Making History Giveaway at ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs

I am so excited!  I started my new business called ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs on April 19 -- just about a month ago.  And todayI have received my very first product review.  ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs is being featured on Dang Gina Give-aways blog.  Her blog is known for finding the most creative and unique items on the internet.  I was thrilled to read the review and as part of this exciting event, Artsy Canvas Girl is making history by launching my very first giveaway -- a $50 gift certificate good towards any custom canvas design!  There are several ways to enter!  Just go to Dang Gina Give-aways for all the details!  Good Luck! 

Chocolate Damask

I woke up this morning craving chocolate!  I love, love, LOVE chocolate in all of its forms.  Chocolate Mousse, chocolate cake donuts with chocolate frosting, fudgy brownies with swirls of sweetened cream cheese, a steamy mocha latte, a peppermint hot cocoa, a decadent molten chocolate cake, Oreos with milk, chocolate truffles (Godiva is my favorite brand) and just recently I tried a spicy chili chocolate truffle - a rich creamy chocolate with a little bite - really cool!  This is bringing memories of the movie "Chocolat' with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Oh the chocolate scenes in that movie are to die for! (Not to mention Johnny is a real cutie too!!!) Okay, I am totally digressing... the point is I decided to incorporate a chocolate brown into my design today.   I combined it with a soft turquoise color and I played with some damask patterns.  I think it turned out delicious! :)

Little Boy Blue...

I never knew that I was going to love creating cards and canvases as much as I do...  It's like playing all day long!  The first couple of birth announcements were definitely more girly so today I set out to create something special to announce the birth of precious little baby boys.  Tell me what you think...  

Have you entered the free giveaway contest at SewTamz Designs (http://sewtamz.blogspot.com/2010/05/dang-gina-giveaway.html )?  She is giving a $25 gift certificate good for anything in her etsy shop including camera strap/covers, golf towels, kid’s custom shirts and baby blankets (made with that soft cozy minky fabric and silk/satin and so cute with the designer fabrics). Also, this Friday I will be launching a weeklong free giveaway contest from my etsy shop, ArtsyCanvasGirl Designs (http://www.ArtsyCanvasGirl.etsy.com) -- so stay posted!

Sweet Baby Faces...

You just got to love sweet baby faces... You know, those little chubby cheeks, sparkling eyes full of wonderment, little tiny noses and that sweet baby smell.  I still recall having my first child and how each day was so special because you got to see the world brand new again through their eyes.  I've been noticing that my friends are all becoming first time grandparents...where does the time go? Although I haven't shared that new experience quite yet, I know it will be a joyous time.  It is always an incredible time when God blesses us with a new member of our family.  I have been inspired to create custom photo birth announcements.  Here are my first two designs and I have more ideas on the way...  What a wonderful way to welcome the babies into the world!

SewTamz Designs Giveaway featured on Dang Gina Giveaways

My sister, Tammy zuHone of SewTamz Designs on Etsy, makes gorgeous custom camera strap covers for DSLR cameras.  I recently spent time with her in her home in Minnesota watching and learning how she makes these wonderful camera straps.  She has a love and a flair for fabrics and she uses her passion to design the most wonderful bright cover straps from designer fabrics.  Her signature design is mixing beautiful damask fabrics with cozy, yummy minky fabric (the wonderful stuff they use for baby blankets -- which by the way, she also makes gorgeous customized baby blankets as well!).  The strap covers provide a very current look with a comfortable functional use.  She recently received a very positive review by Dang Gina Giveaways (link is referenced below).

Because she is being featured this week on Dang Gina, you have a chance to enter a free giveaway of a $25 gift certificate to SewTamz Designs etsy shop. Just go to Dang Gina Giveaway blog to enter -- a link is provided below.  Good luck!

Dang Gina Giveaway

posted by Tamz at SewTamz - 1 hour ago

It's that time again. Give-Away Time - Check out Gina's site for all the details: http://dangginagives.blogspot.com/2010/05/sew-tamz-designs.html

Flowers...

There something special about spending time in nature.  I've always loved flowers so much -- they have such an ethereal quality and then, of course, their fresh fragrances. 

This spring I took the time to take photos of  some of my most favorite...   

Hello from the ArtsyCanvasGirl

This is very new to me...this blog thing.  See I have spent the last 20+ years in corporate America where I felt I had no time for myself.  Always feeling under the gun to perform, I worked typically 50-60 hours a week while also trying to maintain my badge of courage of being SUPERMOM.  So I would rarely take the time to go online and read all the wonderful blogs!  What I did find is that those who take the time to reflect on their lives seem to live it more meaningful.  Well, God is good!  Because over the last three years, he has given me a dose of reality... really making me question what is important in life.  During these last three years, I lost my sister to breast cancer, my father to lung cancer and my cousin (29 years old with two young children) to a genetic heart disorder. Amidst all of this, my marriage fell apart and then in November 2008, I lost my job due to the economy.  My life has gone through enormous change and today I am happy to say that I wake up each day with the intent of living a more meaningful, soulful kind of life.


As part of that philosophy, I just launched my new business on etsy.com and I am thrilled to be doing something that is fun, creative and meaningful.  Stay posted...because I am planning a free giveaway!  Details to follow very soon!