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

A Love For Seasons

One of the things I've missed most about living in Canada since moving here to Belize are seasons. Yankeegirl, on Etsy, has some wonderful watercolor paintings that depict the beauty found in each season of the year.

Spring - What depicts Spring better than the first green shoots of Daffodils?

Summer - Playing in the Waves on the Beach is a fabulous way to while away a Summer day.

Fall - The gorgeous colors of Fall always made me want to save each and every Leaf!

Winter - And who wouldn't love a Snow Day on a cold Winter morning?

You can also contact Yankeegirl at the following places:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/yankeegirl
1000markets: http://www.1000markets.com/users/yankeegirl

Wordless Wednesday - Mooooooo

Claire the Herford by ArtPaperGarden

Cow 285 by RozArt

Wendy the Cow by Peacock Garden

To see more Wordless Wednesday posts, visit my other blog Rainforest Mommy or go to Wordless Wednesday.

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.

Wordless Wednesday - She Sells Seashells By The Seashore

She Sells

Flower pendant with Necklace and Earrings by I Love Seashells (http://iloveseashells.com/)

Seashells

Mermaid Seashell Dangle by ShellScapes

By The Seashore

Shell on the Shore - Original Pastel Painting by Angela's Expressions

To see more Wordless Wednesday posts, visit my other blog Rainforest Mommy or go to Wordless Wednesday.

California Artist Patricia Ann Rizzo

Changing things up a little today I am bringing you Bonanzle seller MissPatricia. I saw this painting in a handpicked list on Bonanzle and just had to check out the rest of this amazing artists work.

It's a 5" x 7" original watercolor entitled Blue Dutch Iris.


This Tree of Dreams, hand painted, wooden, pendant is simply gorgeous.


And my son and I just couldn't decide which of these two pendants we liked better so I'm including both of them.

Mystic Vortex Handmade Bamboo Pendant


Celestial Unicorn Round Glass Tile Pendant


You can also contact Patricia Ann Rizzo at the following places:
Bonanzle: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/misspatricia
Website: http://www.watercolorsbypatricia.com
Website: http://www.tattingjustforyou.com
Website: http://www.angelbabies.net

Simply Beautiful

While snooping around on Etsy today I came upon this shop, Monellisa. She's a newer member of Etsy and has the sweetest watercolor prints. These are some of my favorites...






You can contact Isabel at the following places:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fromyou2me
Website: http://www.monellisa.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/monellisa

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".

A Call To Africa by Robert Foster

As I was scrolling through treasuries today on Etsy I came across this gorgeous print by Robert Foster. Golden King is stunningly painted using opaque watercolors with enhancements.

This led me to check out more work by this talented artist and I came upon these prints as well.

I'm currently trying to decide on the decor for my son's bedroom but if I go with an animal theme I really think a few pieces of Mr. Foster's art will adorn his walls. Please visit his Etsy store Robert Foster's Art for more animal prints. He also has a wide selection of flowers, ladies and romance, kitty cats, landscapes, seascapes and fantasy prints. Also, check out more of his artwork on his website http://www.robertfosterart.turnpiece.net.

The People of Darfur Need YOUR Help!

The people of Darfur are suffering and YOU CAN HELP!

The wonderful portrait artist, Enzie Shahmiri, has painted the above painting of a little Sudanese girl at a feeding center in Darfur, which she auctioning off on Ebay to raise funds. 100% of all proceeds will be donated to the United Nations UNHCR to aid the people of Darfur.

The auction will take place on October 1, 2008 on Ebay through Mission Fish and will run for approximately 10 days.

Painting size 14" x 18"
Oil on canvas

Original Photo taken by Stephanie Zito

Thank you for supporting a worthy cause!

Etsy Shop: http://artenzie.etsy.com
Website: http://www.enzieshahmiri.com/
Blog: http://world-market-portraits.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: Paint with Barb Oil Paintings

Paint with Barb oil paintings and beaded treasures

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

Barbara Furlong, Hermiston, Oregon, USA. I have been crafting all my life but I only started in oils in the last 4 years or so. I always thought oils was too messy but now that is all I do. I love it. I teach oil painting so I have lots of paintings to sell. To see all my paintings go to www.paintwithbarb.com

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

Photos of the sea, books, my mind. I think my students inspires me the most, they ask for something and then I have to do it.

3. What is your favourite thing in your shop and why?

All of them are my favourites. I love each of my paintings.

4. What is the best thing about your products?

They are priced fair, if you buy 3 paintings or more, free shipping.

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

Quilt

Etsy Shop: http://www.paintwithbarb.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: Interiordesignteam, wwao, bbest
Blog: http://paintwithbarb.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.paintwithbarb.com