A Whimsical Bohemian

You have to practice what you preach

I am here to make a public apology to Kate Robertson.....

You see nearly a year ago I held a giveaway for my 5 year blogiversary and she won. BUT guess what? I haven't sent it to her. This is an abomination since I was adament that when I held One World One Heart and now coming later this year Our World Our Art.......that giveaway winners be sent their winnings immediately. Why could I not practice what I preach for crying out loud?  I put the box in a place that made me forget about it.....instead of sending it all those months ago.  Now I came across it and felt completely and totally ashamed of myself. I remembered emailing Kate to apologize after it had been awhile and did I then send it out.....ummm no. Why you ask?  That's the thing........what excuse could there be for this amount of time passing month after month without just DOING it. It is absolutely inexcuseable.  And I am truly, deeply sorry Kate.

I now have the box OUT and Tomorrow or Thursday BohoHandyman is going to ship it to you vis UPS 2 day from work so you should have it no later than Monday.  I hope you will accept my public apology and not hold me in contempt for my lack of follow through. And please anyone who reads this.......don't let this happen to you - if you do a giveaway for any reason.....SEND IT RIGHT AWAY! 

Now the middle of next month will be my 6 year blogiversary and I'm not actually sure what I will do this time around. For sure IF I do decide to have a giveaway (and I'm not sure I will) it will be wrapped, taped, and ready for an address to send out as soon as the winner is chosen. (as I should have done 11 months ago) I will ask BohoHandyman to assist in seeing that is carried out as a back up - again IF I do a giveaway. And if I do.... don't be afraid I won't follow through because eating humble pie doesn't taste well. (insert smiley face)

My face is red.....but I own this and I apologize for it. This is not a good example of practicing what you preach!

Now go out and make it a great day!!

 

 

My Studio "DeStash" Giveaway {UPDATED}&updated again

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED

Winner to be announced!

{UPDATE: Due to the fact this box is getting weighty I can only offer this giveaway to US residents only. I am so sorry to do this but the cost of shipping a box full of supplies like this out of the country is insane. I don't normally ever exclude other countries but in this case.....well this once I am going to have to. I'm so very sorry.

 
Recently we moved my computer and it's cabinet in to my studio and in doing so other things were moved, shelves/drawers cleaned and so on. I realized at that moment I was over flowing with things and thought it would be a good time to pay it forward. 

SOOOOOOOOOO, if you want to win a box with some various goodies  all you have to do is leave a comment (and a way back to you) :

Some of what will be included:

VARIOUS BITS AND BOBS THAT CAN BE USED IN MIXED MEDIA

FEATHERS

STACK OF CARD STOCK IN VARIOUS SIZES AND COLORS, ALSO SCRAPBOOK SIZED PAPERS

VARIOUS MARKERS/COLORED PENCILS(can't say they're all sharp)

A few unused PAINT BRUSHES

 SEWING RELATED THINGS LIKE ELASTIC AND ZIPPERS (maybe even some fabric too)

Basically it's going to be a surprise package of all sorts of things and hey, if you can't use some of it just pay it forward.

There's no photo of the contents as I keep adding to it....and who doesn't like to be surprised? RIGHT?

So you have until Midnight PST December 28th to leave a comment to win the BOX 'O GOODIES. I will select the winner and announce it on the 29th and try to send the box by New Years Eve. (I'm sorry but this is limited to US residents only)

GOOD LUCK!!

Love,

Lisa

XOXOXO

MY OWOH WINNERS.....or....there's no place like gnome!

So here's a bit of a story for you.

You see I received this letter recently:

The poor misguided Gnome thought Random.Org was actually a village named Randomorg. He was so sweet about wanting to come and help choose the winners I didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise (until he arrived)  So I sent him a note to come to me first and as he got closer I would send the gypsy wagon to bring him the rest of the way.
His journey began on borrowed bicycle until it blew a tire:

As he was standing there wondering what to do along came a beautiful green dragonfly and offered to take him as far she could. He was quite grateful and tipped his red hat.

