Amazing Etsy Painters -- thebrilliantmagpie.etsy.com

I found this artist quite a while back, and was immediately smitten with the women portraits that she created. The artist behind thebrilliantmagpie.etsy.com is a genius at manipulating watercolors (that's one medium I really struggle with). It was really difficult to select only three of her items to showcase--each character has so much life behind them that you want to know them all--but I was drawn to "She was Like a Queen in Her Palace" because of the emotion captured in the woman's eyes, and "She was Full of Revolutionary Ideas" because she looks to be a very happy-go-lucky girl who would probably have a ton of great stories to tell. The two women in "Sisters in the Dark Days" have such a bond that you can see, although it is probably caused by hardship, but they are close just the same. The artist also has a lovely blog amyabshierreyes.blogspot.com, so I recommend checking her shop and her blog out if you get a free moment."She was Like a Queen in Her Palace""Sisters in the Dark Days"

"She was Full of Revolutionary Ideas"

Amazing Etsy Painters -- obsoleteworld.etsy.com

This next shop I'm going to feature is really intriguing to me. The shop is obsoleteworld.etsy.com, and the originality of her pieces is definitely what draws me. They have a surreal quality that I truly enjoy. My favorite is "Beyond The Faint Glow Of A Tired Sky" because of the beautiful depiction of the tree and the colors of the background. I also really like "Ships Glide Over Newly Created Seas" because of the whimsy of the ship and the saturated colors as well. The artist also has a blog; obsolete-world.blogspot.com, and a website at obsoleteworld.com. Definitely look at the other work in her shop--it's all very magical and the world it is derived from looks like a wonderful place to explore. "Ships Glide Over Newly Created Seas""Building Oceans Over Vacant Fields"

"Beyond The Faint Glow Of A Tired Sky"

Amazing Etsy Painters -- paintallnightstudios.etsy.com

The unique art of paintallnightstudios.etsy.com brings a smile to my face because so much of it is lighthearted and sweet. My favorite would have to be "High Hopes" because I remember how freeing it was to swing as high as you could as a child--plus you always seemed to daydream on the swing set--you didn't have to think about the action of swinging--it came natural and would allow you to think about whatever you wanted to. Also "All God's Children" is a nice piece because of the gracefulness of the giraffe and the sweet gesture of the little girl. The artists also have a blog--howtobuyartonline.blogspot.com. Make sure you take a look at their shop and see what else they have created.

"Joy"

"High Hopes"

"All God's Children"

Amazing Etsy Painters -- amberalexander.etsy.com

Here is another really impressive artist's shop on etsy--amberalexander.etsy.com. She also is the author of the blog amberalexander.typepad.com. Her work is very imaginative, and I think that's what draws me to it. You know there's a great story behind each one. "Tilly's Journey" is probably my favorite and in the description of the piece the artist gives a glimpse of the story behind the painting--I really enjoy when an artist does that. "Byron" is also a favorite just for the shock value of a black bear sitting with tea and a newspaper, but at the same time she makes it seem like a natural sight. Please look at the other work in her shop; you won't be disappointed."Tilly's Journey""The Royal Taffeta"

"Byron"

Found an Article on Edward Hopper.

Whilst reading LIFE Magazines on books.google.com I found an article talking about one of my favorite artists--Edward Hopper. I found it in the May 3, 1937 edition--you can read it here. I've always enjoyed his use of light--it always seemed to me that his canvas was illuminated internally. Below are some examples of his work. Be sure to read the article too--he almost didn't paint because he wasn't well received at first--imagine if he would've just given up..."Self-Portrait" (1925-1930)"Nighthawks" (1942)"Early Sunday Morning" (1930)"Chop Suey" (1929)

"Cape Cod Afternoon" (1936)

(all images via here)

One of my favorite things.

I love anything from the past--books of course are my weakness. Since my house is overflowing with books, I was elated when I found books.google.com a few years back. It is a search engine with tons of books available for full view--many of which you can download and read as a .pdf file. My favorites are the photography magazines (such as the Photographic Times--whose editions start in the late eighteen hundreds and end in the early nineteen hundreds), and a new addition to their site Life Magazine (starting in the mid-thirties to the early seventies). There are also lots of wonderful novels (featuring a lot of the classics) and poetry to peruse. Also I've found a lot of nonfiction books dealing with agriculture and housekeeping that are a lot of fun to browse. So if you have some extra time I highly suggest taking a look around that search engine--I know I don't get a lot of things done because I end up over there for hours. Not so bad when you're just waiting around to go into labor (which, by the way, I've been trying to keep my mind off of for a while). It's hard to stay focused when the doctor tells you it could be at any time and then NOTHING HAPPENS. Alas, I'll just keep myself busy working on little things that need to be done and let nature take its course. I hope everybody has a wonderful weekend!! Oh and please be sure to tell me what you think of books.google.com--I hope you like it as much as I do.From a 1936 Life MagazineFrom Cyclopedia of Farm Animals (1922)

