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!

Fall Holiday Sale

It's time to start thinking about Christmas cards, and Watercolors by Phyllis is here to help and SAVE you money! Now through December 15, 2010, all Christmas boxed sets are 50% off! Each box of 10 cards may be purchased blank or with a special message inside. Shop our Christmas collection today. http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/category-christmas-painting-1-1-9.aspx

Also, be sure to join our email list for the latest updates and offers! http://ow.ly/3ad9W

Fall Promotion Travel Series

As with many travels, we had some delays in our Fall Promotion Travel Series. Please accept our apologies. We have now extended our promotion to include ALL prints and note cards under our travel category. Through the end of November, all travel prints and note cards are 50% off! So stock up and travel vicariously with Watercolors by Phyllis.

Moroccan Market

For today's trip, we are venturing to Morocco in North Africa. Be sure to bring along your dirhams as we are shopping in a souk or Moroccan Market (TR052) with today's featured painting.

"My parents had a wonderful tradition of taking each of their adult children and their spouse on an overseas trip, usually on their 25th wedding anniversary. My husband Jim and I wanted to have that same tradition with our boys but didn't want to wait for their 25th anniversary. We found a wonderful trip in 2007 to Morocco. So along with Mother and Dad and my sister Susan and her husband Steve, we took Peter and Emilia to Africa. Mother painted me this wonderful picture for my birthday, capturing the unique architecture and colorful dress in the marketplaces of Fez." -- Denise Ackerman

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=307, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Moroccan Market, Morocco (TR052) now through the end of November! Come back Monday for the next adventure in our Fall Travel Series!

Baths of Caracalla - Rome, Italy

How about another trip to Italy? Let's go to ancient Rome, to be exact. Jim Ackerman tells the story behind today's featured painting of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy (TR026).

"I'm not quite sure why Mom chose the Baths of Caracalla to paint for me. Maybe it's because she thought I had a fetish. I guess I may, I love to search out ancient bath houses. It didn't end with the bath houses, though - it extends to latrines, outhouses, call them what you will. There are well preserved ruins of both bath houses and latrines at Ephesus and Pammukalle in Turkey, Pompeii and Rome in Italy and other ancient cities in Greece and Morocco. We've seen many ruins of bath houses, but the Baths of Caracalla were special. It was a huge, ornate, bath house, where everybody who was anybody (as long as they were male) would go to relax in a hot tub or sauna, for a rub down, to close a deal or further a personal agenda. I couldn't live like that, but it is interesting to see how they did thousands of years ago." -- Jim Ackerman

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=281, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Baths of Caracalla - Rome , Italy (TR026) now through the end of November! See you Friday for the next featured painting in our Fall Travel Series!

Santorini, Greece

Opa! It's Monday, and we're off to Greece today! Our featured painting is of a door in Santorini, Greece (TR010). Susan Philip shares her story behind this exquisite painting.

"For our parents' 50th wedding anniversary, my sister Denise and her husband Jim treated my parents to a trip to Greece. We tagged along. What a wonderful trip it was! I don't know if you are like me, but I frequently notice themes in the architecture of a country and start to photograph them. In Greece, I photographed doors. It was another obsession. As we followed the mazed pathways of older sections of towns and villages, I was amazed by the individuality and beauty of each door. My collection of doorways became richer at every turn. Mom painted several of these doors when we returned home. This is mine. Each morning as I come down the stairs, it greets me." -- Susan Philip

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=265, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Santorini, Greece (TR010) now through the end of November! Remember to check the blog on Wednesday for the next featured painting in our Fall Travel Series. Where will we go next???

Dingle, Ireland

Today's featured painting in our Fall Travel Series takes us to Dingle, Ireland. Denise Ackerman shares her story below on this beautiful painting.

"In 1998, I took my first trip to Ireland. We rented a van for the six of us (Mom, Dad, Susan, Steve, Lisa, and me) and took to the road in southwest Ireland. One of the very best days of the trip was our tour of the Dingle Peninsula. The jewel of that day was the quaint little town of Dingle. I looked and looked for the perfect souvenir, something that would memorialize the day forever. Finally in a little gift shop I turned to Mother in despair and said, "I just can't find the right thing!" She replied, "Don't worry, I'll paint you something to remind you of the Dingle." And sure enough, she captured the area perfectly in this picture which hangs in my living room." -- Denise Ackerman

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=271, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Dingle, Ireland (TR016) now through the end of November! Come back Monday for the next featured painting in our Fall Travel Series.

