Dutch? Orange!

If you're Dutch, living in Holland, you're probably not reading this but out celebrating.

If you're Dutch, living abroad like me, you're probably very homesick today, wanting to dress up in orange and get drunk...

If you've got some Dutch blood running through your veins, but are not so much in touch with the Dutch culture, let me tell you something:

Today, the Dutch celebrate their Queen's birthday (even though it was her birthday on Jan. 31st, but it was her late mother's today, and when she took over the Crown she promised her mum and the whole country that Queensday would still be on April 30th.)

Because the Dutch Royals are 'Van Oranje Nassau' ('Of Orange Nassau'), orange is our national colour. That's why our footie team wears orange, and why you see a lot of orange in the outfits our Olympic athletes will be wearing this summer.

So now you know why these eggcups with a prince and princess on them are orange!

Guerilla promotion

'Guerilla art' is art you leave in public places for other people to find. According to Kerri Smith it is 'a fun and insidious way of sharing your vision with the world. It is a method of art making which entails leaving anonymous art pieces in public places. It can be done for a variety of reasons, to make a statement, to share your ideas, to send out good karma, or just for fun.

You could use the principles of guerilla art for promotion.

Today, I read about a Dutch woman who put free buttons with her shop logo all over Amsterdam, making it look like billboards and posters were wearing her buttons. Such a great idea.

As much as I like sending off business cards to people asking for promo's, or handing them out, there's something much more fun about being 'sneaky' and secretive.

I think we can learn a lot from those million dollar ad campaignes. You know the ones: first you see billboards all over town that don't tell you what they are about, but you see them so often you're starting to wonder what it's all about. And then, after a few weeks, you get your answer....

Maybe you can do the same on a smaller scale. Be a mystery. Put art work out in the real world and see if people are taking it, and then go from there.

I'm getting all excited just thinking about it.

Wish I could get my super chalks out (not right now of course,it's pouring down and besides, it's 1 am here in the UK....)

Please share your guerilla promotion stories! I'd love to hear them!

Now you see him....

...now you don't, Mr. Danny Federici.

Look what I bought!

Today I received the pendant I bought from Nicholas & Felice.

It is a hammered and swirled 18 gauge sterling silver wire to make this celtic inspired light weight pendant.

It measures about 1 3/8"( 3.5cm) from the top of the sterling silver bail to the bottom of the pendant. It is about 1/2"(1.3cm) across the widest part.

This pendant came with a long satin cord, which is great because you can tie it as long or as short as you'd like. Which I love!

And the best thing yet, they still have this pendant in their shop, along with other absolutely gorgeous items.

But don't just let me tell you, go and have a look!

Inspiration

When my youngest sister, who turned 27 this week, was a lot younger, she used to drive us mad by telling us she wasn't C., but a cherry fairy.

At first we thought it was a cute story she made up, but every day it became more and more detailed. When out walking the dog she would point to the trees. 'I was here last night, with my fairy friends.' When my mum would smile at her, and softly tell her that she was in her bed last night, my sister would get upset. She was a real fairy! She was there last night!

She would pick up the phone telling whoever it was that she was a cherry fairy. When we went somewhere where kids could have their face painted, she wanted to be a cherry fairy.

She grew out of it, though right before graduating as an English teacher she did write her dissertation on witchcraft and fairies in the works of Shakespeare.

This mixed media work is inspired by my sister. This girl told everyone she is a fairy too. And you know what, I believe her!

It is an original on a 5.9" or 15 cm square wooden tile. It is done in acrylics, water pencil and water colours. I've used acrylic paper, book pages, gesso, loose glitter and glitter glue.

Tell me what inspires you, I'd love to hear your personal stories.

Stats!

Want to know how many 'hearts' your Etsy shop got in the last few days? Want to know how many 'hearts' your individual items have and if this has changed recently? Want to know how many people viewed your pages have had? Or how about your individual items?

Then go straight to this website, fill in your shop name and there you go. All the stats you could possibly want!

Thanks soooo so much, Majaba!

I'm in love....

Timeless goes 2D!

After lots of crocheting (yes, I'm still working on the One Block a Month blanket, it will be a huuuuge project but I'm loving it) I needed to rest my poor hands for a bit and had a look on YouTube for some new inspiration.

And inspiration I found!

I'm sure lots of you have already discovered SuzibluTube who not only makes wonderful art, but is also sweet enough to share some tips and tricks and to provide ideas for your art journal. And guess what, she's also an Etsy seller! Yay!

I also found the lovely Willowing, another Dutchie in the UK, which is always nice to see. She too shares lots of wonderful art on YouTube, which she also sells on Etsy.

Annyyywayyyy...

All of this inspired me to start my own Art Journal, pictures of which you can find in my Flickr. I'm loving it!

But then.... I also started painting on canvas, small ones for now, and guess what... They're already in my Timeless shop!

So what are you waiting for? Go...!! Go and have a look!