Etsy Sellers & Buyers Who Call Texas Home!
April Design Challenge Poll -- Tell a Story
Tell a Story day (April 27th) celebrates story-telling of
all kinds. It doesn't matter if it's fiction or non-fiction, a tall
tale, or folk lore -- this is the day to tell 'em all! Stories can
be from a book, other written material, or from memory. And stories
can be expressed (told) in many different ways - writing, drawing,
painting, sewing, etc.
This month, the ETC team was challenged to tell a story to celebrate / honor this special day. Their stories could be told in any media -- as every creation is a story!
Please take a look through the following entries (feel free to click on all links to learn more about the participants and the entries that are available for purchase through Etsy), and then take the poll at the bottom of this page to let us know your choice for the entry that tells the best story!
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
I thought that rolly-poly black sheep charm was ssoooo cute, I had to use it!
When the bright flash of orange danced out of the grass around her feet, she thought at first it was just an early autumn leaf. But leaves don't bounce around so much, or have such bright colors...
She followed it for a day, and it led her to new places, and she had fine adventures of the sort that end in nice dinners and new friends and good times all around. But her clearest memory of the whole thing was always that moment, the hem of her gown wet with dew, bright orange against the white morning sky.
Then you get to know each other.
And you realize all he wants is a reflection of himself, and that he's got some weird ideas of fun, and maybe you weren't exactly made for each other. But by then things have gone too far to have one of those amicable breakups, and well, it all ends badly. He gets the house and the garden, you get the kids he doesn't know about yet, you both scorch the earth on the way out. You move far away, and try to forget you ever met, even though you know he's telling his kids all sorts of rotten things about you, making it sound like you practically had horns. If he's that petty, just more proof you made the right decision. And you don't need to gloat at all when his new little family turns into an episode of a daytime talk show. Though you do anyway.
And if he thinks he can talk bad about your daughters, there's gonna be blood.
***
You think that story's long? You should see the original.
Lilith is, apocryphally, Adam's first wife. They split up over things that 99 percent of men would consider a bonus, and she left, and Eve showed up. Even more apocryphally, she then became the bride of the devil and began turning out demonspawn, or possibly seduced mortal men and began turning out demonspawn, either one of which suggest Adam was seriously playing outside his league with her.
Lilith would appear, historically, to have been a local competing goddess in the days of biblical transcription. Like Baal and Ishtar, she got rewritten into a minor villain role by men whose primary concern was not future cultural awareness. She had wings, and was possibly a very high level goddess, like Hera, meaning Adam was not just playing outside his league, but in an entirely different sport. The social-historical subtext of this is pretty much text from the get-go.
Either way. She had wings, and wings are awesome.
But not the long-legged sunflowers. They revel in long green stemmed arcs through the yard. They live to twirl around those fast-moving people-plants. From the first glimpse of the sun until the frog's late night finale, they put on their broadest smile and show off their colors. It takes some energy, but it's worth it-the highest blossom gets the best bees!
And maybe gets eaten by cows. But what's life without a little risk?
***
I have written about my garden sunflowers before. I shall do it again. They have way more personality than any plant should be allowed.
This particular painting is in honor of a particular stand of flowers that tangles my feet every time I step outside. Excelsior, sisters!
Remember, even in Texas January can be rough. Now imagine that you have left your fur coat at the doctor's office and you just have to go pee. Mommy made several fleece coats for him in different weights so that he would not freeze. It took nearly 7 months for him to get a bit of good black fuzz. I was afraid he would always resemble a large drown rat. But as you can see in picture two he was back to his normal antics after a year. February 5, 2009 - Preston is shown taking great care of my husband Michael just days after he returned home from an eighteen day hospital stay. Both are totally sleeping like babies.
Preston is going to celebrate his 14th Birthday in August, Michael will be 60 in June. Thanks to two very different specialists, I have both my boys on the road to recovery. Picture three shows Michael two days after open heart surgery with the pillow I made especially for him when he needed to cough for his nurses.
I had a carved wooden cockatoo sitting around looking entirely too bored and boring so I decided to make his day, which actually turned into a week of hand-cutting tiny bits of glass and molding vines out of Mitey Putty. I knew I was on to something when, after several days of gluing glass my real Goose, began screaming in rage every time he saw me carrying it around. He obviously thought I was stepping out on him with another U2 so I decided to introduce him up close and personal, at which time he "showed" his beautiful plumage in an attempt to impress the other guy, who didn't respond. Obviously. So he decided to preen it. I think he's now in love.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. -- Genesis 1:14-19
It is amazing how one word can turn a whole city into the biggest block party ever! Fiesta -- say that word and every San Antonian immediately gears up for fun, food, and friendship.