Adare, Ireland

Today's featured painting in our Fall Travel Series is TR011 Adare, Ireland. Read below for the fun story that inspired this painting.

"We were on our second visit to Ireland. The first trip had been on a tour bus with no control over stopping and getting just the perfect picture. So six of us had piled into a van and started winding our way through the beautiful countryside. I quickly became obsessed with the thatched-roof cottages that are so typically Irish. 'Stop!' I yelled as we came upon yet another whitewashed, thatched-roofed home. As quickly as possible Dad pulled over. My sister Lisa and I jumped out of the van and ran back down the road toward the cottage. Seeking a faster path, I veered off into a farm field to avoid traffic. Just as I was nearing the perfect spot for a picture, two things happened simultaneously: a large tour bus pulled right in front of my viewfinder and I stepped in a muddy sink hole. It seemed everyone on the bus was watching. My shoes and jeans were covered in mud. That Christmas Mom painted me a watercolor of a thatched-roofed Irish cottage. I am still obsesed and love my every day reminder of this special trip." -- Susan Philip

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=266, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Adare, Ireland (TR011) now through the end of November! Come back Friday for the next featured painting in our Fall Travel Series.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge - Florence, Italy

The second featured painting in our Fall Travel Series is TR031 Ponte Vecchio Bridge - Florence, Italy.

"When my grandparents took my cousin, Peter, and me to Italy for our 13th birthdays, Florence was one of my favorite places. The city is marvelous and colorful and in the midst of it is an old bridge, Ponte Vecchio. It is full of character and charm and lined with shops. The painting Grandma made of the bridge hangs in the entryway of our home and serves as a reminder of an amazing trip." -- Stephanie Harlan

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=286, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Ponte Vecchio Bridge - Florence , Italy (TR031) now through the end of November! Come back Wednesday for the next featured painting in our Fall Travel Series.

Sidewalk Cafe - Isle of Capri, Italy

The first stop in our travels takes us to the Isle of Capri in Italy. Below is the story behind the painting, TR034 Sidewalk Cafe - Isle of Capri, Italy, as told by Peter Ackerman.

This painting is from a trip that I took with a group from my family in October 2002. The group included my Grandpa and Grandma (Dick and Phyllis), Father and Mother (Jim and Denise), and Aunt Lisa. We spent two days during our time in Italy on the Isle of Capri. We spent our time wandering throughout Capri and Anacapri. This painting is of a cafe in Anacapri. I was searching for a marble chess set, and this cafe was next to the store where I ended up purchasing the chess set. Capri was my favorite part of the trip, and this painting reminds me of our time spent there. It hangs in my sunroom in a handmade A.R. Bos frame.

Click here, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/img-details.aspx?pid=289, to take advantage of our Fall Promotion. Save 50% off all note cards and prints of Sidewalk Cafe - Isle of Capri, Italy now through the end of November!

Fall Promotion

Put on your traveling shoes and get ready to travel with us during our Fall Promotion!

Many of Phyllis' paintings were directly inspired from her travels. She was a world traveler, crossing the Atlantic 27 times and the Pacific 4 times. Phyllis often traveled with her family. In fact, she took each of her nine grandchildren on overseas' trips to celebrate their 13th birthdays.

To commemorate the experience, Phyllis would often paint a scene from each trip and give the original paintings to her grandchilden, leaving them with a unique, visual reminder of their first overseas adventure. Aside from traveling with her grandchildren, she went on numerous trips with her children, and several paintings originated from these trips as well.

Over the next few blog entries, we will be showcasing some of Phyllis' paintings and sharing the stories that inspired her masterpieces, and as you join us in our travels, these featured prints and note cards will then be on sale for a limited time!

It's time to travel the world with Watercolors by Phyllis...no passport required!

After the Show: Garfield Park

We had a wonderful time yesterday at the Garfield Park Arts & Craft Show, despite the uncooperative weather. Thank you to all who came out and braved the rain! Also, congratulations to Rhonda of Grand Rapids who won a numbered print of the Mackinac Bridge.

If you were unable to make it to the show yesterday, you can always shop at our website, http://www.watercolorsbyphyllis.com/ for our full collection of prints and note cards. Enter promotion code WINNERS to get a 15% discount on all items through the end of September.

New Cards and Prints added!

Our artist has been busy!  Check out three new images on watercolorsbyphyllis.com.  All three can be ordered as note cards and 5 x 7 prints.

