Facebook Friday!

Funny things happen when you click twitter links! :D

One this morning led me to a really cute blog - Smookie Style, and a "Facebook Friday" hop...

click this button for more information on how to find some really great pages and gain lots more followers!



I'll be clicking and linking throughout the day - I'm looking forward to seeing all the pages out there :D

If I had a hammerrrrr.....

I'd hammer in fenceboards...

Which is what I was doing this afternoon after the dog got out....again. Silly thing. She's a big, fluffy, goofy australian shepherd and border collie mix that completely ignores me when I call her UNLESS I'm in the van with the door open.

So she got a ride to Lowe's today, and waited for me while I bought nails and lumber. Don't worry, it's a nice cool day here and I wasn't in very long. ;)

In artsy shoppy news - I have noticed something that made me realize how much even the little bit of promoting I do helps bring people to my shop:

I checked out my stats on Craftopolis and saw that, compared to the months that I wasn't promoting at all, my shop views/visits now that I'm promoting my art are triple what they were. For instance, last October my views were around 250. This month, at not even halfway through, my views number around 1000!

I'm really optimistic that eventually those views and visits are going to turn into more sales! :)

I hope I don't break the internet....

I've finally taken the plunge, and I have set up my own website! Of course, there is still lots to be done. I keep coming up with more that I feel like I need to add, or I decide that my font is wrong, or I need to rename a page...

And setting up the website is only half of it! I've realized now that I'm trying to become "official" that I really need to pay attention to details like a Tax ID number, or sales tax. Because - who knows - I might end up having tons of sales one day and I'll need to have that stuff taken care of!

I also have been learning the ins and outs of a Google Merchant account - still have to add some things, but that'll get all set up really quickly.

aaannnd... I've listed a couple of new ACEOs in my Etsy shop:



Floating Garden


and Burst of Spring



I hope you'll come take a look at them and my other works - perhaps you'll find something to add to your collection, or perhaps you'll find a great gift for somebody special!

Some of my Favorite Shops!

I've amassed quite a collection of favorite shops in my short time as a seller on Etsy.

Here are just a few of them and a sneak peek at what you'll find there. I hope you'll pay them a visit and have a look at all the great items they have to offer!

Peggysu1464 has wonderful paintings such as this acrylic on canvas, called "Green and Gold":




Discover beautiful and unusual pottery at dericence, such as this wonderful amber teapot




and you can find beautiful handmade wire-wrapped jewelry at theforestprincess, such as this exquisite blue leaf bracelet:



again, those are just a few of the shops that I've discovered. There are hundreds more with great items for every budget and taste out there, and they're all only a click away!

Have you started holiday shopping yet?

I have to admit, I haven't yet but I've already come up with a few ideas. I'm definitely considering going hand-made for quite a few of my gifts, and I hope you'll do the same! Right now in my shops on Etsy and Zibbet I'm having a Christmas in July sale where everything is 35% off until the end of the month.

I am now listing Christmas ACEO ornaments - the first of which is this one here:





Keep an eye on my shops as I continue to list more items!

Z is for...

Zibbet.

In trying to promote my art further I've discovered (through a random Tweet, I think it was) another handmade buy/sell site that looks to be really promising. Quitting Etsy? what? pfft. Heck no! I'm just getting my stuff out to more people :)

So.... click that new banner up there -points to wherever it is on the blog page- to get to my second onine shop.

In other news... I'm going to pick up my first batch of prints and notecards, and I think I'll be making some ACEOs today. I'll probably munch on several pounds of things I shouldn't... seems to be that sort of day.

New Listing - ACEO

Just poppin in to post my newest listing - Enchanted Silver Forest, a mixed media original ACEO. This miniature piece of art is on watercolor paper, using watercolor and metallic sharpie marker. I have added this item to my "Independence Sale" section, which, incidentally, I will have available through this Saturday, July 10th.

New Listings and Happy Fourth!

Sorry for not posting anything yesterday - but I have been busy painting so I can bring you.....

:D New listings!

After the Storm is now available in my shop and is a 5"X7" watercolor.

Also just listed is Violet, a 5"X7" acrylic floral.



