Three Year Anniversary Major Tribute Celebration!

As I wrote, at the time, in my Journal, three years ago on March 9th 2008, I officially joined deviantART!  
I honestly just can’t believe that I’ve been on dA for three years! So much has happened during the last three years...  
And not only that, so much had occurred previously, which led up to me joining dA to begin with.  Basically, I was in a very long transitional period in my life, and I was trying to design a completely different life for myself after a variety of things had happened to me.  One of the things that I was attempting was a new business, which I’d begun January of 2008.   I wanted to bring it to the internet, and after researching, decided to bring it to dA!   And Tea Photography© has been here ever since.

I have grown, changed, learned, and progressed in various ways over the years that I have been here, and I certainly have not done this alone!   This has been one incredible journey, and it’s been a wonderful one, in which I’ve been blessed to have met so many truly wonderful people along the way, many of which have become good friends, which is really what has been the BEST part of this whole experience.

As I’ve gone along, I’ve gained more insight as to just how much my work means, of a more intrinsic value, and the kind of path I want to take with it. For example, I was not yet volunteering to help animals, when I first started here at dA, but began doing that exactly a year later in March of 2009, two years ago!  And through a series of other events in my life, it then became clear as to how I could combine both my art work and my volunteer work together, and use my art to help animals. On a larger scale, I realized that this is essentially what it is, I will be doing from now on- find ways to use my art, - or help others do the same with theirs- to help with causes of great need.


Of course, I am not alone, and other people or Artists feel similarly, and I have had great support with what has become known as The Shelter Project, which began last Summer 2010.    

I have been very happy to have support of my art in general, in all the variety of ways that this is possible, purchases on dA, directly through me, and sincerely all the way down to comments, ’s and even views!  I am a very grateful person, so any of the support that I have received over the last three years has truly meant more to me, than any of my words could ever begin to describe!  


And again, I say, it’s because of the people... the friends, the connections we make, because most of the time, good things don’t happen in random isolation, but as if we are all part of a whole, like threads of a colourfully woven tapestry.


Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart!!



Good Things Happen in Threes....

Thank you to those who participated in the “Anniversaryyy- Send THREE”  part of this Celebration!
First, each one was supposed to send THREE deviations of their own, and THEN,
as an option, they could send THREE of a FRIEND’S!  
[ A couple of you forgot to send your own, when you sent me your friend’s... so I did it for ya! ]

Please enjoy following marvelous works!












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who chose these TWO Artists to feature [because they are siblings ] :














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THE SHELTER PROJECT and a  Special Feature....

The following Artists have participated in some kind of way in The Shelter Project which began in the Summer of 2010.  It began when it became very clear, through personal circumstances, that I could no longer donate toys and other goods to the Shelter where I volunteered my time as primarily a care giver of cats.  

This is how the idea was born to utilize a portion of the proceeds from my images, as prints and greeting cards, in order that I could continue this very helpful and much needed service to the animals that I work with.  And believe me, there is NO WAY that this project would have or could have ever become any sort of success at all, if I had remained alone. There was no way. The only way has been through the various types of help and support of the following Artists, of which I will never ever be able to thank enough for their utmost kindness and generosity.

To read more about The Shelter Project,
feel free to click on these images where the information can be found:

If Only: The Shelter Project


The Shelter Project: II


Sparked by The Shelter Project


The Sub-Galleries with All Currently Available Images:
[link]

and

[link]


My Personal Website, with more/other info., and where images are still being transferred and added:

teaphotography.com


... And Now Their Special Feature

Philippe was the first one to make a purchase for the project, way back last Summer. First he made an order of prints. Then later on, he made an order of Greeting Cards as well! Not only did his support end up benefitting the animals at the Shelter, but since the very beginning, Philippe has repeatedly promoted The Shelter Project on his journal,  and has even given public feedback as to the work he received! I am grateful beyond measure for all that he has done. It’s just amazing!









