This book looks like one I’ll be needing to acquire. And soon.

A Map of the World according to Illustrators & Storytellers. (on amazon)

You know They Draw and Cook? Really interesting recipe illustrations made by anyone who submits? There’s one for MAPS. Allllllll sorts of maps: food, animals, landmarks, you name it. I can’t believe I only just found out about it (or else twas discovered and forgotten). It’s quite fun to dig around, see for yourself.

The giveaway is slowwwwly creeping towards its end. You have two more days, people! If you’ve been holding off, claiming “indecision,” now’s the time to whip out the eenie-meenie-miney-mo. Make a choice! You can always change it later, if necessary. But you have until midnight on Saturday (Chicago time, East Coasters), and as of now, the odds are pretty good you’ll come out a winner.

In more important news, however, I have opened my etsy shop! I’m very excited, and though terrified at the thought of handling it all, I think it will be a great addition to my Creative-but-Poor Chic lifestyle. If you don’t want to buy something, that’s fine, but at least go take a look! If you like it, feel free to pin it, share it, tell someone, I don’t care. Anything!

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway. Can’t win if you don’t enter. Eh eh?

While you’re THINKING of what you might possibly want to submit for the giveaway, here’s a little TED Talk for you. His points about positive thinking were a phenomenal pick-me-up today, and I think you should watch. Twelve minutes well-spent.

(Just to clarify, this image is NOT the item being given away. This is just an example.)

Hey! You! Who I haven’t seen in a while. I’ve been quite busy, and those of you who know me personally are aware that I’ve been swallowed up by watercolors for many weeks now. But the good news is that something has finally resulted. And it looks great! Kira, over at Her New Leaf contacted me about working on some hand painted work for her blog, and she finally launched its new design today! Working with her, savvy blogger that she is, has kind of kick-started my brain to get into gear and start an etsy shop. I’d been dragging my heels for a while, but I think I’ve figured out a way to finally get myself to set it up.

Now, we all love free stuff (I admit, I’ve even skipped a week of checking Google Reader just to come back for 5 min, search “giveaway,” and act accordingly), and I’ve even been lucky enough to win some things, but what about you, my friends and loyal blog readers?! You’ve gotten nothing out of this, so it’s about time you got a chance. I’ve decided to launch my first (EVAR!) giveaway. And I don’t have the willpower (or the finances) to give away any fantastic design books or neat products So you, dear friends, are fortunate enough to have found yourself at a giveaway post for a painting!

I’m new to the giveaway game, but here goes:

You will win a semi-custom watercolor painting by me, Katie Gavenda. It will probably be an 8″ x 10″ painting, on archival paper, and here’s the best part (for me, at least). You’re going to tell me what to paint! “Semi-custom” means you pick the content, but the style and colors are up to moi. All you have to do is comment on this very post with words, a quote, or a phrase of some sort that you want me to paint for you, in the case that you are the winner. This is an open forum, no one will judge. Liking Blueberry English on Facebook gives you an extra entry- just mention it in your comment.

The giveaway begins now, and ends at 11:59pm on Saturday, May 12. A winner will be selected at random, announced the next day, and will receive a painting in the mail as soon as I complete it. I have decided that at some point during this giveaway I WILL launch my etsy store, and I will certainly tell you all when that occurs. Nice way to give it a deadline, right?

Alright. There are just a few notes I’d like to make:

1. Keep it reasonable. Nothing too crude and no paragraph quotes. I’m thinking at most, several words, but once it crosses the “several” line, we’re looking at a lot of work.

2. I’m comfortable with lettering. Not so much with objects or items, so this is why we must stick to words, people. I will paint (pretty much) whatever you’d like though. Make it funny, make it sentimental, make it factual, I’m fine with it all. If you want “Buffalo Snot,” you, my friend, will receive a painting of the words “Buffalo Snot.” Keep it, give it away, whatever you want. So much freedom! Ahhh!

3. If you don’t want to put the phrase/word in the comment you leave, for any reason, then you’ll have to let me know your request if/when you win.

4. I really won’t do “Keep Calm and Carry On.” I think it’s safe to say that phrase has run its course.

I can’t wait to hear what you all come up with! And I’m pretty ecstatic you made it to the bottom of this lengthy post.