Calligraphy for the Times of Your Life

I love calligraphy because I’m in awe of those who do it well. The best I can say about my handwriting is that it’s usually legible. I’ve tried to do calligraphy (the art of beautiful writing) and have come up with a personal form that allows me to personalize items for people, but I’ve never been able to really do calligraphy.

BUZ WILLIAMS of Creative Artworks combines professional calligraphy with nice artwork and sometimes a great sense of humor to provide keepsakes for all the times in your life, including holidays, births, weddings, graduations, triumphs, and more.

"If Music" Calligraphy by Buz Williams

This gives you an idea of what Buz can do: beautiful calligraphy plus NICE artwork to make the quote by Shakespeare really special.

 

 

“If Music”

would be a wonderful gift for any music lover, music student, performer, teacher.

It’s 11×17 , framed and matted.

The calligraphy below is one of my personal favorites. It makes me grin each time I see it. Close friends, with whom you share SO many personal things, are special in so many ways. Send this one to one of YOUR best friends! :0)

"You Know Too Much!"

“You Know Too Much!”

“A Caring Teacher”  is a personalized, framed gift that a teacher will treasure forever.

“A Caring Teacher”

These are just three examples of the special things Buz has to offer.

You can see the rest of Buz Williams’ work here

Angels and Animals

Angels, geese, zebras, giraffes, cats, bears, horses, donkeys, unicorns…

Dreams, wishes, fantasies -

Ludmila Penouchkina (otherwise known as “Mila”) of Nice, France, draws you into her world, lifting your spirits, making you almost feel like a child again.

"Stag" Acrylic on Canvas Painting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Stag”-Acrylic-on-Canvas-Painting

"King Cat" Acrylic on Canvas Painting

 

I love the cartoony, yet sophisticated drawings and her unique choice of colors.

Why her work makes me so happy, I can’t explain. It just DOES.

“King-Cat”-Acrylic-on-Canvas-Painting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Angel-with-a-Goose"-Hand-Painted-Pillow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Angel-with-a-Goose”-Hand-Painted-Pillow

"Cat-on-Gold"-Acrylic-on-Canvas-Painting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Cat-on-Gold”-Acrylic-on-Canvas-Painting

The more you see, the more you WANT to see.

See all of Mila’s wonderful work here!

“Putting Pen to Paper” ArtFire Collection!

A very nice lady created a new collection from the artisans of ArtFire called, “Putting Pen to Paper.”

Putting Pen to Paper ArtFire Collection

 ”Putting Pen to Paper” ArtFire Collection by CactusCroneCreations

She very kindly included my hand painted “Fall Leaves” Stationery in the collection!

Stationery - Pkg/10 - "Fall Leaves" by Linda Lewis

Note-Cards-or-Stationery-”Fall Leaves”

She has a very nice ArtFire shop called “Cactus Crone Creations” where she offers really gorgeous Southwestern type jewelry.

I really love these earrings -

Faceted Blue Skies Quartz with Faceted Crystal Earrings

Aren’t these stunning?             You can find them here

Please visit her Cactus Crone Creations shop and enjoy looking at all the luscious jewelry.

Cactus Crone Creations

THANK YOU for including my stationery in your beautiful “Putting Pen to Paper” ArtFire Collection!

EEEEEEEEK!

It’s time to start thinking about ‘getting spooky’ for Halloween!  Besides thinking about costumes for yourself, your spouse or significant other and your kids, it’s fun to send cards to people you wish you could be with for the holiday, plus decorate your home for spooky celebrations and the actual trick-or-treat night.

Charlene Bodero makes wonderful handmade cards that will delight your friends and family this Halloween.  Here’s a sample -

"Three Triangles" Halloween Card by Charlene Bodero

“Three Triangles”

Charlene makes each of her cards especially for you when you order, so please give her a good amount of time to create your choices.

In fact – if you order by September 30th, you can take advantage of Charlene’s special September sale!

Other Halloween Cards

This offer is good on ALL of Charlene’s cards, by the way, so if you don’t dawdle, you can get this special offer for your Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all greeting card needs. Hurry! This special only lasts through the 30th of September!

“Buy 2 Cards – Get One Free – Special Offer” 

See ALL of Charlene Bodero’s Handmade Cards!

I also make some handmade cards for Halloween. Here’s a sample -

"Two Feather Boo!" Handmade Card by Linda Lewis

These cards are a line of “Feather Friends” cards I’ve designed, using real feathers and googly eyes.

They’re blank inside for a personal note from you. I like to use these, and other holiday type cards as regular note cards to keep in touch with friends and family.

“Two Feather Boo!”

Other Halloween cards by Linda Lewis

Sandi Myers offers some decorations that are sure to make your holiday guests take notice! I love this – Doesn’t it look GREAT with the candy corn in it?

Halloween Felted Bowl by Sandi Myers

“Halloween”-Felted-Bowl 

This would look great on a table, buffet, or the dining table to invite people to grab a goodie as they pass by! :0)

What about some Halloween hand painted glassware to use for a fun celebration?

