"A Letter To My Valentine"

We're back from NSW! We had a nice time seeing Wade's relatives, sight-seeing, swimming, and basically trying to stay out of the Summer heat! Ariella loved it at Wade's Dad's place because they have lots of animals - horses, rabbits, chickens, dogs, cats, birds... She even had a ride on 'Bear' the miniature horse! So cute!!

Today Ari was back at daycare and I managed to get a good chunk of painting time in. I finished my Valentine's Day themed painting - it's called "A Letter From My Valentine". It features a girl (a princess maybe?) holding a love letter close to her heart. It's currently $79 for Facebook Friends (or $85 on eBay or Etsy).

The day has flown by! It's already time to pick Ariella up. Tonight after dinner (I'm making Beef Stroganoff) I'll be working on some more mini paintings!

Back on Sunday...

It occured to me over the weekend that Valentine's Day is 3 weeks away, so I've started working on a Valentine's themed painting. I don't really know where it's going...I kind of just started out painting bits here and there and it's slowly turning into something. Anyway, I'll be sure to post pics of it later.

Tomorrow we leave for NSW. We're driving down to see Wade's parents and we're staying until Sunday. In that time, I will be putting my stores on "holiday mode" so that nothing can be ordered while I'm away. If there's one painting in particular you are after, just go to my "Available Paintings" album on my Facebook Page and write that you want it in the comment field beneath the painting you want and when I get back you'll be the first to have it. :)

Yesterday I finished another little mini painting - she's called "Gold Fairy" and she's $29.

Anyway, I'm off to change a nappy (oh, the joys of my afternoon!) and then I suppose I should think about packing. Hope all the school kiddies had a good 1st day back! :)

2 New Partnerships!

Back from Ariella's 3rd swimming lesson, she was much more confident today than before. I'm so proud! Haha...

Now it's back home and back into painting. I just thought I'd share a couple of cool partnerships I've got going at the moment. The first is with "My Tag Art" who are licencing my artwork as tubes and tags for people to use in digital scrapbooking, collaging, graphic design, creating signatures and profile pictures etc. There are currently 4 images available, with a lot more to come! :)

The 2nd is with "MistyDreamz" who are licencing my artwork for cross-stitch patterns and designs! Ok, I'm going to let you in on a secret here. I did my first tapestry at the age of 11 - which was actually a "long-stitch" and eventually I got the bug for it and started trying "cross-stitch" and ever since I've loved it. I just don't really get the time to do it anymore - so this is the next best thing! If anyone buys one of these patterns, I would love to see the finished cross-stitch! Please send photos!

"My Blue Ringed Friends" + New Mini Painting

I hope you are all feeling better than me. I've woken up today with a headcold :( sniffling and sneezing...

Yesterday I finished off a painting called "My Blue Ringed Friends". It features one of my most favourite creatures - the octopus. Blue Ringed Octopi are extrememly poisonous and are usually an unlikely friend, but this mermaid seems to be immune to their venom.

The original is currently on Etsy for $129 or on eBay for $135 (because eBay's fees are higher). You can now also buy the 5x10 print directly from me for only $12.99!

I also added another mini painting to my eBay store yesterday - she's called "Little White Flower Fairy". You can view her HERE (if she's still available).

The weekend is upon us! I'm hopefully going to be staying in and getting a lot of painting done. :)

Auction Winner and TONS OF PRINTS!

Congratulations to Lisa, the winner of my Flood Appeal Auction on Facebook! Thank you so much to all who made bids and sent the message around, it really is a great cause to contribute to.

Whoa - It's HOT here today! It's definately the hottest day we've had so far this year. As I sit here typing I can feel the stickiness of sweat on me. Gross. There's also a storm rumbling in the distance...kind of reminds me of this painting...

Over the past couple of days I've been working on a painting that I can't show here yet, it's one I'm hoping to put into a shop sometime soon, and of course once I do I will show pics.

Exciting news though - I'm now offering a HEAP of new PRINTS!!

Most of them are sized 8"x10" (or 20.3cm x 25.4cm), so they fit in most standard 8x10 frames, and are priced at $12.99. They are all up in my Etsy store, some are also in my eBay Store, and I'll be slowly adding more to my eBay Store over the next couple of days.

In the meantime, I'm going to be getting some more painting done. I'm currently working on another mermaid. I think I better turn the computer off now, I don't want to risk it in the storm!

Stay safe everyone!

Queensland Floods

Queensland, where I live, is currently experiencing the worst natural disaster it has ever seen. Our rivers are flooding, and 75% of the state is now flooded, with over 16,000 homes expected to go underwater. There's currently over 90 people missing and 10 confirmed deaths.

Fortunately, we live in a part of Brisbane that will (hopefully) not be affected too badly. We're high and dry at the moment! :) Many other people haven't been so lucky, and the Premier has created a Flood Relief Appeal in which you can donate money towards the people who have been affected.

I'm assisting in one of the only ways I know how at the moment! By painting and giving the proceeds to the appeal. I've created an auction on my Facebook page for my "Peace Angel" painting - and all proceeds will go to the Flood Relief Appeal. The auction is on from now until 6pm Sunday evening (the 16th Jan). It's a great way to donate to a great cause and also get some original art for your money! Postage is free, and I will post Worldwide. Good luck! :)

Ariella's Room + New Mini Paintings

Hello! Have u taken your Christmas tree down yet? I've just started taking mine down today...

We've had a busy week! We finally got around to painting Ariella's room. I've always wanted my little girl's room to have stripes - and they turned out beautifully! It took a while to measure out the stripes, and tape it all up properly, but it was worth it in the end.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Tracey Potter, a fellow artist! It was nice to take a break from the usual daily grind and catch up with someone who spends most of their days painting as well! Tracey paints the most magical little paintings filled with pirate birds, gold fish sharks, and many other things that make you question the World around you!

In the past few days I've finished a few little mini paintings!
"A Twig in Her Hair"
"Vampire Cutie"
and
"Shy Purple Fairy"

They are each 5" x 5" (or 12.5cm x 12.5cm) on canvas panels. In the past I've put them up for auction, but I've been getting requests from people who want to buy them outright without having to wait for the auction, so now I'm going to be offering them at a $29 "Buy It Now" price on eBay, Etsy and Facebook, and any that don't sell within a week I will then auction off. So it's basically first in best dressed! I think that's the fairest way to do it at this stage. :)

I can't believe it's Friday already! Woo hoo!

Happy New Year!

2011 New Years Resolutions:

• Exercise more
• Paint more
  
• Save more $ - (live simpler?)
  
• Write *with a pen* in my journal
• Less "surfing" the internet
  
• Call my friends more

What are yours?