11.19.2010

A Happiness Inducing Giveaway


my debbie carlos "happy makers"...


When you’ve had a series of bad days (or in my case weeks), you tend to ruminate a bit on the things that do in fact make you happy. (Oh who am I kidding; I tend to ruminate on this pretty much all. the. time.) I’m especially intrigued by the small but particularly bliss-inducing experiences….you know all those little fleeting moments that when added up comprise a pretty darn happy life.

The trick I suppose is in noticing them. I am trying to focus more on the noticing.

When I am noticing, here’s what I notice (in case you’re wondering, yes, I am trying to set the record for the most uses of the word {or some variation of} “notice” in a blog post)... Besides the music in the car with the windows down and the kiddos dancing which is bar-none the primo happy-maker, there’s the art. I always, always feel amazing when I’m taking in or making (albeit not very good) art.

I am smitten with my Debbie Carlos prints, I love my crazy exuberant Michelle Armas painting that Bryan and I got for Christmas last year, I dream and scheme about how to one day obtain one of Allison V. Smith’s photos (I’ve considered selling plasma, they’re that good), I could move into the DMA (truly, I would happily live at the museum)…And then there was that three-day high I was on after our aforementioned dinner at Pete and Lucia's art-filled home.

I am hard pressed to maintain a funk in the presence of good art. I am officially noticing.

So in the spirit of sharing my one of my all-time happy-makers, I’m doing an artful little Friday giveaway (not my normal Friday M.O. but I’ts all about spreading the joy here friends).

The lovely and talented Debbie Carlos has offered up a poster of your choice to two of my readers.

Like this one...


or how about this one...



Just leave a comment on this post by Sunday the 21st at midnight, and I’ll announce the two winners the following Monday.


p.s. Debbie also has some great specials at her shop -- free shipping (including international orders) when you buy any 2 posters and $7 off + free shipping when you buy any 3 posters.

220 comments:

  1. Beautiful! One of those would look amazing in my house :)

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  2. oh, wow. super beautiful work.

    xo
    Kelly

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  3. gorgeous! i've been on a b/w art kick lately.

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  4. i'm with you on this one, her prints make me very happy.

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  5. Lovely. And this sentiment makes me think of one of my very favorite quotes by one of my very favorite authors:
    "I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" (Kurt Vonnegut in _A Man Without a Country_)

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  6. There's an empty space in our living room that's longing for a Debbie Carlos print.

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  7. the clouds just make me so so happy. i think because it reminds me of being on an airplane, and the anticipation of an adventure.

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  8. i have her clouds poster in my living room and am completely smitten with it. it reminds me of a beautiful dream!

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  9. Mmm these are lovely. I'll take them all!

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  10. Oh, I'd love one of these in my house!

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  11. I am so in love with her work! I would love the bunny or the window 2.

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  12. I love the deer print! It would look pretty over a bed or couch, I think.

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  13. this is such a great giveaway - thanks for spreading the happiness :)
    jill

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  14. wow, no way. I love her work, I love the oversized prints! I crazy would love to win this giveaway--it would totally make my day (and we're speaking of happy makes, no?) xo!

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  15. I just ordered one of her prints this week; I just love her work. I would love to add a poster to our house as well! ;) I have a wall that is just begging for the bunny...keeping my fingers crossed!

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  16. oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh! Thank you! So excited

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  17. Oh! This would make me soooo happy! A perfect antidote to the gray winter skies and early dark nights!

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  18. I LOVE the bunny and the antelope posters for the baby's room.
    (parsonslena@gmail.com)

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  19. Oh my, I really do love the bunny poster. Crossing my fingers.

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  20. Gorgeous! I have a new home and some big walls to fill!! Yes!

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  21. amazing work. i have one already in my apartment. it's lovely.

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  22. These are fantastic! Wonderful find, Joslyn. :)

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  23. Oh those are great - I'd love to win one.

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  24. wonderful work!

    happy Friday

    http://design-elements-blog.com/

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  25. black and white posters are my favorite

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  26. I have a Debbie Carlos print in my living room! But I'd love another to give as an xmas gift.

