Under the weather...

...way under, unfortunately. Whatever this highly virulent strain of yuckiness is, it already gave my Mom walking pneumonia and knocked me on my back so fast it made my head spin. But, I think I will live. I will return to the planned blog activities just as soon as I'm feeling a bit better. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Canton trip (boo hoo) , but we will attempt to go next month. I have to say, I have the most wonderful husband in the world - not only has he taken care of me, but he has taken care of running errands and helping my Mom and Dad as she is so sick and my Dad doesn't drive. He's truly wonderful - what a blessing!! And so far, he hasn't picked up this hideous bug - thank goodness!

I miss you guys when I can't sit here at the computer and look endlessly at your wonderful blogs - I'm looking forward to when I can get back to that. You all mean more to me than you'll ever know...

The Scripture above says it really well:

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement." Philemon 7

See you soon friends...

www.beckyschultea.com

Well, on this past Wednesday, 7 months to the day after I officially became "Becky Schultea", I finally launched my new portfolio website: http://www.beckyschultea.com/! The banner above is new (made to coordinate with the Just Bee 'n Me banner) and the whole site is fresh and new with lots of new art in the portfolio section, and an "About Becky" section which I did not have before. Ahhh...it's sooo good to get this done!

I always appreciate you guys coming by - warms my heart every time!! Thank you SO MUCH!! There's lots more planned for the blog over the next few days and weeks - here's a preview:

• Reveal my 10,000th Just Bee 'n Me visitor (actually the site that referred them). I'm surprising them with a Calendar!! (ps, I've only been tracking site visitors since August '07 - I wish I had stats going back much farther - oh well, this is still a fun milestone to celebrate)
  


• Unveil New Blog Award: I'm going to start a new blog award (the name of the award is a surprise) and reveal the award criteria, the image, and the first 5 recipients - fun!!
  


• Share Brand New Blog Buddies: I LOVE finding new blogging buddies and I want to establish a regular day each week to formally introduce you to some of my new pals who are sure to inspire and delight you too!
  


• Way-Back Wednesdays: It'll be nostalgia time around here on Wednesdays - whether it's vintage family photos, retro greeting cards, my old report cards, flashback-fashions, scans of my old artwork, or whatever I can pull out of the way-back machine that I think will be interesting. I'll also be inviting you to play along so we can lament the loss of innocence or laugh at the ludicrous looks of yesterday together.
  


• Road Trip to Canton! Hubby and I and sweet little Maddie are heading up the road to "First Monday Trade Days" in Canton Texas next weekend - I'm SO EXCITED!! It's one of the largest Flea Markets in the nation and has everything you can possibly imagine for sale. I am looking forward to picking up some vintage goodies, but more importantly, I'll be trend-watching to get a good read on 2008 colors, styles and other ideas. Yeah!! I'll have lots of photos to share!!
  
  
• Much, much more...

I hope you'll visit regularly, hang around for a while, and leave encouragements from time to time - I appreciate y'all more than you'll ever know! And by the way, I will be making the rounds to your blogs more regularly and leaving encouragements more often, I promise. I miss it when I don't regularly know what's happening in your neck of the woods...

Ain't the Internet grand?

"My dog ate my blog"

Being a mommy to a new puppy has been SO VERY fun - but it is also quite time consuming and challenging at times even - you won't hear me complaining though - just look at that SWEET face!!! It's all SO worth it!! Maddie is PURE JOY to hubby and I. But, things like blogs, and illustrating, and creative activities all have to wait their turn when puppy-raising takes precedence. But you know what - that's OK, because I wouldn't trade anything for this...

'nuff said... :o)

Illustration Friday: 100%

(click image to see detail)

Well, I am very happy to be back participating in Illustration Friday after a lengthy hiatus while I finished my 2008 Calendar (it's finally done, yay!!). I'm just getting this one in under the wire, but I had the idea and wanted to see it through. This was a fun topic - one that made you go "hmmm". I settled upon the 100% Texan theme as I'm reflecting on the 2 year anniversary of my return to my home state after living 8 years in Colorado. I LOVED Colorado and miss it there - particularly the climate and my friends, BUT, as Dorothy says "there's no place like home", and I wanted to celebrate that just a bit with this silly little salute to the Lone Star State. Enjoy!

