Plan ahead for Holidays & Special Events

It's been an interesting year so far, with a wonderful selection of guests that have left a mark of inspiration here at the Almost A Fairy Godmother blog. I wanted to take a moment to remind you all about them, as well as give you a heads up concerning the holidays.

Butterfly Print from Tina T. Ames

Personalized handmade gifts can be seen as welcome surprises at the holidays. They're often tailored to the tastes of someone you care about, and help to add a more thoughtful perspective to the task of gift giving. Yes I just called gift giving a task. It can be hard work to find the perfect gift. But personalized art can make a unique impression on someone.

So that's why I'm reminding you about our wonderful spotlight artists. I'm sure any of them would be delighted to be chosen as the person to help you create a piece that will bring a smile to the face of your loved one. But you have to remember that making something by hand can take time, and shipping around the holidays can be a bit hectic which is not the artists fault. So please make sure to get your requests in early so there's no disappointment.

Animals in Clothes by Koalarazorclock

If you're thinking about a toon like piece you can check out art by Seph Jocuno or Silly Panda's Art Blog. Either artist has a great handle on anime type art styles, and can provide you with a unique artwork that can bring a smile to your face. They've both got instagrams that are active if you're uncertain about what to expect. You can find more direction from the artist spotlights. Seph Jocuno Artist Spotlight or Silly Panda's Artblog Artist Spotlight.

Maybe you'd like to have a picture turned into a watercolor? Koalarazorclock offers this service, and her work is lovely. She also does adorable art portraits of animals in clothes. Check out the artist spotlight on Koalarazorclock to see more as well as get some ideas. Or perhaps you'd like to add some unique photography to someone's collection? Check out pieces available by Mahikol Torres.

Jewelry is always popular, and there's no reason not to check out the pieces created by Hada Pixie Designs again. These unique pieces of jewelry can add a unique edge to an outfit, without necessarily going over the top.  The Artist Spotlight on Hada Pixie Designs can offer more direction. There are also the unique hair pieces created by Wanou Et Moi. These pieces can add a unique flare or twist to someone's daily hair routine. Check out the the artist spotlight on Wanou Et Moi for more information. Pieces by these artists are great for the individual as they're each a handmade piece of art.

Vampyre Rosary by Hada Pixie Designs

Or maybe you want something a little different. An oracle deck can be inspiring as well as beautiful to look through. Or perhaps you'd like an inspirational artwork to add to someone's graduation gift. Tina T. Ames has some amazing pieces that can be used for just that. Check out the artist spotlight for more information on her artwork. Artist Spotlight Tina T. Ames.

Perhaps you're interested in something more practical? You can look into some handmade soaps. They come in  a variety of scents from Cark Farm NH. You can check out their available products and read more about them in their spotlight.

Please remember to give them enough time to create the pieces that you're interested in, because artists do have daily lives, and some work a full time job on top of trying to keep up with their artistic talents. But by sending in your requests early, you can ensure that there's enough time to have your unique creation completed before the holidays. Yes I know that I sound like I'm repetitive, but time is very important for creation and shipping.

Plan accordingly, and here's hoping your holiday planning is magical. (Personally I'm about halfway done with my shopping XD)

Artist Spotlight : Tina T. Ames

Today I'm excited to share an artist who actually creates and interacts in the communities locally. When I say local, I mean local to me, in Western New York.  Her name is Tina T. Ames. She has a wonderful website that you can explore to learn more about both her and her talents, www.tinatames.com. But if you're already motivated by the end of the spotlight to purchase you can see her available works in her etsy shop TinaTompkinsAmes.

Print Available on Etsy

Every artist gets their inspiration from a variety of locations. Their motivations to create vary as well. Tina T. Ames had always been an artist, but she had an experience that left her unable to pursue photography in the manner she had been. It also kept her away from her corporate job as a director in a hospital system.

Not one to let circumstances keep her from creating, she began exploring her talents by doodling images with markers on paper, quickly finding the results were inspiring not only herself, but to others as well. She developed her work further, choosing to pursue art instead of returning to the more structured job.

Tina T. Ames has used her skills in a variety of ways over the years.  Not only are a number of her pieces are available as art prints and cards, she also leads classes and workshops to help teach others various skills. Her website has a list of various classes and events that she's involved with. One class that she leads results in a hand designed silk scarf. I find the variety of skills and talents she's willing to share with others both encouraging as well as commendable. After all, not everyone is cut out to be a teacher.

Mandala Oracle Deck available on Etsy

Her artwork isn't only available as basic prints though. She also offers 4 different oracle decks currently. The artwork varies, but the messages are wonderful, offering inspiration and positive energy to daily life. Decks like this can be useful for various things, whether you want to pass them out to add inspiration to someone else's life. or to use them as oracles.

Personally I find the Mandala Oracle Deck to be gorgeous. It has a variety of images that you can either share, use as the intended oracle, or frame.

Print available on Etsy

Many of her art pieces are inspired by moments in her life, helping her to create art that many people can understand. Pieces like the sunflower you see to the left of this text, are inspiring.

But why are they inspiring? They make it easier to express things that people may hesitate to say or feel, simply because expressing things honestly can be difficult. But the simple straightforward lines of text accompanying the bold cheerful artwork give people something pleasant to think about, as well as something bright and cheerful to view.

The simplistic folk art nature to the line work, as well as the bold color choices offer something different from the work of other artists we've seen. You'll notice the seeming lack of the color black in her images, a lack of outlines. It makes ya wonder how it's done. But it also makes you want to do some yourself. Which she's made possible,  coloring books of her art available.

Available on Etsy

There's a great variety of pieces on her etsy page, and the same can be said of the blog posts on her website. Her topics vary focusing on simple living, her artwork, and instruction.  There's a variety of useful information that she's willing to share, and all you need to do is look. Recently she posted a recipe for macaroni and cheese that looks divine!

To the right though, I've added the image of one of her pieces that I feel as though I needed to post it. It's a frog mandala. I love the roots and the reaching tendrils. It reminds me of the tree of life frequently used in art. This piece is amazing in how much detail there is. It was originally created as one of the cards in her Mandala Card Deck.

These are only some examples of her work and talents though. I recommend exploring her various sites, and if you're local make sure to look at the events she'll be at. You never know what sort of inspiration her pieces may be able to add to your life.

Remember to look at her website and Etsy shops for further information and inspiration.

www.tinatames.com

etsy shop TinaTompkinsAmes