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  27. Amazing giveway! I would absolutely love to have one of her prints on my walls.

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  28. Love these! I coveted one last time you mentioned them!

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  29. I snagged that bunny the day you posted it! Go Debbie Go!

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  30. i'm a big fan of debbie carlos! i am happy to participate in your giveaway!

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  31. lovely. such a wonderful giveaway for our gloomy friday. thanks!

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  32. I love her photographs. I would treasure one of these posters.

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  33. Every morning I wake up and go into my kitchen where I encounter a fruit tree. The poster (D.C's tree) communicates the spirit of that place so well that I am transported somewhere else -- somewhere with that lovely tree.

    I can only imagine where I would be transported if I had a poster of D.C's with birds in flight... !

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  34. commented! I would be happy to hang either one of those on my wall.

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  35. i have loved her poster forever!!!!!

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  36. I like her posters!! Would be a fun addition to the limited artwork collection I have....

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  37. I love my debbie carlos poster and would love another one!

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  38. I love debbie's work and would love to win a poster!

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  39. Ohprettypleasepickme! I Love these! Thank you!

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  40. Lovely. Art is my ultimate happy-inducer as well.

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  41. wow! thanks for the awesome giveaway! i hope your funk has officially lifted :)

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  42. How wonderful!! Gotta love the weekend with a happy induced start :)

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  43. love all of them!
    i think my fav is sprout poster(eggplant).
    so sweet!

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  44. you are an inspiration! love the antelopes and owls! just got a huge apartment and looking for fancy things to hang. xx

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  45. beautiful work and a great giveaway to start the weekend!!
    thanks :)

    purplepyxie@yahoo.com

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  46. I have been wanting to add one of her posters to my collections -- I would love to win one!

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  47. What an amazing giveaway! I would love to have one of these beautiful posters to decorate my currently sad and artless walls.

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  48. My cpa loves his art ;) One of these would be a fun addition to our house!!

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  49. What a gorgeous giveaway! And I just wanted to say how much I love your blog and the little stories of your life!

    Chryselle @Frangipani Decor

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  50. i just went over to her etsy shop and bought the 'window' print for over our bed. but I would still LOVE to win one....xo

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  51. can i win even if we're besties?

    say yes.

    i would tell everyone it was serendipity. because i deserve one of these.

    i just asked. there. that should seal my win.

    xoxo.

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  52. i could definately use some serious funk-busting artwork!! thank you for sharing!

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  53. Those are great and would be fantastic in our new home!

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  54. smashing! very beautiful. the first one goes quite well with the weather right now in San Francisco- very foggy.

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  55. what beautiful work! so hard to choose. i think my favorite is the window poster 1. lovely.

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  56. Would love to hang one of these in my living room - thanks!

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  57. My wall neeeeeeds one of her posters.

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  58. Great giveaway! Would love to win and spice up the walls in our new home.

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  59. wow, happiness indeed.

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  60. ooh, nice! Would love to own one!

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  61. I would love to be chosen! Her work is mesmerizing. Great giveaway!

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  62. Oh, nice...I'm doing a giveaway too...
    www.soulpretty.blogspot.com

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  63. I LOVE Debbie Carlos! I've been following her since waaaaay back in 2005 when she was still Bunny Pie - I miss that blog, but have been so happy to see her online reappearance. Of course, I'd love to have one of her pieces.

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  64. I gotta say, the bunny one is pretty awesome. And I love the dot print (I know, it's not a poster, but damn!).

    And I also have to remind myself that life is good. Sometimes it's easy to forget when things aren't going the way you'd like them to.

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  65. Love her Hand Cloud poster.

    Cheers!

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  66. Swoon! Yes, this would make me happy!

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  67. dam at damomatic dot com

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  68. The first print is my favorite but I'd love either. Watching Debbie's work as been a real, personal inspiration for my own work. Her aesthetic is simply breathtaking.

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  69. absolutely love the misty Japanese mountain poster

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  70. i need more art in my life. pick me please. =) thanks!

