The 10th Day of Christmas

I'm participating in the Design Style Guide 12 Days of Christmas! Click on the link to find out more. It's going to be fabulous!

Twelve shops are giving away 12 goodies including handmade ceramics, watercolors, and photography...and that means 12 winners! I'm giving away a $38 gift certificate to my Etsy shop on the 10th day.

It's easy to enter and win, and the more you spread the good word, the more times you're entered to win. Good luck!

And check back here in a few days for the first of five giveaways right here at Katrina Dreamer.

Lilacs!

I knew I wanted to photograph the lilacs blooming around the corner from my house, but it wasn't until my friend asked me to photograph lilacs for her birthday (happy birthday Lori!) that I actually got off my butt and went around the corner to do it.

I'm so glad I did. First of all, lilacs are my favorite flowers! Can you believe I would put off photographing my favorite flowers? The creative mind works in mysterious ways. Second, they were in prime bloom and they smelled amazing. It was a fabulous 20 minutes of happiness.

If you love lilacs as much as me, make sure to visit my Etsy shop...there are five different lilac photos waiting just for you.

Embracing Spring

I have uploaded eight new images to my Etsy shop!

The images come from an early-morning hike I did in Diablo Regional Park this week that was inspiring and refreshing. I am working on making more time for nature adventures, which can be a challenge for me between work and school. Even though I think about taking walks or hikes all the time, for some reason I have a block in my mind telling me it is hard to find time actually get outside. That seems to be changing, though.

And I'll tell you something: I felt happier and more relaxed yesterday than I have in a long time. Plus, the other wonderful side-effect is that I have these pictures to share with you!

POE

I have really enjoyed joining teams on Etsy. It has created community for me on a site that can be fairly overwhelming as a seller.

One of the teams I'm part of, Photographers of Etsy, began creating a You Tube treasury each month to showcase members' photos. Here is the latest. There are some truly stunning photos included. I am constantly inspired by the work of my fellow teammates. And I'm thrilled that my photo was chosen as the still image at the beginning of the show. (Thanks, Bill.) Enjoy!

Handmade in California

I am a member of another fabulous Etsy team, the California Crafters Club of Etsy. They have created a beautifully designed and easy-to-navigate holiday gift guide where you are sure to discover something special for friends and family (or yourself!).

You can visit the gift guide at handmadeincalifornia.net and you can see my listing here (scroll down).

One of the members of CCCOE, Tara of Combustion Glassworks, is the genius who came up with the Sonoma Artisan Faire that I will be selling at in November. I have such a good feeling about that show...there are amazingly talented artists participating!

So go on, click on those links and see for yourself how awesome this team is!

A Lovely Place on the Web

I am so happy to announce the launch of the Design Style Guide web site! I am part of this dynamic and eclectic team on Etsy, and I think the members in charge of creating our web presence have done a fabulous job.

The site is meant as a place for decorators, home stagers, and interior designers to find delicious handmade items and also as a place where artists like me can showcase their items. I have found that being part of this team has brought me excellent exposure and also a great deal of inspiration because there are so many talented artists involved!

You can view my listings here and here. If you're an artist and you want more exposure, even if you don't sell on Etsy, check out the group and consider joining. And if you're looking for amazing handmade gifts for Christmas, you'll find a treasure-trove of items on the site.