Art by Betty Refour

My Cards Are Featured OnThe Etsy Greetings Blog Today!

2011-10-13T16:25:00.000-06:00

EtsyGreetings Handmade Cards: Set of Six Breast Cancer Awareness Note Cards: From Betty at Art by Betty Refour . Sells for $15.00. Click on the image to be taken to the shop!

Breast Cancer Awareness Mousepad from Zazzle.com

2011-10-05T03:28:00.000-06:00

Breast Cancer Awareness Mousepad from Zazzle.com

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday: Ain't No Shame To Their Game!

2011-10-02T05:49:00.002-06:00

Before you read on I'd like to let everyone know that there's some strong language in this post. Please, don't tweet me, track me down on facebook, google+, stumbleupon, tumblr, pinterest, linkedin or any other platform to complain. I'm letting you know up front there is foul language. If foul language bothers you then please read on. Ooops, I meant don't read any further. Now here goes.....

So one Sunday a few weeks ago I'm sitting at my computer watching Tweet Deck, yes Tweet Deck! I like to read what people are up to, OK! So I'm watching Tweet Deck, and I say watching because the tweets go by so fast you can barely read them. Anyways, watching reading whatever, please don't contact me to correct me OK?! So I see a couple of tweets with the hash tag #SSPS. I'm thinking "#SSPS?! What the heck is that?" So I do a search and start reading the tweets to try and figure it out and I come across this: "Need 2 promote ur shop but hate the dirty ho aftertaste? Let Shameless Self Promotion Sunday help! Tag ur tweets #SSPS & we'll RT 4 u!;). Well I start laughing out loud for real. Non of that fake LOL that people do on social networks. Like, "I'm going to the store, LOL!" Why would you LOL at going to the store?

Anyways, that particular tweet was from @VintageEye. So... I just jump right in because I believe we should all look out for one another. So I start retweeting all the #SSPS tweets I find, I mean come on "dirty ho aftertaste" who wants that right? Well next thing you know all the #SSPS tweeps are retweeting my plain old tweets and adding #SSPS to them! Can you believe that? So after several weeks of shameless tweeting I wanted to know more about how #SSPS started and who was behind it. And here's what I learned:

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday started over a year ago while Kathleen aka @VintageEye was tweeting listings with a few other Etsy sellers, including Denise, aka @WorldVintage, who came up with the name. They added a snarky comment or two and other sellers began retweeting their #SSPS tweets! Spreading the shameless word so to speak and asking others to do the same. It took off from there.

It's a way for people to promote anything....shops, sales, blogs, events, craft fairs, fashion shows....They have participants from Australia and England as well as here in the US.

Kathleen refers to it as kinda' like #FollowFriday only lamer! "It seems to work pretty well", she says and they have been lucky enough to have had Shameless Self Promotion Sunday featured on some fantastic blogs. In turn they use Twitter to promote those folks. It seemed a natural fit since they're on Twitter non stop anyway. They have found that the whole act of self promotion seems less dirty when done tongue in cheek and in large numbers!

a few shameless details about Kathleen:

"I am a retro kitsch mid century modern vintage fanatic! I have a huge soft spot for vintage. That does not, however, translate into a soft spot, or any spot, to keep all my amazing finds! They have taken over two entire rooms in my tiny house. So I ended up setting up shop on Etsy, here, here and here, and on Artfire, Bonanza, Ebay and GroovePress! It's my full time gig now." You can also find Kathleen spreading the shameless word on Facebook.

the shameless details about Denise:

"I started off on Etsy selling my mixed media work, but I had so much fun selling vintage, that I decided to put my energies into that. While I'd love to do it full-time, for now it's a part-time job that I absolutely love. I especially love pop culture kitsch, particularly sci fi." In addition to finding Denise on twitter, you can find her on Etsy, here or here, on Artfire, GroovePress, Bonanza and Facebook.

Please join them today on Twitter as they shamelessly promote other sellers and of course, themselves. If you want to join in on the fun, and it would be shameful not to, please add #SSPS to your tweets.

Have a great day everybody thanks for stopping by.

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Card Of The Day!

2011-10-01T04:56:00.000-06:00

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Card Of The Day!: Yesterday was not a really good day for me. Well, I take that back. I had a bad 20 minutes or so. I was in the drug store and got ready to c...

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah

2011-09-28T04:45:00.002-06:00

I'm not a horn tooter. I don't find myself interesting in the least bit. But other people do and for that I'm grateful. I am contacted all the time by people wanting to write about me. Thank goodness because I really don't like writing about myself!

Lately I've been trying to come up with ways to Pay It Forward. And one of the things I've come up with is to blog about other people. People who have been kind enough to blog about me and people I find interesting. So look out world! I'm going to be mixing it up around here!

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Card Of The Day!

2011-09-27T03:46:00.000-06:00

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Card Of The Day!: Fall is my favorite time of year! The temperature is just right and I love the color of the leaves. When I'm out and about I often pick up ...

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Card Of The Day!

2011-09-26T17:10:00.000-06:00

Noteworthy Crafts: Note Cards, Art and More!: Card Of The Day!: I didn't start making Ovarian Cancer Awareness cards until a few years ago. A survivor contacted me and asked me "Why does everyone create...

I'm featured today on a stylish little lady blog!

2011-09-09T16:32:00.000-06:00

a stylish little lady: feature friday: Thanks for stopping by! It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Betty, a very talented artist whose artwork supports and helps brin...

