One Last Present To Share

Tangled (c) 2009 - Betty Refour

Whenever I've given a gift of art I usually do pieces 8 x 10 or smaller but this year I decided to do a large painting for someone. This was done using acrylics on 36 x 24 wrapped canvas. I hope they like it.

Happy Holidays everybody! Thanks for stopping by.

More Gifts Yet Again!

I was trying to think of another idea we could do for stocking stuffers and found these gold frames for aceos' at Dollar Tree. We framed some for our local recipients and I think it makes them look really nice. Rose did these drawings too.

I also bought die cut cards for aceos' at Hobby Lobby. I did these drawings and some of my friends will get these instead of a traditional type of holiday card. We are almost done with everything, thank goodness.

Don't forget to tell me about the gifts you made.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

More Presents And The Diva Herself!

Last week it sleeted and the temps were in the teens so I decided we would stay home that day. Rose doesn't like to miss going to her program but I don't like cold weather:) We hadn't started making presents yet so I decided what better day to get started since the holidays are so close. Rose did ACEO's/ATC's to go in the cards and here are a few of my favorites. She took the photo with Santa at her program and I think it turned out pretty good.

Did you do ATC's or small gifts to slip into your cards? I'd love to see them. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Did You Make Any Presents?

My sister Rose and I made all of the presents we are giving this year and these a just a few of them. I picked the white bead for the last bracelet you see pictured here. It's vintage twisted glass and I wanted to make something with it. Rose picked all the other beads for the bracelets and strung them and I tightened and crimped them. They're all contemporary glass beads. A short time later when I came back to put them away I couldn't find them. She had placed them in her jewelry box.

I feel confident that none of the recipients will look at my blog so I'm not concerned about posting them. Do you have items that you've made? I'd love to see them if possible. We had a lot of fun making items this year and I'll post more photos later.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

My name is Betty......and I LOVE Scarves!

Recently a friend of mine started PEA, (Pie Eaters Anonymous) a support group for people who LOVE pie. It got me to thinking about all the things that I love and the need for support groups like Pie Eaters Anonymous. I mean think about it, I know I could use a support group for my love of scarves. We could meet at a craft store... er I mean someones home who makes scarves...er I mean a restaurant that serves...umm...pie!

So I'm shopping on Etsy and I find a scarf after my own heart. Not only is it beautiful but it's a PIF (pay it forward) item. Are you kidding me! I don't think I could check out fast enough. Now you know how I am about paying it forward. I bought the pink one you see in this photo and it's a beauty. I got it from FoxyGknits and I can't wait to wear it to my PEA meeting... er I mean to lunch with friends.

Be sure and check out all the beautiful items from FoxyGknits. Have a great day everybody, I'll see ya at the JBA meeting - (Jewelry Buyers Anonymous). Thanks for stopping by.

Remembering Liza

Liza - Acrylics on an 8 x 10 Canvas Panel (c)Betty Refour 2009

One of the most influential people in my life was my maternal grandmother. While my mom encouraged academics she fueled my desire to be an artist. When mom bought books she bought art supplies. She taught me how to knit and sew and would encourage me to draw and paint.

One of the many things I learned from Liza, as we called her, was the idea of giving back. She encouraged me to do volunteer work and to donate money to causes I believed in whenever I could. Little did I know just how important those ideals would become in my life. In 1986 after a courageous battle with Breast Cancer we lost Liza and I became an advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In the years since I have had several friends diagnosed with Breast Cancer some have survived and others have not but I do whatever I can to promote awareness through art in honor of Liza and countless others.

We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go in the battle against Breast Cancer so please do all that you can to support awareness.

This painting is part of the EBSQ online show Think Pink.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Strength In Numbers

Strength in Numbers (c)Betty Refour - 2009 mixed media on paper

I belong to the Etsy Street Team, Etsy Twitter. We are a group of sellers on the handmade site Etsy who also Tweet. One of our members, Joyce Richards was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and then later found that it had spread to her brain. Our team is doing a variety of fund raising events to help raise funds for Joyce and this is my contribution. Reproductions of this painting are for sale in my etsy shop with 50% of the proceeds being donated to a fund that has been started to help Joyce offset the cost of her rising medical bills. I truly do believe that there is strength in numbers.