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  71. Oh my god. I love them and may need to order one! Mountains, please.

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  72. Absolutely love your blog! Thanks for sharing!

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  73. I have a hard time picking one. Oh the bunny we chase all different colour bunnies home every day and I tell my son if he can catch one he can bring it home! We would love to catch Debbie's bunny!

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  74. I love these! The forrest! The clouds! They are so good!

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  75. I am in love with Debbie's work!! I visit her etsy store like I visit blogs !! Just to remind myself of my faves :)

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  76. gorgeous. love her work.

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  77. I've been dreaming of owning my own Debbie Carlos print ever since I saw the gorgeous bunny print you own. Then I saw her at the Renegade Craft fair & drooled over her work a little more. I would truly cherish one of her pieces!

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  78. What fun! I just discovered your blog today b/c I wanted to read all about the Texas Artists Today book. I will definitely add it to my must read list. I would love to win a Debbie Carlos poster, especially her Steam or Window posters. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

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  79. Very cool! Thanks for sharing this giveaway.

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  80. i've admired your bunny print, so i am so excited for the chance to win one of Debbie's lovely posters. thank you thank you!

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  81. I love Debbie Carlos' work. I have been wanting to buy one but I still can't decide which one to get. They're all that great.

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  82. Love the bunny poster!

    talmeida@berkeley.edu

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  83. i adore the bunny poster!

    -allison

    http://www.allisonviegerdesign.com/

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  84. Okay, am going to ride the "art as a pick-me-up" train. Grumpy moment with the kids and now I am going to sit and stare at a piece of art we bought in New Orleans.

    Would love a new inspiring piece!

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  85. Wow, LOVE those posters and would of course love to have one! Lynn Y

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  86. I love them! They would look great really anywhere!

    REBrown
    rekdbrown.blogspot.com

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  87. oh my, how lovely. her antlers one would be such a fantastic "ode to the west" since my hubby and i may be leaving soon for a new east coast adventure.

    annd i wanted to say, thanks for sharing! i do love your blog (i may be considered a stalker) but am thankful for all the inspirations & the opportunities to bring a little home!

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  88. dang debbie, i'm so proud of you! i wish i could have all of your work, but you know which one i covet the most. see you around town!

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  89. Wow - those are incredible! I'd love to hang either in my bedroom.

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  90. we love debbie carlos' work so much and hope hope hope hope we win this giveaway.

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  91. Oh my.... the clouds print, I love it! Thank You.
    It is always fun to learn of new artists.....nice post.

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  92. i've been dreaming and wishing and scheming to get one of these for my house. i hope i win one. thanks for the giveaway!

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  93. Could I have 2.... 11x14 pictures of you holding the pictures? It would be brilliant and cute.. I already have the white frames to go with it

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  94. I am crazy for the bunny. My nickname for my two year old, since I was pregnant, is bunny (because he was hopping around in my belly.) ;)
    I would love to have that in my home.

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  95. those prints are too wonderful. thank you for the giveaway!!!

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  96. me, please. and of course, I just had a similar conversation with my husband. all i am asking for for christmas are several cheap prints that i love and frames. and that they be hung promptly. the end.

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  97. I absolutely love Debbie Carlos' work!!

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  98. Whoa..absolutely beautiful!!!! Looking for some happy makers this week between lots of yucky at work and loved ones passing...

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  99. im in love with the bunny poster!

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  100. So beautiful!

    Kat Mokus / chainsawhoney@gmail.com

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  101. I love the ranunculus poster! How pretty would that be in a colorful frame? Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  102. debbie carlos' work is gorgeous! i would love to have either of those posters in my new apt. pick me! love, dana

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  103. debbie carlos has been making me happy with art and food stuffs for years! nice sharing a first name with someone so darn talented!--Debbie (TYN)

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  104. Ooooo. I'm in love with the antelopes. Hubby is from South Dakota and that one would be perfect for us. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

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  105. Breathtaking artwork. Loving Debbie's window prints.