I'm The Guest Curator this week for EBSQ Art Of The Day!

2011-09-05T01:44:00.005-06:00

Growing up whenever we had family gatherings at our grandparents house we got fruit when we left. It was such a treat for me and at the time I had no idea it was good for us. I just thought they had searched high and low to give us something special. They would say to each of "now this is just for you! you don't have to share it with your parents!" We would all giggle and try to hide it. Those were the days.

So whenever I see paintings of fruit it reminds me of those days......thanks for the memories.

http://www.ebsqart.com/Art-of-the-Day/Thanks-For-The-Memories/423/Fruitbowl/588871/

And The Winner Is.....

2011-08-23T17:43:00.004-06:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my Birthday Bash Giveaway! I've decided that everyone who entered will get one of my Fine Art Reproductions. Take a look at my reproductions here and let me know if you would like something besides "Singing The Blues." Your reproduction will come printed by me on matte graphic image paper using archival inks said to have a life of 99 years.

Hope you all enjoy your art!

Birthday Bash Giveaway!

2011-08-02T15:25:00.005-06:00

My birthday is on the 22nd so in celebration I'm having a contest!

Here are the rules: You must be 18 or older to enter and live in the US. There are several ways to get entries and please let me know if you have questions.

Here's how to get entries: 1. follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bettyrefour and let me know you've followed either by leaving a comment here or tweeting me. For an additional entry tweet the contest to your followers.
2. "Like" me on Facebook then tell your friends and ask them to like me as well and tell me you sent them. Let me know when you like me: http://artist.to/artbybettyrefour For each person you send that likes me you get an additional entry. 3. After reading this do something nice for someone or multiple people and ask them to pay it forward. Let me know what you did. This is good for 5 entries. 4. Take a look in my etsy shop and find your favorite item and leave a comment telling me what it is. http://brefour.etsy.com, this is good for one entry.

That's it! Multiple chances to win and the winner gets a Fine Art reproduction of my painting pictured here - Singing the Blues. I'm also having a contest on my card blog at http://noteworthycrafts.blogspot.com so go and enter there as well. Good Luck everyone.

Oh and last but not least the winner will be announced sometime on August 23, 2011 right here in the comments section. Please make sure I have a way to contact you.

BINGO!

2011-06-05T09:44:00.006-06:00

One of my sister Roses' favorite things at her program is Bingo. There are times when I forget it's Bingo day and go to pick her up before they've played or during play and she doesn't want to leave. Most of the prizes are donated and I am surprised sometimes at the things people give away. Beautiful heirlooms that I would never part with are donated for prizes.

Rose got this strand of beads as a prize and that day when I arrived to pick her up she handed them to me and said "fix it!" I'm not sure how long they were but they wouldn't fit over her head. We added some chain, jump rings and a bead and they're fixed:) Not the best photo but you get the idea.

Have a great day everybody thanks for stopping by.

Journey

2011-05-22T14:20:00.012-06:00

I started drawing geometric shapes on notebook paper when I was about six years old. I was fascinated by color and the visual appeal of different color combination's. I would sit for hours drawing lines, circles, and squares.

I loved fashion and as I got older I started drawing images from magazines. I decided I wanted to be a Fashion Designer but after obtaining a degree in Fashion Design I pursued other interests.

Through the years I did some freelance illustrating, but never painted until I was off work for a year recovering from a back injury. I didn't take a class, I just went out and bought paint and canvas and started to paint. I got commissions almost immediately.

Earlier this year I decided that instead of painting geometric shapes, as is most often the case, I would paint something different. I painted a small canvas with shades of red and waited for ideas to come. But, every idea involved geometric shapes. And so the canvas sat there waiting. One day after Rose was done painting I added the yellow she had left from her palette...still nothing. So there it sat.

Then one day, after days had turned into weeks and weeks had turned into months but before months could turn into years, I painted what I felt in my heart from day one.....geometric shapes. I titled it Journey, in honor of myself and all you other creatives out there who have a tendancy to get in your own way. It was done on
7 x 5 inch wrapped canvas and you can find it for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds benefiting cancer initiatives.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

What Happened To Good Customer Service?

2011-05-18T08:11:00.004-06:00

Growing up I was fortunate enough to occasionally get the opportunity to shop at high end small boutiques. The four of us would dress up, mom, Rose, grandma Liza and I, and go shopping. I remember how good the Customer Service was. There would sometimes be refreshments but the thing that stood out to me was the great service.

I worked in retail my first summer home from college and I tried to emulate what I remembered from those days. Greeting every customer, suggesting other items, all the things that are a part of good customer service. It earned me high accolades and a glowing letter of recommendation from my manager. After college I worked as a Promotional Model and Product Demonstrator in high end retailers and I was always praised for my Customer Service and Marketing skills. I was often asked to come back again and again, sometimes having more work than I could handle.

These days good Customer Service seems like a thing of the past. I don't understand that given the state of our economy. Retailers should be doing all they can to generate repeat business and I think this is especially important for Indie shops that carry handmade items. Not everyone understands the value of handmade so Indie shops need to go above and beyond to educate, acquire and retain customers.

