Hello and Thank You to Anyone who has a chance to read my journal.
I know time is precious.

I Wish You ALL A Very Merry MAY!
Oh my gosh, is it really MAY already??.

in just a COUPLE days!

~~ GIFTS! ~

Thank you to my so sweet friend Hilary for:
SO beautiful to me- and emotional in the best of ways. I will treasure this, and the words therein, forever and always! As to Hilary's kind friendship, I have always been blessed by her, and of course by this recent loving support.
Please visit her lovely work HERE: [link]

Thank you to my good friend Sandy for:
What a gorgeous image! I just love it, and the sentiments, too. She's truly an amazing and loyal friend to me, and I will always be grateful for everything!
Please visit her wonderful work HERE: [link]

Thank you to my sweet friend Benita for:
This totally made me smile! It is so cute and adorable! Benita is a very nice person and friend, and she's is Sandy's sister! I have appreciated her friendship from the start!
Please visit her delightful work, Go HERE: [link]

Thank you to my wonderful friend Surglo for:
I absolutely love this cat, always have- it's an awesome image! I appreciate all of her kindness and friendship for she is someone I've known for it seems... forever!
Please visit her amazing work HERE: [link]

Thank you to my kind friend Aamir for:
I love it's unique beauty, and he is such a sweet person to think of me. Aamir is a wonderful person.
I appreciate his support ever since I've met him on dA a long time ago.
Please visit his marvelous work HERE: [link]

Thank you to my very dear friend Philippe for:
I adore this so much! And he knows how I adore cats, especially, and when he puts his talents to this use, and for me, I am both humbled and honoured! Philippe is an amazingly supportive friend to me for so very long on dA!
Please visit his fabulous work HERE: [link]



Special Groups & Info.!

#Unframed-Nature
My Main Group is having a
NEW CONTEST: "BABY NATURE"
BEGINS: May 1st.
1,100 available for FIRST PLACE!!!
READ ABOUT IT HERE:
Unframed-Nature's "Baby Nature" Contest!:iconfireworkplz: Welcome to Unframed-Nature's Next BIG Contest :iconfireworkplz:
:iconbeauroseplz: THEME: SPRING- "BABY NATURE" :iconbeauroseplz:
LIST OF EXAMPLES
Any kind of baby animals- newborns, young animals, newborn birds or their eggs.
Larvae of insects- insect eggs, cocoons, chrysalises, caterpillars.
Newly planted trees, or new saplings, small and young trees, new buds on trees, newly budding leaves or flowers, opening flowers, flowers of springtime preferably in their earliest stages, spring tree blossoms of early spring.
While this IS a Spring Contest, think of the most baby aspects of Nature, which usually do occur in Spring, and please DO submit your very BEST quality work with us!
RULES
ONE Entry per Group Member.
MUST be a Member to Enter; Feel free to Join.
Starts: Tues. May 1st; Ends: Sun. June 10th, 2012 midnight, PST: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/pacific-time/


#OurArea51
                         This lovely Group I'm a Member of is having a                            
NEW CONTEST: "Reflections"
BEGINS: MAY 1st.
READ ABOUT IT HERE:
DW #51 Drawings and Paintings + CONTESTHi everyone!
Here are the deviations of the week, chosen from
Drawings and paintings...
and the winners are

by :iconJust-a-Witness:
and

by :iconphilippeL:
Congrats to the winners!
:bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue: :bulletblue:
Two birthdays in the group!
*DanaAnderson
April, 18




~SvitakovaEva
April, 19


:thumb


#TreeLovers
This awesome group is holding a great year-long project:
"ART FOR TREES"  
Art for Trees - project:iconspringtree-1plz::iconspringtree-2plz::iconspringtree-3plz::iconspringtree-4plz::iconspringtree-4pl5:
"When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. The second best time? Today."
- Chinese proverb
Trees are important, valuable and necessary to our very existence. It's not too hard to believe that, without trees we humans would not exist on this beautiful planet. Trees are the largest and longest living organisms on earth. To grow tall the tree has become a miracle of engineering and a complex chemical factory. It is able to take water and salts out of the earth and lift them up to the leaves, sometimes over 400 ft above. By means of photosynthesis the leaves combine the water and salts with carbon dioxide from the air to produce the nutrients which feed the tree. In this process, as well as wood, trees create many chemicals, seeds and fruit of great utility to man. Trees also remove carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, from


