Tuesday, March 26, 2013

We Got The Goods

As per usual, Cherie is busily drawing new art, creating BOS/XL journals, assembling key chains, matting prints, and so on in preparation for the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Most of the year her productivity levels are at an "8" to "9" on the 0 - 10 scale. Lately, she's been hovering around "12". I don't know when she sleeps.

To top it off, Cherie's decided to jump full-force into updating her Zazzle shoppe with suggestions we've been getting from customers. Every time an idea is mentioned online or at her booth, she writes it down and stores it away for future use. Your requests are never ignored, just tucked away until the time is right.

For instance, she had a ton of customers tell her they have mermaid-themed bathrooms and wanted more items besides prints to use in their decor. Hello, mermaid towels.

 
 These, along with a few other mermaid designs, are available here. Please note these are technically kitchen towels, but I've ordered some off Zazzle before and used them as hand towels. Worked just fine.



Another big request is TOTE BAGS! GIVE US TOTE BAGS! Here you go. 
You can peruse Cherie's selection of bag designs here


And just for fun, take a peek at the puzzles and cards selection. 
 
More options can be found by checking here

There are only so many hours to a day, so please be patient. We are going to try to increase the number of items and designs available bit by bit until almost all of Cherie's artwork is available in the Zazzle shoppe. Until then, feel free to tell us what items you want in the shoppe via Facebook or Twitter. 

And another helpful hint - Zazzle almost always has sales. We like a good deal as much as the next person, so be sure to check Zazzle's coupon codes before making a purchase. That way you can get more bang for your buck! 




Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Snow Drop

Oh little Snow Drop!  This precious little one is the newest part of my Children of Myth Collection.  Snow Drop has been bouncing around in my mind for about a year now.  I sketched her for the first time in 2011... and then she became a lost sketch file in the endless sea of sketch files on my computer... till I knew what to do with her.

A night in January... when I was about to go to bed after finishing a Mystic Portrait... she popped into my head again... but this time I knew what she was to become.

I went upstairs and grabbed another cup of coffee and headed back to the computer.  With Florence and the Machine (I know the music doesn't match the image) pounding in my headphones... I dug through the files and pulled the sketch of this little creature.  Around 3:00 am I had to call it quits and went to bed.

Now, normally... when inspiration hits me at that hour... it's not always good to see the painting the next day. But... I was pleasantly surprised. She was coming out just like I planned!  A few days later... and many hours... little Snow Drop was born!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Cavern Treasures

Cavern Treasures is part of my newest collection... "Within the Waters".  I have been wanting to create a collection that includes every element encompassing the Sea.  I imagine including Mermaids, Mermen, Pirates, Sirens and Water Dragons...  This collection will truly be for those sea lovers.

When creating Cavern Treasures... I imagined a beautiful mermaid within a cavern hiding the little shinies and bobbles that she holds near and dear to her heart.  Her secret little place from the rest of her kin.

I love purples!  So I used it as the main part of her body and built a color scheme from there.  Another "trick" I use when picking colors is my inspiration scrapbook.  I have a scrapbook full of photos that I picked up here and there... it includes some postcards, magazine clippings, bottle labels, business cards... etc.  I put these images into my scrapbook when the colors just seem to speak to me.  Mostly they are of nature items.  When I am looking for some inspiration in a color scheme... I open the pages and look at what grabs me.  Then I will pull my colors from that!

Thanks again for supporting my art... I will soon write about another image I just finished... little Snow Drop.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

So Long, Farewell, Alvederzane - Round 1

As of 2/28/2013, the images below will no longer be available for purchase, with the exception of custom ordered XL journals/BOS. Being a one woman operation, with the occasional assistance of my technology brownie, it is not feasible for me to offer new artwork and constantly keep all my older pieces in stock. 

Fear not, this retirement will not be permanent. In a few years images will be re-released on a rotating basis. Also, during the month of February 2013, all prints will be 30% off so you can grab your favorite image at a discount before it is tucked away into the Mystic Moon Media vault, which is of course guarded by a fierce dragon. 

I thank you for your continued support and understanding. My business wouldn't exist without my wonderful customers. 

Cherie Gerhardt


Click HERE to be directed to our Etsy shoppe. 














Monday, December 31, 2012

Accept No Substitutes


Friends, I want to share something that happened earlier today.

One of my fabulous Facebook followers sent me a link to an Etsy shop that was selling an “antique” BOS/XL journal that looked suspiciously like one of my handmade journals.

After checking the item listing and realizing that it was indeed one of my journals that was being touted as “found in my Grandmother’s trunk”, I contacted Etsy and the seller to have the item removed from her shop. Why? Not only was her description full of tall-tales about the journal being very old and super rare, the seller actually bumped up the price, charging more than I do for a brand new journal of that style in my shop.

Now, I realize not everyone decides to keep my BOS/XL journals forever and they are sometimes resold. It is my hope that 1) The reseller includes my personal name or least business name in the listing and 2) Charges a fair price.

Also, there have been some people on Etsy and Ebay that have decided to not only copy the design of my books, but to copy the artwork, too. The only places to purchase authentic Mystic Moon Media items are from my Etsy shoppe, my Zazzle store, and my booth at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. If you happen to see any listings that claim to be made by me and aren't in one of my shops, don’t purchase from them and I encourage you to let me know about rogue sellers by sending a message through Facebook or email.

Thanks for helping me provide for myself and my family by supporting Mystic Moon Media. Without you, I couldn't continue to do what I love.

Cherie Gerhardt
PS: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Depths of Agness...



Well... Agness... is the newest part of my Angels & Demons collection.  There is more to this one then at first glance.  When people look at her the reaction that I get is demon... why do you draw angels so dark?  Well... I don't.

I believe that there truly is a good and evil path for us all... or a dark and light path if you will.   Even heavenly creatures such as angels have these paths.  We, as mortals, look hard at these paths of good or evil... dark or light... and then we choose.  They too have a choice...  it is their freewill.

When her horns, scarlet and dark damning colors and how she glides through the earthly realm might give you the impression of evil... look at her again.  Her arms are held tightly against her in an embrace... with a face of pure determination and will.   She may have been born out of darkness... but she will not let that define her.  She will move... boldly... embracing what she in her heart feels right and moves forward towards the light.

Such who show boldness and  strength against the darkness will have other souls follow them into the light. Such souls as these follow Agness within this painted earthly realm towards her lighted path.
So look at her again...


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

2012 Big Fat Fall Contest Winners

Here are the winners of our Big Fat Fall Contest! We'll be emailing you instructions on how to claim your prizes shortly. 

BOS/XL journal - Meghan K
8X10 matted print - Rae P
5x7 matted print - Tiffany O
5X7 matted print - Renee C
5X7 matted print - Anna
5X7 matted print - Amanda M

We assigned each contestant a number when they submitted a photo and used an online random number generator to award prizes.





 Thank you so much to all those who participated - it was great seeing your creativity.