Pileated Woodpecker

Windblown

Patient

Pussywillows patiently awaiting the arrival of spring.

Soft

The delicate beauty of a winter pussy willow.

Cold

A little chickadee being blown by a strong wind.

Nuthatch

Isn't he just the cutest little guy? He's taking a good look at me while I snap his picture

From The Back

A gorgeous blue jay turns his back on my camera. ;)

Tragedy In Australia. One Way We Can Help

As I'm sure that everyone is aware, Australia is currently experiencing the worst natural disaster in it's history.

Hundreds of people are dead. Entire towns and communities have been destroyed.

It's destruction on a scale that most of us can't even begin to imagine.

A shop has opened on Etsy.com that is taking donations of items to sell. All proceeds from the sale of these items goes to the Australian Red Cross.

If you have an item you can donate, or if you would like to purchase something to help out, go to OzBushFireAppeal. Contact Emma if you're interested in donating or do some shopping to help out our Australian friends!

Black Capped Chickadee

A little Black Capped Chickadee grabs a quick bite on a snowy day.

I'm Having a Sale!

All prints in my Etsy shop are Buy One Get One Free!!

Just check out as usual with both prints and I will refund the second print of equal or lesser value through Paypal.

Sale runs through to midnight, Sunday February 8.

Painted Sky

The morning sky in all it's wonder.

So Excited!

I am so excited right now. I'm featured in three gorgeous treasuries on Etsy right now.

Check them out!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=37617
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=42096
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=42166

It's so exciting!!

Wistful

A female Downy Woodpecker gazes wistfully at the suet hanging above her head.

Win an 8x10 Photograph Print!

It's that time again! I'm offering one lucky winner a Free 8x10 photograph from my Etsy shop. All you have to do is tell me which photograph you would like and why you would like it. That's it!

Here are your choices:

Dark Eyed Junco
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20140456

Purple Morning
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20113774

Happy Cat
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20118926

Frozen Milkweed
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19391065

The winner will be drawn Sunday February 7, 2009.

Have fun!

Taking Off

A Black Capped Chickadee is just about to take flight off the chain holding a birdfeeder

Dreamy

I have to wonder what this little finch is dreaming of, hanging off a chain, getting covered in snow.

Weekend Sales!

I've decided to a weekly feature on Fridays to promote sales on Etsy and Artfire. I've asked on both forums for shops that are having sales, picked 5 from each venue and am posting them here for you to shop from and enjoy!


Shades Jewelry

30% off your entire purchase, plus free US and Canada shipping. Offer good from 1/30-2/1

Blessed Mommy of 1

25% off the entire store, due to the new CPSIA law

Adorn You

10% off everything in the Valentines Section

All Over Art

FREE SHIPPING on all wearable art orders $40 and under.

FREE SHIPPING and 10% OFF all wearable art orders over $40.

Sale ends Feb 14.

Yarnlovertn

20% off until Feb 10. Convo before purchase to have listing price changed

Happy shopping everyone!!

Winter Tree in Sunrise

A spectacular sunrise glows behind the bare branches of a tree in winter.

Dark Eyed Junco

A gorgeous Dark Eyed Junco sitting just outside my kitchen window. He's been an elusive one! I've been trying to get a photo of him for a very long time.

It's Time To Get Off The Fence, Etsy

It's time to take a stand Etsy. You're running out of time.

On February 10, a law will come into effect in the U.S. forcing anyone who makes anything geared for a child under the age of 12 to test their product for lead content. It's a sweeping law that is too broad and is forcing small business out.

You can read more about the new CPSIA law on the Etsy forums if you're interested. Or go here for more information on the law.

I've yet to see a direct stance from Etsy in support of their sellers. Time after time they come into the forums and say yes, we hear you, yes we support you. But time after time I see those same sellers left to hang in defending actions that are supposedly approved by Etsy Admin.

One example being hypothetical pricing. Basically what some sellers have done is take an item in their shop and list it, with an explanation, at the price it will be after testing is done according to the new regulation. You can see an example of this type of listing here.

These listings have caused all kinds of wailing and gnashing of teeth on the forums. Some are for some are against them.

Admin, in one thread stated that the listings had to be taken down and then just a few pages later said leave them up until we have a meeting.

The meeting was held and apparently the shops were told they could keep said listings up until Jan 30.

No one else was told about this. So, people continue to wail and gnash their teeth, flag the item and so on.

All Etsy had to do was make an announcement that they were supportive of these listings until the time stated. That's it. That would have solved all sorts of heartache for everyone.

But no, they let their sellers hang over the weekend while they enjoyed themselves and worked up a Storque article that not everyone will read.

Seriously, Etsy Admin, it's time to stand up and state your position. Are you for or against it? This is tearing our beloved community apart. The poor sellers are left to fight this battle on their own with no public support from you.

Either you are for or against this Etsy. Which is it? We'd all love to know!