#PetPicks
Please check out this friendly animal group, which I'm happy to be a part of!
*VOTING FOR TOP SUBMISSIONS OF APRIL 2012 *-Closed The April folders aren't closed yet and most likely won't be closed for another 2-3 days time
:icontrophyplz:Voting for Top Submissions of APRIL. 2012! :icontrophyplz:
The Time has come to VOTE on APRIL 2012’s Submissions!
~~~ :iconlotus2plz:~~~ HOW TO VOTE ~~~ :iconredflowerplz:~~~
At the End of Every Month, #PetPicks holds a Group Membership Voting, during this time of month we welcome members to vote on what THEY think is the best submissions of the month out of our folders. We hope that you can ALL participate via voting!
You May Vote on:
”Nature –Itself 2012” ~ HERE~
http://petpicks.deviantart.com/gallery/36373356
”Domestic Dogs APRIL 2012” ~ HERE~ http://petpicks.deviantart.com/gallery/36373382
”Domestic Cats APRIL 2012” ~ HERE~ http://petpicks.deviantart.com/gallery/36373402
”Farm Animals APRIL 2012


#dAWishingWell
This Group I love to work in that helps to grant dA wishes,
has begun a fun weekly event:
"WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY"
READ ABOUT IT HERE:
Wonderful WednesdayThe Wishlist | Granted Wishes | Featured Member | Featured Print
Point Features | Well Wishes | Tuesday Treats | Featu

I am also promoting an Artist who I met at #dAWishingWell
She is and her work is AWESOME!
She is my 98th Special Random Artist Feature, so you can see her feature below for that.
But please stop by her page for views, comments, faves... LOVE!!!


#deviantHEART
This Group I love to work in that promotes Positivity,
promotes various Positive Projects around dA...
It is where I found, and continue to support:
"The Warm Winter Project"
UPDATES CONT. - Warm Winter Project: 2012UPDATE 9 - As of Sunday, November 25, 2012, I WAS ABLE TO MEET AND PURCHASE MY DONATION GOAL OF 50 HOODIES thanks to deviantART's 30% off Black Friday sale as well as my 10% Premium Member Discount. Congratulations to us and thank you to everyone who helped out!
UPDATE 8 - As of Saturday, November 17, 2012, we are at 125,125 points, with only 34,875 points left to go! I was able to purchase 2,000 points a moment ago to put directly into the pool myself. My original intent was to get 8,000, but I ended up working less than I expected this week and was unable to, but as of my next paycheck (in two weeks), I will be able to purchase 8,000! That will leave us with 26,875. And after `TimberClipse's AWESOME point doubler, like the one that helped out and did so amazingly earlier in the year, that will be another 8,000, leaving us with only 18,875! And his doubler is already halfway full with much thanks to =rainylake for immediately putting 2,000 points in
and ways for matching points...
To Help ToxicAlice92 - PROJECT COMPLETED Due to some amazing final donations... The full 10,000 points have now been donated to =ToxicAlice92 :iconsupereagerplz:
Thank you all for your support, I am so glad that this was completed with such great support. Thank you to everyone.
Please fave and comment on this journal to help others see it!
I almost never buy "extra" things, for me this includes items like points from deviantART. However, that has changed as of today.
Earlier this year, =ToxicAlice92 announced a project
On my profile, in the top right, there's a donation pool. I want to spend the entire year raising up enough points to buy 50 Vertical Zip hoodies to donate to the nearest homeless shelter at the end of the year next year.But that wasn't it!
UPDATE 2 - I also received a note from $Heidi earlier today (1.4.12) letting me know that deviantART would like to match my donations on their behalf!! That means when I reach my goal of 50, I will be receiving 50 more
Blurple's 'Warm Winter Project: 2012' Challenge A goes a long way!
If you didn't know, =ToxicAlice92 started the
Warm Winter Project: 2012
at the end of last year. It is her goal to raise enough to purchase 50 devWEAR Hoodies to donate to a local homeless shelter at the end of this year. When deviantART heard of this they offered to match her purchase. That is a possible total of 100 hoodies!
To help her toward her goal I present to you a challenge.
I am now collecting on behalf of =ToxicAlice92's project. I will personally match this amount
2x
up to 5,000.
This means that your donation of...
1 becomes 3
20 becomes 60
100oints: becomes 300oints:
..and so on for a possible total of
15,000oints:!
To add to that, I will be randomly giving away subscriptions to donors (of any amount) without notice.
Details
This challenge ends on June 6 @ 11:59PM EST or when the 5,000oints: limit h







The South Coast Humane Society here, on the SW Coast of Oregon IS keeping me very busy these days... I do the photoshoots of their animals for adoptions for "Adopt-a-Pets" and "Pets-of-the-Week" for the newspapers, plus I work on the photos for the animals and upload them to their page at Petfinder.com. The same photos go their fb page. I share SOME, of these same photos with you here on dA!

It's always busy!


The Shelter Project!
REMEMBER- The South Coast Humane Society here,
DOES welcome The Shelter Project: [link] as an official fundraiser of theirs.

They are happy to have this, and help of any kind.

EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU'S!

First of All...
THANK YOU, [AGAIN] to those who have 'd "Part 2" of THE SHELTER PROJECT, HERE:
The Shelter Project was presented first, HERE:

