am having a most wonderful time featuring these cards (and the fabulous Artists who created them) here on my blog!

The two cards I am featuring today come from Judy in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Judy is the curator of two shops on Etsy, Backroom Treasures and Stone Cottage Studio.

The first card shown here is titled, "Autumn Pumpkins," and it comes from Judy's shop, Backroom Treasures. I was delighted to receive this piece because Autumn is my favorite time of year and I really feel that these pumpkins capture the feeling of the season very well!

I was also lucky enough receive this ACEO, titled, "Let's Paint," from Judy's other Etsy shop, Stone Cottage Studio. I think this piece is just too cute! This girl's going to be my new little creative motivator! Who could say no to eyes like that?!?! Surely not me!!

Judy has been painting for about 15 years and, according to her Stone Cottage Studio Profile, she is an acrylic artist who sometimes dabbles in watercolors and oils. She even creates colored pencil drawings on occasion. In addition, Judy is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League and her local chapter of the National Association of Decorative Artists in Kingsport, Tennessee as well.

Judy donates 100% of the sales from her Autism Prints along with 10% of the sales from most of her other items to the Autism Society of America. She also donates to the Etsy for Animals 'Charity of the Month' from the sales of her cat and dog items.

To learn more about Judy, her art and her life, be sure to check out her blog at art-lovers.blogspot.com.