A Wonderful World

Today is the beginning of the Team EFA Birthday Bash.  Use code "WORLD" to get 20% off participating stores, including A Wonderful World.  This is a great time to start on that Christmas shopping, since Christmas is only 100 days away.  Speaking of which, place orders at A Wonderful World by December 1, 2008 to ensure delivery in time for Christmas.

I will not have computer access September 21-28, 2008.  Any orders placed at A Wonderful World will take up to a week longer to ship than normal.  I apologize for any inconvenience.

I must apologize to everyone who faithfully reads this blog. Between the inturruption Hurricane Gustav caused in my daily routine, and some increadible stress in my day job, I haven't updated this blog in a week, or responded to any comments. I really do apologize, but a new week is here, and I hope to do better. Onward and upward...

I am participating in the Etsy for Animals Team Birthday Bash at A Wonderful World. In celebration of the Team's birthday, from September 15-30, shops on the team will be accepting a coupon good for 20% off your entire purchase! Use code "WORLD" when checking out with A Wonderful World, or any store accepting the coupon. Check out the instructions on how to use your discount, and look for stores participating in the EFA Birthday Bash. The store with top sales will have $50 donated to their favorite animal charity. (My chosen charity in Big Cat Rescue.) Check it out and help the animals!

Happy Labor Day everyone!  So far, we seem to be dodging the Gustav bullet here on my part of the coast.  Alot of rain and some tornado warnings, but nothing terrible.  Keep south Louisianna in your thoughts.

I had planned to blog today about my complete giddiness over the start of college football, and to wish my beloved Crimson Tide the best against Clemson Saturday night in prime time.  However, Mother Nature had other plans. You see the text up there that says 2AM Tuesday?  That's me, living under that text.  We're used to hurricanes here on the Gulf Coast, but boy are they a hassle.  As you can see, there's still a great deal of uncertainty about where Hurricane Gustav will end up, what size it will be, and how it will effect us.  It is a weird thing, knowing the damage a storm can cause, but at the same time hoping that that damage will be inflicted a few hundred miles east or west of you so you don't take a direct hit.  Then sending supplies and helping hands to those same folks in the aftermath.

As a result of the impending storm, some operations at A Wonderful World may be interrupted in the next week.  If our power is knocked out for some period of time, shipping will be delayed.  (For a frame of reference, our power was out for a full week after Katrina, and a couple of days after Ivan).  Notepads are still on sale through Sunday the 31st, but if I have problems with computer access, I will continue to honor the discount on orders placed until I can update the prices.  I will apologize in advance for any delays or problems, and at the same time hope that there will be no delays or problems. 

Having lived down here all of my life, I have been through many storms, and tend to take things in stride.  Having said that, I do ask you to keep the Gulf Coast in your thoughts.  Today also happens to be the third anniversary of Katrina.  The pictures you have seen in New Orleans pale in comparison to the utter destruction that occurred in southern Mississippi and Alabama, and these people are still trying to get back to a normal life. Here's to hoping that it doesn't happen again for a long time.

And an update from Friday -- we broke down and bought the Wii.  Once I talked my husband into wanting one, that was the end of it.  My arms are sore from boxing with him last night.

For the entire month of August, all notepads are 30% off at A Wonderful World.  These cute little 3x3 notepads are handmade by yours truly, and feature one of my original photos on the cover. They hold 50 sheets of your favorite self-sticky paper.  Stock up on stocking stuffers!  Beat the Christmas rush!

Today I'm the Member of the Day at IndiePublic.  Check me out!

Today is the first day of school here in town. Is it just me, or is summer getting shorter all the time? I think the worst for me was walking into Hobby Lobby in mid-July and seeing Christmas decorations on the shelves. Come on! We'd just finished with Independence Day. Just let me have Fall for once!

It's finally Friday, and I'm so glad. This picture gives you an idea of how I'm spending my weekend. How are you spending yours?

With the Olympics beginning today, I was excited to learn that my co-worker, who spends his spare time sailing, his best friend is the boatwright for the US Olympic team. It's like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon for me. I know someone who knows someone that's a for real Olympian and marching in the opening ceremonies as I type! That's so cool. Here's to hoping they bring home the gold.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Those of you who read my blog regularly have watch me fail miserably at blogging at least every weekday. I've decided to take back some of my time (and actually spend some time working!). Beginning next week, I'll be updating on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hope y'all won't miss me too much!

Don't forget, notepads are 30% off at A Wonderful World in August. It's a perfect time to start stocking up for Christmas!

Saturday was the perfect day for pink cupcakes and tiaras. I hosted a "Bling Bling Bridal Shower" for my sister. Everything was pink and silver and sparkly, and everyone wore tiaras and big plastic rings and had a great time. And I had to take a 3 day break to recover!

with the following rules attached:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

So my 7 nominees are:
Etsy for Animals
Laura (Seeking the Rabbit)
Handmade Network
Anna Maria
Annette
How about Orange
Southeastern Etsy Team (where your truly just happens to be featured today)

Now I'm off to post in all these blogs! Don't forget, all notepads at A Wonderful World are 30% off during the month of August. They make terrific stocking stuffers!

It's such a bad song, but the title of the theme song of the Biggest Loser runs through my head all the time. Then I came across this thread on 2Peas, and it got me thinking. It shouldn't be so hard for us to admit the good things about ourselves. I'm one of the worst when it comes to this. I'm hard pressed when I need to list my strengths, although of course I possess strengths, and its not bragging to talk about them.

