Penguins (purple and otherwise)

Penguins -- they are the new Cabbage Patch Kids. I know Tickle-Me Elmo is waxing nostalgic, and Wii is making a grand appearance for Christmas. But these cute little fellas from down south (way down south) grab your heart strings in a special way.

Remember the waiter penguins who danced with Dick Van Dyke's Bert in the movie Mary Poppins? Remember Chilly Willy in Walter Lance's Woody Woodpecker cartoons?

Even if you see these little black and white birds in person, penguins seem cute, perky, and full of fun. At wildlife parks and zoos, you can watch them slide on ice and dive into their cold pools of water. With movies like March of the Penguins and Happy Feet, it seems more people are really getting to know these natives of Antartica.

I'd been meaning to draw some penguins for a long time. You know how I am -- unicorns, owls, pandas, and other adorable animals.
(P.L. rolls her eyes here!)

I put some ice skating penguins online early Thursday morning. They went "live" later. I struggled with tweaking the section a bit that night, and finally rebooted the computer. When I came back into my store area, I found someone had already ordered a white hoodie bearing this speedy skating penguin.

Wow! Someone was just waiting for this little guy to appear. What luck for both of us!

I believe these talented penguins have been especially commissioned by Saint Nick himself to deliver messages and what-not around the Big Toy Shop. Who wouldn't enjoy a work break with a steaming cup of cocoa from one of these cute little guys? After all, I'm afraid the climate wouldn't suit actual gophers there.

I'm dreaming up stories about Santa's penguin assistants at the North Pole. Poor P.L. is groaning and hiding her head under an Artist at Work throw pillow. (Ooh, my penguin pal will look so cute on one of those!)

I'm already ordering one for a friend. I think I need penguin buttons or magnets to give out in lieu of cards at work. It would be fun to have one on a long-sleeved shirt or hoodie. I wish I knew how to make plushy animals....

P.L. says I'm getting a bit carried away, and she will be forced to pretend she doesn't know me. Ha! Wait till she sees the picture of her wearing her latest tee, with a lavender penguin on it. I can't wait.

If you would like to affiliate Penguins On Ice through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

The Eerie Darkness....

All was quiet in the tiny slumbering town of Painters Bluff, in the heart of America. When no one was expecting it, a strange darkness had fallen where it had never been before. Some folks were frightened. Others took up the new challenge with determination.

What did it all mean? From whence came this -- darkness?

The darkness had arrived in silky-softness, in colors of rich black, midnight blue, dark olive green, cardinal red, and cocoa brown. Such rejoicing there had been among the elves! For they had seen and felt the new darks in October, in San Francisco, where the elves had gathered in preparation for Christmas, Hannukah, and other events.

Yes, my children, new dark t-shirts from the elves at Artist at Work. Short-sleeved unisex tees in black, red, green, and blue. Long-sleeved unisex tees in black and navy. Plus more feminine tees in black (short- and long-sleeved styles) and brown (long-sleeved). More styles and colors will be made available in the coming months.

Lorilei and P.L. have been redecorating the halls with new t-shirt designs. Check out the Christmas Shop for ideas that are sure to bring a twinkle to someone's eyes!

Hurry, hurry! Make your selections soon, while the shipping special is in effect (through December 20). And make sure you allow enough shipping time, in order to avoid disappointment.

Not sure what to get loved ones this year? Feeling frazzled by family visits during Thanksgiving weekend, and the push to go to the mall to avoid the shopping rush?
Take it easy. Go read this page -- Operators Are Standing By -- for some calming words and a few ideas.
It's less than a month to Christmas, but if you use your time wisely, you can still make time for the important things. -- A little elf named P.L. told me so!

Pickle Mania

It's official -- people are crazy. But I love it!

Remember in July, when someone ordered Pickle Conspiracy black t-shirts (very stylish) and 40 buttons? That was only the beginning.

In August, another person ordered 10 khaki caps emblazoned with the nefarious Pickles.
"Someone in Nigeria likes pickles!" I said. But, no, the order shipped out without a hitch. I was astonished.

Then, on Thursday, yet someone else ordered 21 Pickle Conspiracy buttons. Not 10, not 20, but 21.
It was a sign. The die were cast. The writing was on the wall. The clichés were flying, fast and furious.

Pickles must be -- the new black. Or something. Why else would so many people be wearing them this season? A fabulous trend, I must say. Only time will tell if onions or ketchup will join them on the fashion runway.

