I’ve spent the entire day adding fabric scraps, pieces, patterns and the like to my shop. Ahhhh, it feels good to let go. I still have a box that I’d like to send to Iraqi Bundles of Love and I still have a big load of fabric in my collection, including lots of vintage linens, and lots more scrap. How does a girl acquire so much stuff!  (I know,don’t answer)

Figuring out the shipping was the hardest part. If an order has multiple items, the price of shipping can go up quickly because of the weight of the fabric, and such.  So I tried to keep shipping as reasonable as I could, hopefully not having to pay extra on my end, or you on your end.  So, if the shipping was way more than it needed to be, I will gladly refund the excess.

Also, international order are welcome, but expect shipping to be $11 or higher.  Just shoot me an email if you are interested and I’ll give you a special quote.

Thanks for letting me share my goods. I hope they get some good use by people I know love to craft and sew as much as me.

Scattered Sun
(print available in my shop)

I love it when the sun scatters through leaves and branches, breaking into little pieces that dance magically all about. Don’t you?

Just had to get my paints out today. It feels like ages since I last painted. I have so many ideas in my head and my sketchbook and it feels so good to let that pour out through my paint.

My friend Louise is starting up a fun color challenge that I will definitely be participating in.  A really nice way to be challenged by color and inspired be to create.  Go check it out.

I was inspired last night to paint. That inspiration hit me at about 9 pm making me wide eyed and painting wildly until midnight. I woke up at 7:30 and headed straight to my table to finish them.  It’s strange and magical when inspiration decides to strike.

Butterflies have been inspiring me as of late. They are so beautiful bringing happiness and hopes of wonderful transformation and change.

Both paintings were done on 5 inch wood blocks. I love working on wood because you can scrape, stamp and sand for lots of wonderful texture.

I had lunch with a dear friend and we often talk of change, growing and dreams. Dreams! We do love to dream. She is one of the few people I know who will achieve all her dreams, despite the bumps on the way, and transform gloriously on the other side.

And in vintage blogger style, I had to take pictures of her coffee mugs. Just gorgeous! We had espresso which raced through me causing me to jitter and talk at a most rapid rate.  I’ll have to stick to my tea, but it’s always a fun and wild ride when highly caffeinated drinks are on board.

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P.S. I have been accepted into the Indie Fixx Summer Galleria.  I’ve added lots on new prints to my shop, including the two above, but head on over to Indie Fixx first for a special summer coupon.

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A new painting for my house. I usually don’t like hanging my paintings in my house, but there are a few that I really like and keep up. All the others alternate pretty frequently.  I really like the layers on this one. It took me quite a while to keep adding paint, then paper, then more and more paint. It wasn’t going very well for a while, but somehow everything pulled together.  This one is now in my shop as an 8.5″x11″  print. Soon, I hope to have some larger prints.

I’ve been working on these for the past few days.   Love inspired art.  I have a pretty amazing relationship with my husband and feel completely fueled to believe that true love does exist and it is, well, awesome.

always – 8 x 8 art print

These are in my shop now as prints, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

together – 8.5 x 11 art print

I also added a cute kitty print and italian vineyard print in my shop as well. Go over and take a looksey.

P.S. Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes.  The cake was divine!!

It’s cooold. Well, for me any way. So, I’m just trying to keep warm.  We decided to start up the fireplace for the first time ever.  It’s nice to have a toasty glow fill the room.  And, the kids aren’t as interested in it as I thought they would be.

The tree is up in all it’s glory. Twinkling lights and it’s sweet piney scent filling the room.  I just love it.

The birds are visiting in masses which is lovely. I’ve been trying to catch little shots of them, which is tricky.

And finally, I have completed the last update for my shop. A few more tea wallets. I had planned more, but I need to call it quits.

Now I will be tackling my list for this week, plus we have a good friend visiting.

