Strokes of Kindness

In honor of all things vegan and cruelty-free, and the glorious fun that is Vegan MoFo (Vegan Month of Food), I'll be featuring some fun and fabulous vegan artists throughout October! 

Column 1
Who: Julia McNeely
What: Original Paintings       
Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Web: http://www.juliamcneely.com/

Column 2
Who: Sarah Moynihan
What: Drawings, Paintings and Sculptures       
Where: Lancashire, England, UK
Web: http://www.sarahmoynihan.com/home/

Column 3
Who: Kate Goldhouse
What: Animal Portraits       
Where: Boston, MA
Web: http://www.masterpiecepets.com/

Why: Beautiful paintings and drawings of our beloved companions remind us that sometimes it's all about them.  :)

The Imagination Collector

In honor of all things vegan and cruelty-free, and the glorious fun that is Vegan MoFo (Vegan Month of Food), I'll be featuring some fun and fabulous vegan artists throughout October!

Who: Lisa Congdon
What: Illustration and Fine Art
Where: San Francisco, CA
Web: http://www.lisacongdon.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lisacongdon
Why: Feisty and fabulously talented, Lisa's work runs the gamut from paintings to pattern creation to hand-drawn illustration and even a jewelry piece now and then. Her colorific images are whimsy-filled and swirling with imagination! Lisa is also a collector of many things quirky and crazycool, and has documented it all in A Collection a Day...a superfascinating glimpse into her fantastical world. I admire her ginormous spirit and creativity, as well as her non-stop artistic energy!  :)

The Art of Freedom

Column 1:
Who: Scott Ballard of Two Guitars
What: Screen-Printed Art Cards and Notebooks
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/twoguitars

Who: Mandy McGee
What: Hand Stitched Happiness
Where: Chicago, IL
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Moxiedoll

Who: Linthound
What:  Hand-printed Garments and Textiles
Where: Hollister, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Linthound

Who: Anna Maker of Charms Maker
What: Inspirational Quotes on Solid Silver Jewelry
Where: San Francisco, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmsMaker

Column 2:
Who: Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios
What: Fine Art Illustration, Embroidery Patterns and Jewelry
Where: Provo, UT
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahjanestudios
http://shop.sarahjanestudios.com/

Who: Garry Williams of Sac Boho
What: Fair Trade, Organic Moroccan & Recycled Leather Bags
Where: UK
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sacboho

Who: Lim Heng Swee of ILoveDoodle: Doodling A Smile
What: Original Illustrations and Designs
Where: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ilovedoodle

Who: Victoria Buckley of Pocket Full of Poesy
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Sydney, Australia
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/pocketfullofpoesy

Column 3:
Who: Hanna Howard of Ophelia's Gypsy Caravan
What: Hand-Painted Quote Mugs for Bookworms and Super-Geeks
Where: Tulsa, OK
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OpheliasGypsyCaravan

Who: Paula Mills of Sweet William
What: Fine Art Prints, Paper Goods and Softies
Where: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lovelysweetwilliam

Who: Martha Pinaire Moore
What: Handpainted Ceramics
Where: Charlotte, NC
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/marthepinaire

Column 4:
Who: Sherri Ellison of Sleepy Owl Pottery
What: Hand-built and Glazed Ceramics
Where: Maynardville, TN
Web: http://www.etsy.com/people/Sleepyowlpottery

Who: Robin Kerr of Illustrious Play
What: Whimsical Blank Note Cards
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/IllustriousPlay

Who: Gilbert Hernandez of Deluxe Soul Tees
What: Original Artist Apparel
Where: Long Beach, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Deluxesoultees

What does freedom mean to you?  :)

Busy As A Bee

The air is soft with the sweet May showers,
And the birds make melody.
The lazy hum of the busy bees
Murmureth through the almond trees.

(from In Spring by Ernest Dowson)

Spring is such a spinningly busy time! Make sure you slow down and take time to appreciate the little things.  :)

Column 1, top to bottom:
Ceridwen Hazelchild of Mystic Moose Crafts
Three Bumble Bee Garden Hives Illustration Eco Cotton Tote Bag
Stroud, England, UK
http://www.etsy.com/listing/98748843/three-bumble-bee-garden-hives

Christine Moser
Bee Card - Linocut on 50/50 Sugar Cane & PCW Recycled Paper
Atascadero, CA
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84485490/bee-card-linocut-on-5050-sugar-cane-pcw

Maia Waye of MaiaArt
Bee Good / 8"x8"
Sequim, WA
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87012774/bee-good-8x8

Column 2, top to bottom:
Robin McBride Scott Scott and Blevins of Willows Keep Pottery
Green Tea Honeypot with Bees
New Castle, IN
http://www.etsy.com/listing/95025719/green-tea-honeypot-with-bees

Kelly Ann of The Poppy Tree
Bee Girl Print---Bumblina Bee
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38990555/bee-girl-print-bumblina-bee

Melinda Byrd of Byrdcall
Honeybee Hand-printed Notecard
Woodbine, MD
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88539765/honeybee-hand-printed-notecard-suitable

Column 3, top to bottom:
 Michelle Hinson/turtleshell03
Steampunk Inspired Journal with Bee
Tempe, AZ
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90386619/steampunk-inspired-journal-with-bee

Roxana Villa of Illuminated Perfume
Honey Bee Original Art Print
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69222838/honey-bee-original-art-print-sacred-to

Lisa Yoshiko Radecki/lyoshikor of Yosh Design
"Beverly the Bee" Artist's Book
Chicago, IL
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73901249/beverly-the-bee

Denise Shipley/DeniseAnnette
Hunee.....Lampwork Bee Bead with Flower
Whidbey Island, WA
http://www.etsy.com/listing/99063551/huneelampwork-bee-bead-w-flower-sra

Column 4, top to bottom:
Tricia Scott of The Oddest Owl
They Called Her Honey Bee Bookplates
Roanoke, VA
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64854411/they-called-her-honey-bee-bookplates

RQP Studio
Bee Necklace with Latin Motto "Vive Ut Vivas" ("Live Life To The Fullest")
Myrtle Beach, SC
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83222059/bee-antique-wax-seal-necklace-with-latin

Renee of PaintedByRenee
Whimsical Queen Bee Notecards and Envelopes
Southern California
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56656682/queen-bee-whimsical-copper-faux-frame-8

ToonDay...A Cartoonist at Heart

Who: Kurt Halsey
What: Drawings and Paintings
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.kurthalsey.com/
Why: Because it's Saturday and that means it's Cartoon Day and Kurt is just a sweet-spirited cartoonist at heart!