Torn

I need three more of me.

There are so many things that I know I should/could be doing to help my friends.

I would like to do new art. I would like to do more promotion of the blog...the more folks who check out the bags/art... The better our chances of finding the person whilo must have one of the items...

But life does get in the way, doesn't it. I am overwhelmed by freelance and just everything. I'd like to design a shirt to sell for them. (have offer of someone who can help with the printing). I have a friend who has offered to let me do an Avon fundraiser at cost. But I don't have the time. Sigh. I am frazzling.

I have a really cute apron photo I need to get on here too... Freelance first. I wish you all the best this evening and pray for good weather

More bags available!

I have these bags in my possession (meaning they are in Conway if some of my Conwaynians want to donate/buy a bag, I can deliver!)

You will not find bags like these in stores-and especially not for only $8. (If we have to mail the bags, we ask for $9, a little extra for shipping)

The sizes of the bags do vary, but check this one out

^This bag size easily carries 3 2-liter bottles with space for more (just to give you an idea of how spacious it is) Even with the three bottles in there, I could carry it easily and the straps did not dig in and 'burn' my arms.  Now I know, you probably won't lug around 3 bottles of soda... but the point is... YOU CAN! You won't get that sturdiness from those cheapy canvas shopping bags you can pick up in the check out line.

NEXT
  I LOVE  this retro bag.

Didn't someone in your family have this print on something when you were growing up? It's awesome vintage fun!  This bag is the same height as the Purple/Star bag above, although it is slightly narrower. It fits two 2-liters with room to spare.

Retro... different decade! 80s

I love that Rachel lines most of her bags and I love that the interior pattern on this is checked. It is so 80s retro-fab to me. If you guys don't help out and buy these bags, I'll go broke because I'll buy them all for myself!

In Rachel's Words

Rachel has posted a new blog and in it, she talks about this endeavor.

I encourage you all to read her words.


Excerpt follows:

"Living the simple life isn’t all that simple sometimes.  Society gets in the way.  Our personal feelings get in the way.  Gosh, Life gets in the way!  Who would have thought that simply LIVING could get in the way of leading a simple life?

Here’s our story.

For those of you who follow this blog, you know that on April 9, 2009 our hometown was hit by a F-3 tornado.  Our home was destroyed and we lost 90% of what we had.  So many things happened that night that have had such long reaching effects that it’s mind-boggling.  We have tried twice to start over and failed both times..we are now looking at starting over again..

This is not a pity trip or a plea for handouts..I don’t do that..It’s a simple statement of fact and a harsh reality of the world we live in.

We bought the house next door to our original house, remodeled, repaired, tried to make it our new home..but sadly..hard as we tried, our heart was still with our cozy little house that we had lost…our oldest learned to walk there, our youngest was raised up there..it was the only home they had known..it was a HOME..tiny, cramped and our HOME..not just a house, but a Home..we were happy there..

The new house is bigger, nicer, lots more room, features I had always dreamed about..but still ..it was the neighbors house..to this day, it still doesn’t feel like home…"

To read the full blog entry, click HERE 

SOLD "The Lovers" woodcut available for min. $15

SOLD. Thanks Abbey!

Linoleum wood cut, unnumbered artist proof.
Image size is  2.75 x 4.75 inches.
Ivory paper, unframed.

Available for a minimum $15 donation.

Click here to return to the home page to view more art available.

Available for a minimum $7 donation

4 artist proofs available, will be sold individually unless you wanted more than one...

When offering, please specify which color you'd like.

Small woodcut prints. Size is  2 x2.25 inches.

Minimum bid per print starts at $8.

Thanks so much for looking. Please feel free to pass the blog along to your friends. If you want to see more of my art, please follow my blog. 

Please visit my blog home page to see other art available.

Available for a min. $250 donation

Artist's proof from a plate that I did not run a series from. Three proofs exist. This is proof #2.

"Pan"
Copperplate etching, 9.5 x 11.5, unframed.
Signed by the artist, Dianna K. Winters, 1995

Just for fun...here's a shot of the plate.

Minimum bid starts at $250.00

Click here to return to my blog home page to see more art available!

diannakwinters.com

Available for a min $20 donation

Acrylic on paper. Unframed.
Image size is 6.75 x 6.75 with 1 3/8 inch border for framing and matting.

(told you I liked ginko leaves.)

Minimum bid starts at $20.

Available for a min $25 donation

This is an original watercolor/ink drawing of ginko leaves-some of my favorite imagery. I love the idea of the ginko being the oldest species of trees known and the wisdom its leaves symbolize.

Unframed, image size is 5.5 x 3.75 inches.

