Tiny *Gems* in my Etsy Store...

 

With the holidays fast approaching I managed to get a few small oil paintings done for my etsy store. Most are painted on stretched canvas with the edges painted, no need for framing, they can be hung as is! Please take a peek here at my store on etsy and feel free to pass this post along to family & friends!
*And a reminder to check out Kate's blog here for some GREAT giveaways from such talented people as Annechovie, Janet Hill, Lisa Leonard Designs, Style Key West, & many more!( my giveaway will be on her blog tomorrow :)

What a Gift it Would be to Win This!...a Sleep Number Bed!

(I suffered a lower back injury over 10 years ago, and winning a bed like this would be a dream come true...check out this great Giveaway!)

*The Details:

The Sleep Number p5 Bed is Select Comforts most popular bed, it features a unique air-chamber design and breathable knit comfort layers. Comfort Layers
11-inch European-style™ supersoft pillowtop features a knit that’s breathable to help you sleep comfortably.
A full two inches of our exclusive Intralux® comfort material responds quickly as you move.
Three unique zones naturally support your body’s curves
Approximate Retail value for the prize is $2,049.97 (Sleep Number p5 bed set plus UPS shipping).
*To enter to win one of your own visit: Our Ordinary Life HERE.

Wishing Everyone a Truly Blessed, Family Filled Thanksgiving!...& a Great ETSY Giveaway!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! One that is filled with lots of laughter, fun, & of course yummy things to eat! Seems hard to believe there is only a little more than 4 weeks until Christmas!!

**Also!I just discovered a great Etsy Giveaway going on at the Team CAC (Christian Artists and Crafters)Blog  

be sure to check it out!

Great GIVEAWAYS!Annechovie,pve design,Janet Hill, & MORE!!

Be sure to head on over to Kate's New Holiday Giveaway Blog 'As Good As Cake Reviews & Giveaways', there are some really AWESOME Giveaways happening NOW and throughout the next few weeks! Here is the list of some of the sponsors that are participating one of which is me! I am giving away a Custom Oil Painting on Nov. 30th! So be sure to stop by her blog today! :)

Good luck!!

Confirmed 2009 Holiday Giveaway Sponsors:

• A Vintage Touch
• Accent Furniture
• Annechovie
• Beautify My Blog
• BeeGee Bags
• Cattiwampus
• Christy Wood Jewelry Design
• Feather Report
• Janet Hill Studio
• Lisa Leonard Designs
• Little Alouette
• Polarn O. Pyret
• pve design
• Renee Designs
• Rent a Geek Mom
• reverie-daydream
• Shandells
• Style Key West

*Christmas*Pup*Paintings*(Available on Ebay Now :)

 "Berner's 1st Christmas," 6"x 6",

 oil on stretched canvas,(available on ebay) 

"Saint Bernard Puppy's 1st Christmas," 6"x 6",

oil on stretched canvas,(available on ebay)

 "Papillon's 1st Christmas," 6"x 6",

oil on stretched canvas,(available on ebay)

Here is a trio of delightful pups experiencing their very 1st Christmas snow! Each is painted on stretched canvas with the edges painted black, so they can be easily hung as is! No framing necessary! A perfect gift for the holidays, or a treat for yourself! :) (*These paintings will help us pay for our Jedha to be seen by a canine cancer specialist, he has an appointment set up for next week, please feel free to pass on this post to family, friends, & fellow dog lovers! Thank you!:)

Prayers Needed for Our Jedha...

For the next few weeks I will not be able to donate 10% of each painting to dog rescue, as we need to have some lumps checked out on our dog, Jedha, at a cancer specialist and need to save up the money to do this. If you are looking at having a portrait of your pet done, please consider scheduling it soon as it will help us pay for the examination, and if need be, any procedures they may need to do (fingers & paws crossed they will not). In the meantime, please keep our precious Jedha in your prayers that these lumps are not cancer. I just cannot imagine losing him. He is by far the most gentle, loving wonderful bundle of fur I have ever known. He helped me get thru my homesickness when I lived in Australia, and he is my little buddy here at home in Michigan.

Show & Tell Friday...My Late Grandfather's Carvings

 

(my sister Heather, 'Bupa' Hammerstrom, and me)

Over at My Romantic Home, Cindy is hosting a Show & Tell Friday and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share the wood carvings my late grandfather made...they are something I will always treasure. My grandfather passed away at the end of June...(you can read more about him here.) He is greatly missed by my Grandma, his children, and many, many grandchildren...Thanksgiving & Christmas will surely be bittersweet this year, but I am thankful that he is in Heaven now and no longer suffering.

ART FRAUD on ebay & even Michaels!!

 

 

PLEASE do REAL, hardworking artists a favor and be aware of the rampant ART FRAUD on ebay & now even at Michaels!! 