Please visit the EtsyTwitter Team and Punky Jane blogs to find out more about what you can do to help Joyce. Have a great day everybody thanks for stopping by.

His Dreams Were Uneasy

His Dreams Were Uneasy (c)20009 - Betty Refour

This was done using oil pastels and acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Reflections

Reflections - (c) 2009 Betty Refour - Acrylics on an 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

This is my newest work. Enjoy!

What Was She Thinking?

Wonder - (c) Rose Refour - 2009 - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

I always wonder what Rose is thinking when she paints. Before she starts she walks around the studio and looks at my work as well as images of hers, selects her palette and begins. She will often stop and look around again as if to draw inspiration, and when she's done she brings me her brush as if to say, "I'm finished!" She loves to draw but I'm not sure she would paint if I didn't encourage her. This is probably my favorite piece to date and I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with next.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

I'm Featured!!!

I was featured today at Art from the heart. Take a look here

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Her Dreams Were Of Colors

Her Dreams Were Of Colors (c)Betty Refour Acrylics on Canvas Panel 2009

This painting is about an artist who constantly thought about color so much so that her dreams were of colors. You can find it for sale in my etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Etsy Twitter Team Sidewalk Sale!

The Etsy Twitter Team is having a Sidewalk Sale! Please take a stroll down our sidewalk of shop listings. Each shop is having a different sale so be sure to check them all out. There are some extremely great deals going on this week!! The sales run from Sunday, May 17th through Saturday, May 23rd.

During the sale I will be offering 10% off on purchases of $15.00 or more! This is in addition to the already reduced prices in my shop - most art is now 50% off. Visit my shop at http://brefour.etsy.com and to see all the participating shops and stroll the sidewalk visit the Etsy Twitter Team Blog. You don't want to miss out on these great deals.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

What Did You Do Today?

Glass Pendants by Rose and Betty Refour (c)

I've been looking for something to do with all the images that Rose has drawn. We've done cards, magnets and tees but I wanted to do something else. She likes to draw small sometimes and so I decided to see how her images would look as glass pendants. Today we each took one of our images and cut them to fit these tiles. This is our first attempt so we still have some kinks to work out but I don't think they turned out half bad. The best part is that she enjoyed it and it is sometimes hard to find things that will keep her interest. The one on the right is hers. So...what did you do today?

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Look, Someone's Smoking

Look, Someone's Smoking - (c)Rose Refour - Mixed Media - 2009

I'm not sure how the obsession started but Rose has been obsessed with smoking since she was a little girl. Our maternal grandfather was a smoker and whenever we visited our grandparents she would grab his lit cigarette from the ashtray, run with it and try to take a puff. Although she is mostly nonverbal, whenever she sees someone smoking she will point and say "Look, Someone's Smoking". I don't allow smoking in our house but it sure hasn't slowed her obsession. This was done using acrylics, colored pencil, ink and paper on a canvas panel.

You can find this painting for sale in my Etsy shop. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Happy Easter

Easter Bunny - Ink and colored pencils on paper - Rose Refour - 2009

Rose drew this bunny and I added Happy Easter in Photoshop. Here's wishing everyone a great day.