Yesterday I went into two shops that carry handmade items. At the first shop there was no one inside. I looked around for about 5-10 minutes before she returned and realized she was one of the people I had passed standing outside when I came in. Now if it were me I would have acknowledged someone I saw going into my place of business. I would have immediately ended my conversation or whatever it was that was keeping me outside and came in to provide...Customer Service. When she did come in I barely got an acknowledgement. If it were me I would have apologized for neglecting the customer and then tell the potential Customer something about the items in my shop. Let them know a little about the artists, their process and anything I could think of to help make a sale if not now, in the future. The second shop I went into the person was on the phone and while she did end the conversation I still got no Customer Service.

So listen up! If you want me to Shop Local then when I come into your place of business stop eating, texting or doing anything else that tells me you couldn't care less that I'm there. Greet me with an enthusiastic and genuine greeting. And most importantly, Stand Up! If you're an Indie Boutique tell me a little about the artists featured in your shop. Notice the fact that I am wearing handmade jewelry and see that as an opportunity to sell me something handmade because I apparently, am a fan of handmade. Engage me in conversation.

And furthermore, Indie Shops, don't treat me like a leper on Social Networking sites. When you see someone is in your city and they 'like' you or 'follow' you or 'friend' you, embrace them. Invite them to your store. Find a way to engage them. There is nothing in your shop that I can't make myself or find from an indie artist online so you need to give me a reason to come in, buy, come back, and tell my friends. Start providing good Customer Service and you'll be surprised what happens.

THE ETSY TIMES: MEET ETSY SELLERS AND SISTERS BETTY AND ROSE REFOU...

2011-03-30T08:15:00.000-06:00

THE ETSY TIMES: MEET ETSY SELLERS AND SISTERS BETTY AND ROSE REFOU...: "Betty Refour is a contemporary abstract artist and caregiver to her sister Rose, who is also an artist, and who is autistic. This artistic ..."

What Are You Doing This Year?

2011-01-16T12:09:00.004-06:00

2010 ended as badly as it started for me but I'm determined to not let it get me down. We had four, yes four deaths in our family between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. I take it especially hard when someone dies of cancer. It seems so unfair. And one of the deaths was due to cancer. But enough about that.

One of the things I wanted to do in the New Year was open an Etsy shop for Rose. She has been in my shadow so to speak and her art deserves it's own space to grow and flourish.

She amazes me how quickly she creates something. I have to look at my work a million times and tweak and change and ponder before I consider it complete. But not Rose. She creates, it's done and she moves on to the next project.

For as long as I can remember she has been obsessed with smoking. Both my maternal grandfather and my uncle, moms' brother smoked and she has always wanted to do so as well. She would grab their cigarettes from the ashtray and run while trying to take a puff before anyone caught her. As a result her drawings often depict smokers. She also loves to draw hearts and flowers and every now and then she will render something abstract. Her art is always happy and cheerful and because she is mostly nonverbal I hope it's a reflection of how she feels.

You can find her shop at http://RoseRefour.etsy.com. I hope you'll visit and come back and tell us what you thought.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Push - Contemporary Abstract Painting Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

2010-09-30T12:12:00.007-06:00

This has been a rough year for me. Just when I thought that soon I would be able to feel the ground under my feet again and not cry when someone asked about my mother, my uncle died suddenly of an apparent heart attack. A few weeks later a friend was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and not long after that another. Then, just last week another dear friend was diagnosed with cancer.

It would be easy to sit back and feel sorry for myself or allow myself to drown in my grief but I refuse to do that. Instead, I choose to paint, something that I have not done a lot of this year. I choose to continue to push no matter what.

There are people around me that have no idea how much their kind gestures have meant to me. Words of encouragement from members of Etsy Project Embrace and of The Etsy Twitter Team. A compliment or purchase of my art. Including me in treasuries. An unexpected present or card in the mail. Someone bringing over dinner...little things can go a long way.

With Breast Cancer Awareness month upon us, this painting is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and countless others who have lost their battles with Breast Cancer. Everyone involved with Etsy Project Embrace. My friends on The Etsy Twitter Team. Everyone that took the time to do something nice, not only for me but for anyone. The survivors, friends, family and everyone that continues to PUSH no matter how insurmountable the obstacles seem...until there's a cure for all types of cancer.

You can find this painting for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer Initiatives. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Unexpected

2010-05-05T09:02:00.008-06:00

My earliest memory of my uncle, moms brother, is from the summer after our parents divorced. Mom, Rose and I came to Oklahoma City to visit her parents. My uncle and his family came over to our grandparents for a cookout. There was so much food I couldn't imagine how we were ever going to eat it all. My uncle and grandfather grilled for what seemed like hours while my cousins and I played in the yard. Rose and my youngest cousin were both infants at the time and we delighted in pulling them around in a wagon. There were many such cookouts over the years once we moved here and always so much food and fun. We never thought about how at some point those days would be gone forever.

My uncle was a kind gentle man much like my grandfather. He served in the Air Force first in active duty and then in the reserves for more than twenty years. He had nine children, seven stepchildren, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren but he treated Rose and I like daughters. Then quietly, much as he had lived, he died on April 7th.

I spoke to him everyday since I moved back home four years ago, sometimes three or four times a day depending on what was going on in the world. At first our conversations were mostly about mom since she was battling cancer but after she passed away we mostly talked about sports, he was an avid sports fan just like mom was. He would also call about things he heard on the news, I don't like watching the news so he wanted to make sure I knew what was going on. The morning of April 7th we talked about the fact that he wasn't feeling well when he woke up. I asked about his blood sugar and his blood pressure. They were both high but he had taken his medication and was going to take it easy he said. The day before he had been running errands and on Monday he had worked in his garden. I didn't think much of the fact that he said he didn't feel well but asked that he call me later to let me know how he was feeling. When my phone rang at about 7:00 pm and I saw on the caller id it was him I answered the phone by saying "hey how ya feeling?" but, instead of his voice it was my aunt saying he was not breathing.

