IF - Magnify + new ATC

Got My Eye On You

I'm submitting this necklace (something a little different) for this week's Illustration Friday challenge. The prompt today is a fun one - Magnify. A print of my charcoal drawing rests in a silverplate pendant & is covered it with a magnifying cabochon and faux tears. (available at ArtSnark.etsy.com) To see more interpretations on the Magnify theme or add your own, just click the prompt.

Lots of challenges/swaps with deadlines of the 31st so I'll be trying to knock a few out this weekend. This art trading card is for a Lazy Days Of Summer swap over at OutsiderArtists.

poppet holiday atc

I based it on a "Circus Doll" stock photo by Mizzd-stock on Deviant Art. If you haven't seen her stock images, they are outstanding. I highly recommend them.

We were given trading partners & I was paired with mixed media/collage artist Jann Clark. Poppet Holiday is a bit of a tribute to all of the wonderful big haired ladies she creates. You can check out what Jann's up to lately over at her blog, ForeverJann. Can't wait to see what she sends me - I'll be sure to share it here.

Well, I have to get back to work. But first a reminder that I've got 2 different giveaways going on right now. Each random drawing will have 2 winners:

The 1st pair of winners (picked next Thursday) each get 250 custom greeting cards - Click HERE for details.

The 2nd set of winners will be picked on Sept. 10th & they get 500 custom business cards each- details HERE

Thanks for stopping in. Hope to see you tomorrow for Studio Tour Saturday. I'm planning to feature a new artist's studio/workspace every weekend. If you'd like to schedule your creative space for a stop on the "virtual tour", there are open slots in October onward. Just let me know either in comments or use the email in my profile.

Thursday Giveaway part 2 - You Are So Lucky!

New Thursday means a new prize, so let’s get rolling!

Remember Karen over at Will Oaks Studio?

You made her so happy with all of your generous comments, that she’s decided to play with us again. Woo Hoo! This week’s Thursday Giveaway prize is a $20 gift certificate for use in either her fabulous Etsy or Artfire shops. (More details at end of this post)

She’s also agreed to share with us a bit more about herself and her beautiful jewelry:

"I've been a working artist all of my adult life, with art degrees and all of that. The first few decades of my career (I got an early start AND I've seen a few birthdays...) were in sculpture--particularly sculpture that incorporated my hand made paper. I did large installations and dimensional wall pieces and worked with museums and galleries for exhibition. About 15 years ago, I became more serious about making "artists books" and these were also exhibited, are in private and public collections, and were much smaller in scale...but after almost 30 years of hand papermaking and using paper, my interests began to change.

I began to experiment with "wire, stones, glass and fiber" about 5 years ago because a friend turned me on to "beading" and, as a long time lover of jewelry (and collector and wearer!), I was very intrigued. You see, the past 6 years, I've been back on the "family farm" in my town of origin after many years of traveling and living all over the U.S. and Europe. It's been a challenging change for me as I began caring for my father whose health was failing, and ended up running our farm and seasonal campground. And taking over one of the bedrooms here which has evolved into my new studio.

I've discovered I just love pearls and tend towards natural materials including silver, copper and stones....but I also have an extreme fondness for Czech pressed glass, so these materials, often pulled together with fibers and leather, are my mainstays. I get a lot of my inspiration from nature and have "practiced" photography since I was a child...and so am very happy with the speed and ease now available with digital photography. Since I'm living in such a lovely place, and since I tend to plant things where ever I live, the gardens here have really been an incredible inspiration for me this Spring.


Although I work as an artist...I love engineering challenges and for me, wearable art pieces often give me plenty of those! I want my pieces to "wear well" and besides choice materials, I pride myself on careful and beautiful craftsmanship. I hope my pieces give the customer a lot of pleasure to look at and to wear and that they will serve well for many years to come. My work is available online at both my Etsy shop WillOaksStudio.etsy.com and at my ArtFire shop WillOaksStudio.artfire.com. Stop by any time! If you're curious about the campground, the gardens, the farm and the "messy business of making art behind the gallery views" do check my blog at willoaksstudio.blogspot.com "

Now how cool is that?

What Karen hasn’t mentioned here is that she has some shows coming up. She could really use some input on which of her pieces YOU like best, and why. If you’re willing to help, take a peek in her Etsy & Artfire shops. Then leave a comment either here or on her blog as to which pieces or styles you like the best. I must stress it is NOT necessary to do this to be entered this week’s random drawing. You are just giving Karen some feedback so she can choose which pieces to use in her upcoming shows.

To enter this Thursday Giveaway: Just leave any comment here at ArtSnark's between now & noon (EST) next Thursday June 18th. 1 random winner will be chosen.

Please be sure your contact info is correct. You don't have to leave an email, as long as I can track you down easily through blogger. If I do not hear from you within 10 days of your name being drawn, I'll go back through the list and choose an alternate winner.


Once again, this week’s fabulous prize is a $20 merchandise certificate, for use in WillOaksStudio’s Etsy or ArtFire shop, to be used as a credit towards any total purchase. This includes shipping charges. So if you want a totally free piece of jewelry, find the piece you like & then subtract the shipping charge from the $20. The remaining total is what you have to spend on a new piece of jewelry. Karen states that “I will refund $20, max, through PayPal after normal check out. BUT there's no cash value (and no cash refunds if the entire amount isn't used) AND it must be "spent" before September 30, 2009 or it expires. "

All images in this post are copyright of Will Oak Studio

Quasi-Random Thoughts Tuesday

Ok I'm just going to ramble - however a piece or 2 of cohesion may slip thru. I'm behind all schedules (as usual). Not really time to post - but I do so love The Random Zone!

