A Wonderful Giveaway!

As an animal lover (and bird lover especially), I was thrilled when I came across this giveaway and the blogs and etsy shops of two very talented sisters, both are fellow etsy artisans. I am so excited to share their shops and blogs with you!

First, the giveaway - Cary of Little Love Blue (please take a minute to see her wonderful creations - they will make you smile) , in celebration of her approaching 100th sale, is having a giveaway for this precious baby bunny


To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on her blog Be sure to leave a way for her to contact you!

Cary's sister, Katy, of winsome hollow, creates enchanting felted nests, magical little cottages, and lovely mixed media fiber art pieces. Read her blog here.

The beautiful woodland creations made by Cary and Katy would be a warm addition to any home and a perfect gift for the nature lover in your life! (I am rapidly filling my wish list with lovely items from their shops!) What a talented family!

Tag, you're it!

I have been tagged by the amazing Michelle of Urban Junkies Artist Lounge and by the incredible Jennifer Aitchison of Jen's Diary on Creativity to play the 7&7 game. I am supposed post seven things about me that you might not know, and then tag seven of my blog friends to do the same. This is a little tough for me, but I'll try. (Those of you on Facebook may find this list familiar.) Here goes.....

1. I really. really, really love Anne Lamotte books, especially Operating Instructions, Plan B and Traveling Mercies. I agree with her views on Christianity and faith, and totally get her very sarcastic and sometimes crude sense of humor. Her honesty is touching. It would be a dream come true to hear her speak. And to meet her - oh my goodness!

2. Despite my sarcasm (can't help it, it's genetic, I'm afraid), I am still a glass-half-full kind of gal (which, ironically, is not genetic).

3. On my first real date with my husband, this is the meal that I fixed: ramen noodles, salad and garlic toast. Yummy, huh? And he married me anyway. ♥

4. Sometimes, I am moved to tears by someone else's vulnerability.

5. I am continually amazed by the ever-present, linear pile of stuff on our dining room table, and wonder if anyone else has one of these.

6. I already miss my children, just thinking about them growing up.

7. I think that Pulp Fiction should have won Best Picture.

ok, now here are the ones I am tagging. Take some time to read their incredible blogs - such talent! And check out their etsy shops!:

A Play of Light
Curlyfry'sSC Collage
Elegant Bloggery
For the Love of Birds
Urban Design Photography
Where Time Stands Still
Quiet City


Have fun, everyone!

6th in the 6th - I've been tagged by Giggleberry!

I've been tagged by Amy from Giggleberry Creations! The tag is to take part in the 6 by 6 game.
RULES:
Choose the 6th image out of your 6th picture folder from your computer and blog it. Then tag 6 more people to do the same.

So, here is the 6th photo in my 6th album:


This photo is one of hundreds (maybe thousands) I took while we lived in California. We had a blast exploring all the parks in and around our home in the Santa Cruz mountains, and beyond. This was taken at Neery Lagoon Park - a super cool park with two playgrounds, sand to play in and a boardwalk through the water, perfect for the birdwatchers in our family. We had a great time that day, just playing and walking and taking photos. Good memories!

So now to tag my six - I am tagging:
1. Celtic Cat Photos
2. Rare Image Photography
3. Handicrafts
4. Julie Magers Soulen Photography
5. g(Art)en
6. mkc photography by Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes

Spring is right around the corner - let's have a giveaway!

Signs of spring are all around us here. The warmer days with bright clear skies, and the emerging shoots and buds make my heart beat faster. So in honor of the upcoming wonder of spring, I am having a giveaway. Post here about your favorite season - which season you like best and why. The winner will receive a 5x7 of their choice from my etsy shop. The drawing for the winner will be February 28th. Be sure to leave me a way to get in touch with you in the event you are the winner!


I look forward to hearing about your favorite seasons! :), allie

Happy Valentine's Day! xo

Wishing you all a happy Valentine's Day......With a few random quotes that I like. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! All prints seen below are available in my etsy shop. xo, allie


Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit. Peter Ustinov

To be in love is to touch with a lighter hand. In yourself you stretch. You are well. Gwendolyn Brooks


"sail away with me"


There are people whom one loves immediately and forever. Even to know they are alive with one in the world is quite enough. Nancy Spain


To love what you do and feel that it matters - what could be any more fun? Katherine Graham

"hold me"


The love of learning, the sequestered nooks
And all the sweet serenity of books.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.