Jocelyne was also nearly first to make a purchase that also went toward benefitting the animals where I volunteer.  First it was an order of prints, and similarly, later on, she made an order of Greeting Cards, too!  Jocelyne continues to promote The Shelter Project on her profile page, updating it every so often, and not only that, but has included the project with all of the news articles that she makes here on dA. She works so very hard in promoting it, and I’ve also seen her give positive feedback to people as to the work she has received. She has also been giving in other ways, too. She’s awesome!  I am forever grateful to her.








Mel also purchased prints near the beginning of The Shelter Project. Since then, she made two more separate orders of Greeting Cards, at separate times. She has expressed an interest in promoting the project on the internet or on dA, but is not very savvy with the use of either one. And while she does have an account here, she only got it to follow my work better.  I told her she could spread the word the olde-fashioned-way- by word of mouth.  I appreciate all the immense help she’s given.  



I’d also like to feature her work, if she had any uploaded. She is a good photographer, actually.



Cheryl completed an order of Greeting cards a while ago by now.  And of course it also supported The Shelter Project!  Not only that, but she keeps a promotion of it on her Profile Page and this means very much to me, because this kind of thing is very helpful.
And Cheryl is always kind and helpful and I will always appreciate it.







Dana has recently recently ordered a set of Greeting cards in order to help the Shelter, too! Meanwhile, she has kept a promotion of The Shelter Project on her Profile Page for quite a long while by now which I think is just great!  I am so thankful for Dana’s amazing help, and always will be.







Jen has also recently completed an order of Greeting Cards on behalf of helping the Shelter. I hope she knows how much this has benefitted the Shelter and how truly thankful I am to her for it!








Cecilia is in the middle of an order of cards with me, currently. I am working on one of the beginning stages of the process. Actually, Cecilia has been extremely supportive of me and this project in other ways, too.  And her giving kindness means so very much to me, more than she realizes!








Pauline was actually involved in a slightly different project, but that still benefitted the shelter very much so, and therefore I feel it is VERY fitting that she belong with the others featured here. The project became called “The Shelter ART Project” when, as some may recall, I was asked by the Shelter’s Manager to donate professionally framed prints of my images TO the Shelter, as the facility was still relatively new, and still had some bare walls. I was asked of this at the end of last Summer, and I did say that I would, but I did not say that I did NOT know how I would subsidize my own project-- I had mentioned on dA around that time, and that I probably wouldn’t get to it for who knows how long...


At any rate, long story short, Pauline and I became partners on the project- as she sponsored it, and there is an image of the prints all together in their finality.
Also, as things worked out, their was some donation left for the Shelter themselves, all of everything they were grateful for.  This project, in its entirety, was journey and experience that is very near and dear to my heart, and I will never forget it.
My heart is full.



We Shall Remember Them
I walked along the wall of names
Red splotches stained the walls
A never-ending tide of shame
That war became the call.

I pondered on the hearts of those
Who chose the hardest way
And set aside their lives and hopes
That peace might win the day.

I looked and saw, I mourned and grieved
That death became the door
For futures free to love with peace
When war will be no more.



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Scott has worked very hard all of 2010 to design my personal website, which contains a lot of the info. about The Shelter Project. He also has seen first hand what it is like volunteering at the Shelter, and knows what it is like for me, and exactly what the needs are, and has been very supportive of me for a very long time. I will always be grateful.








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All of the others featured below who are affiliated with The Shelter Project, have  promoted the project in some kind of special way, be it in their Journal, somewhere nicely displayed on their Profile Page, in a News Article, or in a few cases, a combination of these. In many cases, these Artists have continued to maintain the promotion somewhere on each current Journal or on their Profile Page, which is truly impressive.
Any of this, that all of these Artists have done on behalf of the project, has been wonderful! And I thank them all greatly!









































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Please note, that among all of those mentioned above there are a few who’ve donated points on behalf of The Shelter Project, and yes, I am grateful, and didn’t want to leave that out.   
However, I just didn’t list that in particular, to protect those people from the possibility of spammers.

