vol.25

apartment therapy mention

A recent "mention" over on apartment therapy was super exciting last week. I have been meaning to share this good news with you, but I have been staying SO busy trying to keep up on everyone's orders that I haven't had a chance! :) I knew apartment therapy was big in blogland... but I had NO idea how big. :) Things were starting to slow down from last weeks mention, when the original post resurfaced last night as one of the "hot posts for 8/16/08." So, once again it has been directing some super sweet new customers my way. :) Yay!

Now, I have submitted my work to apartment therapy for review, with no luck of a mention... so I really have to give the credit to ana from rearrangeddesign. You may remember my original post about a couple months ago, where she interviewed me and did a house tour of our home. Well, shortly after that she purchased "remember Happiness" from me, (You can see it here framed in her home. Doesnt it look amazing!? I love the other art she paired it with) and apparently apartment therapy seen her post about it on her blog, and then blogged about her post. :)

So, anyhow thanks ana, and apartment therapy. :) I have a coordinating print in the works, and will be offering the two in a print set. Its a trailer I have already drawn and uploaded on flickr, it just needs a facelift, and then paired with the perfect quote. :) So, I will keep you updated on that.

Also- I have been trying to finish up another project I have been excited about... making my own scrapbook paper for a little scrapbook I am doing for journey. I will be sure and dedicate a special post for it, cause its a really neat idea I think you may want to try!

Well, Journey is napping... and I think I may try to take a nap myself. Although she has now slept through the night 2 nights now! Although they were not in a row... I am grateful! :)

301 sales giveaway winner...

You guys rock! I couldnt believe all the great suggestions you gave me. :) I think I am going to have to do this a little more often. Definitely gave me a ton of inspiration, I also already have a few of the ideas sketched out. So... to not keep you waiting any longer, the winner of the pack of postcards is "bunny" who said:

"Sigh... I love your artwork!!! Congrats on your awesomeness ;)

How about bunnies? (How obvious)
Or "I Carry Your Heart With Me" by E.E. Cummings.
How about unicorns? :)"

So, bunny please e-mail me (vol.25@hotmail.com) your address. :) I used the bunny idea and sketched them into a possible christmas card. Oh- and I do actually have some unicorns in the shop, although I would like to go ahead and sketch another illustration using unicorns. Growing up, I was SUCH a horse lover. I think most girls are at a young age. :)

EDIT: I just remembered we are supposed to have two winners this time around. :) SO... our second winner is Crystal who said:

How about "You steal my Heart" and have a ferret with a paper heart in his mouth. That would be a great valentines card too heee heee

Going with the bird theme: "Don't let life ruffle your feathers"

-Crystal please e-mail me your address as well. :) vol.25@hotmail.com

Anyhow, thank you so much everyone for your comments, ideas, and support. :) I think an early Christmas giveaway needs to be in the works. I am very curious to hear what everyone has in mind when they think of modern trendy christmas cards. Something a little different, then what you might expect to get in the mail. I also want to add more christmas tags. Something similar to what I had listed last year in SparksFLy. Oh- and I also have tons of the blue Christmas Postcards left from last year. For anyone who wants to snag a set, I will be relisting those as well.

So, anyone hear any word on the popular trendy colors for the christmas season? I am thinking I may try to do a card with only cream and white, with a touch of pink. We'll see though, I have a hard time using light colors. :)

Well, thanks again everyone!

301 sales, AND another comment to win giveaway!

This morning I hit yet another milestone... 300 sales! WOW, I am still amazed. I feel very fortunate for the success, and would like to pass some good karma onto a couple of you very good readers/supporters. :)

Just comment with a future idea for a new print, and you will automatically be eligible to win this free 10 pack of postcards. A $12.50 value

I will be randomly choosing two winners, so please be sure and leave a way for me to contact you! :) OH- and the giveaway will end on saturday. :)

* I really have sooo much stuff to tell you, but I will have to break it up into a couple more postings over the next couple of days. :) Have a great middle of the week day!

jess

Finally... another sale offer

Its been months since I have offered a buy 2 get 1 free sale. But, good news! Today I have officially announced another one. I figure August is as good a time as any to start your early bird Christmas Shopping, or even treat yourself to a print. I mean after all you did make it through summer break right? :) Or maybe you know someone in need of a little cheering up? At any rate, I hope this sale will come at a good time for most of you. Everyone deserves to have at least one piece of "make me happy" art hanging in the wall. :)

D E T A I L S ::

Buy any two 20.00 prints and get a free print of equal or lesser value. Be sure and tell me in the message to seller which print you would like as your free choice. Sorry... offer excludes print sets. :)

Hurry though! sale ends Monday August 18th at 12:00 AM PST

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To stay up to date on future sales and special e-mail offers be sure and subscribe to the newsletter.
 
I also added another new piece of art to the shop:

"Whatever floats your boat" is a phrase I use waaay too often, so it only seemed appropriate that I include it in a print. :) Hope you all enjoy! Have a great monday!!

August Giveaways!!

love who you are is the new print being offered for the love my customers giveaway. Every purchase made for the month of August enters you into the giveaway to win this print: Click HERE for a past contest describing all the details...

and come the end of August.... current subscribers to the newsletter will have a chance at winning you make my heart with the e-love contest: Click HERE for all the details.

Also, here are the winners for both contests! I did announce them in the newsletter, but I will also post them here.

love my customers giveaway: Julie from Nebraska
e-love contest: Stephanie D.

