At the risk of turning my blog into an Etsyfest- or how about Etsypalloza- I am starting a new project. Every Saturday morning, when I've had enough coffee of course, I will post my Top 12 or so Favorites from Etsy. I am trying to stick with a theme each time, although sometimes the theme could be so loose you can't tell what it is...
And here are this weeks winners: Theme is "Aqua reminds me of summer days" (Hint: Click on image to enlarge)

Featured sellers are left to right, top to bottom:
Schmooks: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19410949

Florasbowley: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18839612

smARTee: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19222072

Wyanne: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18805359

alissajacobs: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19553090

JanasJewels: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16257116

sweetnshabbyroses: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19549748

birdzNbeez: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19543822

juliebcreative: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18002867

ImagineStudio: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11973919

benconservato: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15021075

mincingmockingbird: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19176584

Please leave me some comments and let me know what you think!

Play Day

I have declared today a play day. Was feeling pretty stressed, so I decided that even tho I have no cashola, I would go to the local super pricey store and buy art supplies to pick up my spirits. The pretty and sunny day helped too. I BOUGHT CRAYONS! And I mean the big box, people. 96 gorgeous colors to play with. And, 4 pink colors of paint to play with also. I always buy all the pretty blue and green colors, but I had almost no red or pink. Since I decided to practice painting faces again I will need them.
I am having swirling thoughtitis- so many projects I want to do... Painting, collage, sewing, quilting, journal, writing, blah blah blah yatta yatta. So I guess my main goal for this weekend is to make goals. First is going to have to be to make some money, but I also have to get to these other things also. I'm making a list of the projects in my head so that I will not stress so much- just work down the list and add more as I go along! It really does help to dump them on paper and move on.
Well, to follow up on previous posts, this is the big quilt show weekend. I never got the fabric done to sell there, and they never sent me the ap to sell there, so that was a big wash. Dying fabric is on the project list though, and I will sell it online while looking for other quilt shows once it is ready. I'm also going to make pretty stuff to sell with my hand dyed fabric, probably on Etsy. Watch for my store opening in the next couple of weeks...
Once I gave myself permission to do this stuff my head is exploding with ideas- The only difference between a working artist and a starving artist is marketing skills. There are so many great resources on the net to help, inspiring people to uplift you and keep you going, and very good examples of successful artists to follow, I can't remember why I didn't do this before.

The Big Day Has Finally Arrived!

I have wanted to live my creative dream forever, but as many people have experienced that dream was pushed away by demands of everyday life, like earning a living. I let my dreams almost die because of worrying how to pay the electric bill each month. Well- not now. I realize that after putting these dreams off till later my whole life, later was never gonna come! I arrive at middle age seeing that I only have so much time left, and if I don't do this stuff now it will never happen!
Soooo, this week, for the first time in my life, I have been told that the job I HATE no longer welcomes my presence thank you very much, and I will consider this to be my soul-saving blessing in disguise. With what money I have left from ex-job, I have just now mailed away for a huge box of amazing supplies from Dharma, and having NO income at this point I will start my adventure. Very Scary!
Right now all the negative thoughts are swirling in my head- "what are you thinking? you will be homeless! You are no artist! Get a job!
I have been fairly successful for one week now shooting these down with positive thoughts- a very new process to me. If others can do this, then so can I! I am so grateful to the people who have blogged similar situations lately- You all have no idea how much your words mean to me.
Online order was this AM, which is Friday, so now I have to wait until Monday for UPS guy to bring me my future. Come on, UPS!
Thanks for letting me ramble- until next post- praying and crossed fingers- Maureen