In honor of Project Runway’s new season, I thought I would share my very fashionable Raspberry Beret collage. It isn’t quite finished yet but decided to share anyway. I got the idea from this pattern book…

Well, okay… So maybe it was a little of this and a little of Prince.

———– + ————-

Each week I try to compile an organized list of links with a theme for Follow Friday but inevitably I end up with a really random list. Maybe it is the Creative A.D.D. that makes me want to share all the pretty shiny links I like even if they are unrelated. So here is this week’s finds:

• FlockShop - It is like Living Social for the artsy craftsy set. Oh, yes! Each day they share a new discounted item. Once they sell out, it is on to another deal. They only opened this summer so it will be interesting to see how it grows. You can also “like” them on Facebook.
• Inspiring artist Judi Hurwitt shared a nifty technique with a bleach pen on her blog this week. I really love how she altered the bleach pen. I am kind of curious if a bleach pen would work on paper… maybe handmade papers?
• Like every other book lover, I headed over to Borders this week to check out the great deals. I was terribly excited to grab a copy of Traci Bunkers new book The Art Journal Workshop. I love it! Lots of great techniques to try.
• For fun, I made a couple of Etsy treasuries this week. (If you aren’t an Etsian, I should explain that treasuries are a collection of 16 items from various items shops usually organized by a theme.) I am particularly fond of my Mommy Art one. I also made a hand-themed one.
  

‘Mommy Art’ by claudine

Everybody loves mom!

Woman playing with a ch…   aifactory $6.00	Mermaid Mommy and Baby …   ThePaperNut $25.00	FOLK ART MAGNET. Autism…   allisonstrine $6.00	Mother and Child 7   RTarts $129.00
Motherhood / Mother an…   CreationsArt $15.00	Je t’aime maman   herpaintedword $20.00	11 x 14 Custom Pop Art …   JplusMdesign $55.00	Meeting You 8×10 Canvas…   andieedwardsar… $25.00
Together We Stand origi…   aussiepatches $150.00	Earth Mother   ColasArt $6.00	Sweet Lullaby – Mother …   Sascalia $35.00	Girl with Baby art prin…   IrenaSophia $20.00
Motherhood 12in x 12in…   elizabethglz $30.00	Like Mother Like Daught…   claudine $18.00	Mother and Daughter Emb…   MayaChristinaP… $20.00	I Will Help You Grow – …   CreativeKismet $22.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

• I was so delighted to get a message from Kareena that she featured my art on her blog today. Surprises are so fun! Kareena is another autism mom so I send her a super mom hug. Go check out her fabulous greetings cards and paper crafts on Etsy.
• And finally it is my last call for my Etsy sale. The sale ends Sunday, July 31st. Use coupon code JULY2011 at checkout and receive 20% everything.

———– + ————-

On a personal note, this week has been rough. I don’t need to go into all my problems this week since they are really trivial compared to what happened a couple of days ago. On Wednesday our community lost a wonderful mom, teacher, and all around good person. Her death was sudden and tragic. Jennifer was the kind of person that everyone wishes they could be. She was nice to everyone and extremely involved in the community.  She taught my oldest son in preschool when we still weren’t sure what was wrong with him — before the autism diagnosis. She was caring and understanding and professional. My heart aches for her young daughters and husband.

It was the kind of week that you realize what is trivial and what is important and that we aren’t going to live forever. So enjoy life, do what you love, and embrace your loved ones. I send you all a big hug and wish you well.