Excited About New Art Form: Jewelry!

I have been pondering these little art gems for quite some time, I finally pulled all the elements together and set out to create small art pendant (necklaces) that feature my miniature art.

I had seen these made by other artists on Etsy and thought how fun it would be to try some of my own. Thinking it would also be a way of sharing my art in a unique form that is charming, wearable and gift-able!

I created eight pendants for my Etsy shop and plan on making many more in different shapes using various ribbon, leather cords and chains.

Bunny Pendant $19.99 with free shipping

A company called Sun and Moon Crafts has the most wonderful selection of supplies for these pendants. I recently discovered their site, and I now feel like a kid in a candy store, repeatedly going back for more!

Enjoy my new art form.

Patches of Blue- Guest Post by Alaskan Sister

Guest Post by Adrian Eve Revenaugh, Alaskan homesteader (and my big sister).

Meet Adrian...my big sister. This is her latest post on her blog,The Fair Light Review

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I marvel at the trees so heavily endowed with cone there's no way for them to stand up to all that potential. Hemlock, spruce and the scattered patches of pine droop toward the ground. From a distance the entire forest appears to be rusted over.

Thousands of little siskins spent the winter filling the airwaves with music and activity. They're joined this week with the return of thrush and robin.

This morning, I'm filling seedling containers with our home grown starter mix and though I wake to a fresh skiff of ice, rain, or snow each morning, the late afternoons peak around 60°. The joy of new beginnings never fails to offer that sorely needed jolt, "Pick it up, Girl! There's a lot more living to do."

But, I grieve the end of winter. I adore scrambling the hillsides on snowshoes, making camp with a good book and journal; watching, listening, conjuring. This winter pushed hard with deep continuous cold and terrific wind, breaking deadwood from the trees and sculpting the mountains and snow across the river flats. I love being hooked into and surrounded by such a force. Helps keep perspective.

This year many peers from our community took quick and permanent departure. My friend, Garrison Keillor said, about writing eulogies, something like, "if I start now where would I quit?" Daily I walk with mental recitations of the good times spent in and around these valley residents who've died.

It helps considerably that I'm married to the idea of new starts being hatched from rich, old material, including break-up come spring. My winter bridge across the Klehini gave way around midnight. The rush of water soaked snow and ice suddenly running free, filled the night air with green sweetness.

Happy spring, Adrian!

Enjoy!

New Miniature Painting; Northern Cardinal Bird

This is my newly finished miniature (ACEO) of a bright red Northern Cardinal, one of what I call our "backyard birds".

I love these "red birds" who are frequent visitors to my bird feeder. Cardinals are especially charming in the winter when their brilliant red plumage is a happy spark of color against a cold gray and white backdrop.

This is a tiny work of art in the format of an ACEO 3.5" x 2.5" It is painted using India ink, Colored Pencil and some Acrylic

I've included an example below of the Cardinal framed up nicely as well as a collection of images that document my work in progress.

"Northern Cardinal" is available at the moment as open edition giclee prints here on Etsy.

Enjoy!

Power Artist Interview

This week I had the honor of being featured as a "Power Artist" and interviewed by Lori McNee. Lori is a professional, internationally recognized working artist & blogger.




Click here or on the banner below to find my interview with Lori.

Thanks again, Lori!

Enjoy!

Melody Lea Lamb's Art Named One of Constant Contact’s '10 All Stars

From Constant Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Melody Lea Lamb's Art, has received the 2010 All Star Award from Constant Contact, Inc., the trusted marketing advisor to more than 400,000 small organizations worldwide. Melody Lea Lamb's Art is one of Constant Contact’s 2010 top performers and most prolific user of its tools, whether within Constant Contact’s email marketing, event marketing, social media marketing, or survey products – or a combination of all four.

Melody's use of Constant Contact products and services helped increase her overall marketing performance and deepen its engagement with customers

Constant Contact looked at criteria including the following when selecting this year’s All Stars:

• Frequency of campaigns, events and surveys
• Open, bounce and click through rates
• Usage of social features
• Mailing list sign up tools
• Use of reporting tools

Melody's most recent newsletter.

“We work hard to listen to our customers, and we use that feedback to create products and services designed to help them better engage with their customers and prospects,” said Gail Goodman, chairman, president and CEO of Constant Contact. “The Constant Contact All Star Awards are our way of recognizing our customers that have successfully used Constant Contact to market their companies. We have some of the most committed, passionate customers out there and we’re proud we can be a part of their continued success.”

