CBS News + Etsy want handmade clothing

Etsy Admin just posted they are looking for handmade clothing for CBS news. Details here:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6077384

Thought I'd share in case ....

It's that time again!

...or is it ?

Freakin' daylight savings time....grrr... Ben Franklin, yah should've stayed in bed, man! If you're really curious, here's a copy of his illuminating suggestion. I've gotta admit I love this part:

I went home, and to bed, three or four hours after midnight..... An accidental sudden noise waked me about six in the morning when I was surprised to find my room filled with light......Your readers, who with me have never seen any signs of sunshine before noon...will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of his rising so early.....

Actually Ben was a pretty funny guy ...... but I still hate daylight savings

But I loooove Random Thoughts Tuesday! So, do you feel linky? Got a bunch for you today

Feeling Random? Try the luck of the draw:

Mike over at The Mental Kavity is giving away some original art - Hell On High Heels ACEO

Totus Mel's giving away some of her seriously cool Needle Tatting pieces.

Joy over at Joy to the blog is giving away scrapbook supplies and a gazillion rubber stamps

Over at Grosgrain they're giving away a gift certificate to Cinnamon Sticks - check it out. Not what you think. Thanks to Melissa at January Wish for sharing this 1 on her blog

All these creative folks have fun blogs & Fab etsy shops too. So... go check them out!!

Thanks to Nullalux for tweeting (or is it twittering?) about mykeamend.com and to Myke for mentioning this seriously cool site - steampunkwallpaper.com

Before I forget, A hearty congrats to fellow ZNE member & Uber talented artist Barbara Moustafa of RustyMermaid ! She was recently published in Somerset Digital Studio Magazine. There's a pic of the mag on her blog

Want to try your hand at getting published? Here's the guidelines for a gazillion different Stampington Magazines as well as Cloth Paper Scissors

Dang, Wednesday rolled in when I wasn't looking. (yes I type sloooowly) Don't forget to cast your vote over at this month's Mind Wide Open challenge. As always a fascinating mix of entries

And if you get the time, pay a call on the Queen Mother of all things Random :

Monday's Muse - What Did You Learn Today?

My Mum always said you should make a point of learning something new every day. I took this to heart as a kid & even went through a reading the dictionary phase (pretentious little runt). Somewhere along the way the gears have slipped and I've become quite bored with myself.

Some super creative people are into the make-a-piece-of-art-a-day movement. This is very cool but I know I won't find the time. Think I'll revive the old learn something each day. Today I've learned 2 things.

The 1st should have been a gimme I suppose :
don't leave the broiler unattended!

The grill ran out of gas 1/2 way through dinner so I turned on the broiler to finish. Got sidetracked & whoopsy - Giant flames shooting out of the oven! Nearly lost my eyebrows but I have to admit it was very exciting. Had a good laugh too when my husband looked at the black mess smoking in the trashcan & asked "What? We're not going to eat that?" He's a major omnivore & master of the poker face (he used to be a professional blackjack player). I actually thought he was serious for about 30 seconds.

collage by Nancy Lefko

Today's 2nd lesson is far more interesting. I've signed up for Nancy Lefko's Mixed Media/ Collage Backgrounds workshop. I am simply crazy for Nancy's art & very excited. Her online classes are just starting and really well priced. You can find out more at Creative Workshops. Or just enjoy her wonderful blog & etsy shop. OK, gotta go put on my smarty pants & learn somethin'. Catch you later

Sneak Peek- My little house

Someday is not a day of the week ~Author Unknown

I should tattoo this to my forehead - in reverse of course ;D

After a major attack of Duh, a couple of ugly blunders, 2 dying printers & an inordinate amount of procrastinating ....FINITO. Sheesh! To quote that learned sage Anonymous once more: If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done.

While fussing over partners for the Hot House Flower - I (thankfully) got a clue...hot house...wildfire charity...duhuhuha...my Freudian slip was showing (again). Really, I'm not tacky on purpose...I just let my subconscious take over more than I should. Thought I was channeling this whole Spicy Diva/Orchid kind of theme...nahhh

Ok. Searched thru the hundreds of unprinted images I've hidden in the computer & found a piece I made for ZNE Verses last year. I'd digitally collaged a charcoal drawing from 20+ yrs ago with a couple of my photos & a leaf skeleton to accompany a St Patrick's Day poem. Resized the piece to house specs and ...nothin....printers died. Back burner time.