If you want to purchase, please indicate so in the comment field. See this post and someone else has 'claimed it'? We can do it auction style here! Offer a higher price in the next comment. I will accept offers for a while. Still working out this whole buy-it-here process.

diannakwinters.com

I feel better about art-for-donations

So this whole endeavor is a work in progress. I threw it together quickly and as I work through it, I'm making changes. Like I just changed it to an exchange so that if you donate, you'll get something. Trying to work out all those details (in my SPARE time as if there is such a thing nowadays) has been challenging... I don't want to sell things on a site that charges money for auctions so I hope to be able to facilitate it from here.

I don't want anyone to think we are not industrious, because by golly, we are. I hope that you will follow my blog as I post things that will be available for exchange for donations. I've got some watercolors, prints, drawings...  Rachel will be sewing other items and Megan is going to be making some new jewelery offerings when I mail her my bead collection that is sitting unused. We hope to have some earrings available for smaller donation amounts if the $9 or $10 offerings I currently have on the blog are too much for you to consider.

I am also very aware that these are hard times for everyone. I'm doing the only thing I know to do.

At least this way, it's not you giving something for nothing.  Man. It's been a really long week. I feel blessed and hope that this works out for my best friend's family.

Donate $9 here and get..

If you donate $9 or more to the Davis Family through my donation blog, Rachel will send you a unique reusable shopping bag–Megan's Choice!

^Pretty!^

Megan is my god daughter and Rachel's eldest! She helps Mom sew, cook and clean.
The picture on the right is Rachel, Mitchell and Megan. Mitchell attended the masquerade as Obi Wan!

This was taken today, April 15 for her Homeschool Ball. My thrifty and talented god daughter took a resale shop purchase and embellished with beads and her own flair. She also made her made This dress was a resale shop purchase which Megan dressed up with beads. Love that child. Wait. Young lady. When did that happen? Of course... I hear that she raided her momma's stash to make it. Great job!

New Bags for sale!

Rachel has added some new bags for purchase at her etsy store.

  USA Small Tote

 Navy Blue Tote

 Navy and Pink Shopping Bag

 Paisley Shopping Bag

Please check em out!

Personalized Note Cards

Some of you are familiar with my work as a designer... And some of you are familiar with my obsession with penchant for stationary and note cards.  When I was trying to brainstorm ways I could add to the fund, it's no surprise to me that  I eventually came around the the idea of offering notecards for sale through the blog.


So... check out the designs below. I will be adding other designs as I find spare time to design them.

Get your own personalized note cards! In a world of emails/social media, sending a personalized note really makes a great impression. Note cards are A2 size (4.25 x 5.5 inches), flat panel cards with blank envelope.  

You will receive 10 personalized cards for the donation price of only $10. 

To order:
Pay through the pay pal "chip in"  button above and list $10 as the donation amount.

When you submit your donation, please email me at creative@diannakwinters.com with "Note Card Order" in the subject. Please provide me your mailing address. (Card order will not be processed until donation is confirmed) I will have these printed in batches and will send you an email for estimated delivery, etc.

I will consider doing custom designs not shown here for larger donation amounts. Please email me directly at superstardkw@gmail.com to discuss custom design options.

Again, thanks for your support. I realize there are a lot of worthy causes and people in need out there. Have a great day!

A goal of $6500

I got a call for help from one of my oldest and dearest friends-the sort of call no one wants to get... "I need help." A serious statement from someone who, like me, doesn't ask for help. Rachel and her family have always been self-sustaining. I knew there had been some financial difficulties after they had to close the  'Cone n Cue' in Mt. Ida... I mean, who knew the utilities were going to be $1800 a month when they opened. The business was good and the food was better, but they couldn't keep it going. But I didn't realize exactly what was going on.

In typical Rachel fashion, everything was presented straight-forward with no real panic (years of being a good mom, masking all those emotions?) in her voice. The house is already in foreclosure. They don't have the $1500 to file bankruptcy. The truck was repossessed with the restaurant equipment. The car-they MUST have the car. The note is due, to the tune of $5,000.


I asked all the typical questions. It's Chapter 13, so things will be liquidated. They can't pay for the bankruptcy filing, so there's no protection for the car to keep from being taken. They really need to keep the car. It is their only vehicle and David's mother depends on them for transportation as well.

Not an ideal situation. Rachel already had plans in the works for what she knew she could do. Yard sales, yummy bake sales. She wanted my idea on how to increase traffic and sales for her up-cycled reusuable shopping bags. Realistically, I don't know if all these things alone with bring us to the needed amount.

I have faith in the collective good; in the inherent wish for most people to help others in need. Those who know me know this isn't the first time I've taken causes to the masses for people. I believe we can do it. I know times are tough and money is tight. We accept all amounts, small or large. I can even give you a mailing address should you prefer to mail a contribution.

Please visit Rachel's etsy site, too. Check out her stuff-she repurposes clothing and makes new items. Very eco-cool, if you ask me. I'm in love with everything about the bags.  They sell for only $8 and each is totally unique!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hillbillycreations

Thanks guys! Please pass the word along, as well. These folks are some of the best you'll ever know. Let's help them make the most out of this terrible financial plight!