As a native San Antonian, I grew up thinking that "Fiesta" happened everywhere, that all cities celebrated like we did. I have memories of being carried on my father's shoulders as we walked from our parked car to the carnival area downtown. We were not "made of money" but we enjoyed the celebration, my parents made sure of that. Dad parked the car in an area that we could afford and that meant finding free parking on the street, blocks away from the main attractions. This in itself was not an easy task as the thousands of visitors and locals headed downtown to join in the fun of Fiesta. We had fun at carnivals, although my mother was frightened of carnival rides and would not let me participate except in the smallest of the Kiddie rides, and I guess that is what instilled in me a fear of fast rides to this day.
By the end of the week, we had attended the carnival and were ready to head out to the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, held on Friday afternoon of the closing weekend. We sat or stood in the blistering heat of the mid-day sun to watch marching bands, military formations, horses, and what seemed like never-ending parade floats go by, and all this meant a sunburn for sure. We didn't know about skin cancer in those days, and the most we had were sun hats and maybe sunglasses to protect us from the sun. Of course, Dad always tried to find a spot in the shade for at least a little bit of comfort. It was fun and exhausting, but it was a time that I remember fondly how my parents struggled to make sure that we had a chance to experience the fun of "Fiesta".
Hawaiian Palms
Palms sway in the wind.
Peaceful against the sunset.
The storm draws closer.
This month, the ETC team was challenged to tell a story to celebrate / honor this special day. Their stories could be told in any media -- as every creation is a story!
Please take a look through the following entries (feel free to click on all links to learn more about the participants and the entries that are available for purchase through Etsy), and then take the poll at the bottom of this page to let us know your choice for the entry that tells the best story!
Entry #1: Baa Baa Black Sheep
Submitted by AllieCatBeads
Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
I thought that rolly-poly black sheep charm was ssoooo cute, I had to use it!
Entry #2: Two by Two
Submitted by AllieCatBeads
I made this bracelet following the story of Noah. I created the bracelet using letter beads to spell out "TWO BY TWO" and two of each crystal. I remember as a child, this story was told often, and it was one of my favorite Bible stories. I always imagined all these gentle animals on a huge boat with Noah. As an adult, I wonder why the heck he kept those darn mosquitoes!
Entry #3: Under the Sea
Submitted by AllieCatBeads
My inspiration for this lovely bracelet is based on the story of The Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid was my favorite stories for a long time, and was the first movie my mom ever took me to see. For years I wanted to be a mermaid, and thought that if I stayed in the bath long enough I would become one. There is a scene in the movie where Sebastian the Crab sings to Ariel about how wonderful it is "Under the Sea", and that is what I attempted to capture in my bracelet.
Entry #4: Breast Cancer Awareness
Submitted by BrendaSWhite
When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she asked that I design clipboards for the office workers and nutritionist at the Breast Care Center where she had treatment. The intention was to add a little brightness to their day, not to mention their desks!
Entry #5: Texas Longhorn
Submitted by BrendaSWhite
My story is short, but sweet! If you are a Texas Longhorn fan, the picture on this clipboard tells the story.
Entry #6: Butterfly Distraction
Submitted by Carapace
It was far too late in the year for butterflies. They were all gone on their long trip to warm winter lands.When the bright flash of orange danced out of the grass around her feet, she thought at first it was just an early autumn leaf. But leaves don't bounce around so much, or have such bright colors...
She followed it for a day, and it led her to new places, and she had fine adventures of the sort that end in nice dinners and new friends and good times all around. But her clearest memory of the whole thing was always that moment, the hem of her gown wet with dew, bright orange against the white morning sky.
Entry #7: No Ring on This Finger, No Walls on This Sky
Submitted by Carapace
You know how it is. You meet a guy, and it's like he's the only man in the world. And he treats you like the first woman he's ever seen. And for a while it's Paradise.Then you get to know each other.
And you realize all he wants is a reflection of himself, and that he's got some weird ideas of fun, and maybe you weren't exactly made for each other. But by then things have gone too far to have one of those amicable breakups, and well, it all ends badly. He gets the house and the garden, you get the kids he doesn't know about yet, you both scorch the earth on the way out. You move far away, and try to forget you ever met, even though you know he's telling his kids all sorts of rotten things about you, making it sound like you practically had horns. If he's that petty, just more proof you made the right decision. And you don't need to gloat at all when his new little family turns into an episode of a daytime talk show. Though you do anyway.
