.•:*¨¨*•TITLE MY IRISH DRAWING AND WIN!.•:*¨¨*:•.

I have recently completed this illustration featuring an Irish Drummer and an Irish Bagpiper and I can’t seem to come up with a title for the piece.

MY IRISH DRUMMER AND BAGPIPER:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41329129

So, I thought, why not have a “Title My Irish Drawing” Contest!
I am looking for a unique yet catchy title for this picture of two young Irish charmers!  You can submit your entry through any of the following links:

Links for IrelandBrady (Visual Artist)
ETSY SHOP:   http://www.etsy.com/shop/irelandbrady 
TITLE MY IRISH DRAWING CONTEST THREAD:  http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6446288
BLOG:  http://irelandbrady.blogspot.com/  (YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST)
WEB SITE:  http://kab-designs.webs.com
FB FAN PAGE:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ireland-Brady/272447039710?ref=mf 

The contest begins now and ends on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2010.  On that day we will choose the title that best captures the spirit of this composition.  
The winner will be announced shortly thereafter and will also receive a print of the drawing, signed and titled with their winning submission.

Go n-eiri leat!  (Good luck to you!)

"ALICE" IS FEATURED IN AN ETSY TREASURY!!!

I awoke to an email telling me that "Alice" is included in an Etsy Treasury!  It is a treasury with an Alice In Wonderland theme .... If you'd like to check the ALICE IN THE WONDERLAND treasury created by "FloweryDeer" you can click on this link (or cut and paste into the address bar):

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=114054

Alice with Her Magic Mushroom and Gleefully Grinning Cheshire Cat!

Alice has been through many adventures in her lifetime ... here is a delightful illustration of how I picture Alice ....
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=40926378

Today is a GREAT DAY! Jim & I have been married for 42 years!

On a cold and rainy day on Saturday, February 17, 1968 .... Jim and I were married!  It was a grand wedding and a delightful day!  We recently found an old 8 mm reel of film that was taken on that day and had it made into a DVD.  The original film was so damaged that only about 1 minute was actually visible ... but what was there was incredible!  My goodness, we were sooooooooooo young!    


We have been through all kinds of times together ... adventures all ... some GRAND ... some not so happy.  But, after all these years we are still the best of friends and more in love than ever we imagined.


Our greatest blessings during this long trek through life are our children, their spouses, and the ten glorious grandchildren they have presented us with!


It is with great happiness that we celebrate this occasion and look forward to many, many, many more years of adventures and growing closer in our union with each other.


Our wish is that all couples are so blessed!

LAVENDER ROSE FAERIE HOLDING A WEE PIXIE

GOOD DAY ALL!  I have been busy this weekend and happily was also able to finish my latest illustration.  I am happy to present you with "Lavender Rose Faerie Holding A Wee Pixie" .... I hope you find her to your liking!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40763338

ROSE GARDEN FAERIE WITH MYSTIC ORB

Well, it took awhile but I finally finished my first illustration of 2010, titled "Rose Garden Faerie with Mystic Orb".  I like the final results, but I am tweeking the illustration and changing the roses to lavender in my next drawing


You can purchase an authorized art print of this drawing in my Etsy Shop .... under:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=40587374

Creative Ideas Sometimes Just Pop Into Your Head!

As I was reading my latest novel, looking for something to bookmark my place, it suddenly occurred to me that I could tweek my heart necklace pattern and make a sweet bookmark. Voila! Here (picture below) is the result! A charming, yet utilitarian bookmarker!

This bookmark was made using red size 30 cotton crochet thread with a US #6 steel crochet hook. In over all length, it measures 15-1/2"; each heart measures 1-3/4" wide by 1-3/4" high.

I crocheted this delightful bookmark using my Crocheted Heart Amulet Necklace Original Design PDF Pattern 
(http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33706448).

What a perfect Valentine for a book reader in your life!


I have included Pictures of the bookmark and necklace for you ....
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40178050
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36644165

Watermarking Art Print Photos.....

"Tutorial Post"
Yesterday I was on a quest to learn how to watermark the artwork I have posted in my Etsy Shop.  I Googled "How to create a Watermark" and found this wonderful tutorial showing you how to create a watermark brush in Photoshop: 
FIRST LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbBQ2IZT4Mk&feature=related
UPDATE LINK: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZB2NBwEHWE&annotation_id=annotation_744414&feature=iv 

I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 and I was able to use the instructions in this video to create a watermark brush for my listed art prints.  AND, if I can do it .... ANYONE can do it!  I am a total Photoshop Dummy but I did it!  It's kinda like having an electronic rubber stamp you can use on your art print photos!  Super easy to create and use!  


