Hunting Easter designs at Artist at Work

Clockwise: "The REAL Easter Bunny" men's pajamas, "Happy Easter" water bottle, "He Is Risen" infant/toddler one-piece bodysuit, and "Peek-a-Boo Bunny" heart necklace.

Good news!

Not only is there fresh new merchandise at Lorilei's Artist at Work shop, but there's also a special sale going on this weekend.

Now through Sunday, April 10, get 20% off your order!

Fill your basket with t-shirts, tote bags, keepsake boxes, Easter ornaments, hats, hoodies, buttons, magnets, stickers, mugs...

... or simply go hopping mad with our new necklaces, earrings, pajamas, iPhone covers, and more!

To save through Sunday (the last day for Easter delivery with economy shipping), order $50 or more and use this secret code word in checkout:  
BUNNY 
So don't be late! Sunday is the last day for this offer!

Choices: Edward or Jacob?

It's at least another month before "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" comes to P.L.'s favorite theater. In the meantime, she's been keeping herself occupied reading the Twilight series. There are only four books, and she just finished book three, Eclipse.

The series is strange and moody and supernatural, yet it has a down-to-earth feeling that appeals to P.L. A teenaged girl who loves Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering Heights, Bella Swan is comfortable telling a story -- in first person, in this case. Set in the woodsy little town of Forks, in the north-Pacific state of Washington, her story tells of her life as the new kid in town. Bella is a quiet girl and a bit of a clutz, yet she is a fresh face that appeals to several of the local residents. One of them is Edward.

Without giving away too much of the storyline, we'll just say that Edward and his family are amazing (even at playing baseball!), they lead us (through Bella) to heart-stopping adventures, and Bella would give up anything to spend the rest of eternity with Edward.

Not everything is as it seems, though.
Bella and Edward are separated early in book two, and she becomes dangerously depressed. Of course, we know she'll be fine, because she's the one telling the story. But we feel for her as she describes a kind of madness she experiences and finds one ally to save her -- Jacob.

By book three, we become torn between these two young men. They are natural enemies, supernatural beings doing their best to protect Bella from danger. That includes each other. Both represent some kind of threat to Bella's well-being, family, and way of life, not to mention (possibly) her very soul.
They could both be the bad guys, yet they are both the good guys.

So, if we had to choose one guy for this Everygirl to love and live with forever, would we choose Edward Cullen? He is handsome like a Greek god, cool beyond belief, with a family whose close-knit love extends to Bella. Or would we choose the noble young Jacob Black, whose father is Bella's dad's best friend, and who loves Bella like a brother until he is mature enough to vie for her heart?
(No spoilers, please!)

Yes, based only on this information, P.L. asks you -- which team would you choose? Cool blue Edward, or vibrant red Jacob? The crystal heart or the wolf from the woods? Vampire or werewolf?

Choose a t-shirt that supports your team. One for Team Edward or one for Team Jacob.




But what if you don't want to choose? Just keep rereading this romance with two young men who love the girl enough to give up everything for her... and get yourself a t-shirt commemorating both of them. What a team!

For more gear about your new favorite hometown, Forks, remember to visit Artist at Work.

A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils...?

1998. Ten years ago: it was a simpler time, the end of an era.
(Work with me; I'm trying to set a mood.)

The story is a timeless one, of competitors caught up in the rat race of the business world, who fall in love in their own spare time. (See? People had spare time, ten years ago, I promise!)
The tale has been passed along by many skillful storytellers. This particular one happened to be from a very talented movie screenplay writer and director, Nora Ephron.

In the story "You've Got Mail," the protagonists are both in the book business, something very close to my heart. They are also really into their personal computers. (Need I say more?)


Yet the way they become involved in one another's lives is by sharing things that have so little to do with the A/S/L-type chat room talk. They share thoughts, personal moments, humor. The philosophy of Starbucks customers, the mysteries of bagel flour, the love of the small-town-within-a-city where they both live, the anticipation of opening email from a dear friend.

One of my favorite email exchanges is near the beginning of the story, when Joe (NY152) is saying how he loves New York in the fall (autumn). It makes him feel like buying school supplies. Joe tells Kathleen (Shopgirl) that he would send her a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, if he knew her name and address.

A man after my own heart! As an artist and a writer, I have a special love for pencils, myself. But he really had me at "school supplies."

Who doesn't love getting new paper, new notebooks or binders, folders, pens, pencils, crayons, erasers? Years of memories crowd into my mind.
As an adult, and especially as a parent of three children, I saw Back-to-School season in a different light, too. Yet when I went back to college and got my degree in elementary education with my minor in art, I went to a whole new level. I could have spent hours in the College Heights Bookstore, looking at acrylics and oils, Arches watercolor paper, bamboo pens, sable brushes, drawing pencils, painting canvas and stretcher bars, mat board... ah. Even now, a dream-like feeling of contentment steals into my psyche as I remember browsing the art department. There were so many things to see and dream of, I felt happy just looking, even if I couldn't afford everything I liked.