Those paintings and many more can be found in my Etsy shop, Jennizart!


And of course, with it being the 4th, I'd like to wish everybody a happy and safe Independence Day! I'm hoping that the rain stays away today so the kids and I can go watch some fireworks this evening! :)

A Fun Painting Challenge, and a new ACEO

I came across a blog the other day called The Virtual Paintout, which is hosted by Bill Guffey. To participate artists use google street view from a map that is provided on the front page of the blog to produce a painting. This month Hong Kong is the chosen location, and I did a quick 5" X 7" acrylic on art board of some buildings on LinCheung Road.

Artists can submit three works per month, and the location changes monthly. The Virtual Paintout is a really great way to either expand on your subject matter, or just find new and interesting locations to paint - without leaving your home, of course!


Oh and speaking of new and interesting (ha ha ha)-I've listed a new ACEO this morning:
Wavelength is an original ACEO acrylic painting and is available in my shop

Brilliant, Beautiful Bubbles!

About a week ago I was browsing some of the amazing art on Etsy when I came across some wonderful prints by Gaudygirlarts. These prints are colorful, mesmerizing, and refreshingly unique. What is so special about them? Why, they're close up photos of soap bubbles!


After staring in fascination at her prints for a while, I decided I should find out a little more about Gaudygirl and her art. So I asked her a few questions and here is what she had to say:


*Just where can one find gaudygirl? Does she live in a bottle of Mr. Bubble? O:


Although I would love to live in a big bubble....I actually live in the oldest city in Iowa, Dubuque. It is located right along the Mississippi River. Very beautiful place!


*What are some of the inspirations and motivations for your art?


Colors and textures are probably the biggest thing that motivates me. I have always been attracted to anything big, bright and shiny. My mom still calls me her little magpie.....among other things....like....the loudest kid in the neighborhood (FLASHBACK: jennn-a-feeer, you are the only kid I can hear do you have to be SO loud)......but now I'm off topic! kee hee hee



* What type of camera do you use for your photos?


The bubbles currently listed in my shop are taken with a medium format film camera- the Hassleblad. But I recently bought a new digital camera the Nikon D5000. I'm loving it! I will be shooting more bubbles soon, but with the weather in Iowa being so nice...I find myself wondering around town taking in all the sights.


* How many times have you been about to shoot a photo when *pop!* no more bubble?


I find that when I'm photographing the bubbles it is so easy to get lost in the colors...almost like another world when you watch them move and swirl. It is art in motion. I have had them pop numerous times on me....kinda messy on the camera lens but totally worth it.


To get the various patterns and I slightly blow on the them to move the soap and oil around....when you blow on them too much they get all "bubbly" almost like you would envision the fizz on the top of pop. In my store "Radiance" is an example of this.
Then to get the different colors....like the super vibrant ones compared to the black and white bubbles with just a few hues of color (like "Fluid Thought")


that is controlled by the ratio of soap vs. glycerin

Oh and I almost forgot to mention!
Right now these prints are buy two get one free! Head to the shop and pick a few out for yourself or a friend! :D

Pardon me while I pour myself another cup of coffee...

And in the meantime, check out my Etsy shop and take a look at my newest listing!




I'm off to the craft store today to gather goodies like little canvases, plastic "trading card" sleeves, paints and whatever else I suddenly have to have when I step into the store. Don't tell me I'm the only one who does that :P

Oh by the way - today is the last day I'm offering free shipping so get it while you still can :D

Prints, maybe...

I'm toying with the idea of notecards and prints for my shop.

I had one set printed already and I'm waiting on more - so far only the small paintings will be available as prints, but I'll be adding more soon. Here's what one looks like framed:







In the meantime, I'm trying to decide on a business card design. And also - I'm on Twitter now! check it out yo



Well, time to see what messes are in store for me - I know I have a kitchen to clean and laundry to do. :P

Little Bitty Art

I'm about to start listing ACEO's - I started on one this morning and here it is so far:



I'm hoping to have a few done and listed later today, if my creativity keeps up :)

I'll be doing watercolor, acrylic, marker, mixed media...

Watch for them in my shop! :D