Hello friends of the Farm!   Can it be November 15th already?   My how it's been a busy little season of harvesting some SUPER cute images, another NEW stamp illustrator, and BIG plans for 2010!

We are really excited to share them with you...but first, we have a few fun things planned for right now :) 

Don't forget, too, that today is the Anya Release!   From playfully coy little Lolli Anya to our LIMITED EDITION Flapper....to a VERY zen little Me Time Anya, we have lots of sweeties that are waiting to be loved!   In addition, we have the AUTUMN My Guy and Miss Anya digital downloads as well as Karate Anya and Ian.   The release is available NOW through the TGF Store!

How about those Twinkle Tots?  Are you all enjoying them?   We hope so!  The tots are hot over in the TGF Store...and they are SUPER fun to color, so pick some up and bring them home!  They will make you smile :)

Last but not least, next month's newsletter will check out a SUPER special Guest Designer with TGF...only I can't tell you who because I don't know yet!   Be sure to check out the TGF Galleria to see how our "Where the Wild Things" Guest Designer Search is going.    You can view the entries HERE.

Last but not least, I have some "Get Altered" tips of the trade for ya from some very appreciated customers.   It's all inside...so sit back, relax, maybe even start that tub you've been dying to soak in.   It's all about reading and relaxing this month as you are about to see...

Cheers,
Jessica :)

Hey friends!

We are excited to welcome Elizabeth O. Dulemba to our team of TGF Illustrators.  She joins Marie, Marina, and Janet this month and has some whimsically fun, classic looking images to share with the Farm this month!

I don't know about you, but my family is very much into reading.   Especially my husband and daughter.   Seems that we are always making trips to the library, bookstores, etc.   I just love watching my 9 year old especially become so engrossed in whatever she is reading.  These images immediately made me think of her.  

We were lucky enough to stop and chat with Elizabeth this month and ask her a few questions about her art!   PLEASE join us in a VERY Warm TGF Welcome to Elizabeth!!!

1.)  Books and literature seem to be the inspiration behind your first release with TGF.  We'd LOVE to know why:

I'm a children's book author and illustrator first so my doodles often involve reading in some way. I also try to reach out to book lovers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents to increase awareness for my books and encourage literacy.

2.) How much time would you say you spend illustrating per day/week?

It depends on what's on my plate. Right now I'm illustrating a picture book for Sterling (The 12 Days of Christmas in Georgia) so am spending about half my days completing the artwork. But I also have a lot of writing and marketing going on which takes up the other half.

3.)  How long have you been creating?  Is it something you always knew you had a passion for?

My creative bent can be traced back to early childhood. During the clay pinch pot activity in kindergarten, I created a sculpture of a little man holding an apple. Art lessons soon followed. Creating art is akin to breathing for me. I can't imagine my life without it.

4.) Do you have other hobbies besides illustration that we might not know about?

I'm also an author. My most recent picture book, Soap, soap, soap, is my first as both author and illustrator, but I also write articles, short stories, and am writing a new novel.

5.) If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Nouns:  Artist, Author, Teacher   Adjectives: Creative, stubborn, distracted   I'm sure my husband would come up with different words - ha!

6.) Do you have a favorite image from the TGF line (besides your own, hee hee)-one that means something special or just makes you smile a bit more than others?

I don't know about a particular image, but I love Marie's artwork - it's part of why I was excited to be a part of The Greeting Farm. I felt I'd be in good company!

7.) Besides reading/books, where do you gain most of your inspiration from when drawing?

When I draw, it's sort of like plucking drops of water out of the waterfall running through my head. It would be impossible to draw all my ideas, although I have a definite affinity for fairies, monsters and children's images. 

8.) Three fun facts about you that we most likely do not know, that are not related to your work?

Hm. My latest 'book' is actually an App for the iPhone/iTouch: Lula's Brew. I teach Creating Picture Books at the John C. Campbell Folk School and speak regularly at schools and book festivals. I'm also the Illustrator Coordinator for the Southern region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org). Oh, and I LOVE what I do!

CHECK OUT ELIZABETH's WEBSITE: http://dulemba.com/

Thank you ELIZABETH and WELCOME again to The Greeting Farm!

