Time to Hit The Road!

But not in a wheelbarrow.

artwork copyright 2011-2013 Susan Faye

I'm heading out tomorrow with my sweetie for a REAL vacation.
At a SPA. 
In the desert! 
With hot springs!  
I LOVE the desert and plan to spend plenty of time taking photos, collecting rocks, visiting art galleries, and soaking in some SUNBEAMS!  

I plan to visit one of my favorite places in the area-- the Living Desert Museum in Palm Desert, where there are wonderful opportunities to see desert wildlife up close and personal.   

"Out of Hibernation", watercolor copyright Susan Faye

This painting is my portrait of one of the residents there-- a desert tortoise that had just come out of hibernation. I took many reference photos of this beautiful creature about nine years ago and then painted this watercolor a few months later. Let's see who winds up in my reference photos this time around!

I'm pleased to announce that my Etsy shop will stay open during my time away.  My son Christopher will be taking over many of the responsibilities of running my growing business over the coming months, and will be filling orders while I am gone.  We'll be listing lots of new things when I get back, so stay tuned!

As for tomorrow, I'm off in search of sunbeams!

Weather Report

The garden fairies have been up to a little mischief in the yard of our new house here in McMinnville, Oregon!



First of all, here is the big surprise that has popped up all over our new front yard... Dozens and dozens of petite yellow daffodils!!!


But that wasn't enough. Just for fun, the garden fairies wanted to add a little icing to the cake, so to speak, and here's what we woke up to on Wednesday morning:

...A light frosting of dancing snowflakes...

Perhaps a reminder that although Spring is just around the corner, don't put away the knit cap and gloves just yet!




Look quickly and you might actually see the fairies in their frilly yellow skirts with their snowy white wings, taking flight from the garden...!

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FEEDER UPDATE

Good news! You might remember my disappointment several weekends ago during the Great Backyard Bird Count, when only one lonely chickadee showed up for the entire weekend.

Well, as anyone with a new bird feeder in a new location knows, one happy bird is all it takes to "prime the pump". Word has gotten out and now we have a whole flock of chickadees AND a whole flock of dark-eyed juncos that are regular diners!

Not to mention sightings of a song sparrow, a western scrub jay, and a few starlings... Pretty soon they'll be lined up at the door!

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NEW IN MY ETSY SHOP!

As I continue to sort through stacks and stacks of artwork in my new studio, I have decided to sell more of my original artwork, including these two garden fairy paintings.

Surprise your favorite Garden Goddess or cat lover with the gift of original art-- or better yet, treat yourself!

Each original painting was drawn with pen and ink, then painted on Arches 300 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Paper with professional quality watercolor paints. The actual painted area measures 6.5" x 4.5" . Each is matted in an 11 x 14" double matting, ready to frame in a standard size frame. Click on either image for more information, or click here to see all of my original art for sale: Original Art on Etsy

Both images are also now available as fine art giclee prints on Imagekind. Click here for more information on purchasing these as prints: Garden Fairy Prints

Thanks for visiting!

365 Cat Ladies Revisited

Over the past few weeks I've been pleasantly surprised at how many Cat Ladies are already picking out holiday gifts for their special somebodies, and tucking them away until that special day.

With that in mind, I've been re-stocking my Etsy shop and have decided to offer up the remaining mini paintings from my 365 Cat Ladies ACEO collection, a few of which are pictured here. You'll find tabbies, himmys, tuxies, persians, black cats, and ginger kitties; blondes, brunettes, and silver-haired goddesses-- every kind of cat and cat lady that I could think of...

You might remember that in 2009 I had the crazy idea of painting one Cat Lady for each day of the year, and then featured them on this very blog. About 100 of those that I posted were commissioned custom portraits. The other 200 were fanciful cat ladies from my imagination, painted in ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) format, which means that the artwork size is 2.5" x 3.5", the size of a baseball card.

Each is hand-painted on super-heavy Arches 300-lb. acid-free cold-press watercolor paper with professional quality watercolor paints. They are artist-initialed on front, signed, dated, and titled on back. ACEO art is a super affordable way to collect, share and enjoy original art!

These mini paintings are adorable when matted and framed, or displayed on an easel!


I'll be adding more, and highlighting some of my favorites over the coming weeks. Please visit this link to see those that are currently available.

Enjoy!

Winter Blues Begone!

With three feet of snow on top of the burrow, Rhonda Rabbit has found the perfect solution to melt away any mid-winter blues: Redecorate! It's as easy as hopping over to her computer, placing some orders, then waiting for the intrepid mail carrier to arrive (a Snowshoe Hare-Lepus Americanus-of course!)

First, she'll sip some chamomile tea out of her new mug that she ordered last week...

Bunny Love Coffee, Tea, or Cocoa Mug...The perfect size for your favorite morning beverage or late night brew. Large, easy-grip handle. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special. Measures 3.75" tall, 3" diameter; Dishwasher and microwave safe $13.99 at Cafepress

Then she will start with the kitchen and pick out this framed tile for the wall above the sink...