Two of the images come from our recent contest.  The first is our first-prize winner, a painting of Mt. Shuksan in Washington.  The second is our third-prize winner, a painting of a Lake Michigan shore scene near the upper peninsula town of Moran, Michigan.

The third new image is from a painting she did earlier, which she titled Winter Splendor. 

Use promotion code WINNERS to get a 15% discount on these new items (and anything else on our site) through the end of September.

Garfield Park Neighborhood Association Arts & Craft Fair

Watercolors by Phyllis is excited to be a vendor at the 37th Annual Garfield Park Arts & Craft Fair! We also have a few new paintings to showcase and sell as prints and note cards. We look forward to seeing you!

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Garfield Park
334 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI

Congratulations to our contest winners!

After much deliberation, we have chosen the three winners for our summer contest.

First place winner was Mike Albus, who submitted a picture of Mount Shuksan in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington.  Mike won an original watercolor of his photo, along with a 5 x 7 matted print and 10 note cards based on our watercolor rendition of his picture.

Mt. Shuksan

Second place goes to Andrew Fry, with a picture of Robert Frost's house in Greenfield Village.  Andrew wins a 5 x 7 matted print and 10 note cards based on our watercolor rendition of his picture.

Robert Frost's House

Third place is Ron Vananda, for his photo of a Lake Michigan shoreline in Moran Township.  Ron wins 10 note cards based on our watercolor rendition of his picture.

Lake Michigan Shoreline

It will be fun to see how the artist captures these views - stop in again to find out.

Thanks to all who submitted photos for our contest.  Be sure to stop by watercolorsbyphyllis.com  to check out our complete line of prints and note cards.

As our tagline says, be sure to Rediscover the joy of a handwritten note!

Shopping (and checking out) at watercolorsbyphyllis.com

We have tried to make watercolorsbyphyllis.com a pleasant shopping experience for you, and hope that you enjoy browsing through our cards and prints. We have chosen to offer a couple of payment options, using both PayPal and Google Checkout. These both give you great flexibility in using a credit card, debit card, or even your checking account if you set up an account. But did you know that you can use PayPal to check out without setting up an account? Follow these simple instructions:



That's it! Please let us know what you think. If you have any questions or comments, please click on the "Contact Us" link, or send an email to info@watercolorsbyphyllis.com.

Last Chance - Contest ends today

Today is the last day to enter your photo in our contest. If you have a favorite spot or photo that you would like memorialized as a watercolor, enter it in our contest TODAY! Email the image to contests@watercolorsbyphyllis.com. For complete contest details, go here.

Contest Update: You really CAN win a free watercolor!

We're still waiting on your photo entry for our contest. From personal experience, I can tell you that it is exciting to see a photo you have taken end up as a watercolor hanging on your wall. I have a number of them in our house.

I've included a handful of photos I've taken that have made their way from photo to watercolor to prints and cards at watercolorsbyphyllis.com.

The photos themselves aren't anything special, just a way to capture a memory, but when the eye of the artist captures the essence and the brush of the artist puts it on paper, it becomes something special.

Take a look, then go to watercolorsbyphyllis.com and see if you can identify the item taken from the photo. Then, imagine your photo ending up on your wall.

And remember, the only way to be sure you won't win is to not enter. So choose your favorite shot and email it to contests@watercolorsbyphyllis.com by July 31. Just don't use one of my photos.

For complete contest rules and prizes, read our earlier blog post.

CONTEST UPDATE: Win a free original watercolor painting

Less than three weeks remain in our contest. Enter today for your chance to win a free original watercolor painting of your favorite vacation spot.

E-mail a photo of your favorite place to contests@watercolorsbyphyllis.com or mail a print to Contest, Watercolors By Phyllis LLC, PO Box 312, Topinabee, MI 49791.

For full contest details, including prizes, rules and limitations, see our previous blog entry. No purchase necessary, and NO COST to enter - simply email us your picture.

Then, be sure to stop by our web site and browse through our large collection of prints and note cards. Remember, shipping is free on orders over $50.00!

Helping others - you can help, too!

Watercolors By Phyllis is happy to announce that we are donating items to Concern International Inc. to offer in their fund-raising auction July 17.

The Concern International auction will include the following Watercolors By Phyllis items:

• Framed numbered print of the Grand Haven South Pierhead and Inner Lighthouses 
• Numbered print of the Holland Harbor Lighthouse
• Box of 10 notecards of Big Sable Point Lighthouse near Ludington
• Box of 10 notecards of Little Sable Point Lighthouse near Pentwater
• Box of 10 notecards of the Mackinac Bridge

According to their web site, Concern International "is a Christian relief and development organization engaged in activities designed to present the love of Jesus Christ to a hurting world. The needs are met through both short-term disaster relief and long-term projects designed to promote a greater degree of self-sufficiency. Our projects are typically small scale and grass roots in their orientation. Existing programs focus on such areas as public health, church planting, community development and the welfare of children."

