FRIDAY FLOWERS! :)

This week has been a crazy week for me, good crazy, but I have been neglecting pretty much everything in prep for my kids coming home from college :) (YAY!) Yep, as much work as it is I am very happy they are coming home and we will get to spend most of the summer here in Oregon together.


Well, before I show you this week's Friday Flowers, I wanted to say Thank You to a few people who have been kind enough to share the love this week :)


First, thanks to Annette at So Many Memories Blog for blogging about my Vintage Etsy Shop Closing Sale :)


Thank you to Steve at Photo Grunt Blog for posting my Willamette Falls at Sunset photo on his blog :)


And, last but by no means least, thank you to Mary at WingsDove for including my photo Beautiful Bluebells in the Sunshine in her Bluebells and Buttercups Treasury, please go check it out it is really beautiful :)


So, I am very excited to show you this week's Friday Flowers which are some more of the lovely ground cover that is now flowering in my Garden :)


Click on images to get a larger image :)


Sun (YAY!) shimmering thru the oak tree creates gentle shadows :)

This beautiful Pink ground cover is "Soapwort" (not really a nice name for such a pretty flower is it?) "Saponaria Ocymoides" well that one sounds more like it :)

I love the happiness they exude, the little peeks of purple centers :)

Hey, Bluey you're surrounded :)

Very Pretty :)

" Ajuga" So much texture and deep colour :)

"Lithodora" Vivid Blue :)

I love Lithodora because it is an evergreen. So, even if there are no flowers I still get beautiful foliage in the middle of winter.

I love the define deeper blue lines that run thru them.

Technically a weed, I really enjoy having the "Common Blue Violet" in my garden but it does have a tendency to take over, pretty though.

This is a creeping Phlox. I took these photos one day in between rain showers and I love the little raindrops balanced in the petals :)

I really hope you enjoyed the mix of ground covers :)

There is still time to enter to win a beautiful Art Card by Sherri Pekks check the details here it is so easy to enter and if you missed the Q. & A. with her you should check it out on my blog :)

And also, there is still time to enter to win a beautiful Art print by Amy check the details here if you missed the Q. & A. with her you should check it out on my blog :)

Have a Wonderful Weekend. :) I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Mother's Day :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Monday Meet and Greet and another Giveaway! :)

From Time to Time I like to profile, new to me, Artists whose work I just Love :)

And so, I would like to introduce you to Amy. I bumped into Amy in the forums on Etsy a few weeks ago and was immediately drawn to her amazing Artwork. She has a wonderful sense of whimsy and her work draws you in to find the beauty using colour and strong images.

I sent Amy some questions so we could get to know her a little. This is what Amy replied to those interview questions :)

1). What do you love about being creative?

I love using my Imagination! I love the random ideas that pop into my mind out of nowhere and I love it when those ideas work! I love creating things that make other people smile.

2). What is your Greatest achievement?

Having lived a happy, content life with my Partner for the last 5 years, I wouldn’t change that for the world.

3). What is your idea of happiness?

Having a loving family and a supportive Partner. Being able to paint and create as a career and live life for the now. Doing what makes YOU happy.

4). What is your Greatest extravagance?

Pistachios!

5). What do you think is overrated?

Wealth. The best things in life are free.

6). What do you most dislike?

Animal Cruelty. I hate the thought of any animals being mistreated in anyway.

7). Tell us 4 things about yourself that would let us peek into your world or that you think define you.

1. I adore Alice in Wonderland. I absolutely love the nonsense and all the whimsical characters, the creativity and imagination throughout the entire movie is wonderfully inspiring!

2. I am a perfectionist. I like things structured and in order, even while I’m painting!

3. My five favorite things are Imagination, Rain, Touch, Autumn and Teddy Bears!

4. I love the Little things in life… When my partner gives me a wink, Rainy Days, A Cuddle from my Cat or Getting Mail. Never take the Little Things for Granted.

8). What would be your dream life?

The life I'm living, I'm lucky enough to have love, laughter and happiness and wouldn't have it any other way.

9). When you Die what would you like to come back as?

If I was to come back as something I think it would be a house cat... I look at mine sometimes and think we are alot alike, content, curious, lazy and demanding... but oh so adorable! (hehe)

That was so much fun, Thanks Amy :)

Here are a few Art Pieces from Amy's Etsy Shop :)

Golden Afternoon - Alice in Wonderland Art Print

Mid-Winters Dance - Upcycled Art Print

Little Red Riding Hood - Original Art Print

So, I asked Amy if she would be interested in doing a Giveaway to go along with this interview and she was really up for it.

So, here is the info.

The prize will be ANY one of Amy's original prints from her Flickr page www.flickr.com/photos/artofamy

Here are the rules for the Giveaway :)

Make any purchase from ArtofAmy and receive 9 extra entries!

Link to this giveaway on twitter and receive 3 extra entries!

Link to this giveaway on facebook and receive 3 extra entries!

Follow this blog to gain an entry and leave a comment here saying which artwork you would like to receive if you win.

Make sure you leave links to your twitter, facebook or transaction in a comment so Amy can add up the entries!

I think Amy has made this Giveaway fun :)

Go check out her beautiful Artwork and come back to tell us which piece you would love to win :)

Good Luck to everyone. :)

There is still time to enter to win an Art Card in last week's blog giveaway HERE :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

FRIDAY FLOWERS! :)

Last Sunday seems like such a long time ago! It was a Glorious Day (It has been raining, hailing, windy, thundering etc., ever since) and we actually got to sit outside and have lunch on the patio at one of our fav. restaurants Papa Haydn, if you are ever in Portland you have to go there they have THE BEST DESSERTS ever, big gooey yummy creations!

