From My Heart

It's a celebration today and the garden still had a little bit more to give. I picked a sweet, tiny bouquet to celebrate my 3rd anniversary on Etsy.

I can remember the butterflies I had in my stomach as I set up my Etsy shop and then launched it in October of 2011.

My paintings, prints and cards have since made their way across Canada, throughout the United States, as well as to the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Germany, Greece and Norway. Each time I hear the 'cha-ching' of a Etsy sale notification, I feel the same excitement and then rush to check what was ordered and where it will go.

Etsy has gone through so many changes in the past three years. Behind the scenes, it's sometimes been a bumpy ride. Despite that, I am thankful for all of the good things that being on Etsy has brought me.

I am particularly grateful to everyone who has bought my artwork over the past three years. I have the nicest customers. I really do.

Thank you for the kind words you have shared with me in emails and feedback. When I read them, trust me, I am smiling back at my computer screen. Thank you for telling me the occasions that you are ordering for and taking the time to tell me how you connected with one of my images. It means so much to me.

As a thank you, I am offering 20% off anything in my shop with the coupon code 3THANKYOU up until midnight EST tomorrow (October 21).

❤  ❤  ❤  ❤  ❤

Giveaway Winner

I am happy to announce that the winner of my giveaway is Carol of 'Yankee Girl' Art. Meeko drew your name. He did! I put everyone's names on pieces of scrap paper, put them face down on the floor so I didn't know whose they were, put a treat on each and chose the one Meeko went to first. (Maybe a silly method, but it was more fun than using a hat.)

Thank you everyone for the heartwarming comments you left for me. It means so much to me that you like my paintings. Thanks, as well, for the comments on my photography. I love taking photos and I'm learning more about my camera every day.

I wish I could have sent something to each and every one of you, but stay tuned. I will have another giveaway near the end of October to celebrate my first year on Etsy.

One Year Today!

A year ago today I started my blog. I can still remember my stomach being in knots as I hit the 'publish' button. I really didn't know what it would mean for me. Would it be helpful? A source of artistic inspiration? A burden to write? Would anyone read it? Would anyone care?

In the end, yes, it has definitely been work but it has also been a source of wonderful encouragement, friendship and a way of connecting with people of like mind and creative spirit around the world.

Thank you so much for being with me this past year.

Thank you to those who have happened by and left kind words. Thank you to all of you who have kept returning and, along with providing me with ongoing motivation, have become dear friends. I have loved writing it. I have painted more, I am certain, because of you. I've tried new papers, subjects and methods thanks to your suggestions, example and inspiration. I have used my camera more than I would have on my own. You were there during my ups and downs with my computer and printer. You were there when I opened my Etsy shop. Thank you for watching my garden grow with me and sharing your own garden stories. Thank you for letting me share my world--my studio, my garden, my neighbourhood, my kitchen, my family--with you.

Please cut yourself a lovely piece of strawberry shortcake (made by Chloé), accept a warm hug from me and big kiss from Meeko!

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We had an unexpected visitor in the kitchen today. I heard a little 'plunk' and looked beside me. A grasshopper was sitting in a cake pan on the counter. I have no idea exactly how or why it came to be sitting there.  I looked up the symbolism of grasshoppers and, in many cultures, they are harbingers of good news or good luck. I think it was probably excellent news to the grasshopper that it didn't get baked into a cake. :) Instead, I returned it outdoors.  Isn't he beautiful?

In closing, I wanted to share a beautiful, peaceful image taken by Emma the other evening. Thanks again for being with me this past year.