Ornamentia Lends Its Voice To Autism Awareness Month

Kristen Evans of Ornamentia was kind enough to post a piece on Autism Awareness Month. Please do stop by and while you're there be sure and bookmark her blog so you remember to go back and see the wonderful handmade items she features there. There is always something new and unique at Ornamentia.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Look - Contemporary Abstract Painting - Artist With Autism

Look - (c)Rose Refour - Acrylic on 7 x 5 Canvas Panel

Another wonderful painting by my sister Rose. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Autism initiatives.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

She Was Queen! - Artist with Autism

She Was Queen (c) Rose Refour - Mixed Media on an 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

When she got up that morning she put on her favorite dress, one of her most admired jewel crowns and then painted her face. After all it was her birthday and she was queen...if only for a day.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Autism Awareness Month - Art For The Day

Community - Rose Refour - Mixed Media on Canvas Panel - (c) Rose Refour

Rose did this painting using acrylics and paper on a 5 x 7 canvas panel. You can find it for sale on Etsy.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Rose Has A Cafepress Shop!

We're gearing up for Autism Awareness Month in April so one of the things I've done is set up a Cafepress shop for Rose. Take a look here.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Find The Leprechaun - Win Prizes

Going No Place In Particular - (c)2009 Betty Refour - Acrylics on Canvas Panel

Find the leprechaun and you could be one of five lucky winners. The Etsy Twitter Team is hosting a scavenger hunt. To enter just search the participating Etsy Twitter Team shops and find the leprechaun. Once you've found it send in your entry and you could be one of the lucky winners! To find out all the details visit the Etsy Twitter Team Blog. And don't forget about my Mad Monday Sale. All original art will be shipped Free worldwide if purchased any Monday in March from my Etsy shop.

Happy Hunting and thanks for stopping by. Hurry all entries need to be received by Midnight EST March 16, 2009.

Art For The Day

Untitled #111 - (c)Betty Refour

If you would like to purchase some of my Giclee Prints Art.com is having a sale! Visit my gallery here and use code FLORA25. This discount is good sitewide so even if you see something else you like you can use this code. It's good for 25% off and lasts through Thursday March 5th.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Mad Monday Sale

No Compromise (c)Betty Refour - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

It's Mad Monday again where all original art in my Etsy shop is shipped Free Worldwide. Take a look at the Etsy Twitter Blog to find other members who are having sales this month too.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Weekend To End Breast Cancer

I have donated a set of six cards to be auctioned to support The Weekend To End Breast Cancer. Bidding starts at $5.00 and all proceeds benefit the BC Cancer Foundation. Take a look here and please bid to support this worthy cause.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

The Blue Pitcher (c) Betty Refour - Pastels on Paper

Our mom had quite a few vintage items that we inherited so I thought it would be a good idea to draw some of them and sell reproductions to raise funds for Blood Cancer initiatives. I'm not sure the origin of this pitcher but it's one of my favorites. You can find reproductions of this drawing for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Untitled (c)Rose Refour - Acrylic on Paper

My sister and I were home on President's Day and to keep ourselves entertained we painted. Rose really doesn't like painting much, she's more comfortable with drawing but I think she did a great job. She used ink and acrylics on paper. This image will probably end up on a note card at http://www.noteworthycrafts.com.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Looking Out (c)2009 Betty Refour - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Bounce (c)2009 - Betty Refour

The most difficult part of painting for me is coming up with a title. I've been watching the Australian Open though for the past couple of weeks and this reminds me of the computer generated images that are shown of where the players ball landed. I think mine is a bit more colorful though. This was done using acrylics on 8 x 10 wrapped canvas. The sides are painted dark blue so it's ready to hang. You can find it in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Breeze (c)2009 - Betty Refour

Contemporary abstract done using acrylics on a 5 x 7 canvas panel. You can find it for sale on eBay.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Fleeting 2009 (c)Betty Refour

This painting was done on a 7 x 5 canvas panel using acrylics. You can find it for sale in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

The image for this card was created from a drawing I did using pastels. This would be great for Valentine's Day or anytime you want to send a note to your sweetheart.

You can find it on my Noteworthy Crafts website or in the Noteworthy Crafts Etsy shop. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Melt - (c)Betty Refour - 2009 Acrylics on Canvas Panel

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

Paths - (C)Betty Refour 2009 Acrylics on 5 x 7 Canvas Panel

Another new painting. Available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art Of The Day

Listening 2009 (C)Betty Refour

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel.
You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.