Fall, Halloween, Beach Glass, Lake Erie Rocks

My favorite time of year is fall in the Cleveland area. We've had the pleasure of traveling throughout Ohio this month and literally watching the leaves change from one day to the next.

How exciting to see Lake Erie Beach HEARTS OF OCTOBER Rare Genuine Sea Glass Pieces from Lebg (lakeeriebeachglass) . . . this talented artisan and her lovely family just returned from the North American Sea Glass Festival and has blogged some great pictures and finds. I hear she has more to share . . . I'll be taking a look often . . . you too?!

The Vision Board: The Secret to An Extraordinary Life

Something wonderful is happening. I sensed it as I woke up one morning, several months ago, and headed to a local

ClevelandTeam thread on the handmade artisan website called Etsy. Author Joyce Schwarz had left a note in the thread sharing that she was writing a book on vision boards. I could hardly contain my excitement when I knew exactly what she was talking about. I had recently collaged dozens of my art pieces into my own inspirational visions of life. I must admit to feeling like my wake up so early was to "see" this request for artisan boards. I am paying attention in my life to all the "signs" and "coincidences" and loving every minute of it too.

You'll find me zJayne, aka artzJayne, Jane Pierce, aka Jayne Pierce, inside the book as one of my original vision piece's named "BE" has been featured. "BE" is just one of many treasured heirloom pieces that have made such a difference in my life and others who enjoy meaningful artwork.

Fox News is just one of 10 interviews so far featuring author Joyce Schwarz . . . Envision your life ~ Literally! Joyce is originally from the Cleveland area and attended Ohio University undergrad and will come back to Cleveland to do TV, radio and newspaper interviews and everyone will be invited to the "OUR" book signing . It hit #8 on Amazon's ranking for top spirituality books and it's 6 weeks before publication date.

I'm so excited to be part of this upcoming book which can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com. The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life is the title and that's a clickable link too!

Sign up for a free newsletter and stay up to date and perhaps win some freebies on http://www.visionboard.info/

I know I'll want to share more soon.... but for now, thanks for all positive reinforcements. Thank you to my guy, Dan T. you inspire me. Thank you to my family and friends, artisans, acquaintances, neighbors, teachers, co-workers . . . anyone who has ever listened to me try to explain my art. Thank you for your encouragement and positive affirmations. You make a difference!

Plastic Bags - Yes, really!

It's true . . . there are creative "multiple" uses for the plastic bags that are already out there! Take a look at carataylor on Etsy. Cara shows us some of the amazing uses for those dang plastic bags and offers one of her "mini" coin purses as incentive. Read carataylor's profile to find out how to get a free mini change purse!

Cara, you rock and make a difference! Keep them coming! Search teamecoetsy for more eco friendly products on Etsy.

UpDate on Baby Deer - Garden Blessing

The twins, known to us as Bambi and Bro. . . were out back this morning with Mom. They seem to stay close by, front and back from their unusual garden birthplace. They're looking mighty healthy!

Recommendation! We USE these products!!

I have cleared out my thinking and our medicine cabinets. Last year I came across MystiqueProducts while parosing shops that sell local handmade items on Etsy.

I always think there's something about knowing someone else uses and recommends a product that can often lead another to giving it a try. My (actually, our) first experiences were with solid lotion bars, to which the directions intrigued me and we found the product to be wonderful for dry skin areas over the cold winter...

With Mystique's products in mind I created these upcycled First Aid pouches. They are perfect for a great mix of the healing salves, Bug-R off solid lotion. . . and more. I'm making first aid kit gifts for friends and family.

Find some time to take a look around, you won't be sorry... lots of great finds... chances are I probably have em' too.

Garden Blessing

This last weekend we had the pleasure of sharing our garden with a newborn fawn. Bambi (aren't we original) was born right in our front garden near the grasses and lily of the valleys. Not to worry, her mom came and scooped her up in the middle of the night.

We learned that newborn deer have no scent and this is one of the reasons their mothers are okay with leaving them while they get a bit stronger. He/she would stand and lay down, wobbling and strengthing her legs.

Such a blessing to a garden we so enjoy~

I came across a quote. . . recently. . .

one I had never read before. . . and I related it to last month's Earth Day, Week and Month. Our shop had a great month on Etsy and locally with my recycled art, beach glass and tshirt market bags. Thank you to all the supportive customers, friends and family who encourage me along the way. Now, back to the quote which brought on my thoughts:

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

Arthur Schopenhauer
German philosopher (1788 - 1860)

If you will, allow me to just put this quote in the light of a more simpler way of life.
Maybe making small steps to be more earth friendly.

Ridiculed...that may be a harsher word than I would use myself, but I know when recycling became a real thing in my community, I mumbled and grumbled. . . that's right, I didn't jump right on board. I didn't know enough about the benefits of using less. I tossed the wrong bottle into the wrong bag in those days. I don't think I'm alone in this past life, but I do know that once enlightened, it would be hard to go back, to waste without a thought, surely this quote makes sense for the planet too. Is it not self-evident that we can make a difference one person at a time?

Earth Day is everyday.

Just two cents and a quote. Oh, and, from the 1800s...oh my!

Blog Award and Passing it On - Thank You!

Kat Tarra gave me this lovely blog award. I’ve been frequenting her blog and the blogs of several others on a regular basis now that I am getting the hang of some of the basics. How NEAT–O to have someone like Kat , who is well-seasoned in her blogging, come on over more than once to mine… yes!!

Thank you Altered Kat!

Sooooo, I am supposed to pass the award on to 5 other bloggers. I could pick more than 5 easy enough but glad to be limited –as- five is my favorite number. You can find lots of blogs I recommend on the right bars of this page – no there are no cool beverages served (I know, I know, lame, -but I luv bar jokes)!

Here go my five Award Picks!!

Art Addict ~ this etsy seller has quite a knack for writing and she’s one of the first blogs that I found I kept coming back to see what new stuff she was writing about. I'm thinking you too will enjoy her findings .

blueyeduckstudios ~ This talented folk artist extraordinaire has been around the block, so to say, and known me (zJayne) online from my first art card (ACEO) and my first Altered Art Doll. I have found the support of other online artists to be instrumental in my own success. Sharing ideas, venues for promoting, and supporting each other with sincere affirmations . . . that's duckie for ya!

Clevelandhandmade ~ Here’s an Etsy street team I’m a proud member of, where all the members create handmade items and are basically from Cleveland and it’s surrounding areas. If you haven’t made a decision to buy handmade at every opportunity ie. birthdays, weddings, graduations and 'just because' reasons….then you haven’t found etsy yet. Search clevelandhandmade and find a little something for everyone on your list. The team is Smashing, we all RoCK!

Laundry ~ Not your mother's laundry woes…nopers, just head on over to this crisp, clear, easy to follow blog and check out Stella's talented writing as well. What a treat when I found laundry through LazyT'scrochet being featured on The Laundry.

TinaSeaMonster ~ I came across this part time journalist when she bought a tshirt bag from my etsy shop. She has her own shop and a blog that doesn’t pull any punches..says it like it is -yet with care and concern. I myself was touched by her respectful reaction to her new wall art... she also writes for Washington City Paper–Cut the Craft and I can usually tell it's her by her direct and fun approach to her writing.

And with that... here are the rules of the game:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself. (**Umm, I can't garantee what other people are gonna do. But, uh, I'll do my best!)

4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico' blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. http://www.arteypico.blogspot.com/

5. To show these rules