Year of Giving #55 & 56

Not sure if I would have time tomorrow morning to do my piece, much less post it, so I decided to do 2 today. Finally turned in that donation to St. Vincent de Paul Society yesterday...$225!

Year of Giving #54

Year of Giving #53

Year of Giving #52

NOTE: I was skyping with my son recently and this piece was leaning against my computer screen, when all of a sudden I realized it has a letter missing! Did you see it? Where is my friend Mary Fava to point this out to me? I had it on etsy, but removed it....tried to fix the original but it didn't work so well:(

Year of Giving #51

Year of Giving #50

Can't believe it is day 50 of year 2 already! So far, I have given out 32 out of 50 pieces, and raised $185 for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of our parish. Some people have given more than the suggested $5 donation, while some might have forgotten to mail theirs or drop it by. It all evens out though.

In case you haven't seen this blog before..I am creating one small piece of inspirational art each day and giving them away for a small donation. I will mail them to you, and you mail me $5 or can do it through PayPal:) Those that are not spoken for on the first day, are then posted on my etsy site (also seen at right), where they can be purchased for $5, but the money still gets donated. Last year, I gave the pieces away, but wanted to change it up this year, and thought that maybe they could do some good.

Year of Giving #49

Year of Giving #48

For my son, who had a small setback on his travels....wishing him well.

Year of Giving #47

So true....we say (to ourselves) that we want to lose weight or exercise more or volunteer our time or donate our money or make ourselves better in a multitude of ways....read more, watch less TV...learn a language...reach out to people on a regular basis...do more for others. And yet,  we continue to be the same people wanting and not doing... really, this is another way to say the Nike tag line...JUST DO IT!

Year of Giving #46

Year of Giving #45

Finally, a beautiful day in St. Louis! Spring has sprung (temporarily...we are supposed to get snow in 3 days again) and it will be 72 and sunny!

Year of Giving #44

Year of Giving #43-AVAILABLE ON ETSY

Year of Giving #42-AVAILABLE ON ETSY

This is for my son on his birthday today. He is studying in Copenhagen, and even though we wouldn't be with him today if he was in the states, its still hard being so far away.

Year of Giving #41

Year of Giving #40

Amen....

Year of Giving #39--AVAILABLE ON ETSY

I have $125 to donate to St. Vincent de Paul Society and plan to make that donation this weekend. So, that's kind of cool. Thank you to everyone who donated so far:)

Year of Giving #38--AVAILABLE ON ETSY

Woo hoo!

Year of Giving #37

A very sweet man died yesterday. We used to live across the street from him and his wife. They are such giving people. This is for them....

Year of Giving #36

This one might be a little hard to read with the F and T connecting...but it is:
We rise by lifting others....

Year of Giving #35

Year of Giving #34

I guess the Year of Giving is going okay. I probably haven't given away as many pieces of art as I did last year..so far about half of those I made. But I have raised over $115 for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, due to the generosity of some of the recipients. There are a few who have received them and not donated, but I am just going to let that go. Maybe one day they will remember and just give on their own:)

I'm working on a new product to sell using my Sign Language letters. They are small ornaments but I think they wouldn't necessarily have to be for Christmas. I might call them "State streets" because they will have the 2 letter code for the state on the front and a small city map on the back...where you could get your address showing on the map. Might be one of those things, though, that people won't want to take the time to order, so at least for St. Louis, I will do areas of the city to sell at my shows. I'm kind of excited about them, but still working things out:)

Year of Giving #33

Gotta love Dr. Seuss. The funny thing is just this morning I had an idea of a new type of personalized ornament to make based on where you live:) More to come later. but I'd better get on my way and see if it will work.

Year of Giving #32--AVAILABLE ON ETSY

Year of Giving #31

This might be good advice for alot of you who are overwhelmed and overworked, but I probably should not heed it. I feel like I need some big project to get me going and not be so full of ease:) Waiting for inspiration or divine intervention....

One project I have been considering is making a book of last year's artwork, or a perpetual calendar...I have had friends suggest it over the year. But I am not sure that I am willing to put the money into it and not sell any....as I am not a very good salesperson:) Or I could use it as a way to raise money for charity again. Things to think about.

As usual, any of these pieces of artwork are available for the asking. This year, I ask in return for a suggested $5 donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the American Cancer Society. I almost have $100 to donate to Vincent. Trying to decide whether to change charities now and then. Thought about asking for suggestions, but maybe I will search the internet for inspiration. It may be rude of me, but I don't want suggestions for animal shelters etc, when I feel there are so many people in need.

Year of Giving #30--AVAILABLE ON ETSY

Thought this would be a good reminder during lent...and always for that matter:)

Year of Giving #28 AND #29--BOTH AVAILABLE ON ETSY

                                                    #28

                                                   #29

Yesterday was another busy morning, trying to get my son to the airport to head back to NYC. It was great having him home for over a week! Now he is heading to Copenhagen to visit his younger brother for his 21st birthday. I just think that is so thoughtful!

Year of Giving #27

So far I have collected $65 for St. Vincent de Paul society. I am waiting for $100 to mail my first donation in. Am trying to decide whether I should switch charities occasionally. As of now, those who specified donated to St. Vincents, others just donated and some more than the $5 suggested:) All pieces that are still available for a $5 donation are marked here and listed on my etsy site..just to the right.

Year of Giving #25 (AVAILABLE ON ETSY) & 26

                                                   #25

#26

                     

We were so busy yesterday with Mardis Gras and our parish auction that I didn't take the time to post my artwork. So here is yesterday and todays.....same color scheme. I hate it when I have 2 of the same colors on consecutive days. Nice day yesterday, sleet and snow today, so it looks like an indoor day in front of the computer, iPad or TV for me. Really should read a book:)