It was raining out so the dragonfly could only take him part of his journey but he profusely thanked her for getting him ever closer.
She told him she would summon Joy Ride, a large colorful bird she knew could take him far. He was quite choked up by her generosity.

Joy Ride was indeed a comfortable ride as she strapped the Gnome on and flew in the wee hours of the morning. Dodging rain and wind the Gnome could feel he was getting closer to his destination.
Joy Ride told him she knew just where he could catch the Gypsy Wagon to take him the rest of the way.  Gnome was overwhelmed with all the kindness he was experiencing.

Sure enough Joy Ride was correct, the wagon awaited Gnome and he was off. It was a long last leg of his journey and he was thoroughly exhausted...yet excited.  I awaited word of his arrival thinking it would have been yesterday but never heard from him so I went to bed.
This morning I awoke to see WHY I hadn't heard from him, there he was sound asleep next to the warmth of Daisy, she almost seemed to be protecting him as he must have arrived very late in the night.

I gently woke him, gave him some Sassafrass Tea and took him on one last step to his helping choose the winners.

At first he thought he was walking on cobblestones. "is this the village?" he asked.
I HAD to tell him.

"But is says Randomorg" he said quizzically.
"I know dear Gnome but if you look there is a period between the words. It is not a village but a special way of selecting winners when there are so many to choose from. You see I have filled in all the information and now it is up to you to push the GET NUMBER button.
And so he did and the numbers popped up and because I had put the list of entries in Excel it had numbered them all for me. Together Gnome and I followed the list with each new winner until all 4 were chosen.


FIRST NAME AND WINNER OF THE "TEA AND ORANGES" ART DOLL IS:
TAMMY OF REDPANTYCRAFTS!

THE SECOND NAME AND WINNER OF "TEA AND ORANGES- THE PAINTING" IS:
AMBER DAWN OF INVENTIVE SOUL

THE THIRD NAME AND WINNER OF THE "AFFIRMATIONS" PAINTING IS:
SUZANNE OF BLUE SAND STUDIO

THE FOURTH NAME AND WINNER OF THE "OWOH GODDESS" PAINTING IS:
LAWATHA OF LAWATHA'S GLASS

Congratulations to all of you - I have emailed each of you! Your parcels will be shipped very soon!!

I would like to sincerely thank ALL of you who took the time to stop by and enter my giveaway and for all the beautiful comments about my art and this event. I cannot say thank you enough, in fact those words are inadequate anymore.
I hope we can see more of one another....this is only the beginning.
AND please watch the event blog tomorrow for my final closing words for this year!!!
Love to all,
Lisa
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

p.s. thank you Gnome for your journey here to assist me.


 

"You're welcome. Now I need to go and ponder this modern world before I return to my own home"

MY ONE WORLD ONE HEART GIVEAWAY

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW THE 12TH!!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME!!!!

I am delighted you've stopped by. Today begins ONE WORLD ONE HEART which means it is time for me to give some things away!!  I am Lisa Swifka, the host for this event and also a participant.  I cannot believe this is the third year in a row....time moves fast it seems. I so enjoy hosting this event, I may not sleep much but I am one happy gal so many are meeting and greeting!!!!!
Read on and find out how and what you can win from me!!!!!

I hope you'll have a glass of champagne as I raise a toast to our meeting for the first time or to our continued connection and friendship in this divine blogisphere.
I am a whimsical bohemian who loves to meet new people, make you smile, make you think, support you, tell you stories, listen and most of all share my art with you.


I hope you'll come back again and have a wee look about the place.  I encourage twirling and jumping on beds when possible!
 
SO NOW FOR THE BUSINESS AT HAND............