The only other answer is the Conspiracy Theory: We are compelled to pursue the elusive Pickle because it wants us to. It's part of a plot, like the great wooden horse in ancient Troy. Only smaller, and kind of crunchy.

Have no fear. I will keep my vigil and report my findings. In the meantime, I may have to get myself a Pickle Conspiracy cap. I wouldn't want to be seen wearing last year's hat as I search for the truth.

Time in a Keepsake Box

I'm warning you now, there's a story behind this one. Well, there is always a story. Sometimes it's just more fun to tell than others.

I used to do a lot of driving around my home town. I had a part time job delivering pizza. Yes, pizza. I don't really eat it, except for -- well, that's another story, for another time.

Delivering pizzas can be a very cool occupation. In your car, listening to your music. Finding houses and businesses on streets and roads, like a knight on a quest in a role-playing game.

But sometimes you find more than hungry people who have ordered food. Sometimes you find sunsets, starlit nights, banks of daffodils, knarled trees with craggy bark, deer leaping away across fences into the darkness. Sometimes you discover the perfect stone cottage surrounded by a green woods. And one day, I found a meadow clearing with beautiful horses inside. My favorite one was a lovely Appaloosa mare, mostly white with dapples of grey. I asked the retired veterinarian who owned the horses if I could come back some time to photograph them.

So I returned to the woodsy road and found the horses grazing in the sunny field. Later, I used a few of the resulting photos to create a composite drawing with soft pastels. Its working title was "Critters on the Landscape," but it later came to be named "In the Meadow."

I used a part of that drawing, featuring the mare, for the scene on this box. The box is a 5 1/4" by 5 1/4 by 2 1/8" box of laquered Alderwood. There is an inlay of ceramic tile in the hinged lid.



I had heard other shopkeepers who own or handle these boxes describe them with some awe. They say people handle them like precious objects of art.

The boxes look nice with a variety of different designs, but they especially lend themselves to fine art. They can hold change, jewelry, love notes, paperclips, or any number of small objects. I think they can also hold dreams and imagination.

Yes, I am in love with a box.
But I have a feeling there are destined to be other boxes in my life.

This keepsake box is on display at Kentucky Downs Race Course, where people are reminded that Thoroughbred racing on our European-style turf track will be taking place in mid- to late September. Three limited edition Kentucky Downs t-shirts from Horses-Around.com, an "I Love Exotics" cap, a ceramic stein, and a "Feeling My Oats" mug are also on display there. Although I will be working as a pari-mutuels teller during Live Races, there will be a Horses-Around booth selling various products to the visitors. I'll write more about the booth as time for the event draws nearer.

I'm told that there are several people already asking about prices on the merchandise. I'm creating a printed order form for people who want to get something ahead of time but don't go online. (Yes, there are still such people in the world, Virginia!)

One of my managers has expressed a keen interest in ordering an "In the Meadow" keepsake box for her own. I have a feeling I'll be getting one for myself, too.

What will I keep in it? The smell of the fresh woods after a spring rain. The burning blue of a sunny September sky. The graceful beauty of a long-limbed white and grey horse with liquid brown eyes.
That's all I really need it for.

If you would like to affiliate "In the Meadow" and other Horses Around wares through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up. You can link to art, apparel, drinkware, and other gifts from your site.

Back to School, Dudes!

I can just picture Bill and Ted saying something like that. I wonder what they would be doing right now? Oh, yes, making music. And probably buying some really historical t-shirts!

I had nearly forgotten to post the reminder about our latest sale. From now until August 14 (yes, this year), get free shipping on orders totaling $50 or more. That isn't just for kids, by the way. Teachers deserve t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and coffee mugs made especially for them, too.

In fact, there are not many people I know who aren't worthy of these. They're good as gifts for lots of folks. And that's great, because this sale is not only good at TeachersPets.org -- you can use it in my other shops, too.
(See the Links sidebar to your right.)

So browse Black T-Shirts, AmeriColors, Horses Around, and find something you like, for yourself or someone else. Then when you reach the checkout page, use the COUPON CODE BTS2006 -- your discount will show up on the screen. So just copy and paste the code from this blog. It's so easy, even Bill and Ted could do it.

Recap:
BACK to SCHOOL SALE
Free Shipping on orders over $50
Use Coupon Code: BTS2006
Sale discount expires August 14, 2006
Maximum discount $5 (flat shipping fee)

My Heart Belongs to My Teacher

It's nearly time for school to start again, in my part of the world. Parents are stocking up on school supplies, kids' clothes, and a number of other items. There is a feeling of newness in the air. Soon-to-be students are anxious to see who is in whose class.