About Constant Contact, Inc.:

Constant Contact is revolutionizing the success formula for small organizations through affordable, easy-to-use Engagement Marketing™ tools that help create and grow customer relationships. More than 400,000 small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and member associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact as their engagement hub for starting and driving ongoing customer dialogs through email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online surveys. All Constant Contact products come with unrivaled know how, education and free coaching with a personal touch, including award-winning customer support.

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Little Bunny Baby Quilt

I have always wanted to design for fabric. Nearly twenty years ago ( when I was expecting my first child), I bought a bolt of fabric and began a season of sewing for my children that lasted for over a decade. For the last seven years I have focused on painting miniature art and illustrating books but continued to entertain the notion of designing for fabric. Then I discovered Spoonflower, an internet company that makes it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric designs.

Shortly after I crafted several miniature art fabric squares, I met Charlotte Wiggins of Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts and we began an exciting collaboration to produce one of a kind baby quilts using my miniature animal art printed on quilting squares. At last, the very first Melody Lea Lamb Bunny Seasons Baby Quilt has been lovingly handcrafted and is available to purchase!

This is how Charlotte describes her inspiration behind the baby quilt:

Inspired by the four Midwest gardening seasons, I picked out four of my favorite Melody Lea Lamb rabbit portraits, one for each of the four seasons, for our Melody Lea Lamb Bunny Seasons Baby Quilts.

A rabbit framed in green represents the freshness of spring.

A rabbit scratching an ear under a solid blue sky is a nod to summer.

Fall leaves keep a rabbit company in fall...

and holy berries are in the bunny quilt block for winter.

The Bunny Seasons Baby Quilt  is beautifully printed on Bluebird Gardens washable Color Plus Fabric blocks. Below is another shot of this absolutely adorable baby quilt:

This one of a kind quilt is available from Bluebird Gardens Quilts and starts at $99.00

Enjoy!

Miniature Art, 40% Off Through 3-13

All my art here on Etsy through tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Artists For A Cure!

I was invited by fellow artist Matt LeBlanc to be part of this AWESOME video. Matt created the Art for Life campaign to raise funds for the fight against cancer. Last year he created 200 paintings in 6 months with all the proceeds going to the cause and was able to raise $38,000. Matt gathered 25 visual artists in this video to promote cancer awareness. Check it out and pass it on! Art is life!

New Miniature Painting: Nikky, the Maltese Dog

This is my newly finished miniature (ACEO) of Nikky, a Maltese. Nikky "went over the rainbow bridge" in 2006 at the ripe old age of 14. His person is my friend Karen Lideen and I've included some of the memorial Karen wrote for her sweet dog.

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Nikky was the best little dog a family could hope for. He loved to bark at the doorbell, eat popcorn and sit by grandpa when grand-pa had popcorn. He loved to fetch a toy and not bring it back. He loved to go on walks and sniff every tree, rock and leaf. He loved to lie in his bed and in his kennel and on Dan’s bed and on Sarah’s bed. He liked TV commercials and certain shows on the Animal Planet channel. He loved “treats!” There are a few things – well lots of things – that Nikky did not like. Remote control cars. Sewer grates. Docks and boats. Coffee cups. Wine glasses. Other animals. Babies. He was very jealous! Nikky didn’t like going to the vet or the groomer. Baths were torture. He didn’t like not having his collar on. Things we will miss about Nikky include the clickety-clack of his nails on the kitchen floor. The jingle of his tags. The warm spot at the end of the sofa. Little paw prints part-way up the patio doors. The way he nodded his head with each scoop of dog food put into his dish; as if he were counting. We’ll miss him curled up in the corner of the computer room. His snoring and his unconditional love for his family. Good-bye, buddy. We’ll remember you with love forever.

$125.00
Free Shipping

10% of the proceeds from this miniature will help animal charity!

This is a tiny work of art in the format of an ACEO 3.5" x 2.5" It is painted using India ink, Colored Pencil and some Acrylic

I've included an example below of "Nikky" framed up nicely...isn't he charming?

...and a few shots of Nikky as a WIP (work in progress):

I also redesigned Nikky in a square format, added a sweet border and a few extra stars so that he can be printed on ceramic tiles, jewelry boxes, and tote bags. I'm offering this square format as a 5x5" Giclee print.

Enjoy!

Ideas For Easter Gifts? Vote & Win!

Take a moment to vote in my poll below, leave a comment here, and you could win a dozen of these sweet Easter bunny postcards!

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The postcard backside is blank except for this sweet verse (and my website):

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life." ~ S.D. Gordon

Enjoy and good luck!