For more information on the auction or about Concern International, find them on facebook at facebook.com/pages/Concern-International-Inc or their web site at www.concerninternational.org.

We are pleased to be able to help Concern International raise funds to support their operations through this auction.

Win a Free Original Watercolor from Watercolors By Phyllis

Everybody has a favorite vacation memory - most have pictures of them.  If you have memorialized your favorite vacation spot with a photo, now's your chance to make it even more meaningful.  Between now and July 31, 2010, submit your favorite vacation picture (scenery only, please - we don't do people) to us at contests@watercolorsbyphyllis.com.  Be sure to give us the details surrounding the photo, such as where it was taken, when it was taken, who took it and anything else you think may be pertinent.  Obviously, we are partial to Michigan vacation spots, but are not limiting this contest to just Michigan

Some time in August we will evaluate the thousands of entries and choose our three favorites.  Those three photos will then miraculously turn into watercolors.  The first place winner will receive the original watercolor, a matted 5 x 7 print and a free box of 10 note cards based on the painting.  Second place winner will receive a free 5 x 7 matted print and box of 10 note cards based on the painting.  Third prize winner will receive a free box of 10 note cards based on the painting.

Of course, as with all contests, there has to be a fine print section.  Here you go.

If you send us a photo, 

1. You must 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, break out the memories and share them with us.  We'll help make them everybody's memory.

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.  Be sure to include your contact information.

Mackinaw City Arts & Craft Show

Here are some pictures from our first arts & craft show. We had a wonderful time this past weekend up in Mackinaw City, MI. Thank you to all who visited our booth!

Watercolors by Phyllis, booth 18

Ferry to Mackinac Island

Framed prints & boxed sets of 10 cards

Congratulations to Sophia S. of St. Johns, Michigan for being drawn as our winner! She will receive this matted, limited edition print of the Mackinac Bridge.

Summer Happenings!

What plans do you have for summer?

Check out these two great events:

Mackinaw City Arts & Craft Show

This is a juried show featuring artists from around the country, including Watercolors by Phyllis!

When: Saturday, June 26, 2010 10am to 7pm & Sunday, June 27, 2010 10am to 3pm
Location: Conkling Heritage Waterfront Park near Mackinaw Crossings and Downtown Mackinaw City on South Huron Avenue

Downtown Cheboygan Arts & Craft Show

Watercolors by Phyllis will be showcased in booth 5 as part of the Downtown Cheboygan Summer Street Fair Arts & Craft Show! Tell your friends and family to stop by and check out our beautiful note cards and prints, all from original watercolors of artist Phyllis Bos.

When: Saturday, July 10, 2010 10am to 5pm
Location: Main Street, Cheboygan, MI 49721

Watercolors by Phyllis is excited to be participating in both these events, and we look forward to seeing you there! Mark your calendars. These events are great for the whole family!

Spring Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Watercolors by Phyllis Spring Giveaway:

Jenifer N. - box of 10 cards
Melissa P. - matted print
Linda S. - matted print

Please look for an email from WBP for more information regarding your prize. Thank you to all who entered.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just around the corner.  What better way to remember her than with a handwritten note and print from watercolorsbyphyllis.com.  Forget the fluffy poetry and trite phrases in other cards, tell her how you really feel, in your own words and by your own hand.

Tell her what you've been meaning to say all along in a card, and give her a matted or framed print of the same image to help her remember your love every time she looks at it.

Really.  Rediscover the joy of a handwritten note.   Joy for you, and she who will receive it.

Spring Giveaway!

Spring has sprung at Watercolors by Phyllis! Register on our site by May 1st, and you will automatically be entered to win a box of 10 cards or one of two matted prints.

Registration is easy. Just create a username and password using the register link on the bottom right corner of our home page, and you're instantly registered in the giveaway.

Contestants must be registered by May 1, 2010 11:59 pm EST to qualify for giveaway. Winners will be notified by email. One entry per person. All prizes to be determined by WBP.

After-Christmas SALE

All Christmas cards and prints are now 50% off. Stock up for next year! Sale ends 1/31/10.

Plus, FREE SHIPPING has been extended through January.