LAST CALL & AUGUST YOU INSPIRE ME AWARD

Howdy, cowgirls!

We're havin' a rip roarin' good time here at the Wild West Corral...tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the Wild West Tag Swap! If you want "in", this is "last call!"

This month's You Inspire Me Award goes to the illustrious Cindy Brewer of Rick Rack n Gingham. Cindy's compassion and always-ready words of encouragement to us in blogdom inspires me to no end! Even when her own life is anything but calm, she always has time to create, encourage, and offer a prayer for anyone in need.

This one's for you girlfriend! May your blog "wear it" in good health!

Kickin up my heels,
Paula Clare

WILD WEST TAG #3 IN FROM THE FARM!

Greetings, dear readers!

Today's mail held a wonderful surprise for me: Michle's Wild West Tag!

The detail and 3D effects are AMAZING! The little boy is SO cute with his button wheel hobby horse, and the horse (along with Roy Rogers Rules for Being a Good Cowboy/Cowgirl) has silver Stickles adorning the saddle. It's dazzling! Absolutely dazzling! And the boot TRIM! EEK! I just LOVE it! I am SO GLAD I was selfish and asked for a tag of my own! I'd NEVER be able to turn these beauties loose otherwise!

Here's a list of the Tag Swappers signed up so far. Remember, only 2 more days (August 15th) to sign up!

1.Elizabeth - Creative Breathing
2.Sandy - 521 Lake Street
3.Michle - Old Michala Farm
4.Jody - Home and Heart
5.Missy - Little Messy Missy
6.Christine - The Tin Can Cottage
7.Allison - bzzyfam5@gmail.com
8.Pam - Treasures n Textures
9.Erin - The Norman Five
10.Stevie - My Art Canvas
11.Kari - DharmaWaits
12.Tamera - The Stone Fence Cottage
13.Michele - mjk5265@comcast.net
14.Rosemary - Retro Rosie
15.NanE - Bubbles of Joy
16. Debbie - Creations by Debbie
17. Tracy Suzanne - Cotton Pickin Cute
18. Cat B - Catalina's Cottage
19. Meri Wiley - Imagimeri's
20. Paula Clare - Paulas Palace of AltAred Art

Just added: Our one and only (so far) international cowgirl: Cat B of Catalina's Cottage!

If you have wanted to join, or have posted somewhere that I missed, just let me know! I don't want anyone to be left out of the corral!

Back to the ranch!
Paula Clare

DING! DING! DING! WILD WEST MINI ART QUILT GIVEAWAY

Greetings, cowgirls!

As promised, this Wild West Tag Swap is gearin' up and gittin' good! I have an incredibly wonderful giveaway for one lucky pardner! Behold the art quilt:



A commissioned work created for me by the incredible Pam Snow of Treasures n Textures, the quilt is a mere 6 x 9.5. The message reads:

"In the East, a girl's gotta have charm, in the West, all a girl needs is a gun, charm can come later."

Pam's fabric Western Postcards caught my eye:





as well as her fabric Western book and quilt. Go here to see all the amazing photos of her work!

Leave a comment and a link about your favorite Wild West film, image or place on THIS POST, and I'll enter you into the drawing! Drawing will be held on August 31st, the day I mail out all of the tags in the swap!

YEEEEEEEEEHAW! Hang on to yer hats, ladies! A stampede of wild west goodies is comin yer way!

Cowpoke and Ranch Hand,
Paula Clare

FRIENDS IN BLOGDOM...

Greetings, dear reader!

I am so grateful for the camaraderie found here among we "starving artists"! I feel I have found kindred spirits, like-minded artists, and folks who truly, for the most part, "get me." I know you may think this "blog world" is virtual and therefore I cannot possibly know WHO I am dealing with and WHAT they really think/believe. WELL, there is an unspoken "honesty" about blogging, that is not only a "built in" part of the blogdom "rules", but I find it truly hard to believe that people can "fake" their true selves when creating art. It's a form of expression that is SOULFUL and comes from some place deep inside...it bypasses outer appearances and things on the periphery...and gets to the HEART of the creator.

I think this is the "soulful" connection most bloggers feel when they run across others who are similar in their form of art. Here are just a few blog links to the gals who have, through this virtual world, become dear friends and comrades in arms:

Elizabeth of Creative Breathing
Christine of Tin Can Cottage
Cindy of Rick Rack and Gingham
Meri of Imagimeri's Creations
Sandy of 521 Lake Street
Julie of A Vintage Chic
Regiane of Art by Regiane
Ngaire of Blog Me Baby
Joy of Scrap for Joy
Lisa (Barncat) of Always Home
Michle of Michala Farms
Nan of Retired in Alaska
Debbie of Creations by Debbie

And these are only a few...I could go on and on! Isn't it amazing? Women from around the world and I feel like we could all go get a Coke together and have unending conversations. The common thread of creativity wraps around the world!

Speaking of "soul sisters" I have the HUGE privilege of having my BFF from CHILDHOOD coming to visit me next week! Faith and I have been friends since 3 or 4th grade...and she FOUND ME via my Facebook page. As we have reconnected we have marveled as our lives have taken very similar paths, our husbands are very similar, and she and I even have the same haircut! (That was BEFORE the fiasco haircut pre-vacation. It is SO short...eek!)



Anyway, Faith and I will be sharing several days together and will be creating, talking, laughing, and catching up on childhood past and lives that have gotten away from both of us. I'll keep you posted!

Hugs,
Paula Clare

THE WILD WEST ALBUM: BITS AND PIECES

Greetings, dear readers!

I am so excited that the subject of the Wild West is intriguing to so many of you! I just LOVE the thought of my being a cowgirl...I'm NOT by ANY stretch of the imagination an AUTHENTIC cowgirl...in that:

1. I do not own a horse...or a cow for that matter.

2. I do not live in the west, but truly TRULY wish I did.

3. I probably envision myself a somewhat romanticized version of the "cowgirl", not possessing even a little of the "true grit" required of women like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane.

The truth of their lives was hardship, effort, and trying to make a place for themselves in what was clearly a male dominated world. As you can see, the stylish, attractive cowgirl icons we see today are a far cry from the look of these true pioneer women. Made of admirable stuff...maybe THAT's the part of the "cowgirl" I hope emulate...if even in a small part of my art. :-)

Here are the fabulous "pieces" I have acquired for the Wild West Album:

I also have lots of bandannas, denim, photos, and other bits and bobs I'll add to the album. I'm considering the size...so that I can accommodate your tags, regardless of what size they are, I want to make the album a standard-ish size. Maybe 8x8 or 8.5 x 11? Lots of coffee staining, tags, ripped fabric and brown ink. I'll show you the album as it progresses...meanwhile, how are your tags coming?

Only 5 days to sign up!

Hugs, pardners!
Paula Clare