Too many things happening are preventing me from creating new artwork for my own portfolio. These are good things happening, mind you. I have commissions to complete and a booth at our county fair to get ready for. I am also attempting to re-design my website, as you all know is an on-going mission with the hopes to have a shop integrated into the site where I can place the handmade cameos, bookmarks, etc.  Just haven’t had time. 

Also am working on scrap kits to sell at the tags store, among too many other things happening to even mention, besides the fact that I am enjoying the summer and my children.

Stay tuned! Rachael

Opened stores at Printfection and ArtsNow. Plenty more will be added to them over time.
Artsnow.. there is only one product there so far, but what I like is the vast variety of products, especially the plates and watches. I don’t like their choices for templates of the shops though, and I can’t edit the current template to match the colors of my website. Will continue to work on that at next chance.

Remember my shops at Cafepress and Zazzle!

New artworks since last blog entry are:

Lots of things happening over the next few weeks.
Stay tuned!

Rachael

According to the calendar, tomorrow marks the first day of spring, but according to the weather channel, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I wonder if there is any way we can convince mother nature to read the calendar.

Things have been very busy on the home front. We had a big party for our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary Saturday March 15. What a great time that was, despite the fact my younger son and I have been sick.

As far as art, I am feeling a little uninspired. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve not been well or because family life is just too busy these days.
Nonetheless, my art is being recognized more, which always thrills me.

Elfwood.com, the largest online fantasy art community in the world, surprised me by having me as the featured artist of the day on March 16. What an honor!

Zazzle still has me on their front page and my fan club is growing. That’s always cool.
Just wish sales would grow, too. LOL
I paid attention to all your answers on that last poll at my website regarding Zazzle vs. Cafepress. The poll has since been deleted, but here are your responses in a nutshell:

Pros (prices, service, shop layout, products, overall look/feel):
Zazzle 10% Cafepress 90%

Some of your written responses:
“When I clicked on one of your products and practiced going through the checkout process, I didn’t feel like I was still at your shop. I went all over the place, it seemed and was bombarded with ads to sell my own products.” — Patricia

“Where are the ceramic tiles and ornaments at Zazzle?  I can’t find them.” — Helen

“The prices are too high at Zazzle.” — Sharon

“It (Zazzle) would be a good place for teens.” — Rob

“Rachael, you’re not thinking of closing your Cafepress store, are you? If you do, you’ve lost a customer.” — Vernie

“The idea to customize is a good one, but who would want to add to your art?” — Rita

“What’s with all those comments on your Zazzle store front? It’s distracting.” — Whitney

OK… the responses were all quite similar and I thank each of you who voted and left comments. I had 132 people vote and many comment.
I know you can’t leave comments here at the blog anymore. (The spam was ridiculous so I had to close comments on my blog). Therefore, if you have anything to add, you can always email me.

By the way, I finally got to log into Zazzle and uploaded some more images and products. The folks at Zazzle seem very eager to help out and are very nice.
Thank you all for your answers! It helps me great deal.

Zazzle has me as one of the featured contributors all this week.. right on the front page.
That’s great and all, but I still can’t log into my account. It would be nice to be able to respond to so many wonderful messages being left on my gallery wall.
Another great thing would be to have the ability to upload new stuff! Arrgh
It’s really getting on my nerves….

Some more of my new artwork charts are available at Heaven and Earth Designs. Do go over and check ‘em out, if you like to cross stitch.

New artwork at my Cafepress shop:
“Little Bird Told Me” :: “Blue Rose Fae” :: “Heard It through the Grapevine” :: “Spirit of Spring Angel”

Nothing new at EMG. Ellen has closed submissions until, I think, sometime in March for all artists.

15% off March Madness Sale at the tags/stats shop! March 1 until March 15.
Hope to see you all stop by again. There will be some new art there soon.

For some fun and promo idea, I made 4 bookmarks today. Still need to place the tassels on them. It was fun and I hope to make several more.
I’ll post pics when I get them finished.
My hubby’s and my 15 year anniversary was yesterday. Since school was closed, we didn’t go anywhere, but around town a bit. And it was nice hanging out with the boys, too.