We rushed to the hospital but I knew that if paramedics had left their home with him not breathing they were unable to revive him. When I told Rose that he was in heaven with mom, grandma and grandpa, our favorite cousin Thomas and our Aunt Julia she said she wanted to go to heaven too. I didn't know how to respond at first but then I said that I hoped she would stay with me because if she left there would be no one to take care of me. She didn't respond but I hope we both live a long time, I'm not sure what I would do without her.

There are things in life that are expected but yet when they happen they are often unexpected. Death is one of those things. And even though I have lost all of the people who made me who I am and the pain of that will never go away, I am grateful for being born into the family that I was born into.

This is my first painting since my uncles death and I titled it Unexpected for all those things that I should have seen coming a mile away but never did.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Special Populations Indeed!

2010-04-06T12:35:00.009-06:00

Today I had the pleasure of going to the opening reception for the Special Populations art show at the City Arts Center. Special Populations is a program of the Allied Arts Council of Oklahoma City that brings multidisciplinary arts education to children and adults with special needs in the metro area.

There are five special needs programs that participate in Special Populations. Two adult programs, one high school program and two children's programs. The art was absolutely beautiful and the turnout spectacular.

There were so many people there that the reception was planned for one area of the facility and had to be moved to another. Some of the participants from the high school program were videotaping and interviewing artists as I ducked in and out trying to take pictures oblivious to everything except my mission. Needless to say I had to be asked more than once to get out of the way and was asked to sign a release just in case they couldn't edit me out:)

These are the three paintings that Rose did along with a shot of her painting with several others. I have to go back before the show ends and take my time looking at the exhibit and get more photos. It was hard to do with so many people. If you live in the area I highly recommend you visit the exhibit. It ends on the 30th.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Oh and PS. Rose was initially a little nervous because of the crowd, hung close and held my hand. But once people started complimenting her she forgot I was there:)

Clouded In Secrecy - Artist with Autism

2010-04-05T09:07:00.004-06:00

From the moment she entered the room all eyes were on her. No one knew who she was but they all whispered and stared. She smoked to calm her nerves but her presence was clouded in secrecy.

Rose did this drawing using ink, colored pencil and pastels. You can find reproductions for sale in my Etsy shop.

I am a member of the Etsy Twitter team and one my fellow members, Lois Stifel of FoxyGKnits wrote an article about Rose and I for Autism Awareness Month. I hope you'll stop by and take a look.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Subliminal Messages - ACEO - Artist with Autism

2010-04-02T14:23:00.003-06:00

This is an artist trading card by Rose. It looks to me as though there's some hidden message here, what do you think?

You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Autism initiatives.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by

Bridges - Original Painting - Artist with Autism

2010-04-01T09:12:00.005-06:00

This is a painting by my sister Rose who has autism. Rose is mostly non verbal, so when I ask her what she would like to name her work oftentimes I don't get an answer so I name it myself. I named this piece Bridges because it reminded me of people reaching out to one another.

April is Autism Awareness month so all month I'll be featuring art by Rose and other artists on the spectrum.

You can find this for sale in my Etsy shop.... I think it's time Rose had her own Etsy shop!

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Elsile - Upcycled Vintage White Glass Bead Earrings Supporting Cancer Awareness

2010-03-31T09:09:00.004-06:00

My maternel grandmothers name was Elsile but everyone called her Liza. I found a broken necklace amongst her belongings after she passed away made up of these white twisted glass beads.

I made these earrings for this weeks Etsy Project Embrace Team challenge. The theme was "recycled". I added sterling silver beads and findings to the beautiful vintage glass beads.

Etsy Project Embrace is comprised of a group of sellers spreading awareness, raising funds and offering hope and embraces for those whose lives have been touched by cancer. To find out more visit the team blog at http://etsyprojectembrace.blogspot.com/. You can find these earrings for sale in my Etsy shop. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer and so a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society in her honor.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Working On Resolutions

2010-03-13T08:33:00.004-06:00

As some of you may know one of my resolutions for the new year was to paint more. Two other resolutions were to create items with all the beads I have and to work on my photography skills. I've spent the past week taking photographs of some of the items I made with the beads. And while I still have a ways to go on my photography skills at least I'm working on it.

You can find these earrings for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society as part of Etsy Project Embrace.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Mother and Daughter - Artist with Autism

2010-02-20T16:19:00.004-06:00

Last week Windows crashed and I have spent the majority of my time since then restoring my computer. While I was busy with that Rose painted. Mother and Daughter is one of the paintings she did. I really like this, it's looks very happy to me. She used dimensional and acrylic paints, glitter, vintage text pages, paper, ink and crayons. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Turmoil - Abstract Painting

2010-01-30T17:09:00.006-06:00

The original image was done using acrylics on 10 x 8 wrapped canvas. You can find reproductions for sale at Fine Art America.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

With Purple On Top

2010-01-12T12:00:00.004-06:00

This painting was done by my sister Rose who has autism. She is a self taught artist and will often use art to express herself. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support autism initiatives and the rest goes to Rose for supplies and shopping excursions. The moment I let her know something has sold she makes a shopping list, usually for lots more than the sale:) She is mostly nonverbal.