Hand Painted Jack-O-Lantern Goblet by Rebecca Kelman

What a delight to serve your guests at your Halloween bash with these GREAT Halloween goblets hand painted especially for you by Rebecca Kelman!

These are made to order, so please get your order in as soon as possible to give Rebecca time to create and deliver your party glassware!

Hand-Painted-Glass-Halloween-Jack-O-Lantern

See ALL of Rebecca’s Halloween glassware designs here!

See Other Halloween Goodies here!

Don’t miss this cutie by Debbie Garrett! 

Trick-or-Treat-Bear                                         HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Trick or Treat Bear by Debbie Garrett

A Red Letter Day

If you try to create handmade products, you’ll well understand how much work goes into one. It’s a very personal thing, although you ‘try’ to stay objective about it.

I’ve been SO excited about fall finally coming to the former ‘heat dome’ that has included Arkansas that I’ve been dreaming about painting a tote bag with a whole pile of fallen leaves at the peak of their color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a GREAT time working on this. I started with a natural beige canvas tote. I kept drawing leaves until I couldn’t fit anymore on one side of the tote. Then I painted the background of the tote a rich brown. If you’ve painted on fabric, you know that it’s a really good idea to let each color dry before starting another one so they don’t bleed into each other.

The next day I used a nice copper paint, then carefully used the other colors. I let everything dry again and then used black to draw veins on leaves and outlined the copper leaves with it. I then used purple to draw in some shadows, trying to make the leaves pop out from the background. I then sponged on some black onto the background to add some texture. I outline the orange leaves with gold, so there’s a really nice three-dimensional quality.

As I do very often, I sent a picture of the still drying tote to my friend Sandi to see what she’d say. Since her comments were really encouraging, I listed the tote on my website, Creative Artworks, and my stores on Etsy and ArtFire.

I checked my email about an hour later and a nice lady had bought the tote!

When someone likes your work enough to buy it, there is no larger compliment. Every time this happens I walk around about 3 inches off the ground for a couple of days, breaking out in a grin from time to time.  After I ship my work, there is still some uncertainty that my customer will be disappointed for some reason. So it’s doubly wonderful when I get feedback that the actual product was nicer ‘in person’ than the picture showed. :0)

I have to tell you that I have NEVER sold something while the paint was still drying! I’m still elated over it. I’ve spent the day, now that the paint IS dry, spraying it with Scotchgard to protect the tote from stains. Tonight I’ll pack it up carefully with the note I wrote the NICE lady. It will be on its way to her tomorrow, and the jitters will stay until I make sure it arrived safely and she is pleased.

What a joy it is to have the freedom and time to try to create things people might enjoy. When my work makes someone else happier, the circle is closed.  What a LUCKY lady I am!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Fall, Y’all!

I can’t tell you how MUCH I’m embracing the cooler weather in Arkansas this year. We’ve been under the ‘heat dome,’ like so many others this summer, and I’m delighted that we can finally open the windows and doors, turn on the attic fan at night and actually be too cold!!!!! What a TREAT!

 

This beautiful felted bowl is by Sandi Myers. It’s called, “Autumn Sunset.” http://bit.ly/pJJK0G If you’d like to see more of Sandi’s felted bowls, click on this link http://bit.ly/q7PgKg    

 

 

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.”  William Cullen Bryant

 

 

This wreath is handmade by Nora Ruth. The name of it is “Autumn’s Glory.”  You can have it on YOUR door, welcoming your visitors for the fall season! http://bit.ly/nOgrnS              

 

 

 

“Autumn is a second spring where  every leaf is a flower” Albert Camus

 

You’ll be proud to set your autumn      table with these gorgeous hand painted  ”Autumn  Trees” glasses by Rebecca  Kelman! My mouth waters just looking at  them!  http://bit.ly/oB4tRd

 

 

 

 

This is one of my hand painted journals. The front and back covers of the journal are made of heavy cardboard material. There are ‘pockets’ inside made from manila folder type paper. You can keep pictures, drawings, tickets, brochures, coupons, and more. Use it as a regular journal, a travel album, or an organizer. This one is called, “Bronze Leaves.” http://bit.ly/pIIMxH

 

 

 

 

“Fiery colors begin their yearly    conquest of the hills, propelled by the  autumn winds. Fall is the artist.”  Takayuki Ikkaku

I love this hand painted “Fruit  Harvest”  ceramic tile by Martha  Dollar Efurd. It  would look beautiful  in your kitchen or  the buffet in your  dining room, or you  could put in on a  table  easel. http://bit.ly/qSVYsG

 

“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”

John Burroughs

 

I just finished painting this “Fallen Leaves” tote bag. I love all the colorful leaves! http://bit.ly/rt78YE

“Falling leaves hide the path so quietly.” John Bailey

 

If you’d like to see more of what Creative Artworks has to offer to help you embrace the fall season, please click on this link http://bit.ly/n0v61C

We'd love it if you would come visit when you have the time. :0) http://bit.ly/hf683m 

 

 

 

How Do You Thank Someone?