I have noticed an increase in traffic to my education-related site, TeachersPets. Once a part of my main store, this shop has branched off on its own and is acquiring its own following.

What can I say about this, my newest design? Well, I could start by using the description I have included in my new promotional area at TeachersPets, the "BONUS POINTS: Featured Design" section.

The latest design from TeachersPets contains a simple, childlike phrase with heart.
My Heart Belongs to My Teacher

Is there anything happier than a child (or an adult) who loves to learn? Loving one's teacher is very closely connected.
Maybe you love your teacher because he makes history vital and interesting, or because she opens the door to a place in your mind you never knew existed.
Maybe you love your teacher because he's your grandfather, who showed you how to create models, or your aunt, who taught you to play Mozart with pleasure and confidence.
Or maybe you love your teacher just because.

The teacher to whom you give your heart is the one who gives it back to you.
Get a gift that keeps saying "I Love You," whatever the season, whoever your favorite teacher.

By the way, "whoever" is the correct case in that sentence. I looked it up, as an afterthought, just to be sure.

If you would like to affiliate this design through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

A Tale of Two Pickles, a.k.a. the Pickle Conspiracy

While I am on the subject of the bizarre ...

One of my favorite author/artists was Scarry -- Richard Scarry. I loved his illustrations in Little Golden Books. Even as an adult, I loved his big picture books. Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and all the other residents of Busy Town.

The Head Start group I used to teach loved finding characters, making their own observations, hunting for patterns in these storybooks. One book contained a fleet of typically fun Scarry vehicles, including a truckload of pickles. The cargo was so large, pickles were falling out into the street here and there. All the way through the pages, we followed a trail of pickles.

Another character we loved was silly Mr. Frumble, a fuddy-duddy of an old pig with terrible luck. He was chasing his runaway hat all over town. Probably the only breeze in the entire town was catching up his hat and dancing around with it, teasingly keeping it just out of reach.

Years later, a conversation about conspiracies and paranoia inspired this design. The idea that something as common and silly as a pickled cucumber might be responsible for a plot of any kind was fraught with implausibility and humor. In tribute to Mr. Scarry, I created an author by the name of William Frumble for this stylish mystery. The reviews and the introduction are fun, but it's really all about the pickles. -- Yeah, they just fell off a truck? A likely story!

In the time the Pickle Conspiracy has been sitting in my "just for fun" section, I'd only sold one item before. Some strange and funny person bought a throw pillow bearing one of my pickle designs. (Obviously someone with great taste and a rapier sharp sense of the absurd.)

That was up until Wednesday, July the nineteenth, 2006. When I made my way to my computer, I found myself lured by the tantalizing promise of an email - a notification of a transaction.

My pulse quickened as I opened it to read. Who was it? What did they want? I was determined to find out.

I skimmed the email, paused, thought, "No way!" and read it again. An order for two Pickle Conspiracy Black T-Shirts? And four 10-packs of 2.25" buttons with the infamous veggies. It must be a scam order made with a fake credit card number. One of those weird people from the Capital One commercials, no doubt.

But, no, it's true. The merchandise is in production, and it should be finished this week. It might be on its way to its new owner mere days from now. But who? Who would place such an order? I think there is far more to this than meets the eye.

This is obviously all part of a plot.

Keep the mustard and relish handy. No telling when they could be needed.

If you would like to affiliate this design through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

Totally Off-Topic

For the person who was searching here in my blog for information on "march to the beat of a different drum" -- the song you were looking for was "Different Drum," by the Stone Poneys. Linda Ronstadt was the lead singer. The song says "You and I travel to the beat of a different drum...." I believe it was written by Mike Nesmith, of the Monkees fame.

Oddly enough, people also come here seeking:

1. the Beatles
2. that line from the Everly Brothers song "Bowling Green" (and I thought I was the only one who remembered that song!)
3. the Cowsills
4. beautiful girls
5. horses
6. daffodils
7. t-shirts

I include bits and pieces about music I love, but t-shirts with girls, horses, and daffodils are the only things on that list which you might purchase here.

Then again, I am inspired by the music of those artists to create my own art, so that should count for something. Also, it's emotionally satisfying to read someone else's memories of favorite songs, old TV shows and movies, places, and people.

Folks have Googled for some fragment of a memory from their youth and found - my memories.
P.L. painting the day to Barry Cowsill's song. A barefoot summer girl basking in the Kentucky sunshine from Phil and Don Everly's song. I even have a painting in my gallery section which I haven't featured (yet) of a sleepy cottage, named "Golden Slumbers," after the lullaby-like song by Paul McCartney, from the Beatles' Abbey Road album.