Wouldn't you love to send that bliss to someone you know?



I drew pencils and added colors, then tied them up with a red ribbon to create a bouquet. The scent of the freshly-sharpened wood is exquisite.

I created more than one text option by using one cursive font for a more grown-up look on some items, but a hand-drawn manuscript font on others, for a fun graffiti effect.




If it hasn't yet, wherever you are, school will be starting soon. You can get or give these happy colored pencils with either Our Favorite Teacher or one of the Happy School Day designs.




Pencils are a tool of creativity. Remind teachers, students, and parents that school is a time of new beginnings and infinite possibilities.


Some parents may even be so happy at the prospect of school that they would consider putting this sign in their yard to celebrate the season.

In the meantime, I'll be using my pocket-sized journal --



-- to draw and to make notes of new ideas for TeachersPets.com ...

Parking Wars and other games -- you're addicted to WHAT???

P.L. is not yet the owner of a car. She doesn't even have her driver's license. But she routinely parks vehicles of varying shapes, sizes, and colors in streets -- often illegally -- and then attempts to move them before they are ticketed or impounded. Even stranger, she takes delight in writing tickets on her own friends' cars!

What madness is this? It's Parking Wars, an online game she plays through the social networking site Facebook. The game was inspired by the A&E television series by the same name. P.L. has several friends and a few unknown neighbors who compete to get badges and higher scores by outwitting each other. (They also help each other, as P.L.'s best friend Emily could tell you!)

Of course, P.L. has now adopted Pet Pupz and Cute Catz, and the Hatchery Eggs which turn into funny little monsters when she and others nurture them.
She has planted a Lil' Green Patch so she can tend environmentally-friendly plants and help friends with their own virtual gardens. She sends hugs, wild animals, and SuperPokes to others, so she always has a lot to keep her busy when she gets online.

But probably the most annoying thing she has done with all these social networking games is to infect me with the darned things. Weren't Solitaire and Bejeweled II Deluxe enough? Now I have to check my account, even before I open my email, to see if someone's parked in an illegal zone on Lorilei Street. Worse yet, I have to worry that the parking signs will have changed while I was away, and someone may have ticketed one of my cars. Oh, no! Another violation!




What can be done? I'm sure the fever for the game will cool after a while. In the meantime, it's all good fun that keeps us off the streets -- so to speak.








I'm making a new mousepad for P.L.'s computer desk with the Addiction to Online Games design on it. In fact, she's getting a t-shirt like this, too. You can get one to remind yourself (or your roommate) to get back to work! You can check your cars after a few hours, as a reward for keeping on task.
(That's right. It's only a game....)

Give the gift of a Keepsake Box

Keepsake boxes -- even more beautiful than before!

Artist at Work's keepsake boxes are beautifully crafted from hardwood, in either in black or mahogany high-gloss lacquer finishes. The inside is fully lined with velvet, the bottom protected with felt.

These 5.5" x 5.5" x 2.25" keepsake boxes can hold jewelry and mementos, or can be enjoyed as art themselves, with a 4.25" x 4.25" ceramic tile in the lid.



Choose from a variety of designs at Artist at Work.
These will make wonderful gifts for anyone on your list.

A wonderful world of COLOR

They're here! First, into the masses of white tees at Artist at Work came black tees, followed by more dark colors -- and now an even greater variety of colors!



Women's t-shirts come in a fitted (but not snug) style, with round necklines, in the following colors:
white
light pink
light blue
light yellow
black
red
carribean blue
violet

Additionally, there are three women's v-neck tees in white, heather grey, and black.




As always, we carry a unisex shirt with a crew neck, appropriate for the masculine figure as well. Colors include the following:
white
natural
ash grey
light blue
black
cardinal red
navy blue
military green
charcoal grey
red
brown
royal blue

Additionally, there's a new ringer tee in white with red trim.

Now you can find your favorite designs, printed on tees in a rainbow of colors. But it doesn't end there.
Stay tuned for more sizes, more colors, more styles.

Want to earn 20% of Artist at Work sales through your own website? Click here to sign up, and affiliate our great gifts and apparel.

Valentine's Day Promotion ~ Super Shipping Savings

Buying a Valentine's Day t-shirt for someone you love? Or maybe a snuggly sweatshirt, or a ceramic tiled-adorned wooden keepsake box. With so many nice gifts from which to choose, it's nice to know that there's a shipping special to make it even easier to give gifts from Artist at Work.

From January 14 through February 14, 2007: Free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $50 (before tax and shipping)
Coupon code: VDAYSHIP

Just copy and paste the coupon code when you check out. Don't forget to check our other shops, since this code is valid for purchases in any of them. Hurry! There's only one month until Valentine's Day is here. Have you chosen gifts for your loved one yet?

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.