Plumbing Disaster!

I want to write about something fun, but I just have to mention these last few days have done a number on me and my fibro. Plumbing issues, 3" of flooding in my kitchen and onto the carpet, a ton of towels, and anything I could find to sop up the flood, all the time worried that the condo underneath me would be flooded. Days of plumbers, too much money spent, washing, collapsing with exhaustion,....and It's over now! Yay! Now, I just had to speak my mind a bit, thanks for listening. Got that out of system and here is some fun news!!!

I won the "House of Mouse" Star Wars pins! http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-giveaway.html
I entered the contest a month ago and all of a sudden I couldn't get into her blog to leave more messages, and I really wanted to win a mouse! :) But I won a prize! Hip Hip Hurray!!! It's always fun to win a prize! Eventually maybe I can buy one of her precious mice. Too...cute! And well...winning sure brought up my spirits! Also I got my car inspected and it passed even though I need new tires!!! Don't yall love a happy ending when a "kinda" disaster happens?

Oh and my last Etsy Treasury for Houston made it to the 1st page and that was fun! It's no longer there but I keep all my Treasuries in my Flickr pages and I love to add all their shops names so hopefully that may bring some sales to them.
I hope I can visit again this week with something great and explore all yall's blogs to see what yall have been up to, but for now, I have a lot of work to catch up on!
Organizing my art supplies, finishing a Gothic Fairy, and I sent out Mishkat's card choices for her prize and also almost sent out Annette Quirke's choices that lives in Gilbraltar!!!! of all places!!! Wow...but I noticed I had her address wrong when I got to the Post Office. Oh, I also have to make the "I'm Fabulous" Peanut kitty drawing on the pillow that is going to have a pink background and be a tapestry pillow eventually!.....Some dr appointments....hmmm....then I am seriously going to continue making many new collage art pieces. I think my next one may be a mermaid. Before I display them on Etsy, I should have at least 8 pieces to show.

Yall have a fabulous day!!!
Linda :D

New Houston Treasury!!!

Please visit my new Houston treasury! Please click on the link below, sign in, make a comment, and click on each item to help support us fellow Houston Artisans!
Thank you!
Linda :)
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=67493

Mishkat and Annette Q

Since only 2 people gave me their suggestions on my Peanut Pillow, I'd like to offer the gifts I suggested to Annette Q & Mishkat! Just let me know what you would like!!
I think I've decided on the Fabulous painting with a pink background and a biggish black ribbing border with black on the back. I think pink and black are the trend and even though it won't be until the colder season when it will be completed, I am so excited! I hope I live that long! LOL!!!
So now I am going to comment on their blogs about it, in case they don't see this.
And congrats to the winners!!! :)
Smiles!
Linda

SERENDIPITY

Well, I've talked about venturing into a new technique to express my art and I have been obsessed with collage art! I have fibro and my work is getting very difficult to do, the sculptures especially, even painting....I not only love the look of collage but it is a blast to do using all my skills, I learned in my different art jobs before I got sick. Well, The Melange Team is a blog site I came across that has a few very talented collage art. I found that through http://mamapainter.Etsy.com. Her work is awesome and she suffers from arthritis and told me this would be a fabulous medium to use as it would be less stressful to my pain. So I saw on The Melange Blog that they were having a collage contest for everybody, not just their team and the subject matter's theme would be "Serendipity". I had other subjects I was going to do, but what a great way to get started on my very 1st collage!!! I played around with ideas in my head, maybe having a sick girl with no hope and then showing how there is indeed light after a very long tunnel, but then I thought that would be too much. I wanted to make something original that I could sell without having to sell the expensive prints. I used my clay and paper mache, ribbons, jewels, and cut out paper along with painting on a 8" by 10" stretched canvas board with 1 1/2" sides, that you don't have to frame. I had a blast making it and hopefully I have found the beginning of a new artistic experience! I need all the critiques yall can send to me. Be Honest! I also wonder what I could sell it for in my Etsy shop as an original. I have a tendency to go overboard and put way to many details in my pieces so I am trying to simplify.
EEEEEEeeeee.....So here goes!!!!
BTW...I took tons of pictures of it and these are the best pics that turned out. The words on the paper says: The Events that happen to a person are never the result of Chance, but of his own Thoughts and Choices. New Age Philosophy teaches that there is a Greater Power at work in the universe, & it is attributed to the God-like Powers within each person. Not Coincidence...
Linda :)
Please click on this link for more fabulous collage artists!!! http://melangeonetsy.blogspot.com/2009/06/mix-it-up-with-melange-challenge_16.html

Mishkat's CAT IN A BOX day

I just had to mention a darling blog site that is dedicated to us cat lovers! She's having a post a photo of your cat in a box day....yall must go mosey on over to her blog to see her's!!! Become a follower too! You never know what her kitties are up to!
Oh, and BTW...that is my kitty Kenzie in a box. Well, I had a big box out at some point but I had to use it, then I had left out a tiny box...I entered the room one day and Kenzie looks up at me and says..."What have you done with my big box"?