How do you thank someone who has meant so much to your quality of life?

In our case, our family doctor has made the difference between life and death in one case, day to day control of aging issues, and quality of life aid for several years now.

"Emu Planters"

Okay. Now you know. We’re weird. But these ‘emu’ planters are the most personal, unique way my husband and I can think of to say, “THANK YOU!” to our family doctor and his wife, who are now in the process of building a natural pool on their rocky acreage.

My husband and I made these planters, which are about 5 feet tall. They’re made of metal, shaped and painted, holding 14″D plastic faux terra cotta pots. The legs are made of the rod you use to support concrete pours.

We showed our doctor a picture of one planter when we were in his office a couple of appointments ago. He took one look, and grinned at us, saying, “My wife will LOVE this!”

Since that’s exactly the reaction we hope for when we create a metal ‘critter,’ we were thrilled.

Our last visit, he said he would call as soon as the pool was finished because his wife was picturing the planter by the pool.

When he calls, we’ll go, taking BOTH of the planters, and install them wherever she wants them.

It’s a very small, but heartfelt gesture to let him know how very grateful we are that he’s always been there for us.

How will YOU thank someone who makes your life so much better?

September Contest on Creative Artworks!

This month I’m giving away a set of 5 of my hand-painted, personalized note cards in a “Fall Leaves” design to the winner, whose name will be drawn on September 30th.

 

"Fall Leaves" Note Card Set

Each card is made from heavy card stock. Dimensions of each card are 5 x 7 and are blank inside.  Each card has a different leaf, and each is painted by hand with acrylic and watercolor paint. The acrylic paint gives a nice texture and 3- dimensional quality to the painting. I also like to add some pastels to the background to add richness to the card.

I’ll also put your name or your initials on each one!  Of course, envelopes are included.

There are only 9 days left in the contest.  Winner will be contacted via email, and the winner’s name will be in the welcome paragraph on the home page on October 1st.

 

If you’d like to enter, please send an email to me at linda@creativeartworks.cc

with

Your full name

Your full shipping address

And a phone number (optional) in case we can’t reach you about your win via email.

Of course, all your personal information is very carefully guarded and will not be given or sold to anyone.

 

If you have the time to visit Creative Artworks, you’ll see the work of many very talented artists!

http://www.creativeartworks.cc

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN THE CONTEST!

 

 

 

 

Take Advantage of September Card Sale!

Charlene Bodero makes cards one at a time, by hand, that will knock your socks off.  She offers cards for every holiday or reason for sending a card. The biggest problem I, personally, have with the cards I’ve bought from Charlene is that some of them are SO cute I don’t want to give them up!

“Go Ask Alice” Greeting Card

For the month of September, Charlene is offering a special sale on her handmade cards - “Buy 2 – Get One Free”

You’ll have to hurry, though. You only have until September 30th to take advantage of this.

You can choose from ANY of her cards in ANY of the sections on Creative Artworks. Simply choose one of the “Buy 2 – Get One Free” items, check out on the site as usual, and type in your choice of the THREE cards you’d like in the “Special Comments” section of the shopping cart (the page AFTER you input your billing and shipping addresses.

You can get as many cards as you’d like. For example, if you type in “5″ in the Quantity box, you can type in the names of 15 cards!

“Easter Tulip and Decorated Eggs”

Charlene’s cards are in many sections of Creative Artworks:

CARDS -Christmas – Hanukkah – New Year’s

EASTER – ST PATRICK’S DAY – VALENTINE’S DAY

FALL!

Graduation – Teacher Cards and Gifts

Greeting Cards – Handmade – Enclosure Cards

HALLOWEEN – THANKSGIVING

MOTHER’S DAY – FATHER’S DAY

Stationery – Note Cards

SUMMER!

Weddings – Anniversaries

WINTER!

“Halloween – Spooky Creatures”

Get some paper and a pen and go to  http://www.creativeartworks.cc/a_267.html where you can see all of Charlene’s cards.

As you see something you like, jot down the item number or the name of the card.

Figure out how many special “Buy 2 – Get one Free” items you want to buy, and then put that number in the quantity box. Type the names or numbers of the cards you’d like and check out as usual.

ENJOY this special sale! It’s the perfect time to stock up for all occasions: birthday, get well, thinking of you, seasonal cards, anniversary or wedding cards -

As always, if you have questions or need help, write me at linda@creativeartworks.cc

Happy September!

Hello and Welcome!

I just wanted to say a quick “Hi,” and tell you I’m delighted you’re reading this!

I’ll be writing about the artists on Creative Artworks, pointing out products you may have missed on my website, and offering you special sales only to blog readers, as well as telling you about my latest projects.

From time to time I’ll just tell you what’s on my mind, ask you questions, and invite you to share my world.

Please let me know what you like, what you’d like to see less of, and any suggestions you have.

Let’s get to know each other! :0)