Groups who have directly helped and promoted THE SHELTER PROJECT :





Please know, that with regard to this experience with The Shelter Project, I never knew there might be success at all, but what I have learned so far, is that people do care, and sometimes, right when you’re about to give up on that belief- and perhaps, once again-  something, or someone [or more than one] shows you something different.

The bottom line, is that often it takes more than one person to really do something of a big significance. Sometimes, it takes a whole team- each member doing their part in order to create a whole lot of good.


So, no matter what it is in this world, let’s just keep doing our part, because each part matters, and it adds up!

That brings me to...


The BIG LOVE Tribute Feature

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I support love.
I support love because it is an umbrella for peace and hope and kindness.  I support love, because it can easily mean action, as love is a verb, and not just a noun.  I prefer love as an action word, because as such, love can motivate us to do good things in and for this world, in all manner of speaking. And one only needs to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to notice that there is brokenness and need for help anywhere from what’s local, right in front of our noses, all the way to the ongoing tragedy in Japan, and anywhere or anything that’s in between.

This isn’t a call for some single person to feel overwhelmed by all the horrors that are going on in the world and to be responsible to save everything and everyone. No.

Rather, for people to pick and choose one or two things and simply do something or anything that they can. And if everyone just did something, that would be everyone just doing a little part of the whole. And that would be a whole lot of good happening in the world, motivated by love.

We certainly cannot control natural disasters, and for the most part, we can’t control a lot of other things that happen in the world, either. But we CAN control how much love, and therefore peace, hope, and kindness, that we as humans put out into the world, which could help to balance out all the other really basically awful and negative stuff.

I know that I couldn’t get through everything, personal hardships and world hardships alike, without just the basic concept of love.  It’s just my opinion, that love is very important.

I’m happy to say, that dA is a great place to find love in and through art, and also through some of the friendships, I’ve made here along the way!

I’d like to share with you this BIG LOVE TRIBUTE FEATURE!
It’s BIG to represent how BIG that love should be in the world, and how love can never really be TOO big in the world, and that life is TOO SHORT, to worry about expressing love to your loved ones and spreading love around the world to where it’s SO needed, by kindness in words and deeds.  With love comes many good things...  

Welcome to a wide variety of expressions of love!


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Also,
Because you can never have too many ways to find information on this,
LINKS ON HOW TO HELP JAPAN:   [link]

And if you have NOT seen this awesome News Article about how to:
SUPPORT JAPAN THROUGH ART AND FUNDS via #fella
Check this out: [link]


It’s all about love, and coming together, to help.
Remember, you don’t always have to have actual money to do actual help.
Be creative, and find out what are some ways, you might be able to organize efforts, or donate goods instead.   



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Other “Tea” Things on dA

On my Journal, I have kept the Special Random Artist Feature Section, since March of 2009. I decided to start this two years ago, when I began to notice so many really amazing artists of a variety of genres, who I felt needed more exposure- i.e. they didn’t have as many page views as I would think they might, given the high quality of their work. The criteria that I go by is described there in that section of my journal, along with a featured artist at all times. Most of the time it is a Watcher/Friend, but sometimes not, as that is not one of the requirements. A feature lasts about 2 weeks, or anywhere from 10 days to 2.5 weeks. It just depends on how/when I do my journals. To date I’ve featured 78 Special Random Artists! They have all been stunning, too!!!

I’m just overwhelmed to think of just how many more are out there, who deserve such a feature, and I can’t wait to continue doing this.



The PASSION for COMPASSION Box is another section on my journal. It is last, but NOT in importance, but because of organization. It has been there also since March of 2009, I think, when I started the Special Random Artist Feature.

Sometimes there are features here, too, depending on how they relate to the issues of Compassion that are being shared here.

This box is used for needs of individual awareness all the way to needs of global awareness. It is another way I found that I could use my account on dA to try and help others / situations.