THE GIVEAWAY (Or should I say giveawayS)
MY GIVEAWAY is open to anyone having an active blog around the world.............please leave a comment  for a chance to win one of the four prizes below.  The winners names will be announced on February 12th and I will also contact each winner to let you know you've won....so be sure I have a way to link back/contact you. Even if you are a blogger not hosting a OWOH giveaway yourself you are MORE THAN WELCOME to enter your name to win!
click to enlarge images
COMMENTS WILL BE CLOSED 10 PM PST ON WED.NIGHT FEB. 11TH SO THE
WINNERS CAN BE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY FEB. 12TH

1ST PRIZE (first name drawn)
"TEA AND ORANGES" HANDMADE ART DOLL
She is a true bohemian who lives by a river, she will regale you with fascinating tales as she serves you tea and oranges.
Face, hands, orange and tea cup made from polymer clay, body is made of cloth over armature making her fully posable.  She will arrive with a metal doll stand, some tea and a delicious Lindt chocolate bar filled with orange.







2ND PRIZE (2nd name drawn)
"TEA AND ORANGES: The painting"
Copy of my original drawing on cardstock collaged on an 8x10 canvas board. This will come with a clear plastic easel stand for setting on a shelf and backed in felt. Not shown but this art piece will be coated in beeswax.


3RD PRIZE (3rd name drawn)
"SHE CONTEMPLATED THE CONTENTS OF HER AFFIRMATION JAR"
Copy of my orginal drawing collaged on an 8x10 canvas board. Jar sparkles in the sun and the silver german glitter gives off light like a prism. Not shown yet but it will be coated in beeswax (all but the jar) This will come backed with felt and a clear plastic easel to set on a shelf.



4TH PRIZE (4th name drawn)
"ONE WORLD ONE HEART GODDESS"
Original painting on 8x10 canvas board. It will come backed with felt and a clear plastic easel stand so it can sit on a shelf. Not shown but it will be coated in beeswax.



So there you have it, leave a comment to win one of these four prizes....GOOD LUCK and thank you again for stopping in...I do hope you'll come again!!!!

Click on the logo at the top of this post to get to the event blog to see all the other participants in this event and for info if you want to become one yourself!

♥ LOVE ♥
LISA
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW THE 12TH!!!!!!!!!!

Lights, Camera, Display........and giveaway winners!

G and I drove around just a few neighborhoods in search of Christmas lights and displays.  Some streets had quite a few homes who had lights and/or characters and many were simply dark. Not alot to ooh and ahh over but it was nice to see the spirit anyway. There were a few courts in this town years ago that ALL got together to have each of their homes fully decorated outside.......cars would stream in, around and out for weeks prior to Christmas. Many bringing young children who you could hear from the car windows  "look, look at that one!".  One such court had people outside giving out candy canes and collecting donations for Leukemia  at one time.  Well these days there are a only a few in those courts who have carried on the tradition with the decorations and one of them gave out candy canes again this year while collecting donations for gifts for kids.  So at least a bit of that old tradition is still going and we could donate again.......Can you see the 3 figures in front of the sign at the end in the photo below?...it's cold out there but they stood with their buckets, a smile and a very friendly greeting. (sorry for the poor quality but it was taken through the windshield)


 




This is an old Redwood in a park where I would go growing up. I thought the street lamp looked like a ball of light was being placed atop the tree.

It's California after all.............



Hmmm, was I twirling in front of this house?

Do you have any of those homes in your area where the place is SO lit up you can almost hear the electric meter spinning? We haven't see anything over the top........yet!

Heck, give me a Charlie Brown tree, some white fairy lights and I'm happy. :)


NOW for the winners of my birthday giveaway. G drew the names for me and I will be packaging up the gifts to send out to each of the winners no later than Friday.



Kate from Meanderings



Constance from Rochambeau
(I need an address for you Constance)
Congratulations to both winners!
And thank you for the lovely birthday greetings from all who stopped by!

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Stay warm and keep love in your hearts!
Love,
Lisa
XOXOXO