So in honor of the post above, here it goes: I think that I have been blessed with the gift of what I call "the photographer's eye". I don't know if its an eye for good composition or not, but I have ability to see a photo, even when I don't have a camera in my hand. It's part of what made me take up photography in the first place. This gift does not apply to photographing humans, but nature and especially architecture and still life.

So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

For the entire month of August, all notepads are 30% off. These cute 3x3 booklets contain 50 self-stick notes and feature a print of one of my original photographs. These make great stocking stuffers!

Today is absolutely the last day for Christmas in July at A Wonderful World. Photos in the Christmas in July section are 25% off regular prices. And since I know you don't even what to think about Halloween here in the middle of summer, you're trying to get your kids ready to go back to school, and you really just like to save money, I'll give my loyal bloggers 10% off anything in the store. INCLUDING Christmas in July prices! Just send me an etsy conversation that you read about this in the blog and let me know what item(s) you wish to purchase, and I'll set up a special listing for you! Now, this offer is valid today, July 31 only, so hurry in!

OK, OK, I know its supposed to be Wordless Wednesday, but I have to share this. My photography is featured today on NanjoDogz: WonderfulWorld.

I'm having a hard time blogging lately. I can't seem to think of things to blog about. But I think I've diagnosed the cause - it's just too darn hot! I discovered this at 7:00 am this morning when it was already 80 degrees outside. I usually don't mind the summertime, but right now its just too hot, there's nothing but reruns on TV, and I'm ready to go to Las Vegas in September. So I guess I'm just gonna whine about it here.

For those of you who are already shopping for Christmas presents, the Christmas in July section at A Wonderful World will only be available for 2 more days. 25% off regular prices. You can also find cards and notepads featuring my photos that make perfect stocking stuffers.

Stay cool!

...and with it, the Christmas in July sale at A Wonderful World. Everything in that section is 25% off, but only through the end of July. So hurry in and stock up early for Christmas!

Now at A Wonderful World, you can purchase any 3 prints of the same size for the price of two. It's like getting one for free! Make your own grouping of three butterflies, frame a triptych of tractors, or find prints to give as gifts.

Hooray, the weekend's nearly here! What do you have planned?

For me, it's Once A Month Cooking, which we started 2 months ago and is absolutely fabulous! I spend a few hours on a Saturday using every pot & pan I own, but practically no cooking or grocery shopping for the rest of the month. It's fabulous. You can find some recipes here.


Next on the agenda, The Dark Knight! Yes, we're the only two people on the planet that haven't seen it yet, and we are looking forward to it. We haven't been to the movies in forever.

Other than that, I'm hoping to take it easy, and of course make more things available at A Wonderful World. You see, my sister is getting married in October. I am her matron of honor, and I swear every weekend between now and then is booked with wedding stuff, starting last weekend when I heat embossed 200 thank you tags, and continuing next Saturday with the shower I am hosting. The theme is "Bling Bling Bridal", and I ordered cupcakes today. It should be fun. But I belong to her until October!

It is so hot and humid here, I can hardly even type. I thought this photo would cool everybody off!

I put my first ACEO on A Wonderful World. It's of one of my more popular photos, "Rhino Love":

Are you familiar with ACEOs? I wasn't until I started selling on etsy. It stands for Artist Cards, Editions and Originals. It's collectible pocket art, and the only rule is that is measures 2.5 in x 3.5 in. All you scrapbookers are probably familiar with them as Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), which are only traded, not sold. You can find out more here:

http://aceo.org/
Wikipedia

Etsy ACEOs

And in other news...




Made this card available...



And in this cute cowgirl treasury.

Tomorrow is Friday. See y'all then!

This morning, I sold my first photo on etsy! I can't tell you how freakin' excited I am!! And I had just listed this one, too:

Cupcakes for everyone! On the house!

I worked hard all weekend, and I have something to show for it! I'm now offering on A Wonderful World, note card featuring some of my more popular photos. Each 5x7 card is made of cardstock, and the 4x6 photo is matted on a colored cardstock coordinated with the photo. A matching envelope is included with each card. This is the first one available:

and I'll be adding more soon. If you see a photo that you would like as a card, convo me on etsy and I'll set up a special listing for you. Leave a comment here and let me know what you think of the cards.

I'm also listing new photos all the time, so check out the shop to see what's new!

Things I puffy red heart:

1. The Princess Bride - either you love it or you hate it
2. Whipped topping
3. Christopher Walken - especially when he dances
4. Las Vegas
5. My ipod (named Izzy)
6. Tiki drinks
7. Elivs - both of 'em - Presley and Costello
8. Cute shoes
9. Coney Island
   
10. Cupcakes
11. Cute things like this

I'm working on a couple of new things for A Wonderful World: notecards and cute little notepads, all hand made and all featuring some of my most popular photos. I hope to have them up by Monday, but life might get in the way of that, so we'll see. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

So Summery:

One of my photos got picked for this really cool Treasury on etsy. It's all about women on etsy, and has some very neat stuff from talented artists. So go, click, buy, explore!

("borrowed" from Heather @ {A Life So Simple} )

Have you ever won anything? I have. I won a ceramic Easter egg at a church luncheon one time. And I won a cruise, but my sister put my name in the drawing because she was too young to be eligible, so I don't know if that counts really. The first time my future husband and I went to Las Vegas, it seemed like I won every game I touched. But I knew to quit while I was ahead, so we didn't exactly come back millionaires.

Alot of times, I feel like I'm not lucky at all. But then I look around at all I have, my family, my husband, my cat, and I see that I really am lucky after all.