Bunny Love Framed Ceramic Art Tile...Frame measures 6" X 6" x 0.5" with 4.25" X 4.25" tile; Constructed of stained Cherrywood; Two holes for wall mounting $11.99 at Cafepress

And now for the living room...How about a cheerful coaster for the coffee table?

Bunny Love Ceramic Tile Coaster...measures 4.25" x 4.25"; Four felt pads protect your furniture from scratches. Dishwasher safe. Not for use with abrasive cups and mugs. $6.50 at Cafepress

And a colorful print for the wall above the sofa...

Honey Bunny 8" x 10" Art print... heart-felt message for your special honey bunny; A great way to brighten up a child's room or nursery...This cheerful 8 x 10" inkjet print is printed on high quality matte photo paper with Epson Durabrite Ultra inks. Print will be signed at the bottom. . $12.50 on Etsy

This little fabric ornament might look cute next to the bathtub, and it smells pretty too!

Lavender Scented Valentine Ornament... This hand-crafted fabric ornament has a ribbon for hanging and is filled with fragrant lavender... a great gift for your favorite honey bunny or sweetheart! It measures 4" x 2.5", not counting the ribbon hanger. $6.00 on Etsy

And now for the boudoir...Rhonda thinks this whimsical pillow would look great on the bed to brighten up the room...

Bunny Love Throw Pillow...Add stylish fun to a kid's room or den. It measures 18" X 18" with an 11" X 11" image area and is made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area. Ships with pillow insert. Removable zippered cover for easy laundering. $19.99 at Cafepress


And the finishing touch will be this lavender-filled Dream Pillow, which will sit right next to the bed. She wishes she had one already, as she feels a nap coming on. Sweet dreams, Rhonda!
Lavender Dream Pillow... This petite pillow is filled with a generous helping of high quality lavender buds. Place it by your bedside-- according to folk wisdom, lavender's aroma aids sleep and relaxation. The pillow is 9" tall x 5.5" wide.. $12.00 on Etsy

Hope YOU are safe and snug in your burrow.
Thanks for visiting!

Out With The Old to Make Room For The New...plus a Sneak Peek

It's a brand new year! January is always a great time for me to recharge my batteries. As I am finishing up projects and loose ends from December, the creative cogs are already turning and I've got DOZENS of new ideas bubbling up. Actually, I started thinking about spring sometime last September believe it or not, and here is a little sneak peek at ideas I started working on months ago:

BUT, in order to make room for all of these new ideas, it's time for some housecleaning. No, that doesn't mean I'm getting out the Dustbuster or washing windows (don't be ridiculous!). It means OUT WITH THE OLD in my Etsy shop to make room for the NEW for 2011. I've reduced prices on dozens of items which you can find at this link: Etsy Sale

AND and to further sweeten the pot, use the code CLTY11 when checking out to receive 11 percent off of your ENTIRE purchase from my Etsy shop, including sale items!. (If you forget to add the code, don't panic, just send me a message and I'll send your discount in the form of a Paypal refund.)

Now if I could only get Buttonwillow to put that fluffy tail to use and do some dusting around here...

Thanks for visiting!

Weather Report

What is the forecast in your corner of the world today? In the Pacific Northwest, Mount Hood and its fellow Cascade Range peaks are resplendent in a fresh coating of shiny snowflakes!

To celebrate, I've added 6 matted prints to my online Etsy shop featuring some lucky Cat Ladies enjoying a winter wonderland with their feline friends.

Remember, as freezing temperatures approach here in the Northern Hemisphere, outdoor cats need some special attention such as providing a warm place to sleep, and making sure that non-frozen drinking water is available. Here are more great tips from The Conscious Cat: Winter Health Tips For Your Pets

Thanks for visiting!

BRRRR...Is it getting chilly around here? These high quality reproductions of my whimsical watercolor paintings are the PURRfect gift for your favorite Snow Bunny or Feline Fanatic.

The image is 4.5" x 6.5" and comes in an acid-free 11" x 14" white on black double matting, ready for framing in a standard size frame. $12.50 each plus shipping.

Click on any image for more information.

Cat Lady No. 347...Happy Winter Solstice!

Garden Fairy Lulana and her winged cat Fabinia will be observing the solstice tonight with a large bonfire to encourage the return of the sun and spring.

Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont tells us in her article The Plants of the Winter Solstice:

"The winter solstice...is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

"The early Romans, Egyptians, Celtics, and others observed that by December the fields were no longer producing crops, leaves had fallen off the trees, and many plants had died. Daylight hours were waning, and the sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. They feared the sun would completely disappear, leaving them without light and warmth.

"They lit bonfires to light up the skies on this longest of nights both for warmth and to coax the sun to return. They thought the fire would call out to the sun, asking it to stop its descent into the earth and return to the sky.

"The Saxons and Celtics often kept an oak log--usually the entire trunk of a tree--burning for 12 hours on the eve of the solstice. If the fire did not go out during this period, the household would be protected and see an abundance of crops, good health, and other desirable things in the coming year."