So, as the Rhoddies are blooming we went off to the
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens which is part of the Portland Parks and Rec. we are so lucky that our local area has a vast amount of parks with diverse environments maintained by the City of Portland. YAY! :)

So, I am very excited to show you this week's Friday Flowers which are the beautiful Rhododendrons :)

The Bees are busy already :)

This is my absolute fav. :)

This is a close 2nd, I love the pink shimmering thru when the sunlight hits it :)

These guys were so busy, nonchalant, it cracked me up :)

And, of course I couldn't resist taking a couple of shots of the Ducklings :) Can you imagine having 11 to take care of (I hear you screaming from here :)

Cute fluff ball and beautiful markings :) (Wood Duck)

I really hope you enjoyed The Rhododendrons :)

There is still time to enter to win a beautiful Art Card by Sherri Pekks check the details here it is so easy to enter and if you missed the Q. & A. with her you should check it out on my blog :)

Have a Wonderful Weekend. :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

I'm in a Treasury and Closing Shop!

Happy Thursday :)

A couple of things today to share with you all.

First I have a piece of artwork in a Treasury, "Pink Splash". Thanks to Sagescupboard for adding my work to this incredibly "PINK" Treasury go check it out HERE There are some beautiful pink items to see :)

On another note, I have decided to close down my Vintage Etsy Shop :(

Even though it is the most profitable one of my stores, I really do not have the time to juggle 4 Etsy shops and do them all Justice. It is a tough decision but I want to concentrate more on my Art and my Photography, a girl just can't do it all.

So, what I thought would be fun was to have a "NAME YOUR OWN PRICE" Sale :)

If you are interesting in any of the items in my Vintage Shop, just convo me and make me an offer :)

Here are a few of the items in my Vintage Shop still waiting to go to new homes.

There are plenty more so please go check them out at Vintage T. and make an offer :)

Don't forget to enter the chance to win one of Sherri Pekks wonderful Art Card in this week's Giveaway on my Blog, check out details and interview HERE :)

Hope you all have a Wonderful Day!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Meet and Greet and Giveaway! :)

From Time to Time I like to profile, new to me, Artists whose work I just Love :) And so, here is Sherri Pekks. I bumped into Sherri in the forums on Etsy a few weeks ago and was immediately struck by her amazing Artwork. I Love her quirky sense of humour and lovely insight. Her Artwork is colourful and bold, clever and passionate.

I sent Sherri some questions so we could get to know her a little but first here is Sherri's brief Bio :)

"My name is Sherri Pekks and I am a Mom, Wife, Woman and Friend all wrapped up in one body and mind. I try to find humor and honesty in everyday experiences. Painting is like a form of therapy to help me deal with this crazy world and Life In General".

This is what sherri replied to the interview questions I sent :)

1). What do you love about being creative?

It makes me feel like I have a super power.

2). What is your Greatest achievement?

Creating an incredible family unit from scratch.

3). What is your idea of happiness?

Not being in Debt.

4). When do you lie?

Only small white lies, like to my girls, for example "Sorry Dunkin Donuts is closed on Saturdays"

5). What is your Greatest extravagance?

day care :(

6). What do you think is overrated?

"keeping up with the jones."

7). What do you most dislike?

When people flick cigarettes out their car window.

8). Tell us 4 things about yourself that would let us peek into your world or that you think define you.

I have commitment issues.

I am an overachiever.

My middle name is Star.

I don't enjoy decorating for the holidays.

9). What would be your dream life?

To not have money, or the lack of, control what I do for a living.

10). When you Die what would you like to come back as?

My Basset Hound, Bogart. He has the life.

That was awesome :)

Here are a few Art Pieces from Sherri's Etsy Shop :)



MisUnderstood Art Card (I absolutely LOVE this saying :)


Broken Trust original Artwork (oh, how true!)


Motherhood, original painting or art card "Check your Sanity at the door" (I can hear all the Moms now saying, "that's me" :)

So, I asked Sherri if she would be interested in doing a Giveaway to go along with this interview and she was really up for it. So, here is the info.

The Giveaway is for any single Art Card from her Etsy shop, it is very simple to enter just go to Sherri's Etsy Shop and heart it, check out all the wonderful Artwork, find the Art Card you would like to win and come back to my blog and comment on the Giveaway post saying why you chose that Card :)

The Giveaway will run until midnight Sunday May 9th (West Coast Time).

Here is the link to Sherri's Etsy Shop Life in General go choose which Art Card you would like to win :)

Here is Sherri's other Etsy Shop Beyond The Book for Bookmarks and Notebooks.

And her facebook "fan" page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/LIfE-In-GeNeraL/228225126028


Good Luck to everyone. :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Giveaway Day is Here Again :)

I am so excited to announce the winner in my (just in time for ) Mother's Day Photo April Giveaway here on PoppyPlacePdx!!!!!!

One lucky person will be receiving FOUR 5 x 5 Rose prints of their choice from my Photography Etsy Shop very soon :)

....................................(Silent Drum Roll)....................................

The winner is Evie at My Wifes Studio blog and check out her beautiful Jewelry in her Etsy Shop Congrats to Evie :)

I would like to thank everyone who participated, commented on my blog, went to my Etsy shops, hearted them and everyone who is now following my blogs :)

This is such a great way to make connections and I love reading other people's blogs!

Some special Thanks to Two Happy Stampers blog for posting about my Giveaway on their blog, you guys are awesome :)

Some love to Etsy Giveaways and also, International Giveaways for posting my April Giveaway!


I also want to give a big "Thank You" to Jac Ber Creations blog for giving me the "Sunshine" Award for my other Blog When T. Rules The World

And lastly, a warm "Thank You" to Nancy at My Heart and Mind Blog for adding my Artwork "Fall Series IV" to her Favs on her blog :)

Have a Wonderful Day!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.