Title: With Purple On Top
Size: 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

Medium: Professional Grade Acrylics

Date: 2010

Artist: Rose Refour

You can find it for sale on eBay. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Name That Painting

2010-01-11T10:32:00.003-06:00

The hardest thing about painting for me is coming up with a title, and since I have joined a daily painting group that task is even harder. What I have decided to do is have a contest! Help me come up with a name for this painting and if I decide to use your suggestion for this painting or any of the paintings I do this year I'll send you a reproduction of one of my works. So put those thinking caps on and help me out.

This was done using acrylics on 8 x 10 x 1/2 inch wrapped canvas. The staple free sides are painted purple. It is signed and dated on the back, wired and ready to hang. You can find it for sale in my etsy shop, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer Initiatives.

Please, please, please leave a comment with your suggestion and make sure I have a way to contact you if I like your idea. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Red Flowers with Pink Vase

2010-01-06T10:13:00.004-06:00

Another painting for the New Year. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support blood cancer initiatives.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Bloom

2010-01-04T12:45:00.003-06:00

Bloom - (c)Betty Refour - 2010

One of my resolutions for the new year is to paint more. In order to help me with that resolution I joined a daily painting group here in Oklahoma. This is my first painting of the new year. I'm not sure that I will be able to keep up the pace of painting daily but I'm sure going to try.

You can find this painting for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support blood cancer initiatives.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

One Last Present To Share

2009-12-22T19:33:00.005-06:00

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!

2009-12-19T18:16:00.005-06:00

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!

2009-12-18T10:19:00.005-06:00

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?

2009-12-17T11:17:00.005-06:00

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!

2009-12-01T13:07:00.007-06:00

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

2009-10-25T12:53:00.002-06:00

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

2009-08-17T11:24:00.006-06:00

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

2009-08-08T15:33:00.003-06:00

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

2009-08-05T09:28:00.004-06:00

This is my newest work. Enjoy!

What Was She Thinking?

2009-08-04T12:35:00.005-06:00

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!!!

2009-07-30T17:53:00.002-06:00

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

2009-07-25T08:36:00.003-06:00

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!

2009-05-17T03:09:00.004-06:00

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?

2009-04-22T18:00:00.006-06:00

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

2009-04-19T14:19:00.004-06:00

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

2009-04-12T13:45:00.004-06:00

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

2009-04-08T06:32:00.003-06:00

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

2009-04-04T19:15:00.004-06:00

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

2009-04-02T14:53:00.004-06:00

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

2009-04-01T16:40:00.004-06:00

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!

2009-03-21T17:27:00.003-06:00

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

2009-03-15T13:36:00.007-06:00

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

2009-03-04T10:43:00.007-06:00

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

2009-03-02T13:38:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-28T20:29:00.003-06:00

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

2009-02-26T16:11:00.005-06:00

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

2009-02-25T19:23:00.008-06:00

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

2009-02-06T10:59:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-27T09:47:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-24T13:46:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-17T11:38:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-14T16:28:00.001-06:00

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

2009-01-12T10:25:00.002-06:00

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

2009-01-10T16:52:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-06T11:44:00.004-06:00

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.

Visit My eBay Store....

2008-11-22T13:09:00.003-06:00

where most items are on SALE 20 - 50% off. Free Shipping on some items too. http://stores.ebay.com/Art-By-Betty-Refour

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

And The Winner Is....

2008-11-22T09:22:00.005-06:00

Shelly. Congratulations Shelly. Shelly will receive a set of six note cards or a $10.00 voucher to be used in one of my Etsy shops. Thanks to everyone that entered.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Join In The Etsy Greetings Blog Carnival

2008-11-17T05:45:00.004-06:00

I am participating in the Etsy Greetings Blog Carnival. The EtsyGreetings team is hosting a carnival from November 17 - 21st. To participate in my giveaway all you need to do is visit my shops Art by Betty Refour and Noteworthy Crafts and leave a comment here telling me your favorite item from either shop and why. Sorry but you must live in the US to participate in my giveaway. The winner will receive your choice of a set of six of Holiday Tree Note Cards or a $10.00 voucher to be used in my shop so that you may select something of your choice. Be sure I have some way of contacting you in case you're the winner. Contest ends on Friday November 21st at Midnight CDT. The winner will be announced here on Saturday. To find great prizes from other members of EtsyGreetings visit the Etsy Greetings Blog.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-11-16T15:40:00.003-06:00

Outspoken - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

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

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

I'm Having A Sale

2008-11-15T16:54:00.002-06:00

From now until Midnight CDT I am having a sale in my Etsy shops. Take 15% off all orders Excluding shipping. Take a look at my Noteworthy Crafts shop here and my Art by Betty Refour shop.