Here is a copy of one of the prints I watermarked .....
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37061286&ref=sr_list_2&&ga_search_query=NEZ+PERCE+BOY&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Not bad for a PhotoShop dummy!  What do you think????

ANNOUNCING A 2010 YEAR LONG PROMOTION @ IRELANDBRADY.ETSY.COM !!!

ANNOUNCING A 2010 YEAR LONG PROMO!!!

For the year 2010 I have decided it would be fun to give a gift prize to each fifth person who purchases something(s) from my shop!

The prize will be an ART PRINT of that person’s choice from the prints posted in my Gallery in the size(s) of that party’s choice. This will, of course, include any shipping and handling on the selected print. 

The winner’s will be listed on my Profile Wall using their Etsy profile name(s), along with the date of their purchase(s). Unless, I am requested NOT to use their Etsy profile name, in that case I will simply put Anonymous.

On January 25, 2010 our 1ST FIFTH BUYER made a purchase from my store this year, that means the 2ND number five purchaser is shortly away. It could be YOU!

Related links:
MY WEBSITE
http://kab-designs.webs.com
MY FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ireland-Brady/272447039710?ref=mf
MY ETSY SHOP
http://www.etsy.com/shop/irelandbrady

Having trouble adding Google Analytics to Your Blog?

"Tutorial Post"
I spent 3 days trying to add Google Analytics to my Etsy Shop and to my Blog .... fiinally stumbled upon these instructions that work wonderfully!   So I am posting them here for anyone else who wants an easy way to add GA to their blog ....

Go into your Google Analytics account and sign in.

( https://www.google.com/analytics/settings/?hl=en )

From there, look on the right hand side. There should be a link that says " + Add New Profile " Click it.

The page that comes up will be titled "Create New Website Profile"

On that page select "Add a Profile for a new domain"

Then, put your blog's address in the box where it asks "Please provide the URL of the site you would like to track." (example: Mine is http://www.irelandbrady.blogspot.com)

Click "Finish"

The next page that comes up is titled "Tracking Code"

Scroll down and under "What are you tracking?" Select... A single domain (default)

To the right of that, there's a window with some code in it. Copy this code and then open your blog in a separate window. Make sure you're logged into your blog if you aren't already.

Go to your blog's dashboard (there should be a link at the top that takes you there). From the dashboard, choose the link named "layout".

In the "Page Elements" tab, choose "add a gadget".

In the pop-up window that comes up, click the + button on the gadget entitled "HTML/JavaScript". It will open a box that asks for a title and content. Leave the title blank. Paste the code from Google Analytics into the "content" box then click save.

Go back to the Google Analytics page you got the code from and click the "Save" button at the bottom.

It will take approx 24 hours (possibly 48 if they're bogged down) for the GA to start reading your site. Once it does, when you open your GA, your blog will be listed and it will have a green check mark under "status".

The Tales of Danny Boy, The Tail Less Wonder!

Welcome to the world of Danny Boy!
Danny Boy is our 3 year old Miniature Pinscher.  He delights in many activities, especially SHOPPING!

This past weekend Danny Boy insisted on visiting some of his favorite stores, so off we started .... first to Goodwill where Danny Boy chanced upon some wonderful books for Daddy and wonderful cloth for Mom's Photo light box!

Next he wanted to check out some fabrics and yarn at Fabric Depot ... so off we headed in the Red Caddy.  There, Danny Boy pointed Mom in the direction of a terrific sale on some sock yarn.

To finish off the day, Danny Boy told TomTom to direct Mom and Dad over to Petco for some much needed dog food and treats!  Once this was accomplished Danny Boy was pleased to go home and stretch out of the couch for a much needed rest after an exhausting day of shopping!

Stay tuned for more in The Tales of Danny Boy, The Tail Less Wonder  ....

Monday's Artist !

I found another artist whose drawings are just delightful!  Give your self a pleasure trip and visit her Gallery of Illustrations at MYTINYSTAR.ETSY.COM.   I am sure you will be as enchanted with her drawings as am I.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mytinystar?ga_search_query=MYTINYSTAR&ga_search_type=seller_usernames