Missed last weeks Arty Girlz challenge "Wire"- here are fun pieces from those who had their acts together. Lucky for me, the piece I meant to submit also fits under this week's topic "Butterflies"
A custom piece "gone bad", I was seriously bummed. Then all the positive feedback left by wonderful readers (on my last necklace posting) encouraged me to jazz it up for Arty Girlz . Also listed on etsy & YAY it's now on reserve!

Also listed an ACEO - it originally appeared on ZNE as Faeries Are Elusive... but "Believe" is a more productive search word so ...

Do You Believe in Faeries?

How 'bout Zombies?

I hear you...Yeah, you in the back, mumbling what is it with this girl and the frickin zombies? Dunno what to tell you, they just keep coming back ;-)

Enjoyed 1 of the worse movies ever on late night TV last week (hey...watching crap tv...not getting anything done...connection?) Nearly laughed to death (ah, but would I have come back?) The New Zealand horror *cough* classic *cough* Black Sheep. No, not the Chris Farley thing - the werewolf /mutant zombie one ....just replace "wolf" & "mutant" with sheep..... yeah, really.

I had this on my Netflix for ages before it was released. Once it came out, it crept lower & lower down the queue until it hovered in the 125 zone. This is the "walk of shame" area - movies that I think I want to see but not sure I want to (a) admit it (b) pay for -even if it's pennies & (c) remove from queue only to reinstate after seeing preview again usually after drinking too much

Spoiler: My biggest laugh was when our hero lost his gun & tossed a jar of mint jelly on the attacking creature! Sizzled like holy water on a vampire....classic! Did I mention it was around 2am at my house? C'mon help me find an excuse for such sophomoric pleasures....

Well, this is truly rambling... 3 more for you, if you're still with me, I must ask what is with all the Jane Austin adaptations?

You have probably heard by now that Elton John is said to be producing the film Pride & Predator I thought it was a joke at 1st

Now you can preorder Pride & Prejudice and Zombies Hey, can I read it when you're done?And my favorite: Jane Bites Back NY Times says "depicts the 19th-century author as a frustrated vampire, taking revenge on those who have made money from her work"

Ok. I'm done. If you get a chance, POP over to visit The Un-Mom (who's feeling a bit like the walking dead thanks to the latest bug going around) & see what wacky chaos she is up to this week

The Patience Of Joy

1 of the sweetest people I've ever "met", Joy, was the winner of a customized pendant & necklace in my 1st random giveaway. This wonderful lady has waited (and waited...) since December for her prize. Her only requests was that the image be a pink letter J on sheet music. After too many months of excuses, I think I'm done. I tried to go with a faux-antique look .Not sure if I pulled it off. There is actually a little more I'd like to do but .... rather than make this kind lady wait another 2 months, it's in the mail tomorrow (really!)

Pendant measures 2.25"h x 1.75"w, not counting beads. Chain is 24" with a lobster clasp

I'd like to take a few minutes & tell you I've learned my lesson (time management, keeping promises, etc), but I have to go tackle 3 more (late) projects promised to other fine folks..... May they all be as lovely & patient as you, Joy!

If you get the time, please stop by & say hello to Joy here and check out her etsy shop, FreeTimeFun

And The Winner Is.......

Here is my assistant randomly choosing a name from the “Goblet of Fire” (Guess what we’ve been reading lately) The flames seem to be switched off for safety reasons...And the Winner is:

JOY

After cries of "Again! Again!" my Harry Potter fan & aspiring model changed costume & picked a runner up:EMMMALIEGH

And for his 3rd & final Act, Mad-Eye Moody chose:

SASSY DESIGNS

Congrats to the Winners!! Joy will receive a customized necklace & the 2 runners up will get... something cool - I have to poke around my studio & see what I can come up with ;D

Thanks to all who played along & added their inspirations! It has been fun reading them! Seems you’re a bunch of literate nature lovers who listen to music while searching for vintage items. You creative souls are also inspired by other artists, even while observing everything (& everyone) around them. …. Does this sound like you????

Could the 3 selected please leave your emails or convo me on etsy www.ArtSnark.etsy.com . I’ll get your prizes out right away..… Joy, just let me know which pendant style you want & that will determine the size/shape of your image. Then you can send me either printed image or (preferably) jpg & I’ll create your necklace.

Again, thanks for playing! Please stop back when you have a chance. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Monday's Muse - Butterflies & Customized Givaway

Bit chilly in Tampa this morning.

When I went out for the paper I spotted a butterfly on the grass. Thought it might be dead but it was simply waiting to warm up

It flexed its wings a little & later it was gone.

My mornings are always a bit like that. I start out slow & chilly but eventually take off

Butterflies seem to appear often in my artThey Have Given Me Much Inspiration NOW I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU!

I'd Like to customize a butterfly necklace for 1 lucky winner!
Simply comment on my blog with what inspires you (between now & Friday) to enter a drawing for a custom necklace ( based on 1 of the 3 designs shown here). I will draw & post the winner Saturday morning so check back to see if it's you. I will then ask the winner to choose a pendant design & send me their image to put in the center.
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Most of the art & jewelry here is available at ArtSnark's Artifacts just click photo for more info.
Only the top piece with the dragonfly & face is unavailable at this time.
Please note, I am running a December sale of 20% off+free shipping.
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I look forward to seeing what inspires you!!