And if any of y'all are ever in Texas, be sure and drop by and say "howdy", ya hear!! :o)

And the Giveaway Goes To...

From My Cherry Heart


I am thrilled to announce that sweet Dolly at From My Cherry Heart was the winner of my first ever Just Bee 'n Me "Happy New Year Giveaway"!!! Congratulations Dolly!! If you don't know Dolly, I suggest that you head over to her place where you will delight in all manner of collage and hand-painted creativity, family fun, culinary masterpieces, junkin' treasures, swap-till-you-drop goodness and so much more!! I also invite you to check out Dolly's Etsy Shop, the Cherry Heart Boutique, just launched this past fall....

Sample of Dolly's Collage work

Here's a bit more about Dolly, this wife of 1, mom of 3, and grandma of 4 in her own words from her profile:

"Our Lord and my family are the loves of my life! I have a passion for vintage, victorian, shabby and roses! I absolutely love finding a new life for old things... I love searching flea markets, antique shops, estate sales and yard sales in search of treasures... I Love PINK & Roses & Jadite & Linens & Lace & Cherries.... & the list goes on and on!! {just ask my family} I am just a down to earth old fashion kinda gal!"

Please stop by and say "Hi" and "Congratulations" to Dolly - you are always most welcome there - I know I have been...

Culinary Goodness at Dolly's

______________________________

And a big THANK YOU to all who took part in this giveaway - it has been so heartwarming to see you and to meet you - many of you for the very first time! I am still making it around to thank everyone personally and to let you know how grateful I am for your participation. Meanwhile, whether we're old blog buddies or brand new pals, please know that I already treasure each of you and have enjoyed browsing your sites, reading your musings, and admiring your creativity - and I look forward to many more opportunities to share and rejoice together!!

Hurry - Last Chance for Giveaway!!

Just a quick, friendly reminder for you sweet folks to hurry over to my post below for one last chance to win my first ever "Happy New Year Giveaway!" which includes a copy of my 2008 Scripture Calendar. (Deadline is 10:00 pm CST tonight, the 8th) I want to thank all the wonderful people that have signed up so far, many of whom this is our first opportunity to meet - (I just love making new friends!) Please bear with me as I try my best to personally come by your place and say hi over the next day or so... And a special thanks also to those of you who have added a link to this giveaway to their blogs - I really appreciate that!!!

I just love the warm, friendly, smart, funny, sweet folks out here in Blogland - how wonderful that we can connect and share in such a special way - all around the world. Tres Cool...

The "Happy New Year Giveaway!" is Here!!

Happy New Year to You All!!!

I am so very pleased to to be hosting my first ever giveaway here at Just Bee 'n Me! I am celebrating not just the beginning of another new year, but the hopeful expectation for a year full of blessing and promise! I am celebrating my new-found friendships right here in the sweet little village called Blogland - wow, I am SO grateful for you all!! I am also marking a special personal milestone for me in that I have finally completed a calendar of my original designs - something I have wanted to do for forever... SO, it's time for a bit of a celebration!! I hope you'll participate, and tell your blog buddies too!!

Here's the haul for the lucky winner
(instructions at the bottom of the post)...

The very first copy of "My Cup Runneth Over" 2008 Calendar

Vintage (1954) Family Circle Dessert Cookbook

English teacup & saucer and vintage embroidered dresser scarf

Bookmark made from my original licensed design for Universal Designs, Inc.

A pair of sweet vintage birdie candle holders

A Mary Englebreit assortment including a journal, stickers, and trinket box

The latest issue of Romantic Country magazine
______________________________

SO - here's how it works. To be eligible for the drawing, please leave a comment to this and only this post between now and 10:00 pm Central time next Tuesday, January the 8th. When you comment, please be sure to leave an email address or blog link if you have one so I can inform you if you win. I will announce the winner Wednesday morning the 9th. I can't wait!!

I will try to make a banner ad available for the drawing if you'd like to post it on your blog - but meanwhile, please feel free to mention this contest to your readers - I'd really appreciate it!!

PS - those of you that have done blog giveaways before, please let me know if there is some big thing I am missing or haven't mentioned yet - thanks for your help!

The Calendar has Arrived!!!!

Well friends, it is FINALLY here!

