Lots of happenings...

There's news from me and news about the co-op I'm a member of.

First the co-op...
Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op is changing over to the Markets of Sunshine!
We have a beautifully renovated website!  You can find my shop in the Market Place section!

Our current sampler bag is the Pet Lover's Bag.  You have the option of a 5 item bag or a 10 item bag.  In the message at check out, please let them know that Nicole C. Meyers, member #124, helped you to find the Sampler!

Speaking of the Pet Lover Sampler... this is my WoodstreamDream product from the bag - now available in my Etsy shop:

crochet and felted black wool mouse - packaged with catnip...

my 11-year-old, Bella, loves hers and posed so nicely for me!

Back to the co-op...
Our weekly contest has two prizes now!!!  You have to visit the blog to enter the contest for a 1-year subscription to MARY JANE'S FARM Magazine (I subscribe and eagerly await each issue!!!) and an embroidered hand towel by another member shop - Kallie's Cotton.

One last item related to the co-op...
In an effort to support our community, we are raising funds to help those in need - especially local people struck with sudden illness, cancer, and homeless children.  This is our fundraiser link - for every dollar you spend on a purchase - Celebrating Home gives a portion to our fundraising campaign.

On to some other news from me...

I'm now an artist member at Markeim Arts Center.  This affords me the opportunity to have my own page on their site.  Click here to visit the page.  I plan to apply for some of their upcoming exhibits including fiber arts and flowers - stay tuned for news about those!

The Oscars have passed and I have added a design your own item to WoodstreamDream - if you would like to have a flower similar to those that were gifted at the Oscars Celebrity Gifting Lounge on Sunday night - just click here and follow the directions.  I will create one just for you!

Photos will be up soon from the Oscars and I will share them with you as soon as I can!

And in WoodstreamPapery, I've had the opportunity to add sets of five and ten note cards as well as individual note cards from the Peonies Series to my shop.

  

Ok, so now I'm going to get back to work creating ... hoping to add more new items next week!
Thank you for stopping by and reading!
~Nicole

Another place to find me...

Here's the link to my page on Markeim Arts Center's website.  It's so exciting to be a part of a local art community!

As you may have seen - I've added the sets of note cards featuring my Peonies Series to WoodstreamPapery.  Individual note cards will be available for sale in the near future.

  Peonies Series - Mingling with Mint 3

As featured in ALL NATURAL @ Markeim

a Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photography

February 8-March 1, 2013

Please stop by the Markeim Arts Center if you're in the area - the other photography displayed is stunning ... people traveled all over the world - Indonesia, Africa, Canary Islands, several National Parks... My eight-year-old was amazed when I took him on Saturday afternoon.

I'm busy with tax stuff this week - ugh, I know, but next week I'll be back to creating and I hope to unveil my new line of upcycled boutonnieres and stemmed flowers - perfect for bouquets!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed week!

~Nicole

The Opening

Ok, for those of you who haven't seen this photo on my Facebook Fan Page, here it is, my photography and me at the opening of ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photography.

I am humbled to be among so many amazing photographers and the work they displayed... wow!  I am looking forward to taking my older son to see all of the stunning photographs.  I was kind of disappointed to not have brought him, but I never can tell how an almost eight-year-old will fare on a Friday evening.

If you live or work close enough, I encourage you to stop by Markeim Arts Center by March 1st to catch a glimpse of this work.  Photoshop has nothing on this exceptional unretouched photography!

Next week I'll be introducing the new line of Original Photography Note Cards to WoodstreamPapery - first up is the Peonies Series 1-5.  They'll be available as sets of five or ten cards as well as individual note cards.

Please remember to use coupon code:  VANZANT for 10% off your order and 15% will go to my son's elementary school PTO to help fund programs for the children.  The code is valid in both of my shops.

Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your patronage and support of small businesses like mine!

Have a blessed week!

~Nicole

Fixing the long name curse - at least for Valentine's Day

My boys are like night and day - their interests, their coloring, the length of their names...  Ean was blessed with three easy letters, they fit easily just about anywhere.  Nathanael on the other hand - and no, he's not a Nate or Nathan, don't even try - has nine letters.  For a four-year-old trying to write that nine lettered name on valentines, that's a new kind of torture ... for us, too!

So I've fixed it so that mistakes can be made and I don't have to run to the drugstore to buy another pack of valentines.

Clear mailing labels, address size.  Godsend.  Clear really is best for this because whatever your child sticks the sticker on top of will still be able to be seen.

Take a sheet of labels ... lightly with pencil write your child's name.

He knows all capitals best right now, so we ran with those.

Then let your child trace his/her name with whatever color crayon works for the color paper s/he'll be applying it to (don't use yellow crayon for a yellow paper - we learned that is a no-go).

Then peel it off.

And stick it onto the valentine!  

We did learn with certain paper (the glossy, probably not great for the environment store-bought valentines that are being delivered this year) that the labels will pull back up to be rearranged or to get bumps and bubbles out.  This isn't guaranteed on all kinds of paper, but that glossy stuff sure allowed for multiple rearrangement of the labels, quite easily, too - since it was the four-year-old who did it!

Hopefully I've posted this so that all of the other parents who have long-named kids can run to their office supply store and pick up some clear mailing labels tomorrow during lunch and get those valentines done tomorrow night before the big day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a blessed week!

~Nicole

Two Big Events!!!

First... Tomorrow's the opening of ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photographs.  I'll be there from 6:30-8:30 and I'd love to see you... here's more info:

ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition

Opening Reception: February 8, 6:30pm- 8:30pm

Join us this Friday as we honor these great works of more than 30 local and regional Markeim artists. Wine, cheese & dessert reception.

Featured live music for the reception: Quartet 33 is a jazz/pop/fusion/blues band that plays original works as well as their own interpretations of music by a wide variety of artists such as Pat Metheny, Bill Withers, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Van Morrison, Coldplay, Sting, and others. 

Alto and Tenor Sax: John Giannotti 

Guitar: Bjorn Kommedal 

Bass: Steve Bergmann 

Percussion: Bob Laramie 

A suggested donation of $10 from guests.

The exhibit will be available for viewing through March 1st during normal gallery hours

visit Markeim Arts Center for details.

And a drum roll, please...

The second big event I'm part of is on Sunday, February 24th - the OSCARS!!!  My Upcycled Flowers are on their way to the Oscars Celebrity Gifting Lounge!  I look forward to sharing picture(s) with you after the event!  I will have items featured at three other awards shows later this year... looking forward to sharing those with you, too!

My Upcycled Flowers will be there for celebrities to choose!  How exciting is that?!?!

I have this opportunity through the Sunshine Farm Girl Coop.  We started out as a team on Etsy, but we work together to build our businesses through cooperative advertising and training.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!
Have a blessed week & weekend!
Nicole