And if he thinks he can talk bad about your daughters, there's gonna be blood.
***
You think that story's long? You should see the original.
Lilith is, apocryphally, Adam's first wife. They split up over things that 99 percent of men would consider a bonus, and she left, and Eve showed up. Even more apocryphally, she then became the bride of the devil and began turning out demonspawn, or possibly seduced mortal men and began turning out demonspawn, either one of which suggest Adam was seriously playing outside his league with her.
Lilith would appear, historically, to have been a local competing goddess in the days of biblical transcription. Like Baal and Ishtar, she got rewritten into a minor villain role by men whose primary concern was not future cultural awareness. She had wings, and was possibly a very high level goddess, like Hera, meaning Adam was not just playing outside his league, but in an entirely different sport. The social-historical subtext of this is pretty much text from the get-go.
Either way. She had wings, and wings are awesome.
No Ring
on This Finger, No Walls on This Sky
Entry #8: Tumbling Troupe
Submitted by Carapace
In the summer sun most blossoms take to the shade, tucking under sturdier greenery, hiding under sheltering ivy leaves.But not the long-legged sunflowers. They revel in long green stemmed arcs through the yard. They live to twirl around those fast-moving people-plants. From the first glimpse of the sun until the frog's late night finale, they put on their broadest smile and show off their colors. It takes some energy, but it's worth it-the highest blossom gets the best bees!
And maybe gets eaten by cows. But what's life without a little risk?
***
I have written about my garden sunflowers before. I shall do it again. They have way more personality than any plant should be allowed.
This particular painting is in honor of a particular stand of flowers that tangles my feet every time I step outside. Excelsior, sisters!
Entry #9: Preston and Michael
Submitted by CarylsCreations
In January 2008, my sweet Preston had to be completely shaved, ears had to be plucked, I mean to tell you every single hair anywhere on his body was removed. We will not get into the cost of that procedure. Poor old boy was under the influence when I got him home. Here in the first picture he had looked out the window and did not recognize who that strange doggie was. He had been barking at the image. LOL!Remember, even in Texas January can be rough. Now imagine that you have left your fur coat at the doctor's office and you just have to go pee. Mommy made several fleece coats for him in different weights so that he would not freeze. It took nearly 7 months for him to get a bit of good black fuzz. I was afraid he would always resemble a large drown rat. But as you can see in picture two he was back to his normal antics after a year. February 5, 2009 - Preston is shown taking great care of my husband Michael just days after he returned home from an eighteen day hospital stay. Both are totally sleeping like babies.
Preston is going to celebrate his 14th Birthday in August, Michael will be 60 in June. Thanks to two very different specialists, I have both my boys on the road to recovery. Picture three shows Michael two days after open heart surgery with the pillow I made especially for him when he needed to cough for his nurses.
Preston and Michael
Entry #10: There's No Fool Like an Old Fool
Submitted by ElephantDreams
Years ago, I carved 17 pumpkins for a photo journalism project. My title was "Pumpkin's Progress". I started with buying the "pumps" and went on to the carving, then as night fell lighting them all in a dark room. The effect was awesome as the candles flickered and created patterns around the room. Well, then I was left with 17 carved candle less pumpkins. What to do? I hate pumpkin pie. So they were left on my back porch, just sitting there. And they sat and sat and sat. Each day I took a photograph of the deterioration, a sight sad to see but fascinating at the same time. "No Fool Like an Old Fool" was the last photo in the project. I received an "A" for the project. And I haven't carved a pumpkin since.
No Fool Like an Old Fool
Entry #11: Funny Cockatoo
Submitted by ForTheBirdsMosaics
Take one look at my shop and it won't take long to determine I'm a bird lover. I own 6 exotics, one being an umbrella cockatoo named Goosemonkey. I named him this because he's a silly goose and hangs upside down from the top of his cage, flapping his wings and shouting "Oh me!". Seriously, he is one of my very best friends. How can you not not adore a little creature who nestles his head against the crook of my neck and gives me butterfly kisses with his tongue. Or when I'm sad or ill places his little outstretched foot against my cheek as if showing his compassion. Gosh, I could go on and on. He has inspired so many of my works.I had a carved wooden cockatoo sitting around looking entirely too bored and boring so I decided to make his day, which actually turned into a week of hand-cutting tiny bits of glass and molding vines out of Mitey Putty. I knew I was on to something when, after several days of gluing glass my real Goose, began screaming in rage every time he saw me carrying it around. He obviously thought I was stepping out on him with another U2 so I decided to introduce him up close and personal, at which time he "showed" his beautiful plumage in an attempt to impress the other guy, who didn't respond. Obviously. So he decided to preen it. I think he's now in love.
