Summer's back in northern Michigan!

We would like to wish summer a very happy and warm welcome to northern Michigan.  With summer comes a number of arts and crafts shows around the state, and we are happy to be able to participate in a handful of them.  We just finished consecutive weekend shows up north, one in Cheboygan and the other in Mackinaw City.  We have more to come in those cities later this summer, as well as a show in Garfield Park in Grand Rapids.

Do you have a special show we should attend? Please let us know - we want to be where you are!

We gave away two prints in June, one at each show.  Here are our two winners:

Congratulations to Tammy K. of Indian River, MI! She was randomly selected as the winner of our Lake Michigan Shoreline print the weekend of June 15-16 Washington Park Arts & Craft Show.

Congratulations to Doreen S. from Alanson, MI! Doreen won a print of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse from our drawing at the Mackinaw City Arts & Crafts Show June 23-24.

Check back for our upcoming show schedule. You can also follow us on Facebook, foursquare or twitter to see what's happening in our world.

Show's over, and another winner has been chosen

We had beautiful weather for the Mackinaw City Arts & Craft show this weekend in Mackinaw City, MI. This is what our booth looked like, in case you didn't make it to the show.

We had a drawing for a numbered, limited edition print of the Mackinac Bridge, and are pleased to announce that we have selected our winner from those who stopped by the booth and entered the drawing. Congratulations to Nancy T from Texas!

If you missed us at this show, make plans to visit us later this year in Cheboygan, again in Mackinaw City and closing out the summer at Garfield Park in Grand Rapids.

Mackinaw City Arts & Craft Show

Join us this weekend, June 25-26th, for the Mackinaw City Arts & Craft Show at Conkling Heritage Park on South Huron Avenue. The show hours are Saturday 10am-7pm & Sunday 10am-3pm. We are excited to showcase our note cards and prints for the second year in a row! Please come check out our booth; it's sure to be a FUN time for all who attend!

The WINNERS are in!

Congratulations to the winners of our Spring Flowers Contest on this, the first day of summer. Thanks to all who entered our contest this year, and we look forward to seeing more of your photos for our next contest.

I can never figure out if it's best to start with third place and work up, or first place and work down. Maybe we should have a contest to see which is the best way to announce winners, but not now.

Our third prize winner is Peggy S of Temecula, CA with her very colorful flower bush. I'm sure the flowers have names, but not being a botanist, I don't know them, and Peggy didn't tell us, so they will ever be referred to as "Peggy's Flower Bush".

For finishing third, Peggy will receive a boxed set of 10 note cards based on her photo. Congratulations, Peggy!

Second prize goes to Jill G of Grand Rapids, MI and her photo taken at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

For winning second prize, Jill will receive a box of 10 note cards based on her photo plus a 5" x 7" matted print of the watercolor painting based on her photo.

And now, for the announcement you've all been waiting for, the grand prize winner of our contest is Jason C of St. Paul, MN.

As grand prize winner, Jason will receive the actual watercolor based on his painting, a 5" x 7" matted print plus a box of 10 note cards.

Once again, congratulations and thanks to all who entered! Stop by watercolorsbyphyllis.com and find your favorites.

Springing to Life!

Spring is here! I know those of us in Michigan are doubting that after the last couple of days, but we are starting to see some flowers poke their heads out of the ground and up through the snow. We're celebrating spring at Watercolors by Phyllis in two ways.

First, we're having a spring special. From now through the end of May, take 10% off your order at www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com with contest code SPRING2011. Remember, shipping is free on orders over $50.00.

Most importantly, we're having another photo contest - SPRING FLOWERS CONTEST. Submit your favorite floral snapshot (that you have taken) to contests@watercolorsbyphyllis.com. Contest starts April 18, 2011 and ends May 31, 2011. All entries must be received by May 31, 2011 11:59 EST. Along with your photo, include your full name, address, phone number, and email address. If you don't have a digital copy of your photo, you can mail a print to us at Watercolors By Phyllis, PO Box 312, Topinabee, MI 49791. Sorry, but we will not be able to return any entries sent by mail. Winners will be notified by email by June 30, 2011.

We will evaluate the entries and choose our three favorites. All three favorites will be used as inspiration for watercolor paintings by artist Emilia Ackerman. The first place winner will receive the original watercolor rendition of their submitted photo, a matted 5 x 7" print and a free box of 10 note cards based on the painting. The second place winner will receive a free 5 x 7" matted print and box of 10 note cards based on their photo-inspired painting. Third prize winner will receive a free box of 10 note cards based on their photo-inspired painting.

If you send us a photo,

1. You must own or at least have the right to send us the photo, and by sending it to us you are indemnifying us (Watercolors By Phyllis LLC) from any copyright or trademark infringement or any other liability related to the photo and its use.


2. You are granting us (Watercolors By Phyllis LLC) the non-exclusive, transferable, worldwide, royalty free right to use and distribute the photo and any painting or print based on that photo, without limit, as we see fit.


3. One entry per email address, so pick your best photo.

So go through your pictures, or go to the garden and take some new ones. We'll help make them everybody's memory.

A Kenyan Safari

Have you seen the latest addition to our "Animal" section? "Kenyan Lion" was painted by Emilia Ackerman in December from a photo taken by Julie Link on her 2009 safari in Kenya. Julie wrote about the lions in an article for Our Daily Bread. Here's what she had to say:

"The lounging lions in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve look harmless. They roll on their backs in low-lying bushes. They rub their faces on branches as if trying to comb their magnificent manes. They drink leisurely from streams. They stride slowly across dry, scrubby terrain as if they have all the time in the world. The only time I saw their teeth was when one of them yawned.

"Their serene appearance is deceiving, however. The reason they can be so relaxed is that they have nothing to fear—no shortage of food and no natural predators. The lions look lazy and listless, but they are the strongest and fiercest of all. One roar sends all other animals running for their lives."

You can purchase a print or card based on this painting at www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com.

An Amazing Thanksgiving Deal!

ALL 5x7" matted prints (generic and numbered) are 50% OFF starting 12 am EST Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 28, 2010. Stock up, we offer something for everyone on your Christmas list!