Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Art in the Garden and Fall Gallery Night

Art in the Garden is a fundraiser for the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It is held around the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night each year. According to the Botanic Gardens' website you will find "over 60 different artists displaying oils, watercolors, sculpture, photography and jewelry." This year Art in the Garden will be Friday, September 5 from noon to 7 pm, September 6 from 9 am to 8 pm and September 7 from noon to 4 pm, with a wine and cheese reception during Fall Gallery Night, on Saturday, September 6. Artwork will be displayed in the halls of the Garden Center.

I'm pleased to report that I will be one of the 60 or so artists whose work will be on display this year. Two of my gallery wrapped photographic art prints were accepted. All displayed works are for sale and a portion of each sale will help fund the Botanic Gardens. If you have a chance to check out Art in the Garden you will have the opportunity to see some wonderful works of art and if one of them speaks to you enough to purchase it, you will be helping out a good cause.

If you visit Art in the Garden on Fall Gallery Night you will be close to several other venues with great artwork to view. Adjacent to the shared parking lot with the Botanic Gardens is BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) with the works of Billy Hassell. Other participating venues can be found in the FWADA's Fall Gallery Night catalog.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Net Neutrality – Protect an Open Internet

What I have enjoyed most about the internet is that no matter an entity’s size, its content zipped along at the same speed as everyone else's content. If big business gets its way however, that equity will come to an end. If you are not sure what this might mean to you, John Oliver put together a hilarious but educational video about net neutrality that you can view on YouTube.

There is still some time for you to give your input and help protect an open internet. The FCC is calling for public comments through 9/10/14. You can leave your comment for proceeding 14-28, Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, until then by clicking here and then clicking on the proceeding number. In addition to posting a comment, I have also created a set of photographic art note cards in support of net neutrality if it becomes important to also send snail mail to the FCC or legislators.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

EclecticSkeptic Etsy Shop Turns 5


My EclecticSkeptic Etsy shop had its 5 year Etsyversary (Etsy anniversary) yesterday, August 13. It has grown from a collection of fun flying pig items to include items for math, science, music, technology or mythology geeks as well. Math, science, music and technology probably make sense to those of you that know me and my family, but why mythology? I thought flying horses, pegasi, would go well with flying pigs, pigasi. From there it was easy to think about adding other fun mythological creations.

To show my customers some appreciation for their support, I'm having an Etsyversary sale. Everyone that is subscribed to my newsletter or has liked my business facebook page prior to placing an order from EclecticSkeptic during the week of August 11 (Aug. 11 - Aug. 17, 2014) will be refunded 10% of your order total (excluding shipping) when you add "Happy 5th Etsyversary" in the notes to seller during check out. (Yes, it is already August 14 but newsletter subscribers did find out about this almost two weeks ago. Everyone who follows the sale guidelines still has a few days to take part, so don't delay.)

What anniversary/milestone is about to happen in your life? Happy whatever it is to you!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Thanks for the Treasuries - July 2014

Two Etsians and one Etsy team let me know that they had featured some of my items in treasuries during July. Three July Etsy treasuries, that treasury makers let me know about, included one of my creations. One treasury even included one item from each of my shops. You can see a collage below of my items from EDCCollective and EclecticSkeptic that were featured during July. (Click on the collage to see a larger view.)


I really appreciate being featured by the treasury makers. To thank them, I have listed below a link to the Etsy sellers that let me know they had featured some of my items, as well as an item from their shop that I like. You will also see information about the TexasFriendsTeam that also featured items of mine.

Enjoy window shopping and please click on the links of anything that catches your eye.

RosemarysHomestead
This shop features beautifully handcrafted, original designs in macrame jewelry, MicroMacrame bracelets, earrings, and accessories made with beads, shells, and fine cord.

TwinkleToesLane
This shop is on vacation until September 10. Check out her quality crochet when she returns.

TXFriendsTeam
Past, present and future Texans are welcome and encouraged to join this team. The only real rules of the group are to promote friendly, The TX Way, and be respectful to all who participate.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Artist Spotlight – Nature’s Canvas

I purchased this lovely piece of artwork before I started my Artist Spotlight Series of blog posts. I was very pleased that the artist included a sticker with her business name, Nature’s Canvas, and web address on the back of the piece so that I could share her work with you all this time after I had acquired it. I have a few other previously purchased, original pieces of artwork that I will have to add to this series of posts going forward.

I found this wonderfully framed and artfully done feather painting at the Indian Market in Arlington, TX a few years back. I had seen feather paintings for a couple of years at this event and had admired many pieces. A couple of things that set Lori’s work, and especially this piece, apart from the others I had seen was the skill in depicting the animals she painted, the lovely pairing of feathers, leather, etc. that complemented the painted feather and the wonderful matting of the artwork.

While Lori was the artist behind the painting and composition of the embellished feather, it was her husband that created the wonderful, complex mats that set off her artwork beautifully. I am glad that this artist and her husband ventured to the DFW Metroplex from Kansas to participate in that particular show so that I could see their work.