Blasting In A New Year!

Simply put, let's all enjoy a bit of color and flare as 2010 ends and 2011 starts. Wishing each and every one of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Edinburgh Castle Fireworks - Mounted Photo Print by Photos of Edinburgh

Revelry - TtV 8x8 Metallic Print by My Saturnalia

More Fireworks at the Fair - Color Photo - 12x20 by Matt Allen Photography (Website)

May all your dreams come true!

Cheers and Happy New Year :-D
- CoconutPalmDesigns

Inspiring Christmas - Just The Right Tree

Choosing just the right Christmas tree was always a family affair for us. We'd all pile into the car, including my grandparents, and head off to the tree lot. For some strange reason I only ever remember doing this after dark. Invariably my grandfather would pick out a really tall blue spruce. I don't remember what type we'd get but my brothers and I always had fun running around trying to decide on just the right tree.

Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree!

One year, we were invited up to a friend's place where we got to go out and cut our own tree. We headed out early before the mist had even been burned away by the rising sun.
Mist Valley ACEO by CoconutPalmDesigns (A little shameless self promotion.)
We walked through a Christmas tree forest just like this one.
Christmas Tree Forest Wood Plaque by A Lost Feather


Finally, we found it! Just the right tree! Once it was chosen I let other people deal with cutting it down while I went off and made snow angels.
Pine Tree Absorbent Tile Coasters by My Little Chickadee Creations


Thank you to A Lost Feather and My Little Chickadee Creations allowing me to feature your items to help illustrate my childhood search for just the right tree. Please check out these and all their other wonderful items in their Etsy shops.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!
- CoconutPalmDesigns

Inspiring Christmas - Happy, Happy, Snow Day!

As a child, and probably still as an adult if I lived somewhere where it snowed, I could never wait to get outside after the first snowfall of the year. Can't you just imagine waking up to a world of glittering whiteness?

It Snowed!!! Let's Play!!!

First, let's build a snowman but be careful not to slip!
Whoopsy the Snowman Polymer Clay Ornament by CELLestial Beadworks

Then we'll write our names in the snow.
He Marked The Day... by Theater Clouds

And we'll spend the afternoon sledding down the biggest hill we can find! Hang On!
Hand Carved Sledder Ornament by GT Carvings

Thank you to CELLestial Beadworks, Theater Clouds and GT Carvings for a fun-filled, winter, day! Please check out these and all their other wonderful items in their Etsy shops.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!
- CoconutPalmDesigns

Original Beauty

While responding to comments on my blog recently I came across this fabulous artist and Etsy seller, Art by Donna Rose. Her floral paintings are what originally drew me to her work but all her paintings are gorgeous.

I love the vividness of this Original Acrylic Painting of a Ballerina.

The textures in this Original ACEO Palette Knife Painting of Wild Flowers are awesome.

And for the extreme pet lovers, or for the person who has everything, she does Pet Portraits in Watercolor.

You can also contact Art By Donna Rose at the following places:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTBYDONNAROSE
Blog: http://donnaroseartist.blogspot.com/

Or if you are going to be in the Missoula, Montana area in the month of October, Donna Rose will be having a show at Miss Zulas. The paintings below are just a few of the wonderful works of art that will be shown.

Calming Influences

When I first opened Montagyoo's Etsy shop I was feeling harassed but looking at her photos all laid out in a grid was very calming.

I love the serenity of the sun shining through the trees in this photo entitled Duck Pond in Winter

To idle away an afternoon resting on one of the branches of Live Oak with a good book seems divine

These Berries would be just the think to nibble on while you were lazing away in a tree

You can also contact Montagyoo at the following places:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Montagyoo
Blog: http://colorsnotyetinvented.blogspot.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/saraamesmontague

Urban Handiwork - Photography Loves

I love looking at photographs. Urban Handiwork on Etsy has a wide variety of photos to suit everyone's tastes.

Daisies are my favorite flower. As Meg Ryan says in You've Got Mail, they are such happy flowers!

Cityscapes are among my favorite types of photos to look at. I think it's because it reminds me of living in Toronto so I just love The City Never Sleeps.

And my son and I are huge fans of trains.

You can also contact Urban Handiwork at the following places:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanHandiwork
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/urbanhandiwork
Twitter: http://twitter.com/urbanhandiwork

A Man of Many Talents

Keith Krueger, a single father, a shop owner, a self-proclaimed craft and art addict. An all around talented man.

In his Butterfly Bay Design shop on Etsy, Keith offers handmade apparel, home decor and graphic design.

Take a look at this gorgeous silkscreened shirt. I'd buy it in an instant if it weren't so hot here in Belize.



For all you art lovers out there, Keith offers this original oil painting on canvas entitled "Glorious Minnesota".



And a relatively new endeavor for Keith is his hand painted yarns.



For more of Keith's work please check out his other Etsy shop, Mindless Pursuits. He currently has handmade t-shirts listed that have the cutest sayings like "Coffee Zombie" and "I Am Awesome - Deal With It".