The prints are packaged addressed, and ready to head to their new homes. I hope you ladies enjoy them. :)

Thanks again to all for reading the blog and participating!

select artwork now available on pendants

How exciting huh!? MadisonReeceDesigns now has these three pendants listed in her shop. She also has several other pendants created using various etsy artists' work. In addition to the artists' collections, she also offers a wide variety of other pendants custom designed and made by her.

I am really excited about this new collaboration with Melissa. She is super sweet, its been nice working with her on this. Melissa is incredibly patient with me, since these days it takes me twice as long to get things done... and that is after I finally remember to do it! :) Melissa also just started her own blog. Be sure and pop on over for shop updates.

The artwork for these pendants is decoupauged then stained on a 1" piece of wood, then sealed with a thick coat of resin. They look beautiful, and truly feel like a miniature piece of art you can hold close to your heart. I plan to order one for each of my little angels. :) I think they would make a really unique and special keepsake. Trin is at that stage now where she loves playing dress up. She has waaay too many play necklaces, tiaras, and bracelets. But I suppose that is normal for most girls her age. :)

Well, all is well here. I hope things are well with all of you. I am STILL trying to work into a routine with Journey, and we are making progress... but I think I need to have a little more patience. She just turned 4 weeks last saturday. Already the time is flying by...

you make my heart go boom...

Hi everyone! I took some time this morning to finish up a print I started a couple days ago. This print in particular just goes to show how inspiration can come from the randomest of things. :) I was reading decor8 the other day, (which btw has an AWESOME new fresh, updated look) and she had made this statement; "I’d like to share a few products today to pretty up the office that, to borrow the expression from my pal Steven, make my heart go boom, boom, boom!" As soon as I read that sentence I was instantly hit with a creative burst and knew JUST what I wanted to do. :) This print was the result. So far, I am loving it! I hope you all do too! :) Thanks Holly for the continued inspiration.

Oh- and also the newsletters did go out with the names of the winners from both contests. Stephanie D. I will be contacting you for your mailing address! :) I have been meaning to post this months current giveaways, but it has still been super busy around here! I have even considered doing away with the giveaways, or at least one of them... but then I think "I cant do that!" :) So, just bear with me I promise I will get to them!! Quite possibly the first of the week.

Also- Thanks for all the congrats on my current "stamping artist" status! ;)

The big news!

Ok... so it is official, and I am SUPER excited to say I am now Unitystampco.'s newest stamp artist. So, for all my scrapbook and stamper readers out there... You can now own a few of my designs in the form of a stamp. :) How nifty is that? My stamps are part of the new kit of the month for august.

I look forward to working with Angela on future designs. :) I'll be sure and keep you all updated when new ones are released!

Thanks Angela for the opportunity to call myself a stamp artist. ;) I couldnt have been "discovered" by a better company. :D

In other news: The newsletters went out today! I was really beginning to worry yesterday when it hit me that July is officially ending, and I still hadnt sent out my newsletters. Baby Journey is a joy, but I am going to blame the delay on her! ;) She sure is growing fast, Trin is warming up to her... and constantly wants to hold her. I think its sweeeeet. Jaydon is recovering from his back injury and life is slowly working into a routine... yay! :)

a new print!

Ok dokey! So here it is, the art completely inspired by a blog readers suggestion "more art with books." :) I had an idea already in my head... and went in search of the perfect quote. This one really said it all.

I really like the colors in this particular print.... it has somewhat of a barnes and noble book store-ish type feel to it I think. I actually listed it HERE a few days ago... but life has kept me from blogging about it until now. :)

Things have been just a little busy, I cant remember if I ever wrote about it or not, but my sister was also due about a month after me. Well, she had a beautiful baby boy last wednesday. They named him noah, and he is super sweet. Him and Journey are 2 and a half weeks apart. He is a big stocky baby, and we are already envisioning him being her "protector."  :)  I promise to post pictures soon, a photoshoot of the two is already in the planning stages! Aside from yet another baby added to the family, Jaydon decided to put his back out last saturday. So, I have been nursing him back to health... and taking care of a newborn, and toddler who just cant seem to get enough attention right now. :)

BUT... believe it or not, I have still managed to work on a new project, I am SUPER excited about! I was offered an amazing opportunity, and cant wait to share it with everyone... just to be safe though, I am going to wait until it has officially launched. I wouldnt want to jinx myself! In addition to this, I have 2 other collaborations with a couple different etsy sellers in the works. So, more news to come soon! Things are taking me a little longer to get rolling, but at least I AM still moving. ;)

Hope your all doing well, I have been meaning to post this picture of my grumpy owl couple from the runnybunny. I LOVE them, and have a hard time keeping them in any one location in my house, but this is where they started out, on the shelf above my bed. Before moving to the living room. :)

I really really like them, and I will most definitely be buying from her again. Well, I am signing out. Need to catch some shut eye, those middle of the night feedings really drain me! :)

love who you are- new art

Hi all! Happy monday, hope everyone had a lazy weekend. Or a super enjoyable busy one! I promised I would be back this week with a new print. I went ahead and listed the print on saturday... I guess I got a little impatient. I just figured, "hey its finished... why wait?" :)

You can see it in the shop HERE

I also have another finished print, that I actually completed before I had Journey. That print was completely inspired by a blog readers request. Upon joining the mailing list, I ask if there are any suggestions for future prints.... I promise I do listen! She had suggested more prints with books in them... I figured that was something I could handle. :) But, you'll just have to wait and see what I came up with.... aren't I such a tease!? :)