Kerri Birds

Have you ever run across a painting you thought would make great fabric or a piece of pottery you thought would make beautiful flooring?

This happens to me all the time. I am not a designer, but perhaps I was in another life time. An interior designer, a fashion designer, maybe even a choreographer. I constantly see things and wish I knew Michael Miller, or Jimmy Choo, or Bob Fosse so I could refer the artist to the famous one and voila! Match made in heaven!

That was my reaction to Kerri Birds. At the very moment I saw the first one, I was instantly excited about the possiblities. I saw silver pendants, classy silk tees, children's books. I had this woman's art merchandised as if it were the star character in a Disney movie ... a DISNEY MOVIE! YES! That, too!!

Enjoy Kerri Birds. And watch your local stores and boutiques. When this creature sudden shows up on the Red Carpet - remember, you heard it first from me!

(And if you want to own a Kerri Bird, contact me. I'll get you hooked up! They currently sell for $300 USD - but don't be surprised to see the price only go up as they get famous (or picked up by Jimmy Choo!).

Amazing Potter and Etsy store owner

I just purchased two pieces of pottery - salt shakers, to be exact - and I want to tell you about my experience!

I visited a shop on etsy.com called Studio Elan and the images of the pottery just took my breath away. I loved the salt shakers (makes sense, since I've painted so many apples and pears, huh?). LOOK at these!!

The owner, and potter, Eleanor Hendriks, answer a bazillion questions for me before I made the purchase. She communicated with me precisely when the purchase was due to be shipped. She answered my questions regarding approximate arrival date. Then, yesterday, the happy day arrived! The packaging was well done; secure and compact. The pottery well protected. When I unwrapped the actual pieces, and held them in my hands, and watched the light bounce off the finish, and marvelled at the detail - - ohhhhh. It was Christmas in April! Bruce exclaimed, "WOW. Those are BEAUTIFUL!" Pretty cool, coming from a very picky collector of salt/pepper shakers and grinders.

I'm so thrilled with my purchase. I want the world to know about this stellar Etsy seller, artist, and my new favorite place to buy gifts!

Thank you, Eleanor, for being a fine artist, a superb business owner, and a great representative of all things fine at Etsy. You make me proud to be a member of the Etsy community (to see my Etsy shop - click here).

Have you had great shopping experiences at Etsy? We'd love to hear from you. Comment on this blog and we'll spread the love.

March 15 - Everyday Angels

Admittedly, I muse a great deal when I'm painting, or when I'm thinking about painting. Today's muse is about Everyday Angels. I am being interviewed for a feature piece on another blog and asked questions about how I got started painting. I don't think I will go in to the minute details for them...but I might "think out loud" here. Thus the beginning of the muse about everyday angels.

Angel #1 - Shana, a mentor and spiritual guide, told me one day - out of the blue - that I "should paint". I had not previously painted nor ever considered it. Much in line with my natural response to any suggestion, I immediately disregarded it.

Angel #2 - Bruce, my husband. I told him what Shana said. He immediately packed me up and took me to the art store. He has been long accustomed to me starting some new craft and buying all the crap to do the craft, and before too long - I'm bored and all that junk is cluttering up some closet. His reaction this time was different. He didn't roll his eyes or bring up all the past craft binges. He said, "I think it would be very cool to see what paintings are in you." How about THAT?

Angel #3 - Anonymous, (or perhaps I just can't remember where I learned this but whomever it was - it became immensely important in this process). At the art store - in the paint department - among stuff I have never looked at twice and had no idea what it was... I remembered hearing about just walking slowly among *whatever* (the forest, the people in a crowd, unfamiliar "stuff"), breathing, and being "open" to what ever "jumped out". So...I did that.

Angel #4 - Pat R. Prior to the above, Pat recommended I read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

Angel #5 - Brandie. The very next day, Brandie called me from a bookstore to tell me of a workshop that she wanted me to attend with her. You guessed it. An Artist Way workshop. Coincidence? Synchronicity? God? Sign me up!

Angel #6 - Julia Cameron. Her book changed my mind, and that changed my life.

Angels #7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 - Brandie (again), Jessi, Kerri, Kris, Tracy, Cyn, Sidse, Dora, Merrie, and Beth - participants in an Artist Way workshop who encouraged me to keep painting.

Angel #17 - Michelle - art teacher. Talanted, skilled, spirited, encouraging, and honest. Thank you!

Angel #18 - Brandie, again. Brandie opened a beautiful store in Kirkland, WA and invited me to bring my paintings to hang on her walls, and sell. It was surreal, dreamy, and the hallmark day that is truly the first day of the rest of my life.

Angel #19 - Jennifer D. - referred me to ETSY.COM as a good online store to sell my paintings.

Angel #20 - etsy.com - for being there, easy to use, reasonably priced, and creating a community that fits me as if it were custom made JUST for ME! debralinker.etsy.com

Angel #21 - Name Unknown - whomever it was at ETSY that posted a referral to stumbleupon.com.

Angel #22 - stumbleupon.com - the COOLEST way to find websites you didn't even know you wanted. That site led me to blogspot.com.

Angel #23 - blogspot.com - 'nuff said. Here we are.

Unlimited Angels - all the people who encouraged me to build a website, publish, and sell my paintings. Especially Peilin and Kathleen for helping me with the website. www.debralinker.com

That's a lot of Everyday Angels who, just being themselves and doing what they do, changed my life forever. I am so grateful and so humbled and so happy. Thank you.

"But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
Someday we will become what we see. "
-- Jewel "I'm Sensitive"