From The Photographic Times (1905)

Amazing Etsy Painters -- californiaabstract.etsy.com

The work of Ryan Ross of californiaabstract.etsy.com is really unique. "The Traveler" is my favorite because of the beautiful combination of colors that he used, and the way that the eye travels across the piece. "Thinker IV" also stands out to me because of the way my eye travels the oval shape finally arriving at the various shapes in the middle canvas. All in all his work shows great strength and the fact that many of them are very large paintings makes them even more powerful. Why don't you go take a look for yourself, and I think you'll agree."Thinker IV""The Traveler"

"In Dream World"

Amazing Etsy Painters -- modernartstudios.etsy.com

Here's another shop that houses beautiful works of art: modernartstudios.etsy.com. Her abstracts really caught my eye for their use of color and just the application of the paint itself. My favorite is "Connection" because it gives me a feeling of 'something is about to happen'--whether that something is good or bad is yet to be seen in the painting, but that's what makes it enjoyable (the possibility for excitement). Her other paintings evoke a similar feeling in me as well--"Daydream" reminds me of the way your vision looks when you open your eyes after having them closed in the sunshine--a little blurry, a little chaotic, but still the shapes of life are there. Please check out her shop and see what other wonderful works she's created."Daydream""Connection"

"Botanical Gardens"--must have already sold.

Amazing Etsy Painters -- weathergirlshop.etsy.com

Today I'm going to introduce you to weathergirlshop.etsy.com. The artist also has a website: aimeesicuro.com. Her images are whimsical, yet sophisticated. There's a quality there that evokes childhood memories, but the artwork itself is anything but childlike. I enjoy "Reading List" because it produces wonderful thoughts of springtime. "Plant Your Own Happiness" is a favorite because it sends a message that everybody should embrace and that is nobody can guarantee your happiness but yourself. Please stop by her shop and see her other works as well."Reading List""Late Bloomer"

"Plant Your Own Happiness"

Quite the Shock.

Seems like just yesterday I was reading this test, and now...

I had a routine doctor's appointment yesterday and they checked to see if I was dilated and where the baby was positioned. The doctor was just as shocked as I was when he felt that I was already 2 centimeters dilated, solid zero station (meaning she's not floating around but is engaged in my pelvis), and my cervix was very soft--he told me to make an appointment for next week, but he said I'd probably see him before then. We might be meeting our baby earlier than the due date.

I figured he'd say "Oh, you've not started to change much, but you've got plenty of time." At the same time, I knew she'd changed position because my belly disappeared overnight, and I was feeling quite a bit of pressure. Just never would've imagined that I could be close to giving birth. Today I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my body continues to change nice and smoothly and active labor starts in the next couple of days.

So, if you don't hear from me for a bit--I'm bringing another life into this world, but I've got lots more amazing artists to show you when I get back. Keep me in your thoughts!!

Amazing Etsy Painters -- natureandart.etsy.com

Another shop I came across was natureandart.etsy.com. She also has a blog: tweeart.blogspot.com. Her watercolors are my favorite just because of the vibrant simplicity of "Yellow Flowers" and the sharp contrast of the black ink of the bird and branch on the green background of "Bird on a Branch." She has lots more wonderful pieces in her shop and I recommend taking a moment and checking her shop out."Yellow Flowers""Puzzle"

"Bird on a Branch"

Amazing Etsy Painters --atwhim.etsy.com

Another shop (which has been on my favorites list for quite some time) is atwhim.etsy.com. She has a website as well: atwhim.com. She works in various mediums and has a great handle on all of them. I like the whimsy of "A Pink Tree," and the element of an unknown story in "Girl with Skinned Knee" Please take a look for yourself."Maude""Girl with Skinned Knee"

"A Pink Tree"

Amazing Etsy Painters -- bsasik.etsy.com

So, I decided to check out other etsy artists this week instead of just photographers--my first search was for painters. The first shop I'm going to feature is bsasik.etsy.com. She does original oil paintings that have such amazing texture and vibrant color. They are all so striking it was hard to choose just three. She also has a blog beatasasik.blogspot.com--please be sure to check out her shop."New Orleans Summer Heat"

"White Tulips"

"Love That Grows Upon Us"

Busy Past Couple of Days.

A spiderweb that I found one lovely, misty morning.