THE TREASURE CHEST is something that has always been found on my Profile Page, and as it says there:
THE TREASURE CHEST contains "13 TREASURES" of some type of EXTRA Special Unique Wonder &/or Creativity, or often-times also EXTRA Special Meaning for ME. They are indeed, very much so... Treasures.

I’ve been doing this for over two years, and every once in a while, I’ve been asked what it was about the Artist’s particular piece that made me choose it as a “Treasure” for this Special Feature!   In truth, I’d love to explain WHY on each one, except it would take up too much room- but if asked by note, I always give a personalized response.

The truth is, I LOVE DOING THE TREASURE CHEST!   While I love everything I for my own special reasons, the ones that go to “The Treasure Chest” are as if getting some sort of special personal award from me, simply because there is something extra exceptional and noteworthy- something that “speaks” to me on a personal level, and likely also there is something quite distinctive or creative about it.   I only wish I could include everything I collect into “The Treasure Chest” into my bi-monthly Profile Features of them!

I’ve been thinking about doing Treasure Chest News Article Features, if I can get the time to do it, a little later in this year.

For now, here is a sample of some of The Treasure Chest in a Feature just the way I do this on my Profile Page:



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How I got my name: “Tea”- TEA Features

I’m often asked about my name “Tea”... which is the name I always use online, and also these days, if you know me well enough, whether online or in “real life” people always call me “Tea”- both my closest friends and family. This started as early as 15 years ago by now.

I started studying things having to do with alternative healing, and eventually took course work that led to Certification in Alternative Healing Therapies. One thing I was especially interested in at the time, and still am is herbal tea, so much so, that people started calling me “Tea” and it just STUCK, and grew and spread from there!
And that was fine with me. I only use my given name when I absolutely have to, for legal purposes.  It has nothing to do with not liking it, but it’s better for me for personal reasons as well.


Here is a small TEA FEATURE even though I have not collected tea works very recently, but usually I LOVE to collect them.


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Tea’s Statistics...

I watch approximately 1,100 people, and vice versa.

But I’m am doubting that all of them are actually active anymore, and I should try to find out somehow, and clean out my list, but I’m not sure how to best do that, and I think it would be very time consuming!    

These are my TOP 15 ’d deviations over the years...
but this is strange for me, as I’ve never actually done a feature of my work, but I thought I’d try it this time, being a 3 year anniversary.


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I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible!!!
You don’t know what it means to me....  




I’m also pretty blessed that I’ve sold several things through the dA store over the years as well, which of course is very nice, too. ’s

I mostly rely heavily on anything I sell directly through Tea Photography© and I appreciate those sales very much so, as well! ’s

While I am extremely thankful for every kind comment, and view, over the years, here is just a few of my PERSONAL FAVOURITES, which are not from the Top of the TOP, there above:


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It’s actually very difficult to choose, and I don’t necessarily mean because of quality- but  because for me, every single piece I work on contains deep and great personal meaning for me, a story, if you will.
Some of you might understand this.


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I want to thank everyone for being here. I know that some to many of you knew I was going to do something like this for my Anniversary, but... as I have tried desperately to show through this Celebration Tribute, there could have been NO Anniversary without ALL of you, my viewers and Watchers/Friends!!!!

I would not have made it these consistent three years without the help and support of you all!
It truly takes a village...

I wish that at least each of my supportive Friends/Watchers could be represented here, somehow... and I tried different ways to have that happen as much as possible, but I knew that this could not actually happen...

Please KNOW how much I believe that each one of my supportive Friends/Watchers should and deserve to be represented here...
... and regardless, I DO SO appreciate each and everyone of you so very much,
more than all these words can ever express what’s in my HEART!



Now, continue onward, and do good deeds, and spread the love around, not just here on dA, but in this world! You already do a great job!
I know a lot of you, and you’re all exceptionally AWESOME!!!

And I'll be seeing you around this next year on dA, and doing my best to do whatever it is I do!