Elizabeth's debut trio of images will be available on December 1st.  Stay tuned at the end of the month for previews and a CONTEST we'll be doing where you can WIN ALL THREE!

When our friend and Fall Gardener Lynda Nielsen emailed me this photo...I just HAD to snag it for the Newsletter.   HOW PERFECT for Fall to show little Miss Lottie so beautifully colored and in a recipe cross-over card?!?!  Are you KIDDING ME?!?

As you might be aware I enjoy including a recipe or two now and again in the Newsletter as I do enjoy cooking along with my stamping!

Here is her CUTE, CUTE card and a recipe for Apple Candy that Lynda swears will have your tastebuds in overdrive!  

Apple Dapple Drops

2 1/2 C.   White Sugar
1 C.        Light Corn Syrup
2/3 C.     Water
1 tbsp.    Apple extract
1/4 tsp.   Food coloring (optional)
Caramel Topping

Stir together sugar, corn syrup and water. 
Stir on medium until sugar dissolves.
Bring to boil. 
Without stirring, heat to 300 degrees F
Remove from heat and stir in apple extract and food coloring.
Pour out into candy mold.
Drizzle caramel over top of candy.
Wait until cool, remove from the mold and serve.

Ok, so I have to admit this was a funny story.    When I asked for submissions about "Getting Altered" in the last issue of our Newsletter, I realized after the submissions came in that I didn't really specify what that meant :)   In my mind, when I think of altered, I think of like, 3D projects, etc.

However, here ESPECIALLY at TGF, and I think you guys can agree with me I've seen it more here than at any other place, our customers are SOOOO creative that they are able to take images and alter THEM too!

So when the submissions came in...i thought...'huh"....how COOL IS THAT?!?!   Either way, I have two projects that I'm super stoked to share with you.

The first one is by TRISH.

Here is her altered Skater Ian card and here's what she had to say about it : 

 
"I Made a new Christmas card trying to learn to alter images from The Greeting farm to create a little bit different of a character. I thought I would give Skater Ian a new look from skater to snowboarder which in Alberta is a normal transition for the skater boys....I used Martha Stewart snow glitter, stampin up stamp for the tree and some ribbon for the laser ones.
For Skater Ian I just omitted the wheels, added some hand drawn mitts and made his two piece outfit a one piece snow suit. Coloured him copics and put him on hill...spent a bit of time coming up with a sentiment and then added some fun patterned paper on the side for interest.  Thanks for looking!"

Well thank YOU Trish for submitting this awesome card!

And now, we have another altered item from our long time pal and former Team Anya Guest Designer, Joni Wilson!
MANY of you know Joni already and have fallen in LOVE with her wonderful TGF Houses!   I adore them every time I see them!
Well, Joni has really whipped up some Christmas Cuteness that will have you squealing in delight and making SURE that you want to be a little less naughty and little more nice this year!

Check out what she did!!! 

We love seeing how you guys "GET ALTERED!"    Thanks so much for your submissions and we'd love to do a Holiday showcase next month!  More on that in a bit!

If you've been following the TGF blog, you've already seen these delightful images. But just a reminder, these will be available in digi format this week on Thursday Nov. 19th! Scroll to the bottom for our fantastic 'Fairest of All' challenge involving these cuties!

And here's a card by Kadie using the Winter Fairy. Gorgeous!

LOOKING AHEAD

Here's a schedule of what's ahead for the rest of this month:

TODAY-ANYA release and Spa Hop at Club Anya Blog!

Nov. 20th-FFF and Marina Guest Designer Announced!

Nov 26th-Farmers Market, 10:00 AM CST

Dec 1st-TGF Release

Dec. 4th-FFF and Newsletter "Holiday Bazaar" Contest Begins...stay tuned to the TGF Blog for details!

Take care everyone and remember to "Relax and Rejoice" like Anya Says!  We all can use that reminder, especially this time of year!
Your friends at the Farm,
Jessica and Marie :)

Fairest of all Showcase

Send us a card using one of the new digital fairy images! We'll select five to show in our next newsletter! Deadline is Dec. 10, 2009. If you're selected, you will win an exclusive 5th fairy digi image!!!!