Thank you.

I just wanted to say a BIG "THANK YOU" to everyone who wished me a Happy B.Day, that was really sweet :)

Small section of artwork by Brian Miller.

I would also like to say "Thank you" to my Blogging Buddy Annette at So Many Memories blog for posting about my Photo Giveaway! Still time to enter :)

And lastly, I am intrigued to know how people feel about blogging. So, I posted a thread in the Etsy forums just to hear people's thoughts. Mainly, I am interested to know if anyone feels there are any unwritten protocols or etiquettes to the process of blogging. Here is the link to the thread or please leave me a comment with your thoughts here on this posting :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Birthday Candles and Flowers.

Yesterday was my B.Day :) YAY ME!


I love B.Day's I think they should be celebrated to the fullest. My Hubby takes the day off work to celebrate with me and it is great to have a day completely devoid of obligations and commitments. But unfortunately I was not feeling so great so the big plans were put on hold. I really wanted to go out and do something, so we managed to get to the Pearl District here in Portland for a late lunch. OK, it was "Happy Hour" but who's checking. :)


After a sufficient time getting "Happy" we drove around and I took some photos of the great blend of architecture that has become the Pearl District. (Will be sharing those another day :)

It was, for a long time, a section of disused commercial buildings and home to a major N.W. brewery but over the past 20 years has grown into one of the biggest urban re-gentrification project in North America. A wonderful mix of beautifully renovated warehouses and innovative modern structures, a blend of offices, restaurants, housing, shops and so much more, it is a lively place.

Birthday Candles and Flowers on the table for dinner at home. So, even if I didn't do what I planned I still got to celebrate my B.Day only in a different way. :)

In other news :)

NorthernLodge kindly put my brooch in this beautiful treasury

Also, Stacey at Artsnark blog awarded me a Sunshine Award for my Blog, Thanks Stacey. :)

This means a lot to me coming from an Artist I admire. Check out Stacey's Etsy Shop Artsnark see why I admire her sooo much :)

And last but by no means least, a special "Thank you" to my Blogger Buddy Anna over at

A Beader's Blog for blogging about my latest Giveaway. :)

Talking of which, if you haven't entered my late February Giveaway to win an 8 x 10 photo of your choice from my new Etsy shop you can do that now there is still time :)

Hope you are all having a wonderful week :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

FRIDAY FLOWERS! :)

Hi All :)


I am very excited with the Flowers blooming in my Garden right now. Every Day a new cluster pops up :)


Although, I am a little sad that all the purple Crocus got smashed to the ground with all the rain we have been having, oh well, at least I have photos to preserve their former glory :)


This week I would like to share with you my Helleborus plants. These are pretty hardy plants and mine start flowering about the beginning of February which is always a great burst of hope and things to come.


ENJOY! :)

I found this amazingly informative website about Helleborus plants if anyone is interested in learning more :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

February Giveaway!

Well, I know I am a little slow getting around to posting a February Giveaway but there is a reason :)

I wanted this Giveaway to coincide with my B.Day (well close to anyway) You know I LOVE Giveaways and when better to do it than when you have something to celebrate :)

So, here it is! February's Giveaway! Two lucky people will receive an 8 x 10 Photograph of their choice from my new Esty Shop. It is very simple to enter :)

1). Go to my new Etsy Shop http://www.PhotosByChipperfield.etsy.com and Heart it :)

Don't forget to check out the photos, decide which one you would like if you win and come back here to my blog and leave a comment telling me which photo you would hope to win and why :)

2). Follow my blog and leave another comment and you get the chance to be entered again!

HERE ARE JUST A SAMPLE OF THE PHOTOS YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM :)

You can enter until Midnight (West Coast time) on Sunday March 7th. Winners will be announced on Monday March 8th.

SO, HAVE FUN!

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

ZAP - Zimbabwe Artists Project.

Last Weekend the Hubby and I went to the opening of an Art Show here in Portland in a beautifully renovated old warehouse Olympic Mills on the East side of the Willamette River to Downtown. There are various businesses in the building and one of them caught my eye as I wondered the halls admiring the "LOVE" show artwork.

ZAP - Zimbabwe Artists Project is one of those grass roots organisations that is very exciting and one I feel excited to support.

ZAP's Mission is to, "celebrate the artistry and accomplishments of Women from rural Weya in Eastern Zimbabwe. Through education, sales of their art in the U.S., and special projects, ZAP helps the Artists become economically self sufficient".

"Women’s income from agriculture is unpredictable and limited. Sales of their art helps women afford food, clothing, school fees, medicines, transport, seeds and fertilizer. Since the market for Weya art in Zimbabwe is extremely limited, sales in the U.S. are critical. ZAP pays much more than any other buyer, delivering cash at the time of purchase, and we provide health care to the artists".

I really love the concept behind this enterprise and I feel as a fellow Female Artist, even though I am not supposed to be buying any artwork at the moment, that I should support my sister artists :)

Here is the beautiful piece of Artwork I purchased :)

Artwork by Charity Manema.

Check out ZAP here and see all the amazing things they are doing, see the artists and more of their beautiful work. :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

FRIDAY FLOWERS! :)

Last Week I posted the first burst of colour in my garden, Yellow Crocus. Then, I started thinking, after I had read the comments from other people (Thanks Guys :) That it would be great fun to post a burst of colour every Friday to brighten everyone's day :)


So, here is another beautiful bunch of flowers from my garden for Victoria at The Moss Garden (who's favourite colour crocus is Purple :) and for everyone else to enjoy too :)


To see more Crocus check out my new photos at PhotosByChipperfield

Also in the comments, last week, Anna from A Beader's Blog mentioned she missed the California wildflowers, California Poppies and Lupins, so this one is for you :)

I purchased this photo while in Napa a few years ago, so I took a photo of the photo :) It is by the photographer Bo Svensson



Hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.


ZDW7JKWCUM7W

Good Morning Monday!

Well, first let me wish you all a Happy Monday and for those of you celebrating President's Day, a happy one of those too:)

I was very excited this morning after I switched on my computer to see I was one of the winners in the giveaway over at the blog of Green Leaf Reviewer Thanks Jenn :)

Oh and I woke up to a little watery sunshine, so another awesome, I'll take it :)

One of my New Years' resolutions, hopes, expectations was to give myself more time to read books. I have always been an avid reader and read every morning for 20 mins. or so with my morning cup of Tea.

I had hoped to read 2 books a month that were over 300 pages but that was a tad too ambition for the time I have available to read and so I backed off to one book a month, what is the point of sitting down with a good book if you feel pressured to read because of a silly expectation.


So, in January I read "Open" by Andre Agassi, it was a very interesting insight to a man I have watched grow up playing tennis on TV. We are huge tennis fans in our house and have followed his career, just taking him as he comes and not making judgement on him personally (but perhaps his game, occasionally) I have never thought of him as a Prima Donna but after reading this book, not so sure. It is a great read and full of details about his life.

I am on track to finish "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson by the end of February (no pressure though :)

If any of you are unfamiliar with Bryson he is a writer who travels with a twist. He has a great sense of humour, is an American who lived in Britain for 20 years and then moved back to America, he has written many books about his life experiences and always brings amazing details and random facts that inform and enlighten. Well worth the read.

On a random note, I realised as I was typing this, that I started the year with Author double "A" and moved on to Author double "B". Not on purpose, must be subliminal OCD. (He! He!)

Well, hope your week has gotten off to a great start :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.