Tuesday Special!

Don't get caught shopping at the last minute this Holiday Season! Just in case you missed out last Tuesday, we're again offering 25% off your entire order at www.brushdance.com, but only for one day! Visit us today and check out our thoughtful stationery products... we have something for everyone on your list. Use coupon code BLOG054 at checkout!

Save 25%

No Coupon Code needed!

Save 25% on everything in the store.

Happy Holidays!

Tuesday Special!

Thanksgiving is just two days away, and that means the Holiday Season is officially here! Visit us at www.brushdance.com to find thoughtful gifts for your loved ones. Today only, take 25% off your entire order! Use coupon code BLOG053 at checkout.

Here and There

Good morning!

We have so many amazing things going on that I thought I'd take a little time this morning and list them all in one easy-to-find place.


Giveaways

Over on our Facebook Fan Page, we are trying like mad to reach 300 Fans.  When we do, two randomly selected Fans will each win $25 Gift Cards to our online store.  Come join us.  Get your friends to join us.

We're also giving away boxes of Christmas and Holiday Cards on Facebook. You'll need to participate in our Card Exchange to be entered to win those.  I'm probably the most excited about this and hope to send and receive zillions of cards this season.

Karyn from French Charming is giving away some of the products I sent her.  Her description of her blog is "Lifestyle, Inspiration, and All Things Lovely".   What she doesn't talk about is how cool she is. I contacted Karyn out of the blue after I saw one of her posts and we've exchanged a few emails since.  Here's what I know about Karyn already - she says YES!  She embraces life and all that comes with it.  She's sincere and kind and honest.  And I think you'd really like what she's doing over at French Charming.  (We've exchanged no money with Karyn.)

Kelly Rae Roberts (from our Journey to Wings line) is sponsoring a giveaway on her blog.  One lucky person will win a $50 Gift Card to our online store.  We advertise on Kelly Rae's site, too.  (See below.)



Coupon Codes

We really bumped up the advertising this year on blogs.  You can find our ads on these sites.  Most of the ads come with Coupon Codes that are valid through the end of the year.  These are blogs that I follow and think you would enjoy, too.

Boho Photography

Cup of Jo

C Beth Blog

Kelly Rae Roberts

A Shimmy in My Spirit (Cynthia Louden)

Jeannine Roberts Royce

Blomma Finds


Website Specials


Join our Mailing List to receive exclusive special offers from Brush Dance.  During most of the year, we only send mail once every few weeks.  This time of year, things are a little more busy, but we never send more than one mailing each week.  Our biggest sale of the year is coming right up and the only way to find out about it is through our mailing list.

Right now, we have 20% off all Calendars and Date Books.

Our popular Butterfly Wings Collection is on sale until the end of the month.  This art features the work of Cynthia Louden.

And, finally, we have a few items in the Clearance Section of our site.  Seriously, under $6 for Address Books.


Whew..I think that's it!  Have fun exploring and shopping!

Tuesday Special!

This week's Tuesday Special features our Whirls and Swirls flex journal! This collection has been incredibly popular, and we want to share this journal with our blog readers! Today only, this flex journal is on sale for 50% off!

Click here to see it, and use coupon code BLOG052 at checkout!

Christmas & Holiday Card Exchange

Holiday Card Exchange!

We all enjoy getting Christmas and Holiday Cards.  Some of us even love sending them. (Ahh..the pens, the paper, spreading holiday cheer across the miles!)

Brush Dance is hosting a Holiday Card Exchange for our Fans on Facebook.

Here’s the scoop....

To sign up, just go over to Facebook, become a Fan of Brush Dance (you have to have a Facebook account – but it’s free, easy, and fun), leave a comment letting us know how many people you want to send cards to, and you’re in.  Easy Cheesy!

I’ll send you mail requesting your address and then around December 1, I will send your exchange list.  Sometime before Christmas, you’ll send your card(s) out.  Because we’ll be exchanging names and addresses, you have to be over 18 to join this exchange.