Have a great evening, thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday Rose

2008-11-07T07:32:00.004-06:00

Purple Glass Beads and Gold tone Findings

Ok so today is my sisters birthday and with all the anxiety, she hasn't slept in about a week. About 3 am every morning she has come into my room to wake me up to give me a note or to tell me that Friday is her birthday. She made a list of about 100 items that she wanted. Earlier in the week we went out and did some shopping and yesterday our Aunt took us to the movies. When we tried to buy popcorn we were catapulted into a version of "Who's on First." My Aunt, "We would like one large and one xlarge popcorn." The concession attendant: "so that's two larges and one extra large." My Aunt: "uhhhhh no, one of each."Attendant: "so two extra larges and one large." Aunt: uhhhhh no. This went back and forth until I had a headache. When we finally got to the drinks, before my aunt could say anything, I jumped in and ordered 3 of the same so that it didn't take another twenty minutes, even though we had decided something different beforehand. I expected the credits to be rolling by the time we finished but luckily the pre show was lengthy.

When we got back to our house my Aunt gave Rose the presents that she and my Uncle bought. She received various nail polishes and lip glosses along with a few other items. This morning I gave her this bracelet I made for her along with a dvd, a cd and the cutest angels a friend had sent. She didn't get nearly all the items she had hoped for but all in all I think she is happy.

Being her caregiver still scares me but I pray for guidance and we go to the cemetery often to keep our mom updated on our progress. On our last visit, in addition to her flowers, she received a note reminding her of the significance of November 7th.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping

Awareness Angels

2008-10-25T09:49:00.006-06:00

Autism/Asperger Syndrome Angel

Breast Cancer Awareness Angel

I am a member of Worldwide Women Artists, an international collective of women artists showing and selling our original art through the worldwide web. Recently one of our members started a project called Awareness Angels. This is what she had to say about it.

My name is Cathy O Lewis, I am a 51 year old single, stay at home mom. I am a self taught quilter/fiber artist/painter/photographer who also occasionally teaches fabric art and designs quilt patterns. I have 2 sons currently living with me, a 24 year old who has Down Syndrome and an 18 year old who has Asperger's. I have Epilepsy, my oldest brother has Diabetes, my sister in law has Fibromyalgia, my Mother has lung cancer and is not expected to last much longer, my grandmother died of Breast Cancer, my grandfather and father from heart disease, my youngest brother suffers from drug and alcohol addiction and is a homeless person in California, my daughter goes through bouts of depression, (as do myself and my youngest son) and has been diagnosed with Body Dismorphia.

I have always wished I could do something to help research, or fund free programs, to SOMEHOW help others who suffer from either conditions like my family's or others. I have never had the money because my boys and I live below poverty level and there is just no spare money. I have not been able to work for many years because I have been needed here to care for my boys, and so have been selling pieces of my art every once in awhile online. Then recently, because I love attempting new things, I decided to try making an angel to send my Mom for Christmas and while doing so, I had one of those *light bulb moments*. Why not make Angels in different awareness colors, sell them and send a percentage of each sale to the foundations they represent? A fully customized business. I made a few samples and showed them to people and started getting orders. Two for Breast Cancer, one for Prostate Cancer and a few non-awareness angels. It took me awhile, but I have finally found a way to contribute to many causes, while at the same time offering comfort to those who receive an Angel. All donations ($10 from each sale) are made in the name of either the person buying the Angel or the one receiving it, that is the customer's choice. I love using my sewing talents to help others, not only my customers, but possibly millions more with the donations I hope to generate through my Angels, and also at the same time, make life a little better for my own family. I love making the Angels, choosing the fabrics for the outfits, skin and hair, and this may sound strange, but I feel peaceful while making them. It is like the stress I usually feel is gone for awhile. I guess they are bringing me comfort too.

While I make each Angel to the customer's needs. I purposely will not use actual skin tones and their hair is pretty wild too! The reasoning behind this is because I don't want them seen as portraying any race. I guess the Angel's motto is "Disease, addiction, and hunger sees no race." I feel this is also an important part of what my Angels mean, not only are they meant to bring comfort, and donations for causes, but also to represent tolerance to others and diversity.

Thanks Cathy for sharing the story of Awareness Angels with me. To learn more about these angels visit the Awareness Angels blog.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-22T07:32:00.003-06:00

The Gathering - 8 x 8 Canvas Panel (c)Betty Refour

This is another painting that I did with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer initiatives. You can find it in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-15T10:19:00.003-06:00

Warm Beverage #2 - (c)Betty Refour

Most people wake up with coffee but for whatever reason coffee does not have that effect on me. I am the only person I know that coffee makes me sleepy. My mom teased me about it all the time especially when I moved back home during her illness. I would wake up and make coffee and she would say "Remember I have a Dr's. appointment, please don't drink any coffee." I like to drink it during the cooler months when I'm getting ready for bed or in the morning. It warms me up. I'm curious as to what effect coffee has on others. What has your experience been?

The original image was done using acrylics on canvas. It is available as an ATC in my Etsy shop. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-14T12:55:00.003-06:00

I made these using 14kt gold plated findings and pink Swarovski beads. Use them to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness. They are about one inch total in length. You can find them in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-13T11:04:00.003-06:00

Untitled 8 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas (c)Betty Refour

Here is another painting where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Breast Cancer Awareness. You can find it in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-10T09:32:00.001-06:00

Here is another painting that Rose did. It too was done on 3 x 4 inch canvas using acrylics.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-09T09:57:00.003-06:00

Untitled - (c)Rose Refour

Our mother had reproductions of our work hanging in our house but only a few originals. I decided that I wanted to change that so Rose and I have been working on some paintings. This is a small painting that Rose did. It's acrylic on 3 x 4 inch canvas.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-10-03T06:12:00.004-06:00

