Friday, December 9, 2011

25 Days of Giveaways--Day 10

Welcome, Auckland, New Zealand!

And all the rest of the world. It is midnight on Day Ten in Auckland, even though it is 18 hours earlier in my neck of the woods. Tonight is also the Long Nights Moon, which is the full moon of December. It is an auspicious time for a giveaway, me thinks. I am so grateful for Tina at Living without Sophia and Ellie for hosting the 25 Days of Giveaways every year. I have been participating in this for the last few years, and always think it is an incredible way to bolster spirits and bring our community together. Plus, I just love giving shit away. I am opening this at midnight in Auckland and posting winners on Sunday. That gives you the 10th in your time zone to put in a comment to win.

This year, I am offering three giveaways. The first two are finished, original mizuko jizo bodhisattva paintings in acrylic. Both paintings were created specifically for this giveaway. I have been working more in acrylic this year and experimenting with some other media. The first painting is a joyous mizuko jizo painting in acrylic and oil crayon. The canvas is 12" x 24".


 The second painting giveaway was donated by someone who won one of my paintings in another giveaway on Creme de La Creme. She wanted to remain anonymous, but you all love and know her. She already has a painting of mine and wanted to use this opportunity to share my work with another person. And so, the second painting is also joyous mizuko jizo bodhisattva. It is significantly smaller, and the photograph crappier because I could only photograph it tonight. It is 5" x 7". Purple background. The purple is much gentler than the picture makes it appear. Both of these paintings are on canvas.



I am also going to use this post to tell you about some upcoming events. In the month of January, the Mulberry Art Studio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will host the art exhibit five. Stephanie Paige Cole, author of Still. and the founder of the Sweet Pea Project, is exhibiting the breathtaking and aching work that emerged after the her daughter Madeline was stillborn as well as some more recent work. In addition to Stephanie, I will be showing my recent acrylic paintings and reading my poetry at the artists' reception on January 15th from 1p to 4p. Other artists and poets in the show are Kara Jones, Joanne Cacciatore, Sherokee Ilse, Laura Seftel, Catherine Bayly, Carly Dudley, Janel Atlas and more. At the reception, I will be selling prints and postcards of the work featured in the show.

In addition, (Breathe deeply. Don't puke.) I will be selling copies of my newly pressed, self-published chapbook called Of This, We Will Not Speak. I am finally releasing these words and these works into the world after getting some published here and there, and trying to get others published for much too long. Half of the chapbook is my grief poetry and the other half is work written before that time. It also make a very reasonably priced Christmas gift at $9.95. It is only 27 pages of poetry. And so, because of this newly printed piece, I am offering a third giveaway. You can win a copy of my chapbook.


If you are interested in purchasing postcards, prints or chapbooks at the art reception on January 15th, twenty percent of the proceeds from the reception sales will be donated to the Sweet Pea Project. If you are in the area, please come by the show (and let me know in the comments below.) I would love to connect with each of you in person and if not there, then somewheres else, peoples.

This giveaway is open to anyone--babylost or not. The only way to enter is to leave a comment. Every year I ask people to choose which prize they want to receive, and this year is no different. In the comment section of this post, tell me which prize you would like to win. If you want to be in the running for more than one, that is totally cool. Leave a second comment with that prize too. I am going to cut up the comments, put them in different hats and choose them. I usually ask people to tell me something else about them, so I can get to know people. If you are a babylost mama or papa, tell me your child's birthday and/or loss day, so I can add it to my calendar. And for the personal aspect part of the comment, tell me one of three things: 1. what you feel your greatest strength is, 2. tell me the secret dream life you would have liked to live or are trying to live (spy, rock star, famous knitter) or 3. what book has been the most influential book of your life. If you are entering for more than one, you must answer a different question.

I am posting this today, which means you get thirty-six hours or something to leave a comment on this post.   Please remember that you can always purchase my work on my Etsy site. Or email me directly and we can work on something together. And my new poetry chapbook can be ordered on Amazon or on Create Space.

22 comments:

  1. Lovely work in your acrylics. And I'm so overjoyed to read about your chapbook...I know I will be adding it to my bookcases.
    You know about Lyra, and her December 18th anniversary.
    I would have loved to live in New York or Chicago and done something involving music...in a band or dancing.

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  2. What wonderful giveaways! I would love to win the little painting with the purple background. I'm slowly trying to find new decorations for Drew's room that don't have his name on them, so that one day when he has a little sibling, they'll have their own tiny artwork collection and this would be perfect!!

    Drew's birthday June 30, 2010. He was stillborn at 37.5 weeks.

    Right now, I don't think I'm a strong person, but I guess my greatest strength for me is the fact that I've been able to keep living without Drew. It hasn't been easy, but it's one of the few things I'm actually proud of myself for doing.

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  3. I want to win your book. Eliza's birthday is December 6th. And my greatest strength is that I am relentless. Like many strengths, it is also a weakness.

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  4. I want to win the book! You are a fabulous writer and I would love to read it. Well, I'll read it whether I win or not, but I'd still like to win. :)

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  5. I would love to win the large 12" x 24" Jizo painting. We're moving this weekend and I would love to have him on my wall behind Calypso's Memorial case :)

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  6. I would love one of the Jizo paintings!