AND!....here’s the super-cool part.  One randomly chosen person out of every five who sign up will receive a FREE box of holiday cards from Brush Dance! Woooo! We would love it if everyone sent Brush Dance Christmas cards, but even if you don’t, we want you to participate in this exchange. It’s all about creating joy in the season!

Happy Happy Holidays!

Interview with Cynthia Louden (Part 2)

This is the continuation of my interview with Cynthia Louden.   Seriously, you want to check out her "go to" list of songs.  So many of them have become favorites of mine, too!


What is your best piece of advice for artists who are just getting started?

You have to love the process. There are so many hurdles to being an artist. If you don't love the "doing" of your art, you will never be able to surmount all of those hurdles. I also think that you have to keep learning and working on your skills. It's a life long process. Artists don't retire.

I know from your blog that you watch So You Think You Can Dance -  who are your favorites this season?

I haven't chosen favorites yet. It's still too early in the season. I really do love the show. First of all the dancing and choreography are magnificent. You would have to pay a pretty penny in New York or London to see dancers this good. I love the passion and dedication of both the dancers and choreographers. I love how the dancers grow and how much they learn and how much the love for their art deepens during the season.

I try to dance around my kitchen every day. It's not that I dance so long each day that I get a good work out. I dance because in just a few minutes I can consistently improve my mood by 15-20%. (Yes, I am embarrassed to admit, I've kept charts.) I talk about it quite a bit on my blog and other women have begun dancing around their kitchens and coming back to my blog to tell me how it improves their moods as well. Having my mood improve by that amount effects everything I do and create the rest of the day. I have this dream of a million women dancing around their kitchens every day. So You Think You Can Dance helps to keep me enthused about dancing in my kitchen. I also find good music on the show.

Which song always puts a Shimmy in Your Spirit?

I have a rather long list of "go to" songs on my iPod that are guaranteed to get me up on my feet dancing. Here are some of my favorites...

Mercy - Duffy (I heard this one first on So You Think You Can Dance)
Shake, Rattle and Roll - Joe Turner (an oldie but definitely a goodie)
Say Hey - Michael Franti
Hey Eugene - Pink Martini (this song always makes me laugh)
Respect - Aretha (no list is complete for me without this one)
Hiphip ChinChin - Club des Belugus (another song I discovered on So You Think You Can Dance)
Let The Good Times Roll - Delbert McClinton (There are so many versions of this song. I think this is my favorite.)
Feelin' Good - Nina Simone
Koop Island Blues - Koop Island (Do you remember the Mia Michaels routine to this song on SYTYCD?)

And, finally, my favorite question – if you weren’t an artist/photographer, what job would you have?

If I wasn't an artist/photographer I think I would want to be a travel writer. If I was in my 20s I would be a dancer trying out for So You Think You Can Dance!



Cynthia's blog (A Shimmy in My Spirit) is a great way to learn more about her and what she has going on every day.  She talks about her creative process, dancing, chocolate, and much more.


Through November, all items in the Brush Dance Butterfly Wings Collection are on sale - save 20%. 

Tuesday Special!

This week's Tuesday Special features our beautiful Enchanted Dreams rectangular magnet. Today only, this magnet is on sale for 50% off!

Click here to see it, and use coupon code BLOG051 at checkout!

Interview with Cynthia Louden (Part 1)

Before we get started with the interview, some important information and links:

Save 20% on the entire Butterfly Wings Collection at Brush Dance

Cynthia Louden's Blog:   A Shimmy in My Spirit

On a personal note:  It was difficult to limit myself to just a few questions for Cynthia - and when I read the answers to the few that I asked (we did this in email), I found myself wanting to sit with her and chat for hours.  I've known for years that Cynthia is diverse, multi-faceted, oh-so-talented, and really - she has done, seen, and experienced so much.  Mmm..yeah, and she's a little bit geeky, too - that always gets bonus points in my book.

On to the interview . . . 

Tell us about a day in your life.  Do you schedule time for creating or is your schedule more free-flowing?

