Fresh Find Giveaway Friday!

 Win this 8x10 original watercolor Strawberry Fields Bunny!

(see details at the bottom of the post)

I was so excited when Alison decided to coordinate with me to do a giveaway for you all! Last week, was not only my Dad's birthday, but also my sister's birthday. On her wishlist was a piece of art that she found on Etsy by the artist Alison Fennell. 

Let me tell you, I was BLOWN away by the special treatment and the attention to detail that Alison gave to me once I placed my order. Not only did my sister LOVE her magpie painting, but she was really impressed by the original handwritten owl birthday card that Alison created and included. 

It has been a long time since I've received such wonderful customer service that I was intrigued by Alison and the way she conducts business, so I gave her a mini-interview via email (since she is all the way over in Wales!) and wanted to share with you all what she had to say. 

How did you get started making your lovely artwork?

I first got started in art when I saw a local art show and the artist was there himself. I have never met a real artist and I had always loved watercolors. I bought one of his there and then and it coast nearly half a week's salary - but I had to have it. Then I asked him if he did teaching classes and he said he did and was actually running a total beginners watercolor weekend the following weekedn. The rest in history - that was 1994. I painted with him for 6 months twice a week in a group and have been experimenting and teaching myself with videos, books and lots of paper since.

What inspires you day to day?

What inspires me are the dramatic effects of light that models all we see. I love the conterchange of light and dark as it falls on anything. I spend a lot of my time squinting at things to see the shadows better and slow down in the car to look at a fab image when I shouldn't!

Any advice for aspiring small business owners?

I would always follow through on all sales. ALWAYS acknowledge your client - NEVER delay thanking them for selecting your work - this is a must. No body likes to feel invisible and it is rude. Always ship on same day if possible and make sure your packaging and presentation are as attractive and effective as possible. I think if you take the time to write customs labels legibly and print your clients address in a nice font with your logo it looks professional and people feel they can trust the quality and attention to detail of everything you do. When I write thank you notes I never rush and I am focussed entirely on that and I think of the person that has bought this painting and what it will be like for htem unwrapping it. Being in the moment every step of the way.

Which of your paintings means the most to you?

The piece that I have at the moment that means the most is one called the Raven - I just love the stark raw beauty of this bird with its uncompromising silhouete and blackes bluey feathers and his hooked gnarled beak.

Thank you Allison! I absolutely loved your advice for small business owners! Everyone could use a bit of this knowledge in everyday life as well! For more about Alison, check out this article and her blog. 

GIVEAWAY details: 

1. To enter the Strawberry Fields Bunny giveaway, simply visit Alison's Eastwitching Etsy shop to check out Alison's artwork and leave a comment on this post between today, Friday, July 30th, 2010 and Sunday, August 18th at Midnight CST telling me which piece is your favorite. A winner will be selected at random and will be announced the following Monday.

2. To receive an additional entry, you can link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.

3. Post about this giveaway on Twitter with a link to this blog post for another entry (follow @jamigoldsmith on twitter in order to show me your tweet). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your additional entry after tweeting about the giveaway.

4. Please follow imagine on the sidebar on the right. Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your e-mail in your comment. Your e-mail address will never be used for anything other than to notify you if you are the winner.

Great news! The giveaway is open WORLD WIDE! Alison will ship anywhere in the world! Alison, in the run up to what will be her 1000th visitor, is preparing to shower that lucky visitor with gifts...which will include THEIR OWN CHOICE OF A FREE ORIGINAL FROM HER STORE! Plus, several 10% discount vouchers for their FRIENDS and FAMILY! Thank you for entering and good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

the winner is Ludmila! Congratulations!