Pixie's View Palette

How about a soothing, neutral palette today?

"Pixies View" available as prints, iPhone cases/skins, and cards here: http://society6.com/BethThompson/Pixies-View_Print

"From the Ground" Color Palette

These are so fun to make!  Enjoy my newest palette, created from my print called, "From the Ground", available on prints and products here: 
http://society6.com/BethThompson/From-the-Ground_Print

Leaf it to Me Color Palette

I'm starting a new segment on my little blog here for color palettes created from my art and photography pieces.  Let's start with the newest one.  Since it's oh so girly and would be a great palette for a girly girl's room. My daughter is the epitome of girly, so I gravitate towards palettes she will like.  We'll switch it up next time of course. :)

Art prints and products with this piece can be found here:
http://society6.com/BethThompson/Leaf-it-to-me_Print
and here:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/beththompsonart/works/8968594-leaf-it-to-me

BOGO FREE SALE!

Yes, you read that right, BUY ONE get one FREE!  Only in my Etsy shop at http://bethjt.etsy.com on Photography prints and ACEOs.  Just click on those sections and buy one print, then tell me in the notes to seller which print of equal or lesser value FREE.  I love that word, let's say it again, FREE!

Spread the word!  If someone purchases a print and tells me you sent them, I'll send you BOTH a bookmark of your choice FREE too.  Make sure they know to give me your email so I can get in contact with you.  (I never spam email addresses!)

Yummy Easy Baked Eggs

I recently saw an idea online for baked eggs, and decided to try it one night with what I had on hand. It was so easy and so delicious, if you're an egg eater, you've got to try it. It only takes five minutes to prepare.

What you'll need:

A small oven safe crock or ramekin, one for each person you're feeding.

Two eggs (per crock)

Sea Salt

Ground pepper

Parmesan, grated

Oregano

Real bacon pieces

Shredded cheese, whatever kind is your favorite.

Cooking spray (or use butter, but

I like to avoid that when it's not necessary)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray your crock with the cooking spray. Crack two eggs into it. Don't stir or beat them, just let them sit whole (unless you don't like eggs if they're not scrambled, then scramble away).

Sprinkle sea salt, ground pepper, parmesan, oregano, and bacon on top. Again, don't stir anything, just sprinkle it over the top.

Put the crock in the oven. My oven is a bit low temp, so it takes anywhere from 25-30 minutes

to get the eggs as firm as I like them. If you like your eggs softer or runny, use less time. You can check them from time to time after around 15 minutes with a fork and see how they are doing.

Once the eggs are the way you like, pull the crock out of the oven. Sprinkle your shredded cheese on top and cover the crock with something for a few minutes to let the cheese melt.

Grab a fork, eat it! And try not to go right back in the kitchen and make another like I almost did the first time.

Imagine all the possibilities, you could put anything you want in there! Mushrooms, olives, ham, spinach...what do you like in omelettes? Put it in! Or do what I did and grab whatever you've got on hand. No butter, no frying, that's a bonus. Serve with toast, fruit...whatever.

Multi-strand Yarn Box

How many times have you sat crocheting with a skein on each side of you, just daring them to fall or cross lines (paradox!) and going crazy because you don't even want to get up to take a break for fear of the consequences. Here's a simple solution I've been using for a few years now.

Materials: Lidded box, 1/2 inch rubber grommets, Dremel. (if you don't have one yourself, ask around, someone will!)

I got this cool divided box from Ikea for $9.99. But you can use any lidded box that will fit two yarn skeins in it. Make sure they don't fit too tightly, you don't want them jammed in there. You want the yarn to be able to come out of the skein freely. Take your yarn with you when you shop!

The 1/2 inch rubber grommets are from Home Depot, I'm sure they have them at most hardware stores. These were in the plumbing section, not that I pretend to know why.

First trace the inner hole of your grommet where you want the hole to go with a pen. Then use your Dremel to burrow out the whole. After a few trials, I found this easiest by starting in the middle of the circle and slowly moving outwards to the traced circle. You want to go just a little bit bigger than your traced hole to make getting the grommet in easier, but just a smidge. You can also do it the mathematician way and actually measure out a 1/2 inch hole and be all precise about it. Pinch the grommet, stuff it in the hole, and voila! A nice safe hole for your yarn to come through without being damaged or snagged.

I put two holes side by side on the long side of the box for shorter skeins, and two closer together vertically on the short side of the box for longer skeins. The ones on the ends can be used for the longer skeins stacked on top of each other rather than side by side like the shorter balls or skeins.

Now it'll be easy to set your project aside and even travel with it without those evil crossed lines and tangled skeins. Have fun!

T-Shirt Giveaway! for Fans

It's time for a giveaway!

Yaaaaay! Come on, get up, jump around, you know you want to.

Want to win a t-shirt of YOUR CHOICE from my tee shop? Of course you do. Even if you're not a tee lover (really? why the heck not?) then someone you know is and it'll make a great gift!

To be eligible for entry, you must be a fan on Facebook...or a "liker" as it is these days.

http://www.facebook.com/beththompsonart

Entry is super easy. Simply enter your email in the form on my facebook page. (Look for the S logo on the tabs on the left, where it says Free Tee.) If I get up to 250 likes by July 15th, I'll draw for a second tee! So tell your friends and up your chances.

For an extra entry, go to my shop and comment on this blog post telling me which tee you would choose if you win!

http://theteechick.spreadshirt.com

The small print: No purchase necessary and no cost at all to you. No shipping, no tax, no "handling", no membership fees, no subscriptions...this is a true giveaway. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Your contact info, i.e. email, will not be used or distributed in any way. I won't spam you, I promise. I will only use it to contact you about winning.

Sorry, only USA and Canada can enter. (yes, of course that includes APO/FPO)

"So if this doesn't cost me anything, why are you doing it?" Thank you to my fans, advertising for me and new fans for my biz. Simple as that.

Drawing for this giveaway will use random.org to be fair and impartial.

Last day to enter is Friday, July 15th.

Beth Thompson Art

Hey all, I know I've been MIA. My wrist started giving me fits after the holiday rush, and it just isn't getting better. I'm not able to crochet, and hence not able to make new patterns or any inventory. I can't even do the special requests from my fabulous customers. I'm sorry, and I hope in the near future it'll get better and I can get back to using this beautiful yarn collection I look at every day.

In the meantime, lucky me, I have a left arm too! And with that left arm I am able to draw again. So I've been working on the art side of my business while the right arm heals. And with that has come lots of new prints, photographs, and my tee shop is back open and chock full of lots of fun things to wear and use. Find me at my new homes:

Prints, photography, gifts: http://bethjt.etsy.com or http://www.beththompsonart.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beththompsonart

T-shirts etc: http://theteechick.spreadshirt.com

Make sure you click that like button on Facebook, I want to have a giveaway really soon! Thanks for your patience and good thoughts for my wrist to heal.