Most recently I have updated with: as a SPECIAL Thank-You to ALL dA Affiliates of the Project.

Thank you to all who continue to the Project to at least simply spread the word, about helping animals in need.

Even a is a big deal with a project like this, because by 'ing it DOES at least spread the word for a good cause.

An Extra Special Thank You to the Following Artists who have recently featured for the FIRST time, or re-featured The Shelter Project on their Journals or Profile Page.










[Oh my gosh, she did a whole LOT for me, lately!!!]





[Sandy always finds creative ways to support The Shelter Project.
She recently surprised me with a project that can be found on her Profile Page-
a COMMENT BOX from my friends about THE SHELTER PROJECT,
complete with a feature of various shelter animals...]

PLEASE NOTE: SANDY, HAS HER OWN PROJECT, which also involves CARDS, called:
"The Card Project"
She states, it goes to pay off her horse, and advertise her photography, BUT she also plans to donate to a great cause called RDA: [link]

For A LOT more DETAILS and PRICING, PLEASE see her PROFILE PAGE, on down the LEFT-SIDE!

I am very excited for Sandy, and super proud of her!



I was recently contacted by this amazing artist to draw some of my photos- most of them likely to be from "The Shelter Project" which in addition to crediting me/my work, she said she'd be mentioning the project, which would further support it of course.
But in learning that HER work, would be going to make special cards for a charity, and one that I STRONGLY favor, I was 110% enthusiastic!
Here is the FIRST result!!
=
About the Charity:
My 366 Project - ACEO Sketch Cards for CharityFor every day of 2012, I will be drawing one ACEO sketch card. Every single one will be for sale - ALL proceeds to be donated to charity at the end of 2012.
My charity of choice is a local foundation called Alternatives to Violence, who is currently raising money to build a safehouse. This safehouse will provide a secure shelter to men, women and children who have recently escaped physical and sexual abuse.
With the safehouse, 312 individuals every year will receive crisis intervention, counseling, safety planning, advocacy and shelter.
Together, through art, we can help make a difference.
The Plan
♥My cards will range from $5 to $11 depending on subject and detail.
♥Only my costs(Etsy fees, Paypal fees, Materials) will be deducted and the rest will go to Alternatives to Violence(ATV) at the end of the year.
♥I will share every card I create  - that means a new piece of art to see and share every day, through my DeviantArt, F




Those who CONTINUE to feature, have featured other times before, or also maintain a Promotion of The Shelter Project on your Profile Page or Journal- Thank you for your ongoing support.

The names of those who have taken The Shelter Project further in a variety of ways, through their various types of features of the Project, on behalf of the project, and Purchases DIRECTLY through Tea Photography© are placed on my Profile Page with the Custom Box[es] associated with the info. of both Project 1 and Project 2, as well as placed inside, in the Artist's Comments sections of each one. That way, they will always be there, in case one or both Custom Boxes are moved.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS KEPT AND MAINTAINED PROMOTIONS  OF THE SHELTER PROJECT ON THEIR JOURNALS OR PROFILE PAGES! THIS IS MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER EXPECTED!

The Extra Special THANK-YOU Features for DIRECT PURCHASES, are on the Profile Page, on the Left-side.

is there for the OTHER project that we worked on together, where she sponsored the 5-piece set of framed prints of my images for the Shelter, as asked of me by the manager to donate, HERE: [link] . While not the same as The Shelter Project, "The Shelter ART Project" STILL went to benefit that SAME Shelter!

  are still there, and remain there, for their business AND repeat business of my work.

Repeat business, is not even all that a few of them have done, even though that's thoroughly the epitome of awesome. But the repeat promotions, in News Articles by Jocelyne and the ongoing promotion on her page, and Philippe's repeat promotions in his Journals & News Articles with commentary to the work he's received by me... and Cheryl's and Dana's promotions, too as can be seen on their Profile Pages!
They have worked so hard to help with this, and be very active participants with my work. I never could have imagined, not just better customers, but as if partners, throughout this whole Project.

I thank each of the following people for the extra that they've said and/or done for me, lately.




























I paint your face in my mindI paint your face in my mind
On the canvas of my dreams
A picture of hearts entwined

When to duty I'm confined
Loneliness louder than screams
I paint your face in my mind

I see your eyes - loving, kind
Beauty that from the soul streams
A picture of hearts entwined

That's where I can new strength find
When yoke of fate so hard seems
I paint your face in my mind

When the resolve stays behind
It is the love that redeems
A picture of hearts entwined

Even if I would go blind
In the darkness your light gleams
I paint your face in my mind
A picture of hearts entwined




















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