Entry #12: The Iris Garden
Submitted by ForTheBirdsMosaics
My love of the Iris began with my grandmother. Every spring her gardens were bursting with vibrant purple, yellow, and red Irises that perfumed the air. She passed on many of these bulbs to my mom who continued the tradition. Her gardens were so lavish in the spring the traffic would back up on the street as people came for miles to witness the spectacle. Of course she was happy to gift me with bulbs which have been growing in my gardens for years. I lost my mom last fall to a rare form of cancer, so this spring's crop of Irises held a very special meaning. In memory of her I created The Iris Garden.
Entry #13: Solar System Sun Dress
Submitted by HeavenlySentiments
"Day 4, Day 4, God made moon and stars galore!"And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. -- Genesis 1:14-19
Entry #14: Footprints in the Sand
Submitted by KuteKlipboardsByAmy
This poem "Footprints in the Sand" is a popular one that I hold dear to my heart. My mom used to tell me this poem whenever I thought something was too hard or at a difficult time in my life. "When you only see one set of footprints in the sand, that was when I (God) carried you." After my mom passed several years ago, this poem became very meaningful to me as I dealt with her passing.
Entry #15: Brook's Drawing
Submitted by MlssFshn
I moved to Austin in 1999, my niece Brooke was 3. She didn't understand why she couldn't spend the night with Aunt Lissa anymore because it was 4 hours away. I begged my sister as my niece got older to let her come stay with me, and I finally got my wish 2 years ago. It was heaven,! A whole week teaching my niece how to sew and do crafts. One day we went vintage shopping, and I bought this really cool green dress with white piping and a white head band to match. After I dropped her back off to my sister, I found this drawing in the car on a paper grocery bag.
Brooke's Drawing
Entry #16: Fiesta Purse
Submitted by QuiltingFrenzy
This fabric rekindled memories of years gone by, and this is the story behind the creation.It is amazing how one word can turn a whole city into the biggest block party ever! Fiesta -- say that word and every San Antonian immediately gears up for fun, food, and friendship.
As a native San Antonian, I grew up thinking that "Fiesta" happened everywhere, that all cities celebrated like we did. I have memories of being carried on my father's shoulders as we walked from our parked car to the carnival area downtown. We were not "made of money" but we enjoyed the celebration, my parents made sure of that. Dad parked the car in an area that we could afford and that meant finding free parking on the street, blocks away from the main attractions. This in itself was not an easy task as the thousands of visitors and locals headed downtown to join in the fun of Fiesta. We had fun at carnivals, although my mother was frightened of carnival rides and would not let me participate except in the smallest of the Kiddie rides, and I guess that is what instilled in me a fear of fast rides to this day.
By the end of the week, we had attended the carnival and were ready to head out to the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, held on Friday afternoon of the closing weekend. We sat or stood in the blistering heat of the mid-day sun to watch marching bands, military formations, horses, and what seemed like never-ending parade floats go by, and all this meant a sunburn for sure. We didn't know about skin cancer in those days, and the most we had were sun hats and maybe sunglasses to protect us from the sun. Of course, Dad always tried to find a spot in the shade for at least a little bit of comfort. It was fun and exhausting, but it was a time that I remember fondly how my parents struggled to make sure that we had a chance to experience the fun of "Fiesta".
Fiesta Purse
Entry #17: Storytime Dress
Submitted by SunnyBrookFarmDesign
This little dress is covered with stories! Bo Peep, Ol' Mother Hubbard, the Three Pigs, Little Boy Blue, Jack & Jill, Miss Muffet, Mary (quite contrary!), and more... and the repurposed denim pocket has seen it's share of stories before finding a new place to belong here on this dress.
Entry #18: Summer Palm Trees
Submitted by TinyBirdArts
My inspiration comes from my memories of Hawaii as a child and waiting for the hurricanes to come in. I lived there for 5 years. The form of poetry below is my favorite, called "haiku". It's an elegant Japanese style where the only requirements are that the first line must have 5 syllables, the second 7 syllables, and the third 5 syllables. It's short, sweet, and to the point.Hawaiian Palms
Palms sway in the wind.
Peaceful against the sunset.
The storm draws closer.
Thanks to everyone who voted -- all 176 of you!!! This has been our biggest Challenge yet, and we look forward to you all joining us for our next Challenge!
Poll has now closed.
Winners being announced on Thursday, April 30th.
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