Big thanks to my sponsors...I'm really enjoying these weekly sponsor spotlights where their creative talents and businesses are featured. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor (includes your ad on the sidebar + ongoing spotlights), please send me an email for further information!
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Rita Maria Gallery
creating art is my way of communicating my deepest thoughts and feelings. it can be a little intimidating to put some of my paintings “out there”. it almost feels like i’m exposing my journal for everyone to read. why create something if it isn’t going to be personal to you? not being able to paint would be the same as taking away my ability to communicate. with many of my paintings you might notice that i usually title the piece after a quote or i’ll include the quote in the painting. its usually something that i’ve connected to in some way. maybe it’s in the form of a song or a poem. i will jot it down on whatever is in front of me. sometimes i’ll carry a quote around for years until i can illustrate it in a way that just feels right. i’m really not a good writer or speaker, but i know when it is important to me, i can say it best with a brush and some paint. just like my own spirit, my work may appear very whimsical and colorful on the outside. however, if you look deeper you would see that it is very honest, meaningful and bittersweet. i leave you with not just my work, but my inspirations, my secrets, my journal; hoping that it will inspire you to express yourself as well. i invite you into my world at www.ritamariagallery.com.
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During these last few weeks of autumn, Erica Cooper has been crazy busy working in her studio office designing client spaces, creating lovely things to celebrate her client’s style, and writing about celebrating the ordinary in our lives. Erica’s passion is “all things home”, evident in her blog Celebrate Life Everyday. By celebrating the moments that are big and small; living life using the creativity within us; and embracing the place called home, that centers & restores us; we pass on all that matters. It’s telling our story and writing the pages each day with meaning and joy.
So, grab a cup of tea and join Erica over at her Blog: where the journey always heads home. While visiting, sign-up to receive blog updates and pass along the link to another kindred spirit who also loves to celebrate the daily. Please stop by to share your story!
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Oregon artist, Lindy Gruger Hanson, can look out on tall pine and aspen from her home studio. She uses her sense of the natural world to depict an inner, symbolic journey in her paintings. Stylized images of rivers, trees, birds and symbolic shapes seem to glow with a warm halo of energy. She says, "My aim is to create paintings with the belief that art can inspire people, make a house a home, and bring joy and positive energy into the world!" She hopes that her playful, vividly colored paintings can lift the spirit of others. Lindy has recently created 2 kinds of inspirational mini card decks listed in her Etsy Shop. One for the Creative Spirit and one for Wellness and Weight Loss. Each tiny deck includes 26 cards beautifully printed with a smooth matte surface and features Lindy's art paired with a positive affirmation. Put one in your purse or lunch bag to remind yourself to think positive during the day! Lindy likes to put them on the window sill in her art studio. There's magic hidden in small bundles so check them out! She also has wonderful prints and greeting cards that can be found in her Etsy Shop. Original paintings can be seen on Lindy's website.
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Fun and funky is what we do! We invite you to come and explore Allen Designs's new website CLOSE2MYART.com. We are a small studio based right outside of Portland, OR, where 5 gals and a guy work together to bring you these whimsical devices of time, funky art and other unique and affordable gift products! Wanting to give an original gift that you can't find in your "big box" stores? Then check us out! All Kelly Rae Readers receive a 10% discount with any purchase, along with a free gift! (Discount Code: KRAE10)
Also, for added incentive, profits of the website go to the Close2myArt Cycling Team, a non-profit training program that Michelle and her husband Gary started, teaching kids the basics of bike handling and racing in a fun and healthy environment. For more information about our ANNUAL STUDIO SALE check out our blog here!
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My name is Kate Johnson. Heartwork is a site about joy and exploration, curiosity and creativity. So much of life is about doing. I wanted to create a space where I could explore the act of being, to truly revel in self discovery and rediscovery, and to share some insights, questions and curiosities along the way.
I've been offering some e-workshops centered around the wildly unstructured act of journaling, but will be taking a short new-baby-hiatus from those intensive workshops in October and November-- but I invite you to join me in November anyway- I hope to post a journaling prompt-a-day to support folks delving into NANOWRIMO, or folks who just want to try journaling each day to see how that feels. I'll be starting up the online workshops as soon as I feel I can. I hope you'll join me!
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Lebenskuenstler ("the art of life") is a blog and shop created by Nicole Lawrence. We now stock beautiful Nativity Scenes, lovingly made by Nicole from plant-dyed wool. Every nativity set is unique, the wool is wrapped around itself and only the details are needle felted onto the figures. This gives them their amazingly soft look.
Mention this ad when you purchase your nativity scene and receive a free angel. Also in stock are beautiful wrap-around felted silk scarves, inspired by the colours of outback Australia; felted mobile phone/ipod pouches; Waldorf inspired toys and more... you're sure to find something special!
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Welcome to Jill’s Dream where I create colorful and whimsical paintings and collages. My works are filled with passion and hope where I aim to put a smile on your face. Inspirational quotes as well as nature are strong influences in my artwork. I enjoy creating vibrant pieces that allow my passion to shine through. Much of my work is also inspired by my daughter Isabella and many of my pieces have been sold to other women as gifts for the girls in their lives. Jill’s Dream can also do custom work and personalize it for you, your family or someone special in your life. Please visit my etsy site to view some of my work or stop by my blog, This Moment to say hello. Thanks so much for letting me do what I truly love.
To me, art has been the unexpected discovery of finding my passion. When I finally put paint onto paper, my heart and life exploded with a joy I hadn’t known before.