"my heart is light"



Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place. Ice T

Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut, they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people, they give up their secrets also - if you love them enough. George Washington Carver.




"dinner and a movie"


Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. Mother Theresa

Love will enter cloaked in friendship's name. Ovid

I am happy to announce.....

I am so excited to announce my affiliation with Jennifer Harwell Art Sudio and Gallery, located in the Soho area of downtown Homewood, Alabama. jenniferharwellart is a local gallery, showcasing art forms of many different media, with work from over 80 local, regional and international artists. The studio also offers art classes for adults and children, and hosts many special events, like the 3rd Annual Valentine Paint Party (February 13th and 14th), during which you may browse the gallery, enjoy music and a delicious menu, and each create a masterpiece to take home with you.

The jenniferharwellart's interactive website is the most visited art-related website in the state, and is growing every day with new features and artists. The website features online galleries, featured artists, videos, and event and class information.

Several of my photographs, ACEO's, photo greeting cards, magnets and pendants are now available at the gallery. Here is a peek at what you can find there....

little red shoes



ruby red




Mr. MacGregor's Garden



sweetheart scrabble tile pendant



I'm calling Jazz Mizzell ACEO



Please take a moment to visit jenniferharwellart - you will like what you see! Stay tuned for announcements of additional events and news from Jennifer Harwell Art Gallery and Studio.

Two Truths and a Lie Answers.....

Ok, for the three of you who played this game, here is the answer.........

1. I actually did see both Donny Osmond and the real Elvis Presley in concert. Again, not the same concert. I saw Donny Osmond when I was 6, wore my long dress and everything. Asked my father, "Can he see me, Daddy?"

The Elvis concert was when I was older. He was handing out scarfs . All the women were screaming. Pretty incredible actually.

2. I did spend 6 weeks in Oxford, England (Balliol College) during college studying architecture and English lit. Danced in a disco with a Belgian guy named Axel (who bore a striking resemblance to Billy Idol), spent a week in Paris, met a soap opera star, visited the Lake district (breathtakingly beautiful), went to William Wordsworth's house (enchanting), saw the Rosetta stone, made some very good friends, and had a lot of fun.

3. "I am very outgoing, the life of the party." This is the lie. I am pretty shy - always have been.

Thank you for playing!

A Smile for Today

It is always amazing to me to hear what my children have to say, to hear their thoughts about the world, their interpretations of things. It's incredible, the ideas they have. They are often right on the mark - very perceptive little creatures, they are. They are also very candid, sweet and more often than not, very funny.

Over the holidays, we watched the Peanuts Christmas movies quite a bit, so the nativity story has been a frequent topic of conversation. Today, while driving in the car, the conversation went like this:

3-year-old: Mommy, angels don't really say, "Hark!"

Me: Really? What would an angel say, then?

3-year-old: They say, "Hi, I'm an angel. This baby is coming alive."

In memory of our little friend, Finny

I am sad to say that our little hamster friend, Finny, died yesterday. We will really miss his sweet presence in our family.

Finny

Two truths and a lie game!

I saw this on my friend Jen's blog and thought it was fun. So here is my list - two of these things are true, and one is not. Which one is the lie? Leave your guess in the comments section below - I'll reveal the answer on Thursday.

1. I have seen both Donny Osmond and Elvis Presley in concert. (Not the same concert, and yes, the real Elvis Presley, and not recently, for obvious reasons.)

2. During college, I spent 6 weeks in Oxford, England studying architecture and English Literature.

3. I am really outgoing, the life of the party.

Let's hear your two truths and a lie!

Eagle Eyes

Spotted by my sharp-eyed and very artistic daughter, "Look, Mommy - it's shaped like a heart!" this incredible puddle, with reflected clouds becomes a blue valentine.......


"My heart is light"

What a gift and a lesson in seeing the beauty all around us. Now available in my etsy shop. Happy Valentine's Day! xo♥, allie