Untitled - 4 x 5 Acrylic on Canvas - (c)Betty Refour 2008

This is another painting I did that is for sale with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Komen Foundation. You can find it in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Ovals - Autism Awareness Note Card

2008-10-02T04:24:00.003-06:00

Rose drew the ovals and colored them with crayons. I added the background with oil pastels. You can find this card in my Etsy shop. Also check out our Zazzle shop for mugs and t-shirts with this image.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Art Of The Day

2008-10-01T06:09:00.004-06:00

This is one of several paintings that will be on sale during the month of October with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer initiatives. It is available in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

The Lamp - Autism Awareness Note Card

2008-09-30T09:47:00.001-06:00

The image for this card was created by my sister Rose. She drew the lamp and colored it with crayons and I added the background with oil pastels. Rose has autism so a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Autism initiatives. This card is available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-08-09T11:54:00.003-06:00

This is an original abstract painting done on 8 x 10 wrapped canvas. The sides are painted red and it's wired and ready to hang. Signed and dated on the back. It's available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Take A Look At This

2008-07-09T05:47:00.001-06:00

http://www.ebaygivingworks.com/ns/community-stories-bettyrefour.html

eBay is once again featuring the article about us. Not sure how long it will be posted but take a look if you didn't see it the first time.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-07-08T18:52:00.001-06:00

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day

2008-05-10T15:52:00.004-06:00

(c)Betty Refour - Outpour - 2008

This is an ACEO that I did using acrylics on 240 Lb paper. Art Cards Editions and Originals are Trading Card size art - 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. You can find this one in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

And The Winners Are....

2008-04-27T10:43:00.004-06:00

I asked my sister Rose to pick a name out of the bowl and instead of one name she picked two and they are Smellyann and Adria. If you missed the email we sent then contact us. Smellyann will receive a set of six Tulip Note Cards and Adria will receive a set of six Abstract Art Note Cards.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Bloggy Giveaway - Pick Your Own Prize

2008-04-21T06:50:00.007-06:00

Contest will end Friday April 25th at Midnight CDT. Winner will be posted by Sunday April 27th at Midnight CDT.

I'm participating in the Bloggy Giveaway again! All you need to do is visit my website and select a set of cards that you would like to have or visit my Etsy shop and pick a set of cards or a Fine Art Reproduction and then leave a comment here telling me why you would like to have that particular item. Keep in mind when visiting Etsy that although the cards may not be listed as sets they are available in sets. This offer is open to US residents only and shipping will be free. Make sure your post allows me to contact you if you are the winner.

Be sure and visit the Bloggy Giveaway Blog to see all the other participants and enter some more great giveaways.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Please insure you follow the directions which ask that you not only tell me the item you would like to win but also the reason why.

Autism Awareness Item Of The Day

2008-04-09T10:14:00.003-06:00

My name is Cherry and I am a SAHM of 4 kiddos. My son is the oldest and has an Asperger’s diagnosis. He was originally placed on the spectrum with a PDDNOS diagnosis at 2&1/2 and my husband and I were fortunate enough to just be able to dig in and get him a bunch of help. He is 11 now, main streamed at school and very creative. He was part of the inspiration for a craft business along with my passion for all things crafty and creative. Beading is my primary medium at the moment but I have fallen in love with the whole idea of Artist Trading Cards. My oldest daughter has tried her hand at a few which are very cute, find them at my Etsy shop, she has even gotten an order for a set of greeting cards of one of her designs. Through the Etsy for Autism Team, we were challenged to create an item for a contest and the idea for an Autism Awareness Artist Trading Card was born. The bunny on the card is my lifelong friend, Maynerd, I have doodled him as long as I can remember, and he seemed to me to be the perfect "spokesbunny" for the job. He encourages us all to aspire to be aware, understanding, teachable, interested, supportive and "my" friend, (a friend to anybody with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.) 20% of the sales of all my Autism Awareness items in March and April will be donated to The Autism Society of America. I chose this agency because at the time of my son’s diagnosis, it was one of the forerunners in the field, and offered a local support group that I was able to attend. I would have been lost without the guidance and support I received through it.

Thanks Cherry! Please visit her Etsy shop to find her unique creations.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Autism Awareness Item Of The Day

2008-04-07T08:26:00.001-06:00

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Autism Awareness Item Of The Day

2008-04-05T06:43:00.002-06:00

The artwork for this card was done by my sister Rose who has autism. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Autism Society of America.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Autism Awareness Item Of The Day

2008-04-04T08:45:00.002-06:00

I am a 29 year old mother of 2. Ethan 6 was diagnosed with high functioning autism 5 months ago. Ryann, my daughter, is 4, and is a ray of sunshine. She is a constant companion for her brother. My husband is an Active Duty Navy Submariner, and we have been married for 9 years, and together since I was 16.

Up until mid February, I was a working career woman, and between the diagnosis and upcoming therapy appointments, my husbands vast deployments this year, and needing to give my daughter more hugs and kisses, I decided to leave my career as a retail inventory planner to stay home. I have always dreamt of growing my own craft business, but never had time. I knew by staying home, and dealing with our complex issues, I needed to keep something in my life for me. That is "Bubba & Rye", my craft business.

Thanks Deb! To visit her Etsy shop click here.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Art For The Day - Juli Krasinski

2008-04-02T11:43:00.003-06:00

I’ve been on my own since I was 13 years old. I’m a self taught artist, grow my own herbs and veggies, practice yoga and take in stray cats. I’ve been a single Mom for the last 9 years and am blessed beyond measure to have my son.