    Parker William was born Sept. 21, 2009 and died Sept. 23, 2009

    Dream life; both my boys healthy and living. I've always wanted to live somewhere very secluded, Montana or Wyoming on a huge peice of property with dogs and horses, living off our land. Being surrounded by the peacefulness and quiet of wide open country and wilderness. The meditation opportunities are endless, unlike here in suburbia; just when oyu think you get a nice quiet moment, some dickhole neighbor fires up his lawn mower or the dog starts barking at some solicitor coming to the door trying to get me to hire a cleaning company.

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  7. Oh Angie, lovely to have you (almost)in our timezone, even if it is only virtually!

    You've written a little book of poetry - wow! I would love love love a copy.

    I think you know Zainab's birth/death day already, but it is 27 December - in the same week as Lucia. I'll take q3 thanks. The book is Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. I read it when I was 16 and numerous times since then, so that I feel that familiarity and history of an old school friend towards it. My best friend loves it too and we share history with it - that book is almost like the third person in our friendship.

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  8. Hi Angie. Such great give away prizes! I would love, love, love to win a copy of your chapbook!

    My daughter is Gracie, stillborn on 8.1.09 @ 36 weeks.

    Instead of the physical therapist that I am, my true calling is to marine biology, specifically with humpback whales. Would love to do research following them back and forth from Alaska to Hawaii and back each year.

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  9. Angie, I would love the 12"x24" painting. It speaks to my heart with both it's meaning and it's calm, joyful lines and color.

    I'd say my greatest strength is a sense of humor. Occasionally inappropriate, maybe, but it sure has gotten me through life with some great memories!

    Also, can't wait to read your book! I'll order that on payday!

    Love, Jill A.

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  10. I would love your chapbook! This is such a sweet giveaway.

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  11. I would love to have a copy of your book!

    My angel Sydney was born and died on 2/10/09.

    I dream of being a novelist. So many stories in my head, but they never make it to paper. I need to work on that.

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  12. I would love a copy of your book. You know about my son, and his remembrance date is 12/9. He would have been a year old yesterday. My greatest strength at this point in my life is that I am still living after experiencing such heartwrenching pain.

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  13. You are so talented, Angie. I love all your work and would love to receive any of your pieces (art work or book). :) My daughter's name is/was Ella and she was still born on March 15, 2009. If I could have a secret talent, I would love have an amazing singing voice. I love music, but am so tone deaf. Happy Holidays. Thinking of Lucy.

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  14. Ooh, the book. Please! I think the secret life I would have liked to live is.... the one where she didn't die. Boring and predictable answer, I know. But that life had been, up until that point, pretty damn good to me. I wish it could have stayed on that path, though I know that gets complicated to wish for now, as that would mean Angus and JuJu would not be here.
    Though I do wish we'd squeezed in some more travel before we decided to build a family. So many more exotic places in the world I'd love to see.
    xo

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  15. I totally didn't do my personal aspect of my earlier comment. Mostly because I'm in the middle of moving and fail.

    My angel is Calypso Paikea Rhyder my whale rider. Born 6.14.2007 and died 23 short days later on 07.07.07. Ironically 3 7s are heaven's number.

    My strength is through my ability to help others. That is what gets me through the day.

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  16. I have already been honored to win one of your paintings, so I'd love the chapbook now. Thank you, dear friend, for participating and being the wonderful you that you are.

    Dream life: to have my KK here with me. 2nd wish: fairy tale world. Everybody eventually lives happily ever after there.

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  17. I love your paintings but since I have one in memory of our George from you in his memory book I'd feel greedy entering the draw for another. I would love to put my name in the draw for your new poetry book. George was born full-term stillborn, dying during my labour, on May 19, 2009. My strength is writing. I've worked as a journalist, blogging after George's death kept me from going crazy (mostly because I met other blms through the blogs), and I'm freelancing to help support our family. I'd love to write fiction but have no time currently because of the work deadlines. Some day.

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  18. What?! You published some of your work! I am so buying it!!! Thanks for participating again Angie! xo

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  19. I have one of your dear Mizuko jizo paintings - I look forward to getting a copy of your poetry!

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  20. I've already got one of your mizukos, but I might already have one from your guest artist too. So I guess the book would be best for me.

    But (as always) I do love those mizukos :-)

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  21. I would love to have the smaller painting. It reminds me of my son Kai- his "dirth" was at term on June 12,2010. I'm afraid the only alternative life I can focus on at this point is mother to a living child. But I am finding that faith (in what I have NO idea) is one of my greatest strengths...

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  22. I would love to win your new book, but if I don't, I'll buy it anyway. Of course. I wanted to be an actress. On stage, I've always found my greatest escape. Being someone else for a few hours a night not only lets me escape my life for a bit, it helps me to better understand other people's struggles. My favorite part I've ever played was Rose in "The Woolgatherer" (look it up; I promise it's worth it). If I could live my dream life I'd be acting on stage for pay, not necessarily a lot, but enough to pay the bills and feed the kiddos.

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