* Tamales
* Cookies
* Paper snowflakes
* Dolls
* PJ pants

I am really looking forward to my list of projects, especially those dolls!!

Sorry about the shameless self-promotion, but I need a little help.  I’ve been working hard to fill my shop with art and goodies. Things that I have truly loved making. I’ve found art to be my daily therapy, my calm and quiet, my creative happiness.

Unfortunately, I get only 10 to 40 visitors to my shop per day. The bigger Etsy gets, the more lost I become in the enormous sea of creative people. My bad self likes to think that my stuff is just no good, but my good self tries hard to remember that I’m just not being found.

I recently I took Marisa’s “In the Fish Bowl” e-course.  She spoke a lot about holding tight to your dreams, staying true to yourself, and not being afraid to put yourself out there.  That’s the hardest part for me, taking risks.

So here I am, asking you for a small favor. In return, I will throw your name into a drawing to win one of my art prints.  Your choice.

*First, leave a comment with a tip, suggestions, or your favorite item in my shop.  You can even just say Hi

**For a second entry, blog about my shop– I am offering Free Shipping on selected items until Dec 31st. Come back and leave another comment letting me know. Please feel free to use my image below.

**Lastly, you can Twitter about my shop, adding the hashtag #ckismet, so that I can keep track . Come back and leave another comment letting me know.

In my shop, you’ll find lots of art prints, postcards, ornaments, tea wallets and patchwork pincusions. I’ve even added some 5 x 7 prints too.  So, please stop by and take a look around. I am hoping to add holiday ornaments today or tomorrow, so please check back.

I’ll announce a winner December 1st.  Thank you so much for your support. I couldn’t do all this without you!!

I thought I’d do a nice little black & white photo of my kitty.  She loves that spot by the window where she can warm up and watch the birds.   I have been meaning to make her a new cushion, something like THIS would be cool.

Here is a sneak peak of my ornaments in progress. Little glittery owls with button eyes.  They still need some finishing touches.

Other cool things you should check out:
Flossy-p is hosting her 4th annual Thanksgiving Giveaway.  She is giving away a commissioned illustration!!! If you don’t know Flossy-p, well then, you better check out her work, because I think she is pretty amazing.

Angela at Clothesline Chronicles is also hosting a giveaway for $25 gift certificate at ecostore.  I love trying new eco stuff, don’t you?

Dana at create-share-inspire is giving away a very lovely paper tree ornament.

Just hop on over to these spots and leave a comment to win.

Lastly, I wanted announce free US shipping on seleted items in my shop. Please take a look. I will also be adding new items through out the week. Maybe some Christmas ornaments, a few new wallets and some more new art.

Connect (available in my shop)

Still more connecting going on over here.  Can’t be enough of that, right?  Connectedness with your inner self is the most important kind of connecting, I think.  Being true to yourself, having peace within, giving yourself what you need to be whole, mindful and complete. Then, and only then can you fully connect with everyone and everything around you.

I am creating, singing, dancing, drinking tea, reading, getting enough sleep, writing, drawing, hugging, kissing and doing my yoga to keep myself centered.  What are doing?  What makes you feel the most centered and connected? I’d love to know.

Sunshine Bird Ornament

I’ve had a lot of things half finished for the past 6 months that I needed to get done in order to move on with other craft stuff.  Pincushions in need of buttons and birds in need of wire and beads. I finished them all and couldn’t be more pleased.  They are all in my shop now. I’ve had a goal to list at least one thing a week and  to get at least 50 things in my shop before October 1st.  I have 41 now so I think I’ll be able to make it.

I also have lots of ideas for Day of the Dead stuff floating around in my head. Autumn, DOTD and Halloween are my most favorite time of the year.  I’m hoping to be able to work on that now that I’ve finished this other stuff.

Pretty Patchwork Pincushions

Also, my Eyeball t-shirt show on Martha Stewart will air again tomorrow, Aug 27th.  Weird.  I am a re-run.