Until next time,
Rachael

Hi, everyone! Nothing like updating about once every 6 weeks. Sorry about that! Just been busy as usual.

New artwork is “Spirit of Spring”. She’s #9 in the crescent moon angels series.
And she is available at the shop. Purchase “Spirit of Spring” here.

Some of my artwork is now at Heaven and Earth Designs cross stitch charts.
HAED is a wonderful company and they make gorgeous charts of artworks.
If you like to cross stitch, better check them out. My art is here on this page. More will be coming, too.

Introducing new products at Zazzle! They have a huge selection of t-shirts, mugs, posters, prints, postage stamps, key chains, and much more of my art there now.
My shop is RachaelArt. Come by and see what all is available. Hip-hopping place that only gets better and better.

The website was updated recently. (Still working on the entrance page). I tried to make the site xhtml compliant and I really wanted mostly CSS, but being a self taught designer, I never could get it right. However I got rid of quite of few graphics that were slowing the page loading times and frankly, I like the sleek, new looks. Colors are mainly neutral with a splash of my favorite…pink! If you have an analog monitor or your LCD is old, the colors may not show as vividly. As always, keep that in mind regarding the artwork, too! Actual products and prints are much more vivid that what you see on the computer.

I celebrated my 44th birthday this month on the 21st. Wonderful day. I spent it on taking my younger son to the dentist, taking care of my sore thumb (another story), I did some laundry, cooked…yeah, it was a great day. Hahahaha
But, my sons made me a gorgeous card and my hubby remembered to get a card and his caring, consistent loving attitude is all I need. Awwww… ain’t that sweet?

Until next time, blesses to you all.

My, my… how time flies when you’re having fun! I didn’t post anything all through November.. bad me.

New artworks in the store are:

Winter’s Spell Fairy :: Violet Fairy :: Star Angel

The holidays are upon us and it is so much fun to see my two sons getting all excited about it. We’re ready for the season and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New year!

My artwork is for sale at EMG now on several types of products.
Two of my works are up, but more will be later. Click here for my products.
Be sure to stop by there.

My graphics store is closing Oct 10 for artists’ files, but products are moving to Fantasies Unleashed, also brokering with Content Paradise, partnering through Shattered Elegance. I’ll have all my graphics moved there, hopefully by mid November.

For you signature taggers out there, my art will be available at the graphics store starting Oct 15. Some for free, some for sale. The sale items will be packages. One package will include 1 png file and 1 image. The free stuff will be images.
Keep up to date at my terms of use page for development on that and how to get your user agreements.

I’ve been contacted by Celtic Rose Needlecraft to sell my artwork on cross stitch designs, which is very exciting to me. I used to cross stitch frequently when I was younger. It’s a new venture I’m looking forward to for my art.

New artwork is “Hello” and it will be available in my Cafepress shop sometime in the next couple of days.

“When Petals Fall” won third place in the big, almost 500 entries, Think Pink II contest at Deviant Art. I was excited to have placed in that huge event. Thanks to Jen, she hosted the contest and it was a big success.
I declined all my prizes and asked the donators to give money to a worthy cause instead. Everyone was great about it and most agreed.

So, it’s been an adventurous month thus far! (Gee, and it’s only the 7th).
Until next time, be well and many blesses to you and yours.
Rachael

Introducing two new artworks for fall. Autumn’s Spell and Autumn Moon.
Both are now in the shop on many fine gift products, t-shirts, posters, tile art and so much more!

Available now are the new 2008 calendars! Calendars of all fairies, all angels, all women and a new calendar for miscellaneous fantasy. 4 new calendars in the store.
Shop early to assure a great calendar for ‘08.
As always, you receive a different artwork for each month. You can’t beat the one low price for 12 images on 9×11 high quality, thick paper.. perfect for framing once the calendar month has ended.

Also new in the shop is the upgraded tile boxes. Higher quality and much more gorgeous keepsake boxes. Be sure to stop the store.

Thanks for visiting!

For all your artistic needs. Please check out the shop.
Many new products planned for near future.

In the works also is the images/tubes of my artwork store that will be opened some time in October for all you taggers out there. Keep a look out for that!
Thanks for stopping by!
Rachael