Keep "listening." There'll be more.

A Family Tradition - the American Vacation

Whatever happened to "the American Way"?
It must've gotten lost in the shuffle, somewhere between here and the cold war.

But be of good faith! We've found it. While some Americans are defending their way of life by threats of force and violence, others are still opening their arms to the homeless, the lonely, the poor, tired and huddled masses -- and to the occasional lost animal who is just too cute to ignore.

This is the real world, and we know that wild animals are meant to remain wild. But moments like this make you long for the purity of a child's heart.

Whether you enjoy the parody of "Lock & Load - Board the Seal" or the charm of children adopting a sea lion on their own beach, take an American Vacation today.


If you would like to affiliate "American Vacation" through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

Summer Sale!

The Summer Sale has begun! Stock up on summer gear at all of Lorilei's shops:

* small mug : $2 off

* kids baseball jersey : $2 off

* men's sleeveless : $3 off

* women's tank top : $3 off

* green t-shirt : $2 off

* trucker cap : $2 off

This sale ends June 30. You'll see the discount applied automatically to the products in the shopping cart. No coupon is required.

A pretty girl is like a melody...

Maybe that's just the way I am - a song invokes pictures in my head. And sometimes visual art reminds me of a song.

This design was inspired by old-fashioned tattoo art. The beautiful girl with the long tresses and long legs, gazing dreamily at the sky. She's a country girl, down home and down to earth. She likes dressing casual, running barefoot, daydreaming. She's a Kentucky girl, and she's proud of it.

That's where the songs come in. One that comes to mind is Neil Diamond's tribute to a "Kentucky Woman." The other is from the same time period, an obscure but happy song by the Everly Brothers.

My junior high school years were spent in Kentucky. I attended a lab school at Western Kentucky University. Most of the students were "faculty brats" like me. Our parents were teachers or staff at the university. There were only around 40 kids in each grade, so you knew almost everyone in your class, at least by sight. And the same building on the hill housed all the classes, from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

Western (WKU) is located in a small city named Bowling Green, between Louisville and Nashville. Coincidentally, the name of the Everly Brothers song is also "Bowling Green."

"Way down in Bowling Green, prettiest girls I've ever seen. A man in Kentucky sure is lucky to live down in Bowling Green."

I can still remember the slumber party at Michelle's house. Becky, another of our friends, played that song on her acoustic guitar while we sang along. Only we all knew that girls in Kentucky were lucky, too.

"Kentucky sunshine makes the heart unfold. It warms the body, and I know it touches the soul. Bluegrass is fine. Kentucky owns my mind...."

This design naturally says "A girl in Kentucky sure is lucky!" Wherever I go in my life, I'll carry that sunshine and the sweet smell of summer. Kentucky isn't just around me, it's in me. And now it'll be on me, as well.



If you would like to affiliate this design through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

testing

This is only a test.
In the event of a real emergency, you wouldn't be reading this anyway.

The Horses Are Coming!

Busy, busy, busy! That may sound like an excuse, but it's more, honest. Because now there's a new shop in Lorilei's stable (if you'll excuse the pun).
The name is Horses Around. It features art about horses and the people who love them. So far, there are not so many designs that one could get lost, but more designs and products are being added almost daily.

One section of Horses Around will be devoted to Kentucky Downs, a Thoroughbred race course located in southern Kentucky. Look for our official KYD gear online.

In the interest of being fair to both real and fantasy horses, I'll also be adding designs with such creatures as unicorns and winged horses. The featured design is one of these. I'm thinking about getting a similar license plate frame for my car....

If you would like to affiliate this design or other Horses Around products through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

Mother's Day Shipping Promotion

From April 25 through May 5, there will be a CafePress.com promotion that will discount shipping prices for Lorilei's Shops.

Free Shipping On Orders Over $50 (Max discount $7)
Code: MOMSHIP
Date: April 25 - May 5

Whether you're shopping for Mother's Day, graduation, or another occasion, visit Lorilei's Shops for great gifts.

http://artist-at-work.us

I Love Spring - Daffodils on a Tee

Wow! I just got a new black t-shirt. I was nervous about how it would look, since it's digitally printed, not screen printed. UPS took longer delivering it the last twenty miles than it had from my CafePress printers, but the order finally arrived this morning.

I had lightened the graphic you see here significantly from the original drawing to allow for the darkness of the printing surface. Then I created my transparent PNG version, uploaded, and hoped for the best.

