My face hurts from smiling! :D

I love Etsy and I love @Etsy on Twitter. I was sitting at my computer working on an embroidery pattern I'm making using one of my drawings when I decided to check Twitter and saw @Etsy had tweeted, "Circus front page right now is excellent!" I thought, "I have circus illustrations" and then clicked on the link to find YES my Dancing Bear Circus print was featured! Exciting stuff.

Last week I about fell out of my chair when I checked my email and saw my Russian Doll and Snowman Coloring/Activity book featured along with a bunch of cool books in the Etsy Finds: Burn After Reading article in The Storque, Etsy's blog. I'm happy to report that was very good exposure and I sold a number of coloring books as a result. Thank you Etsy people!!! :)

♥♥ Valentines! ♥♥

Valentine's Day is coming! Something warm to look forward to in this super cold month. :) New in my shop- this sheet of 8 Valentine cards featuring 4 of my illustrations and sweet Valentine messages!

Russian Doll and Snowman Gift Ideas

Looking for a gift theme? Mix and match these items from the "Russian Doll and Snowman" collection for sweet, fun, affordable gift giving! Happy Holidays!

5"x7" prints, letter size prints, accessories, cards, gift tags and ACEOS, a coloring/activity book

Coloring / Activity Book!

I'm so excited about these Russian Doll and Snowman coloring and activity books!!

They include:

4 coloring pages,

1 maze,

1 draw your own snow globe scene and

2 tent card dolls to make!

I print and assemble each book by hand (you can read more about how I make them in the description). They really are a labor of love because I enjoy working with these illustrations so much. I'm proud of how these turned out. I really think they're fun! I hope you like them too! :)

Holiday Gift Tags

Now available in my shop sets of holiday gift tags! These are ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) prints. Fun and affordable miniature art, the size of a baseball cards (2.5"x3.5"), to collect, display or trade. Usually I sell these in my shop individually but for the holidays I'm offering a special reduced price on sets of 4 to use as gift tags or to give as gifts. :)

Treasury of Illustrations

My Russian Doll and Snowman ACEO has been included in this lovely illustration treasury by knot. Thank you knot!

Russian Doll and Snowman in Love Pinback Button and Gift Tag

I am so happy to announce a New listing in my shop — "Russian Doll and Snowman in Love" Pinback Button and Gift Tag! I'm soooo pleased with how these turned out. I wanted to do a pinback button of this lovely couple up close and personal. I also wanted to come up with a way of presenting it that was fun and pretty. So I came up with this pretty button & gift tag combination. So many fun possibilities- accessorize with the pretty pin, hang the pin attached to the tag as a beautiful decoration or adorn a gift and add a sweet message to the back!

Russian Doll and Snowman in Love Pocket Mirror

I'm so happy with the way these turned out!!! Doing a happy dance! I've just placed these pretty pocket mirrors in my shop. This is from my "Russian Doll and Snowman in Love, a Snow Globe Love Story series". The round shape of the mirror is perfect for this snow globe illustration! And the sweet couple looks so elegant through the black organza bag. I knew the white of the snow would gleam through the bag and the black top hat, bow tie and details of the Russian Doll's dress would look stunning through the black organza. Love it when something turns out as good as I had hoped! The photo really doesn't do it justice.

Oh, and a note about yesterdays entry- The Little Red Riding Hood, Gingerbread Man Pocket Mirror. I keep thinking it looks so yummy I want to eat it. With it's sugary snow and sweet gingerbread man! Looks like a cookie! he he he

Sale on Card Sets!

I'm offering a Sale price on my new Russian Doll and Snowman card sets. There are 4 different sets of these cards in my shop. Properly pricing new items can be difficult. A real head scratcher. These are the first cards I've offered. If I get a good response with this sales price I will make it permanent (material prices permitting). :)

Cards Now Available In My Shop!!

My first cards!!! I'm so excited. I've just listed this set of assorted cards featuring my "Russian Doll and Snowman, a Snow Globe Love Story" illustrations, in my shop.  

Russian Doll and Snowman Share an Ice Cream Float!

Is there anything as glorious as completing a drawing?!?! Ahhh the felicity! (I'm channeling Jane Austin.) So here it is, the snow globe soda shop date! I just posted it in my shop as well.

Sneak Peek - Soda Shop Chair

This is a Sneak Peek at a new

"Russian Doll and Snowman

. . . a Love Story" illustration 

I'm working on. 

Russian Doll and Snowman Set of 3

This first set of 3, "Russian Doll and Snowman a Snow Globe Love Story" is now available in my shop. They are 5"x7" each. Also available are each printed on 8.5"x11" paper.

Evolving

Toweling off after a dip in the Arctic.

A continuation of  the serial "Russian Doll and Snowman . . . a Snow Globe Love Story" here they are toweling off after a dip in the Arctic! Burrrr!  This is an illustration in progress. I thought I would give you a sneak peek. I'm out of paper and just about out of ink. Could this be the end of Russian Doll and Snowman forever?!?! Will Amy buy more paper and ink? Stay tuned. . .

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you— This was inspired by a swimming cap my Grandma had when I was little. It was pink and covered in flowers. Magical!

Interviewed

This weekend I was asked to do an interview for a cool blog Agent Dreamer. I was a little hesitant at first because I am a private, shy person, but I'm glad I did it because it was a really good experience. Agent Dreamer put me at ease and asked me great questions. If you've read my shop profile then you know it is a little thin (to say the least) and greatly lacking information about me. The interview is helping me think about what should be added to my profile. So, Thank you Agent Dreamer and I also appreciate the publicity of course!

I've also done a version of  "Kismet at the Snow Ball" with Russian Doll's costume more of a pear green instead of a yellowish Bartlett pear color. Which do you like best? I think I just really like the word Bartlett. LOL. Maybe I should look up other types of pears that are green and see if there is another name I can fall in love with.

Kismet at the Snow Ball

I've just added another print in the "Russian Doll and Snowman. . . a Love Story" snow globe series to my shop. This one, "Kismet at the Snow Ball" depicts the first meeting of Russian Doll and Snowman at a masquerade ball. Russian Doll is wearing a Bartlett pear costume and Snowman is disguised as an ice cream sundae!

Exciting Day!

Today is off to a great start! I awoke to lots of happy email. 

•A sale in my shop. 

•Featured in a showcase on Designing-Minds blog along with a bunch of other really cute Russian Dolls. 

•And contacted by another blogger requesting an interview for her blog (which I will post the link to once it is available).

This is one of the ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) of "Russian Doll and Snowman in Love" available in my shop.

Russian Doll and Snowman in Love

Nadine commented on my first entry to this blog that she is "partial to snow".  So this new illustration is dedicated to her. Thank you for the inspiration Nadine! 

This sweet scene depicts a Russian Doll and a Snowman falling in love. Are they in a snow globe or are they out in the snow and we are viewing them through a bubble? You decide. This print is available now in my shop as an 8.5"x11" print and in two versions as ACEOs.