"My Cup Runneth Over - Words of Encouragement" - a 2008 Scripture Calendar by Becky Schultea!!

I called the calendar "My Cup Runneth Over" because I am constantly overwhelmed by God's goodness and His blessings in my life! Each design includes a cup or mug of some sort to further illustrate the point. But first and foremost, each design is built around a Scripture and featured corresponding word of encouragement from the Scripture. I firmly believe that the Scriptures will bless you each and every day!

You can go here to order the calendar from my CafePress store (click on "View Calendar Pages" to see all the designs). I've also added some of the designs to notecard sets of 10 or 20 - you can see them here.

Here are a couple of the designs that I didn't preview yet - I will offer these designs on notecards as it gets closer to the Fall in 2008:

October - "Delight"

November - "Thanks"
______________________________

I want to thank all of you (chiefly my sweet hubby) for your encouragement over the past couple of months while I illustrated this Calendar. I have wanted to do this for the LONGEST time, and to see it actually come to fruition is both humbling and AWESOME!!

Enjoy!!

PS - I will be hosting a giving away on New Year's Day, and one of these calendars will be part of the prize - be sure and check back and tell your blog buddies too!! (pretty-please!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

O Come Let Us Adore Him!!!

Warm Christmas greetings to all our friends and family! We hope this celebration of the birth of our Blessed Hope, Jesus, has been and will continue to be the best ever...that certainly has been true for us!

Whether you are precious old pals from way back, wonderful co-workers, dear church friends, fun workout chums, incredible fellow artists, delightful blogging buddies, or beloved family members, we just want you to know how very much you mean to us - we love and appreciate you more than we can ever say - and knowing each of you has enriched us beyond measure!! Thank you all and God Bless each and every one of you!!

Love and hugs, The Schulteas

and Merry Christmas from our brand new Christmas present and family member, Miss Madeline Schultea (Maddie)!!

______________________________

PS - The image at the top of this post is the December design for my 2008 Calendar which is almost finished - stay tuned for the big reveal and ordering information later this week!!

Also, you will be seeing LOTS more of Miss Maddie, I can assure you!! She is a Peek-a-Poo ( half Pekingese, half Poodle) and she is the tiniest, cutest thing!! Love her so much already!!!

Christmas: Schultea-Style!

I created a quick collage of grandkid's photos from our oh-so-fun Christmas celebration with all of Johnny's kid's and grandkids this past weekend. We had such a great visit, as we always do - ate too much, laughed a lot, and warmed our hearts right down to our toes!

Here's the little collage of the 8 grandkids...such beautiful, sweet kids...

Oh boy - JUST got this by email as I was putting this post together - Baby Hope's Christmas portrait...goodness she is a cutie, and such a good baby...had to throw it in too!!

That's all I have time to post for now, but rest assured, there are lots more to come!! Thanks for stopping by!!

The 2007 Virtual Holiday Home Tour at "Notes From a Cottage Industry"

Hello, Merry Christmas, and welcome to our home!

I am participating in Tracey's 2007 Virtual Holiday Home Tour and sharing a few photos of our home decorated for Christmas. I forgot to send Tracey a photo to be included in her list of participants, but I'll try to send one just the same and be a late-comer - we'll see. UPDATE: The gracious Tracey made room for me on her list today - what a sweetie! THANKS!!! Meanwhile, please do head over there and see all the lovely sweet participants' homes - and check it out tomorrow too as Tracey says she will be sharing even more participants. There's LOTS more - so festive and beautiful and fun!! Her home is SO BEAUTIFUL itself - you don't want to miss that!

So, here you go - mostly just photos with minimal commentary :o) Enjoy!

______________________________

Welcome to our entry way:

(more Nativity closeups later)

______________________________

On into the living room with the tree done in a garden theme...

______________________________

Head over to the fireplace with the mantle dressed in candles, snowflakes and stockings of course

You may remember these...bought CHEAP at an estate sale...

...now used to provide candle glow and sparkle to the mantle...

______________________________

Little tree in the kitchen for fun!

______________________________

O, Come Let Us Adore Him!!

______________________________

Thank you so much for stopping by! If I don't visit with you again beforehand, I wish you a very, very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year full of promise and blessing!!

Please come back by anytime!! You are more than welcome!!