We've been busy--nowhere near a computer--but today I'm back. I'm loving this autumn weather. Cool, crisp mornings--lots of dew. Makes me realize how close my due date is because it doesn't feel like summer anymore. The twenty-second can't get here fast enough. Being a mom is a dream I didn't know if I'd ever accomplish, and now ,here it is right around the corner. I've got lots of plans still brewing. I've got another batch of etsy artists written down that I'm going to ask permission of to feature their work. This time they are painters instead of photographers. I'm loving the inspiration I've been getting from exploring others' shops. I've got a whole list of ideas of where I want to go next with The Gallivanting Girl and how I hope things will work out. I guess I better head over to etsy and get to writing this next batch of artists.

I've also got some posts to put up of some neat things I've found on other writers' blogs, so stay tuned for that. Oh, and wish me luck--as you know, by 37 weeks pregnant, I guess I could go at any time. That's a scary yet wonderful thought at the same time.

Thoughts on Books and Other News.

So, as of today I have exactly one month until my due date. Tomorrow I have a regularly scheduled doctor appointment and after that I go every week to see him until the baby comes. It just seems like nine months has flown by. Last night I worked on getting stuff ready to be packed for the hospital and holding the little baby clothes really made it hit home--I'm going to be a mommy. It's amazing how life changes and it just puts you in awe.

Now, on to the thoughts I've been having while reading My Small Country Living by Jeanine McMullen (which I've finished) and Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich (which I'm almost finished with). I really appreciate these women for not sugar coating what a lot of other small-holdings/homesteading type books do...the realities of livestock and agriculture. When you have livestock you learn that death is inevitable. Many of the "How-to" books out there make country living and creating a small farm out to be a walk in the park. Reading those kind of books and then being handed the realities of gardening and livestock would make a person feel like a failure. These women in their books aren't afraid of exposing their mistakes and failures in order for their readers to know that it's okay. Accidents, diseases, and problems abound on a farm, but even at the roughest times you still can't imagine doing anything else--I think that shows in their writings too.

I came across Jenna's book because of her blog--coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com--she's young like me, but that hasn't stopped her drive or ambition to do what she wishes. I'm in the same boat--although I grew up on a farm with livestock and a huge garden--I'm trying to make a go of a small farm on my own now. She's an inspiration because when I read her blog I realize that I'm not the only person out there with these crazy goals and dreams.

Jeanine's book I happened on by accident at a Half Price Bookstore (my weakness is the Clearance section). I'd never heard of her, but she apparently is an Australian born English woman who bought a farm on a whim and then proceeded to plod her way through turmoil and almost defeat only to get her own country living radio program back in the eighties. I found her life to be quite fascinating.

I definitely recommend both books--I haven't been able to put them down since I started reading them.

Amazing Etsy Photographers -- buckscountyframes.etsy.com

The photographer behind buckscountyframes.etsy.com is somebody after my own heart. The background texture in "I can hear the June bugs" is absolutely beautiful and actually looks very similar to the wallpaper in my bedroom (that I photographed my works on for my etsy shop). Also his manipulation of color in "Teal Truck" is very striking. His shop is full of wonderful work, so be sure to look around and maybe find something for yourself. The artist also has a blog, integritystudio.blogspot.com."Teal Mailbox"

"I can hear the June bugs"

"Teal Truck"

PS--If you mention my blog when you purchase something from his shop he'll give you a Buy One Get One opportunity. That's great!! Thanks so much Carl.

Amazing Etsy Photographers -- yvetteinufio.etsy.com

Another really neat shop is yvetteinufio.etsy.com. Her compositions are very eye catching. I especially like the timeless quality of "Floating in Blue" and the very quiet and solitary feelings captured in "Solitude" and "My White Dress." There are many other wonderful pieces in her shop. Make sure you take a peak."Solitude"

"My White Dress"

"Floating in Blue"

Amazing Etsy Photographers -- zuppaartista.etsy.com

The etsy shop zuppaartista.etsy.com is a very nice shop. The artist also has a blog urbanjunkiesartistlounge.blogspot.com. A lot of her work has a beach/water theme and I would certainly like to be walking with my feet in the sand at the moment. Please take a moment and check out her work."A New Day"

"Liquid Courage"

"Sunset in Paradise"

Amazing Etsy Photographers -- scarletbeautiful2.etsy.com

The first etsy shop I want to tell you about today is scarletbeautiful2.etsy.com. Her beautiful "Through the Viewfinder" pieces are my favorites. The colors in the three that I've chosen are so vibrant and yet muted and that is truly magnificent. Check out the rest of her work and see for yourself."Leaves in the Sun"

"One Way Through the Viewfinder Photo Print"

"Dandelion Through the Viewfinder Photo Print"

Relaxing is Part of It.

I went up to my family reunion yesterday and spent all of today resting up from the three hours I spent in the vehicle yesterday. Tomorrow I will be posting lots of Amazing Etsy Photographers and *hopefully* some printmaking prints that I'll be putting on etsy.

Until Tomorrow.