Mishkat
MAGGY at Zoolatry & ROMEO at Peggy's Place
have officially declared that
Friday, June 19, 2009
is INTERNATIONAL BOX DAY - and are announcing their
International Box Day Challenge. They say:
On June 19, 2009, let's all post (or re-post)
all the cats in boxes photos we can.
No prizes, no awards, just a box full 'o fun!

I must add to this by saying that Mishkat mentioned to me:
Thank you so much, Linda - but I can't claim credit for this! International Box Day was actually the brainchild of Ann at Zoolatry http://zoolatry.blogspot.com/ and Peggy at Peggy's Place at http://asti009.blogspot.com/ Ann made my banner and the box day graphic - she is very talented!

Kudos go to all these women!!! :)

What do yall think?

First of all, this is not a ploy to get sales, this is for real, I really need yall's advice!!!
I've been offered a present of a tapestry pillow from http://CottonEyedJo.Etsy.com of one of my kitty illustrations. Now I think the less detail the better when it comes to a tapestry pillow. She may try to make another pillow just like it to sell in her shop. If yall check out my shop, http://LindaGJ.Etsy.com you can take a look around and see all my illustrations I have posted as cards and prints. I am thinking of the "I am Fabulous" and "The Face" as what would stand out the cutest on a pillow, but what do yall think? I need to make a sketch for her around 16". Just think, if yall would buy a pillow featuring a cat, what would you want? If yall help me on this one, I will pick out my best suggestion and send you a box of 7cards & envelopes printed by my computer and a laser print of one of my legal sized illustrations, all of your choice! Since I am going to start laser printing all of my cards, I have a batch of cards left from my computer prints. They are still good quality, just they look a lot better printed in laser, and are more durable that way. Or you can have the choice of purchasing one of my items in my shop and I will give you a gift that is more high quality. I just thought for your effort, I'd like to give something back as I have decided to do with all of my "Advice" postings!!! We can decide what the gift will be if you decide to purchase an item. I'm just giving yall a choice just in case yall don't want the cards printed from my computer!!! :)
And by the way, if the pic you pick as a fave for a pillow, I am going to enlarge and cut out most of the background so the cat looks larger.
I appreciate your help so much as I need an opinion of the audience, rather than me. I would like for Jo to be able to make something that she can sell.
Hope yall have a fabulous Wednesday!
Oh and Happy Birthday Mom!!!
Linda :)

Collage Contessa

I just happened to stumble on this wonderful blog from a comment in one of my blog posts. I love her work so much and wanted to share. She also has a shop you can visit at http://CollageContessa.Etsy.com
I hope you can find her blog at Collage Contessa as that is the title! I can't seem to reach her unless I click on her comment left in my post about "I need help"! & it's left under Contessa Kris.
I wanted to share one of her beautiful pieces of work that has a lot of special meaning to her and to me! Her blog page is awesome!!!
Linda :)

Thank You Meghann!

FIRST OF ALL...I checked Meghann's Etsy shop!!! She sells gorgeous jewelry and more! Yall must go check out her shop at http://LittleStudioJewels.Etsy.com
I have chosen only 3 of my faves in the above pics! Out of this World Fabulous!!!

Well, I have decided what to do about my cards and prints, thanks to Meghann's advice! She helped activate my brain with her suggestions! I've decided to give a choice on each one of my postings about my prints and cards. I've decided to add a choice that you can buy 5 cards & envelopes without a print and magnet, just to let me know in the buyers comments when they check out. I have also included an extra card with my customized deal of (Your choice of each 8 Cards, a Print, & a flat lamenated magnet). Of course one can customize their own orders anyway. Just contact me and we can make a deal and I can make a posting reserved for that particular customer.

Have an awesome Wednesday everybody!!!
Linda :)

I NEED ADVICE!!! Prize winner is Meghann!

I am announcing my new cards will be printed with a laser printer. My cards already look high quality printed with my regular printer, but I wanted them to be printed so they would not run and the quality is much better. At the moment, I have changed their posting as one regular sized paper, laser printed on cardstock, a flat lamenated aprox. 3" to 4" magnets, and one card with an envelope in a sealed plastic sleeve all for 9.50. I also have posted an item that is (Your choice) of 7 cards & envelopes, print of your choice, and magnet of your choice for 18.00. I wanted to show all my cards, so people can see them so hopefully they will just go buy the variety of your choice. Should I add more cards to my single card, print and flat magnet, mainly to show the choices, or should I add more cards to those posts.

I am also, this year, getting into doing collages. I have so many ideas and the skills to do them. I am so excited about this venture, but I must get all organized before that endeavor!
Look forward to seeing my 1st piece which hopefully will be in the next couple of months.

I'd really appreciated yall's opinion on my cards and print thing, so the best advice I get will get a box of 7 cards (printed from my printer) and 7 envelopes, a print, and a magnet of your choice for free!!! Just go to my shop using this link: http://LindaGJ.Etsy.com

Albino Peacock ... Spectacular!!

I got this in my e-mail and had to share!!!
Linda :)

"HE LOOKS LIKE A GIANT SNOWFLAKE!!!"