Let’s see, what else ... Oh yes, I also happen to have aspergers.

I won’t pretend for a second that it’s easy but, when compared with many other things, I count myself lucky. I think it is impossible to explain to anyone who doesn’t live it but ... it’s kind of like trying to go up the UP escalator and there’s a huge crowd all scrambling to get down it and you’re in their way. You see, I’ve never thought there was anything "wrong" with me. I’m just different. Very different in many ways but still, just different.

Sometimes I lose my mojo and get depressed that I can’t fit in or be like everyone else but then I find it again and remember that different is a very good thing to be.

Thanks Juli! You can find this painting along with more of her work in her Etsy shop here.

Have a great day everybody thanks for stopping by.

April Is Autism Awareness Month

2008-04-01T06:47:00.001-06:00

My name is Emily, and handmade greeting cards are my favorite hobby. I love to make one-of-a-kind cards for the special people in your life! I also make invitations, bookmarks, gift tags, and altered notebooks upon request. My etsy shop is Cards by Emily.

During April I will once again show items that support Autism Awareness. I hope that not only will you stop by but that you will do everything you can to spread awareness.

Thanks Emily for allowing me to show your cards. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Etsy Artists of Color Scavenger Hunt

2008-03-27T07:59:00.012-06:00

Come play this week to win a basket with wonderful handcrafted items in a variety of media. Discover some great new artists and have fun along the way! You must be an Etsy member to win, both buyers and sellers are welcome! No purchase is necessary to win. Members of the Artists of Color Team are not eligible to win. You can find more details on the team blog at http://eaoc.blogspot.com/

How to play?

Visit each of the participating EAOC shops below and look through the pictures in their shop listings (recent sold items included). Some shops will contain one picture of a "letter" hiding in one of their shop listings. Search through the participating shops and jot down the "letter" and the name of the shop you have found the letter in.

After you have found all of the letters (15 total), then unscramble them to complete a word. When you think you have solved the puzzle, please convo Calidora at http://callidora.etsy.com/ with your entry and your name, if you are correct your name will go into a drawing to win the prize basket. (Only one entry per member.)

Contest ends at 12 midnight EST, March 31st. All correct entries will be entered into a drawing and the winner will be selected at random and announced on Tuesday, April 1st. The lucky winner will be contacted by ‘convo’ on Etsy and the results will be posted in the forums and on our team blog.

Good Luck!

List of participating shops:

http://mosaicsbyah.etsy.com/
http://brefour.etsy.com/
http://wsirarts.etsy.com/
http://ayanacreations.etsy.com/
http://theivorymagnolia.etsy.com/
http://satindollco.etsy.com/
http://jamilary.etsy.com/
http://lamarlynch.etsy.com/
http://marciapalmer.etsy.com/
http://springcartdesigns.etsy.com/
http://origamicentral.etsy.com/
http://bklynmomos.etsy.com/
http://callidora.etsy.com/
http://thehandoffatima.etsy.com/
http://tyramade.etsy.com/
http://reign.etsy.com/
http://urbanknit.etsy.com/
http://gingerlime.etsy.com/
http://feille.etsy.com/
http://stormeejean.etsy.com/
http://anaaya.etsy.com/
http://raghousenternational.etsy.com/
http://liviastreasures.etsy.com/
http://cassowaryjewelry.etsy.com/
http://africanfashions.etsy.com/
http://beadsinthebelfry.etsy.com/
http://ladiestheytalkabout.etsy.com/
http://precioust.etsy.com/
http://soleilrouge.etsy.com/
http://hilari.etsy.com/
http://takeyceart.etsy.com/
http://marcuskwame.etsy.com/
http://blossomingtree.etsy.com/

Hope and Healing

2008-03-26T09:18:00.005-06:00

This is an 8 x 10 Limited Edition Fine Art Reproduction of one of my paintings. It was printed on archival matte imaging paper using archival inks. There will only be 30 reproductions made. Each one will come signed and numbered on the back in an acid free sleeve.

Title: Stained Glass

Medium: Archival Acid Free Inks on Acid Free Archival Matte Imaging Paper

Price: $30.00

50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Hope and Healing project to raise awareness and funds for Rape Response Services. To learn more about this project as well as other artists that are participating in this effort visit this thread on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5423337&page=1

You can purchase this item on my blog or visit my Etsy shop to purchase it.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T08:41:00.004-06:00

(C)Rose Refour - Easter Eggs - Ink and crayons on paper

Happy Easter everybody.

Art For The Day

2008-03-21T12:30:00.004-06:00

(c)Betty Refour - 2008 - Controversy - Original Painting

Original painting done on 5 x 5 inch wrapped canvas. Available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Are You An Artist?

2008-03-13T08:49:00.003-06:00

If you are an artist or crafter and have items that support Autism Awareness or are willing to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of your item to support Autism Awareness then I'd like to hear from you. I am looking for items to feature here during the month of April for Autism Awareness Month. So if you have something that you would like to feature then let me know. Contact me by email and I'll let you know if you are selected.

Thanks in advance.

Art For The Day

2008-03-12T07:26:00.004-06:00

(c)Rose Refour - Untitled - 8 x 10 inches - Acrylic on Canvas

Here is another painting by my sister Rose. It too is available on ebay.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.