My most creative time is in the morning. I usually wake up with ideas and am eager to get to my computer, cameras and other creative tools. I would love to create every day, but some days are just filled with "to do" lists...the kinds of things you have to do as a free-lance artist - invoicing, shipping, answering emails etc. I try several days a month to set aside time to go out photographing and I photograph a lot when I travel. I'm also a gatherer of inspiration. I carry a camera and notebook just about everywhere I go so I can collect ideas, words, colors, music, texture...whatever inspires me. 

I know you love to travel.  What was your most exciting trip? Where have you not been that you want to see?  Where could you go over and over and never get enough?

I don't know how to take a vacation from my work. Traveling gives me a break from my daily routines and all those to do lists. Yet I always travel as an artist/photographer. I would feel naked not having a camera along on the trip. Gathering inspiration while traveling is a huge part of the fun for me. When traveling I'll get caught up with how light is hitting something or I'll stop to photograph color or texture on a wall, or a reflection in a window or will take a picture of my breakfast. My family and friends are used to it and just keep on doing what they're doing, knowing I'll soon catch up with them.

I would have to say that my most exciting trip was going on a small boat up the Amazon River in Brazil. It was so hot, and the jungle was so dense and there were snakes and scorpions, and caiman and piranha in the river. It was such a different geography and life from what I was used to. My senses were on overload. Everything I smelled, heard, touched, ate and saw was new to me. I was traveling by myself and I was literally trusting strangers who owned the boat with my safety and life. I am glad I had the experience. I have been fascinated with the tropics ever since. But I don't think I would want to do it again...not alone anyway. It may have been the most exciting trip, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I'm really more of a latte or glass of wine at an outdoor cafe kind of person. I think a lot of my favorite traveling moments have been in small towns, villages or neighborhoods watching the local life go by.

I have a long list of places I would still like to visit and photograph. Although I have visited England's small towns and country gardens, the only thing I have seen of London is Heathrow. I would love to spend time exploring London's neighborhoods. Also on my very long list is Venice, Holland, Costa Rica, & Montreal as well as return visits to France, Cuba, Panama and Switzerland. I would love to take tango lessons in Buenos Aires.

I think my favorite places to photograph, no matter what country or city are farmer's markets. I like to get there early so I can enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the vendors arrange their products. And then the action begins. . .neighbors greet neighbors, buyers bargain with sellers, women stroll stall to stall filling up their market baskets. No matter where I’ve witnessed this scene - it feels like abundance. And there's so much to photograph and get inspired by.

How long have you been keeping a Journal? Do you have any advice for someone just getting started with journaling?

I've kept various types of journals for many years. What works best for me is to carry around a small moleskine all the time to collect snippets of ideas, conversations, compositions, quotes and thoughts. I like gluing pictures into my journals and writing on them, especially my iPhone polaroids.  I also write down ideas for my blog and web site. I am journaling less since I began my blog and miss it a lot. I am determined to get back to spending more time with my journals.

For someone just starting to keep a journal, I would suggest making the journal just for yourself - at least at first. If I know all of my notes and snippets are only for my eyes, I am much freer. If I think there is any chance I might be sharing it on my blog or with someone I begin to censor myself and my journaling becomes more controlled. It stops doing the work I need it to do and that's to be a safe place where I can dump good and bad ideas that I can sort through later.

That's it for today.  Stop back next week for more of our interview with Cynthia.

Butterfly Wings on Sale

Everything in our Butterfly Wings Collection featuring the artwork of Cynthia Louden is on sale.

Save 20%

Remember, Brush Dance shipping is just $8 - no matter how large your order.

Return tomorrow for the first part of my interview with Cynthia. She is such a creative, fun spirit.

Tuesday Special!

This week's Tuesday Special is our Thich Nhat Hanh illustrated journal. Today only, this journal is 50% off!

Click here to see it, and use coupon code BLOG050 at checkout!

Courage Doesn't Always Roar Interview

Earlier this year, Mary Anne Radmacher appeared on KATU's AM Northwest to discuss her book "Courage Doesn't Always Roar"

Click here to see the fabulous Mary Anne

Tuesday Special!

It's time for another Tuesday Extra-Special! Today only, take 25% off your entire order at www.brushdance.com with coupon code BLOG049!!!