The shirt is gorgeous! I love it. Although the yellow is not the pale, almost fluorescent color of the graphic in my store, it is more the clear, soft yellow I wanted.

I drew the daffodils two years ago. Now they're blooming again in our yard. Why wait till spring? Now I don't have to wait for spring, either.
I can hardly wait to wear this.



Want a shirt like this? You can find it at I Love Spring. Find related daffodil designs on shirts, bags, framed prints, and more at ... Mellow Yellow.

If you would like to affiliate "I Love Spring" through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

Lorilei

Painting the Day

When I was a kid, I loved listening to the music of a family of singers.The music group was begun by brothers who wanted to be like the Beatles (an excellent choice!). Later, their mother and their sister joined them on stage and on recordings. They performed a kind of pop-rock that was fun to listen to in the sixties and seventies, including songs like "Hair." My very favorite song was "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" (think "I love the flower girl -- oh, I don't know just why, she simply caught my eye...."), but I had a few others I really loved. "What is Happy?" and "We Can Fly." A haunting song written by David Gates (of Bread) called "Can't Measure the Cost (of a Woman Lost)." Great memories.
These were songs that evoked memories, emotions, pictures in my mind.

One such picture was from a song called "Painting the Day." It's an optimistic piece about changing the world through perception. I always wanted to do a painting or drawing based on it. Finally, in 2005, I did just that. I have several versions of this whimsical graphic, which depicts a young girl (yes, P.L., my inner child) with a palette and brush, painting the sky. The sun is smiling off to her left, appreciative of the sentiment.

Not long ago, I heard from Vicky, the shopkeeper for the Cowsill's online store, that Barry Cowsill was one of the people who died in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. His remains were not identified until January of this year. Since Barry was the person who sang lead on this song, I felt even more affected. Barry's older brother Bill passed away in February, making this winter a sad time for fans.

The "Painting the Day" art will always remind me of happy times and feelings. When they aren't happy, when your world is dark, paint some sunshine and change the way you feel about life.

Thanks, Barry.

I traded my crummy tonsils for...

A friend of mine has a six year old grandson who was getting his tonsils removed. As the day approached (and he was becoming more apprehensive), she was trying to put a positive spin on the experience. She wanted to make a t-shirt for him with a message like "I traded my crummy tonsils for this cool t-shirt." I offered to do an illustration for it.

This design is the result of that venture. The little boy's grandmother says he is delighted with the shirt, and that he's glad it's all over but the ice cream now.

"I Traded My Crummy Tonsils for..." is available on the white youth-size t-shirt, as well as the toddler-size (if your child is a little smaller than average, up to 4T), plus the youth-sized baseball jersey, hoodie, and crew-neck sweatshirt. It's also on the junior ringer tee and other apparel. A similar design is offered on mugs, mousepads, the journal, magnets, buttons -- even a plushy white teddy bear wearing its own t-shirt.

If you would like to affiliate this design through CafePress.com, and earn 20% of sales, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel.

"March to the Beat of a Different Drum" Sale

Beginning March 2, there will be a new sale at all of Lorilei's shops.

Your savings: $4 off a $40 order
Your coupon code: MARCH4
Sale dates: March 2 - March 14

This discount applies to any merchandise from the shops, not just specific items. Your order must total $40 or more before sales tax (California and Kentucky residents only) and shipping. Discounts will appear in the shopping cart when you enter the code above in the space provided.

Need more information?
Find it online here: artist-at-work help

Need help by phone?
Call toll free 1-877-809-1659
Monday – Friday,7:00 am – 6:00 pm PT
Saturday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm PT
Local (Foster City, CA)/International1-650-655-3000

It's a sign of luck! So go shopping for that St. Patrick's Day gift!

Fun, fun, fun

You've probably heard the saying. "Uh-oh, someone call the Fun Police...."
Someone is having so much fun, it should be illegal.

Or someone else is such a spoilsport, he or she is labeled the Fun Police because they always put a stop to others' enjoyment.

The Fun Police design was inspired by such a situation. The wearer of this shirt can remind everyone of the ever-present danger. Shh! It has to be kept quiet -- but the fun must go on!

The Fun Police shirt and other gear are available at Lorilei's Artist at Work.

If you would like to affiliate this design through CafePress.com, click here to sign up, and link to great gifts and apparel. You can earn 20% of sales to shoppers who buy merchandise through your site.

Lorilei's Gear

Watch this space for news about products, designs, and stores from the fertile imagination of Lorilei!