lovely mail

Oh, how I love to get mail! It's my son's job to check our box when he gets off the bus and rarely does he say the magic words, "it's for you!" I heard them THREE times last week...well, the third time was actually, " for you...AGAIN!" I have been madly putting energy into everyone and everything but myself recently, some treats were a good idea. I had never made a single Etsy purchase and it seemed like a good time to try it out...ooooh...now I understand how hard it will be to resist more "treats"! It was too easy. A little disclaimer first..I don't buy new things very often, if I do it's for someone else, or maybe a book that I couldn't get at the library. Oh listen to me...I sound so defensive...am I really trying to justify the wonderful act of supporting fellow artists and beautifying my space? "What did you get, already!" you ask? Gorgeous images... created by three incredible woman I adore. I will put them up in my studio and surround myself with inspiration without having to click on the computer. I click on to stay connected and also to plug into the vast energy of so many creative minds. I think having a tangible part of some of the people I admire and love on my walls will enhance my work and help wean me from the constant plugging in to the screen...which will give me more time for my own work. That's the plan anyway. Not that I will post less, just not get so lost in my journeys from one lovely blog to another... I know you can relate!
So here are my first prints by these beautiful woman:

Mrs. French's (bliss) Little Moon

I feel so fortunate to be blog and flickr friends with someone so kind, gracious, and inspiring. I absolutely love everything she's doing... her eye for beauty can be found in each photo she takes. She only opened her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago, but a huge flurry of attention has been paid to her by many new fans. It's incredibly joyful to watch someone you care about exploding with success by doing something they love so much. Gives me goosebumps! There's also is a little voice inside of me that keeps saying...to the rhythm of the The Little Engine That Could: "I knew she was special...I knew she was good...."! Also check her Monday "I heart" posts (on her blog) ... they're always filled with delicious finds for great window shopping from your seat.
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Helen's (Zuk Zuk) Jelly Bean Birds and Martin's Chair


I can's say enough about this tremendous woman...she funny, bright, and oh sooo talented! Her use of color just fills me up. I love each and every print she makes...you must stop by her shop, these pictures don't capture her work at all! I have to tell you that Martin's chair was completed during the same week that I did my chair re-do...there is a little story that goes with this print here...I realized I was Martin(with a garage filled with old chairs!) and knew instantly he had to come home with me. When I first discovered ZukZuk, months ago, she was having a give-away with one of her Jelly Bean Birds prints. I didn't win, but Helen magically knewof my huge disappointment (be aware of the comment trails that you leave) , and crazy generous woman that she is... tucked the print in behind Martin's Chair. I was so dumbfounded upon opening my package, that I checked my pay pal invoice twice to make sure I hadn't bought it without realizing it...I mean I knew I loved it, maybe I had! No, Helen is just extremely generous, sensitive and good at making people cry over their mail.
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Elsita's Within Reach

I learned about Elsita early on in my short blogging career. When I first poured through her blog, and learned who she is, what she's been through, and where she's going ...I knew I'd found my hero. Elsita's voice is filled with an unsurpassed warmth and openness that makes each reader feel like they are her new lifelong friend...and they are...she is so genuine and real that each post she writes makes me catch my breath...or I find myself putting my hand to my heart...she's just sooo good. And her ART, well I've never seen more abundant beauty in my life. She explains her motivation and intentions behind individual pieces and generously shares her techniques. How to choose just one little bit of Elsita for my studio? There are so many diverse choices, and if you go to her shop, you'll see just how prolific she is. Actually, this print spoke to me right away and I never wavered. It's a perfect representation of how I would like to feel about myself...how I hope we all can work towards feeling about ourselves. Everything we desire and need is within our self...and WITHIN REACH!
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Here's to talented and creative women everywhere!! I know all of you readers are gloriously talented, too...and if YOU don't know it, yet...let's remember together, that it is
within reach...really!