My Original Artwork From Jodi Ohl Arrived Today!

My original artwork piece from Jodi Ohl arrived today. It was like having a second Christmas. I blogged about winning Jodi's "40 is the new 20" giveaway she did to celebrate her birthday. I won a $40.00 shopping spree and decided to apply it towards an original piece of art. I'm so glad I did....

I woke with an awful head cold this morning and felt so down after such a wonderful Christmas Day at home with hubby, the girls, their husbands and our granddaughter. We had a fun time opening the gifts from under the tree followed by a traditional turkey and ham dinner. Yes, I fixed both turkey and ham, we like leftovers. I was sitting in my chair feeling miserable with a stuffy nose and achy body when the mailman knocked. Hubby went to the door and found the package on the porch. I seen it was from Jody and my mind was immediately taken off that miserable feeling. Jodi is a wonderful artist and the painting arrived wrapped very well. I had so much fun opening it. She included a card and not one but two ATC's. Wow!!! I can now say I have the start of a collection as I have one from Misty Mawn also. Anyways... The artwork is on wood and a lot heavier than I had expected. The back is collaged to look like the way they used to cover the backs of paintings years ago. It's very nice and sealed also. She even placed her business card on the back and it is pretty too. I can't begin to express how much I love this piece and my husband even gave it his approval. For someone that "never wins anything" I sure lucked out this time. So today I had a second Christmas to brighten my day (and I took a nap too). We get to do it all over again on the 28th at my moms house with my family and my siblings and their families and it is always so much fun. I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever Holiday you choose to celebrate) and will have a wonderful New Year. Remember too that there is a reason for this season.

Blessings to you all,

Tess

P.S. You can find Jodi's artwork here

sweetrepeats

and here

lucysweetlucy

Happy Holidays!!!

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

Sending You A Heartfelt Wish for a
Merry Christmas
and an
Awesome New Year!

Did I mention I'm a Winner yet?

I've been meaning to get this posted for some time now and with all of the holiday preparations it kept getting put off. On December 8th Jodi over at sweetrepeats did a "40 is the new 20 Giveaway" to celebrate her birthday. (Guess how old she is!) Of course I had to enter as I love the artwork Jodi creates and sells in her lucysweetlucy etsy shop. I never expected to win as I am forever entering giveaways and sweepstakes and never win a thing. Jodi's giveaway to the winner is a $40.00 shopping spree at her etsy shop. Well I won for a change. I found out Dec. 14th that I was chosen. After browsing at all of the wonderful "eye candy" in her shop I chose to put the $40.00 prize toward purchasing an original artwork. I chose this one:
"Hers and His" reminds me of how good my husband is. He sets up the coffee pot every night so that coffee is ready and waiting for us when we wake up in the morning. Isn't that sweet of him? My new painting won't be here in time for Christmas but that's OK. I have just the right place already picked out to hang it.

If you have never viewed Jodi's blog you absolutely must, she is a wonderful mixed media artist, mom and blogger. She keeps it real and admits to often feeling overwhelmed with it all; children, work and leading a creative life. She also displays wonderful photos of new pieces she is working on. Jodi was featured in the Nov/Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, you'll find her on page 40. I love that magazine! I'd say she is doing great including creativity in her life. So have any of you won anything lately? Oh, and a big thank you to Jodi and a wish for much success in the future.

Happy Holidays,

Tess

Last Minute White Elephant Gifts

I've recently been published on AC. If you haven't finished your Holiday Shopping yet and are finding funds budgeted for gifts gone you may find a few of my last minute gift ideas helpful. Read my "Last Minute White Elephant Gift Ideas for Holiday Parties" article here
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1300895/last_minute_white_elephant_gift_ideas.html?cat=46. And I found I wrote a similar article in 2007 titled "Wonderful White Elephant Gifts". You can read it here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/491923/wonderful_white_elephant_gifts.html?cat=7.

I'm finding rereading some of my articles and poetry published on AC quite interesting. In this way I am learning a few things about myself. I have enjoyed the community at AC and all of my friends there and in blog land over the past year. I think I have grown, my writing has improved and I've found a renewed interest in many things.

I want to take this time to thank all of you that have read my blog and commented or read my AC content and commented there. Your comments, words of encouragement and inspiration mean a lot to me.

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season and may this next year be our best ever.

Merry Christmas everyone,
Tess

Art by Martha Lever

I just had to take a moment to tell you about a wonderful artist I have recently been following. Martha Lever is a gifted painter and has a wonderful blog where she posts about her artwork experience. She paints the most beautiful poppies and is a thrifty artist at that. She has shared how she finds art supply bargains at Hobby Lobby and uses them to create her own art.

Her blog http://marthalever.blogspot.com/ is fun and so is her etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6060649 She paints the most beautiful little girls. I so love the one in the straw hat.

What I really love the most about Martha's art is that she incorporates words in her paintings, many being words from the scriptures. She is a calligrapher at heart and her lettering is so very lovely. If you love scripture based art or poppies or colorful images of beautiful ladies you really must check out Martha Lever's Art du Jour blog. http://marthalever.blogspot.com/ Her blog is a real treat for the heart and soul.

Blessings to you all,
Tess

Technorati Profile

Have any of you used Technorati? I am trying to claim my blog there and it sure has been a hassle. It said to copy and paste the above on my front page of my blog so here it is. I hope this works.

Happy night to you all,
Tess