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 327...Fa La La La La

Cat Lady Monica and Tabby Turbo just finished decking all of their halls with boughs of holly and would like to share some tips with you, provided by Oregon State University:

Did you know that storing holly in the same area with ripening fruit can result in defoliation, due to the ethylene gas given off by the fruit?

Cut your boughs of holly when temperatures are above freezing and when wind and strong sunlight will not cause excessive drying. Holly should be moved into cool, moist storage as soon as possible after cutting.

When using treated holly in the home, give it the same care you would give a flower arrangement, i.e., supply water to the cut stems, keep out of drafts and other places that promote dryness, and keep in a cool room if possible.

For more information, read the whole article: Preserving Cut Holly

Enjoy!

FREE SHIPPING IN MY ETSY SHOP: FREE worldwide shipping on all purchases totaling $20 or more for the entire extended weekend from Thursday Nov 26 through Monday, Nov. 30. You must include the words "Weekend Deals" in the Notes To Seller box when you check out! http://www.SusanFaye.etsy.com

Cat Lady No. 322...Carol Time

'Tis the season that Cat Lady Cynthia has been waiting for all year: the caroling season. It's the only time of the year that a gal with somewhat modest singing skills can sing loudly and with great enthusiasm in public places without raising too many eyebrows.

She's brushing up on the lyrics of all of her favorites with the help of her purrsonal neck warmer, Clyde Catman, and this great website, which includes lyrics to dozens of her favorite carols, plus a little history about each song:
Christmas Carols

Enjoy!





Give the gift of original art without breaking the bank! These ACEO watercolor illustrations have just been listed for sale in my Etsy Shop

Cat Lady No. 320...Music To My Ears

Illustration Friday
(theme:"music")

Cat Lady Veronica is sporting the ultimate caroling accessory for the upcoming season! The latest in fashionable neckwear, it is guaranteed to keep neck and shoulders toasty warm while purring to the music. This particular neck-warmer goes by the name of Mo and will be happy to double as a lap-warmer for post-caroling cocoa consumption.

Thanks for visiting!


Two more creations by Etsy crafter ElleJays featuring one of my quilt blocks!

You'll find this pocket applique and mini quilt wall hanging listed for sale in her Etsy shop along with many more great cat lover gift items!

The individual fabric squares are for sale in my Susan Faye Etsy Shop

Cat Lady No. 304...Gobble Green Idea No. 2

Cat Lady Jonquil and her Persian beauty Downy have decided to make their Thanksgiving meal a little more earth-friendly this year by eating organic.

Although there has been a recent debate about the nutrient value of organic versus non-organic, Jonquil buys organic to avoid ingesting antibiotics, pesticides and other toxins.

According to the Organic Trade Association, there are also many benefits to the planet: organic agriculture can improve soil fertility, prevent chemical fertilizers from polluting waterways and accommodate higher species diversity.

Check out the Eat Well Guide Online to locate local, sustainable, and organic food near you...

This original ACEO watercolor illustration is No. 11 in my series called "Let It Snow" and has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...add it to your collection by visiting Let It Snow No. 11 ACEO Art

Cat Ladies 302 and 303...Gobble Green Idea No. 1

Cat Lady Rebecca and her sister-in-law Roxie have decided to make their Thanksgiving meal a little more earth-friendly by becoming "Locavores" (also known as "Localvores").That means eating foods grown locally and in season.

When you eat locally-grown foods, it means that the food has fewer food miles, meaning the carbon emissions associated with local foods are smaller. An added benefit is that the food is fresher and picked at peak ripeness, meaning more nutrition value for you and your family!

For Thanksgiving menu ideas, visit the 100 Mile Diet website, where you will find links to localvore recipes.

Feline friends Pippi and Chipotle have their own ideas about eating local and have high hopes of catching something right outside their back doors....Doesn't get any fresher than that!




These original ACEO watercolor illustrations have just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...give the gift of original art by visiting
Let it Snow No. 10 ACEO Art
Raindrops and Kittens No. 4 ACEO Art

Cat Lady No. 296...Hummin' In the Rain

If ever Cat Lady Debbie is feeling a bit blue, all she has to do is hug kitten Chompers, get out her brightest umbrella, and hum a little bit of "Singin' In The Rain".

Debbie is not quite bold enough to sing it out loud with joyful glee and wild abandon, like Gene Kelly did. But she has been known to stomp through a splishy-splashy puddle or two and swing around a light pole when no one is looking...

Perhaps one day she will be slightly delirious (as Gene Kelly possibly was--he was coming down with a flu bug and had a high fever when the sequence was filmed) and she will bust out singing:

I'm singing in the rain, Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin', I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds, So dark up above
The sun's in my heart, And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase, Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane With a happy refrain
Just singin', Singin' in the rain

Thanks for visiting!

Look at what Cat Lady and Etsy Seller ElleJays made out of some of my new quilt blocks!! I can't wait to see what else she comes up with!