Update on PURPLE SONGS CAN FLY

June 3, 2009 -
I wanted to update on what's happening with Purple Songs! I wrote about this mission below in a post. Yall can scroll down a few posts to see it too, so in case you missed it, you'll know what I'm talking about!

Texas Children's Cancer Center
Purple Songs Can Fly has now reached the top of Mt. Everest! NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski carried Purple Songs with him on his climb along with a Purple Songs Can Fly/Texas Children's Cancer Center prayer flag. Parazynski is the first human being to both fly in space and climb to the highest point on Earth!
Purple Songs Can Fly is a unique project that provides a musical outlet for the many children being treated for cancer and blood disorders at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and their siblings. In this program, which is the first of its kind, the children work with Anita Kruse and other professional composers to write and record their own songs. Using the latest technology in an in-house studio, composers work with the children individually or in small groups to compose, record, and burn songs to disc within short sessions.
Read the blog, "An Astronaut Atop Everest"...
Learn more about Purple Songs Can Fly...

From The House of Mouse!!!

This is from The House of Mouse Blog. I just had to share this darling shop with yall, and give yall a chance to enter the contest if you wanted to! I just love her little mice! Monday, June 1, 2009
June Giveaway!
Last month I announced that
I will give away a FREE MOUSEevery month for the next year!You commented in your HUNDREDSto try to win a mouse for your very own!733 comments were left for the May Giveaway and you overwhelmed me with all the love you have for my little mice, thank you so much for all your kind words.To show you my gratitude I amgiving away even more this month!In the June Giveaway there will be FIVE winners!! First PrizeChoose ANY mouse frommy store worth up to $40Second PrizeChoose ANY mouse frommy store worth up to $353rd, 4th and 5th Prize Both sets of Star Wars Mice pinsTo enter for the June Giveaway all you need to do isleave a comment under this post! Easy!Here are some other ways that you canimprove your chances to win:
When you leave a comment, tell me about your favourite mouse or mice from my store The House of Mouse (you can choose more than one)
Leave a comment in my promotions thread on Etsy HERE
Mention and link to this give away on Twitter. Let me know in the comments that you tweeted.
Alter your “Status” on Facebook to mention this give away. Be sure to include this link http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-giveaway.html to it so that your friends can visit too. Don't forget to post a comment here telling me about your Facebook mention. You can enter the June competition as many times you want, the more comments you make under this postthe better your chances of winning!The winners will be announced on June 30th.My Store: The House of MouseGood luck!

Lovely Blog Award

Avlor's Imprints nominated my Bluebonnet Blog as a "Lovely Blog Award" Thank you so much! Not only did I get a beautiful poster from Tiny's, but now this darling award ! I'm having a great week!!!

Here is how it works:
Rules of Blog Award Acceptance: 1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. 2. Pass award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now I am going to pick some blogs that I think deserve a "Lovely Blog Award"!
I've listed below the ones I've chosen!!!

Etsy Texas Crafters - "Your Favorite Place in Texas"
Pets Jubilee - "Congratulations to the Winner of our May Photo Contest!"
Becky Brocato Watercolor - "Summer is on it's way - Caladiums!"
Annette Quirk - "A Mermaid"
Rhradcliffe designs - "Inside Out"
The Viluna Tea Gardens...a sweeter, gentler place I go - "Pardon me for knitting...in Hooters"
Fantasy Whispers - The Art of Vania Cruz - Perez - "My Work Studio"
Door No.2 - When one door closes, another door opens.... "Beauty in the Most Unexpected Places"
The Sea Babe - "Our Trip to Chinatown"
The Trinket Trunk - "New Items"
Suzan Buckner - "TWO PAINTINGS - PROTOTYPE FOR HUGE PAINTING!!"
Door No.2 - When one door closes, another door opens... "Pretty in Pink"
The Dark Ravens Nest - "Grand Opening"
He Lives - "The beautiful of birth!"
Nancye's art and beautiful... - "Here's another doll class that starts at the end of March"

Introducing Tiny's Etsy shop and Blog!!!

Well, I must share a new friend I made on these blogs!!! Not only is she a full time art director of a Children's magazine but she also has a shop on Etsy that yall must go visit!!! Her items are so precious!!! Her Etsy shop is: http://tinys.etsy.com/ but she also has a blog called: http://www.tinysandtea.blogspot.com/ I follow her Blog site,

she lives in Australia!

I won a 16" by 20" poster from her blog because I was the only one that entered! Yay for me, so I have also am showing my poster I picked out. It has so much meaning to me. I love the different textures, but the most important part is my personal meaning behind the photo. As yall know, maybe, that I went through 2 years of chemo which left me with a severe case of fibromyalgia, and other stuff. The fibro ruined my body to where I have to be on disability after having such a fun career that I mourn and have to deal with every single day. I manage today and a do the best to keep my spirits up through faith. This photo I chose as my poster represents the aged, yet beauty from age, and the rose represents the flower inside of me that is FAITH and the beauty inside that will never die. I hope yall like it and also give a Thank you to Mel that made this all possible !!!! Thank you so very much to Mel and be sure to visit her shop and blog!!!