Unfortunately "the back burner" is code for no man's land in this studio. Finally got it together, printed, cut, pasted, painted, drawn over & scribbled on.. Coated with UV resistant finish, felted bottom & .....hated it. Too clean. More scribbles, a couple small tears, sandpapered & grungy markers on edges and....blah...but so overdue I'm calling it done. Will photo sides in the sun tomorrow (note to self: get better lighting) and submit to the OzBushfireAppeal shop.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

My home is where I want to be and
it looks like all my dreams

- from The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

Play House by Juli Waller
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at Grrraphics on etsy

3 more fabulous houses have been added to the OzBushFireAppeal etsy shop. Each unique house has been altered & generously donated by a different talented etsy artist. The OzBushfire shop was created by the owner of FeliciaFairy & the Etsy Dust Team in response to the recent fires in Australia. 100% of proceeds from the shop's sales goes to the Australian Red Cross. Since February 8th, 889 sales have brought in "about $15,000 "(AU) .

Choices by Yin Hoong Lai
See more of Yin's art (& popcorn)
at What's Eating Yin on etsy

Also Every Item Has Free Shipping! Now you can't beat that: help others in need, get cool stuff & free shipping - please take a few minutes & check out some of the 190 items still available. They might have just what you're looking for...Cottage House by Shiela Bradley

Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at CreateItCottageArt on etsy

To visit all the available houses, click here. For a direct link to each house, click on a photo. If you get a chance, please visit the shops & blogs of these wonderful artists and tell them just how cool they really are! Also please check back before March 31 (when OzBushfireAppeal closes) to see more one of a kind houses.

Just a quickie & New WIP

Scheduled a few too many things today so I'll try to be brief....

1st I really want to thank all of you who have taken the time to stop by & leave your encouraging comments. I've been lax on responding & for that I apologize.

There are some great new houses on the OzBushfire Etsy shop. I will post pics & artist links soon, probably tomorrow. Went to do it yesterday but got distracted - after a challenging day, I really needed some "art therapy". Little Red was on the prowl last night so I let her stretch her legs on a new canvas.

WIP - 2 in the bush

I've never been a series kind of person, always flitted from 1 technique or idea to the next before getting all the ideas out. But Red's become an icon - figure I'll just let her hang out a while. Once she has her say, she'll move on.

Speaking of....gotta fly...if you time pop by papercutsbyjoe & check out this amazing piece - a merging of his wife's profile & tree branches. My newest fave!

4 to beam up - It's Random Tuesday!

If he were still around, it'd be James Doohan's birthday today. I was thinking that no one actually said "Beam me up, Scotty" on the old Star Trek series (yes, yes Once a nerd, always a nerd) & a trip down google-lane ended at TV Tropes. They have fun lists of phrases now stuck in our minds that were never actually said on film/tv. My dweeby anal-retentive nature aside, a toast too ya Mr Doohan!I nicked this pic off a post called StarTrek's Greatest Moments in Drinking, another google gem

The Un Mom is still encouraging the zombie-luv...no not that kind of....ewww... I'm talking icky fun illustrations by Jason Chan! If you lean toward the dark side, I recommend a look around his blog. He has a great Norman-Rockwell's-evil-twin thing going on *ach, poorly phrased but meant to be a compliment*

Some of his pieces (like this lovely lady)would fit perfectly with all the squiggly-goodness over at cephalopod tea party

Joe Bagley has a freaking awesome papercutting of his eye on his blog today!

A peek at JanuaryWish's blog today introduced me to Airborne Toxic Event- Somewhere Around Midnight - very very cool

This looks good too - no fee online self portrait competition, deadline May 31. I say go for it! Or check out the entries that have been posted thus far

Gotta run. Final bit of trivia today. Another birthday wish to the famous gent who once said Mr. Watson- come here- I want to see you