Check out this new blog sent to me by a fellow artist:

http://ebayfraudbusters.blogspot.com/
I also wrote a GUIDE on ebay last year on How To Spot a FAKE Oil Painting. Click here. It seems that the problem is only getting worse as computer programs such as Photoshop make it VERY easy for anyone to take a photo, alter it, and make it look like not only an oil painting, but a watercolor, drawing, charcoal, you name it! If something looks 'a little too good to be true', chances are it is a FAKE!
**And the latest dog rescued from being chained!!! from Coalition to Unchain Dogs :) enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjzOMq38wy4

Beautiful Asha, Australian Shepherd Dog Portrait in Oil

"Asha," 9"x 12", oil on canvas,

10% will be donated to Heeling Hearts ACD Rescue 

 

I am really thrilled with how Asha's portrait turned out! I actually used a couple different photos to create this piece as I wanted the gentle face from one photo to be paired with the playful ears of the other. I so enjoy painting Australian Shepherds, because their coloring is just so unique! If you are interested in having a portrait done of your precious pup, feel free to contact me!

I Can Make That!...Miniature OIL Paintings, & Handcrafted Heirloom Santas!

 

 

(3"x 5" Miniature OIL Paintings under $25! 

Great Gift Ideas!available on etsy, 

**BUY HANDMADE this Holiday!**)

 Over at Just a Girl, Chris is hosting an "I Can Make That!" Blog Party to inspire bloggers everywhere to see what they can create for the upcoming holidays (ONLY 7 Weeks left!!). I decided to do what I do best, and create some tiny oil paintings which will be available in my etsy store at a reduced price, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season! Be sure to stop on over and join in the fun! :)

**I also wanted to mention another great gift idea, beautiful Handcrafted Heirloom Santas by Rose at A Santamaker's Journey! 

 

To view her collection click here. 
You can also contact Rose by email.

**I'm linking this post to the 12 Weeks of Christmas as well!Be sure to check out that Blog Party too!

Currently on my Easel, a Golden Retriever & Australian Cattle Dog

 

Just thought I'd give you a peek of what is currently on my easel...a HUGE Golden Retriever painting (18"x 24") and a beautiful Australian Cattle Dog. I also am working on a Sheltie and a pair of Miniature Schnauzers, and will be starting a Black Lab soon as well!I can feel the holiday rush already starting!Less than 8 weeks left!**Also, a VERY Special thank you to Rose over at a Santa Maker's Journey for the wonderful post she did about my pet portraits on her blog :) I painted her adorable Yorkie, Duchess, a few weeks back.

Sophie Dahy Designs: $300 Floral Giveaway!!

Be sure to check out the awesome Sophie Dahy Design give-away at Verdigris Vie! The prize is your choice of a beautiful arrangement at a value of up to $300!!Enter now through November 15th!

An Afternoon with Degas...the remix & a Home Goods GIVEAWAY!!

 

"Degas' Dancer with Bouquets (Master Study)," 6"x 6", 

oil on stretched canvas,(available on etsy)

I took a step back from this piece this past week and decided to change it a bit by adding the antique chair and I am thrilled with the end result! The soft lilac compliments the beautiful tutu the ballerina is wearing and the flowers behind her onstage just perfectly!This piece is currently available on etsy.

*Also, I thought I should mention a great Home Goods GIVEAWAY going on over at Bella Casa!

Scottie with Vintage Scottie Radio & Baseball, Painting in Oil

"Scottie with Vintage Scottie Radio & Baseball," 9"x 12", 

oil on stretched canvas,

(available on ebay Sunday at 9pm EST)

10% will be donated to the Coalition to Unchain Dogs 

Can you believe I thought of this painting over a year ago and only now have had the time to bring it to fruition? I will need to get a better photo once we get some sun here in Michigan, but overall I am really excited with how this piece turned out! I will be putting this up for auction Sunday night around 9pm EST. Hopefully the right collector or Scottie dog lover will appreciate all the time and detail that went into this piece! 

*Also, I started yet another blog which will actually be more of a portfolio of sorts of my vintage dog paintings...it is called Vintage Dog Designs :) 

**Some Gift-giving Ideas from All Modern!**

With less than 10 weeks until the holidays, I created a post today of some gift-giving ideas you can find at All Modern. All Modern and the CSN network have over 250+ online stores, giving shoppers access to one million products from awesome lines such as Blu Dot, Alessi, Vitra, and many more. All Modern has a wonderful selection of Modern & Contemporary Bedding  where I found these simply adorable Duck & Frog pillows above. They are part of the Wetlands Collection from Amenity Home, along with the delightful Squirrels below.

 

The Dynasty Duvet Set below by Ann Gish is devine!

I love the combination of textures and patterns, just perfect for a master suite!

 

Another gift idea is this beautifully designed Espresso Maker by Aldo Rossi for Alessi.

Alessi has some really fun and innovative products,

perfect for finding that unique gift for someone special!

 

Finally, there is the Night Clock by George Nelson for Vitra-Vitra Design Museum. George Nelson is considered by many to be one of the founders of American Modernism, and I think this clock is a wonderful example of his impeccable style. Many other fabulous products fromVitra can also be found at All Modern.

 

So there you have it! Let me know what you think of my 'picks'

and visit All Modern to make your own personal 'picks'!