We Have Our 2 Winners!

Wanna know who won our Valentine's Week Giveaway?!

Each winner will receive a signed 8x10 lustre print of "Love on the Line" from Valeria Fuqua at Mistflower Photo.


And, the winners (selected by Random.org) are...


Numbers 9 and 3.

Congratulations to Robbi and Moonablaze!


Update: I've contacted both winners.

Thank you so much to Valerie Fuqua at Mistflower Photo for her generous donations!

Yea!
I just love giveaways!

Valentine's Week Giveaway! How Pretty!

Oh, I'm sooo excited about this.
I've wanted to do a giveaway with this artist for months!

You may recall we did an Artist's Feature, of Valerie Fuqua last November.
I just love her work.

The giveaway is has ended.
Click here to see our 2 winners!
Thank you to everyone who entered!
We will indeed have more giveaways.
Stop back soon!

As a special gift to Cookin' at Café D readers, she is offering a Valentine's Week Giveaway! See that sweet bleeding heart flower photo above? It's called "Love on the Line."

Two...yes, 2...lucky readers will each receive a signed 8x10 lustre print of that photo!

To enter -
Visit Mistflower Photo then leave a comment below about which item makes your heart go pitter-patter.

That is worth one entry to win a "Love on the line."
Easy-peasy, right?

Want a second entry?
(Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th?)

For extra entries, leave a separate comment for each/any of the following:
a. Link to this giveaway on your blog,
b. Put a link to the contest in your Facebook status.
c. Twitter the contest with a link,
d. Become a follower of Cookin' at Café D through Google Friend Connect (link at right) and let me know,
e. Become a follower of Cookin' at Café D through another reader and tell me,
f. "Heart" Mistflower Photo as one of your Favorite Sellers and tell me that you did.

Be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!
(And, leave an e-mail address if I can't easily reach you through a blog.)

How simple!
The contest ends Thursday night, February 18th at Midnight, C.S.T.
Will be shipped to U.S. residents only. (Sorry rest of the world.)
Winner will be chosen by random generator and announced on Friday, February 19th.

Your colorful 8x10 lustre print of "Love on the Line" will be shipped to your door. Now, wouldn't that put a smile on your face?

Happy Valentine's Week!
Now...head off to Mistflower Photo and see what makes your heart go pitter-patter then come back here and tell us about it!

(And, wouldn't it make a pretty Mother's Day gift, too!)

UPDATE: Someone said they were having issues leaving a comment and following my blog, but sadly, they weren't able to offer specifics as to the problem. If you are having an issue, please e-mail me at CookingAtCafeD (at) gmail (dot) com with the details so that I can take steps to correct any issue. And, of course - so you can be entered in the drawing! Thanks!

Artist Feature: Valerie Fuqua Save 30-50% Off Gifts!

Don't you just love my new Christmas header?
The photo is entitled "Pixie Bathtime" and is the original work of artist Valerie Fuqua.
How cute!
Valerie and I attended high school together and we've become "virtually" reacquainted.
I have fallen in love with her photos, mosaics, paintings and mixed media work.
So...

Since today is "Black Monday," I'd like to introduce you to Valerie's beautiful work...AND help you save 30-50% off some your Christmas gifts!

Valerie, when would you say you "became an artist?"
(Nice start, Dana...The World's Silliest Question.
Let's pause for one of Valerie's pretty photos - while we recover.)
I have been a full-time artist for seven years, but in my own fantasies I've been an artist my entire life. My parents weren't big believers in toys, so books and my imagination were my entertainment. I was always looking for found objects to make my little creations. I remember my mom brought home a box of rainbow Kleenex in the early 70s and I made a floral bouquet out of them. She wasn't impressed that I "wasted" the tissues, but I was quite proud of myself.

My passion for art took a hiatus through much of my late teens and twenties, but it was renewed again when I suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to relearn everyday tasks. Assembling jigsaw puzzles as part of my therapy led me to discover mosaic art and my spark to create was reignited.

Which medium is your favorite?

It's hard to pick a favorite medium. I love the textural qualities of a mosaic and incorporating treasures from around the world. At the same time, photography lets me share with the world what catches my eye and at a much quicker pace than a labor intensive mosaic. I've always been a spectator of life and I'm heavily influenced by texture, color and nature. If something appeals to me I try to capture it with my camera.

Pause for another...ooooh, pretttttyyyyy.
Valerie, who inspires you?

I admire anyone that creates. Even if their art doesn't appeal to me personally, I respect the fact that they're giving their creative voice an outlet and will always support another artist. Growing up I used to think that only painters were artists, but now I realize that art takes many forms.

What are a couple of your favorite pieces from other artists?
Here are a few creations from artists I admire:

Lyse at Imagine Studio makes digital collages that always take my breath away. It's so hard to choose a favorite.

"Memory Reach" by Mays Mayhew really speaks to me...I guess because of all that I lost and how I'm constantly struggling to remember what I've forgotten.

And this woman's work in general fascinates me--> Meg Hannan.Valerie, where can we see your paintings, mixed media and mosaic work?
And, where can we see more of your amazing photos?
And, um, could you please use our favorite word - SALE???

SALE! Lol.
I'm currently offering 30-50% off fine art photographic prints at Mistflower Photo.

You can also purchase stretched canvases, framed prints and greeting cards with my photography at Valerie Fuqua at Fine Art America.

And I'm offering 30% off prints of my mosaics and $1 off pocket mirrors and magnets at my other Etsy store: Mistflower Studio.

I'll leave you with one more delight.
Valerie, would you care to make the introduction?
"Chief Build a Dam...His Friends Call Him Beaver" is the latest addition to my mask series.
And, he has a story, right? Do tell!
As a child I was inspired by National Geographic Magazine I was struck with the fact that despite having so little in the way of material things, there were parts of the world where people were adorning their faces with "paint" in elaborate designs. Those memories have stayed with me and were the inspiration behind my ongoing series of mosaic masks. Beaver began when I found a hand carved mask at an estate sale. Normally I'm drawn to African masks, but Beaver had such a big smile that I couldn't pass him up. I adorned Beaver's face with tons of fabulous millefiori from Murano, Italy, ceramic beads, Perdomo smalti from Mexico, vintage glass cabochons, stained glass, glass beads...both vintage and new, fused cabochons and tiles, vintage china and glass glitter tiles. Beaver is a one-of-a-kind creation that is signed.

Thanks, Valerie, for sharing just a little bit of world with us.
Now, to my 3 readers -
What are you doing still reading?
Head off to Mistflower Photo and Mistflower Studio to "ooh" and "ahh."
*grin*