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  106. thanks for hosting! it will be so hard to choose if i win :)

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  107. I recently happened across Debbie Carlos and fell in love with her posters. I'd love to own one so sign me up! I also want to thank her for introducing me to this blog which is super lovely as well.

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  108. love her photography! i stumbled across her food blog a long time ago, and i've always admired the simple and beautiful style of her photos. :]
    fingers crossed!

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  109. just beautiful!!

    Cerena-Leigh
    Luckycldh(at)aol(dot)com

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  110. the first one, for my living room. next to my dream-catcher. please and thank you! ;)

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  111. i am empathetic. i feel like i am clinging to glimpses of beauty as the past year has been the hardest time for me in my entire life....

    thankyou for your gorgeous blog and pearls of beauty you inject into my everyday

    -leah
    leahluna32@gmail.com

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  112. of they're all so wonderful, can't decide if I prefer clouds or steam or a window or antlers.........
    i've loved these posters for w while, lovely giveaway idea !

    rebecca
    http://iliveinvancouvernow.tumblr.com

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  113. My empty walls are screaming for one of these. They're so lovely!

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  114. Oh, gosh, that bunny is so sweet. It would be so hard to pick a favorite. Fingers crossed...

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  115. i know what you mean about art being a happy maker...
    there are certain pieces that draw you in with their weight & power.
    they leave a lasting impression for sure.
    but then there are those that give you such a feeling of excitement, those that are so inspiring that you almost need to run out of the museum that minute & start to create!!
    but you can't because you want to keep taking it in!!!
    i think i have almost started hyperventilating on more than one occasion.
    art can be so super kick ass!!

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  116. Thanks for sharing these lovelies. I especially like flock, window 1, bunny (i think he/she is a crowd pleaser), antelopes, and antlers. Art definitely makes me happy too. :)
    Have a wonderful week!

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  117. I love her work, and am in dire need of a little artwork in our home!!

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  118. they are eerie in a way, but incredibly beautiful. i would love to put one up in my apartment.

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  119. Oh wow- Debbie Carlos's name keeps popping up everywhere I read- MUST be a sign. I can never quite explain the little leap in the heart that a thing of beauty brings. Crossing all crossable parts x

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  120. I love her work and have been dreaming of buying a print for my dining room!

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  121. So beautiful! And, so true, that art is quite the happy maker.

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  122. I'm really diggin' the first poster. Very ethereal to me...

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  123. art is what helps me out of a funk as well...

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  124. Beautiful and inspiring. Would be hard to choose!

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  125. What a great giveaway! I love her work so much!

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  126. these are gorgeous. thank you for the giveaway. you're so sweet!

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  127. wow. gorgeous. serenity inducing art. thank you for this opportunity.

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  128. fingers crossed! thanks for spreading the joy

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  129. You are amazing Joslyn. You find the best of the best, and then tell the rest of us.

    mb from Dallas

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  130. This is a really nice giveaway. I have my fingers crossed.

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  131. I love Debbie's bunny print you used in your daughter's room, so cute. I never win anything but here's hoping.

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  132. beautiful photography like this definitely tops the list of what makes me happy

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  133. Love them all--especially the dot print and clouds!

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  134. fantastic find! they are lovely, I would love her work to grace my walls!

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  135. So lovely -- something to enjoy everyday.

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  136. Beautiful art! something to really bring sighs and smiles

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  137. <<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    those are so beautiful.
    I feel like a tiny mountain beside them.
    <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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  138. Me Please! I have always wanted one these!!!!

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  139. I love the Dot Print - makes me think of a red balloon in the sky!

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  140. Oooh cool! I have bare walls right now, so this is particularly enticing.

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  141. maybe i'll get lucky and win :) i'm totally smitten with the ranunculus poster. one of my fave flowers!

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  142. I would LOVE one of these posters! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  143. Heard about this just in time. Love them!

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  144. hello...
    oh dear two such lucky people here!
    :)

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  145. those are quite lovely!!! would love a shot at one.

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  146. What a tough choice to pick just one.

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  147. Love them! Would love the poster of bunny!

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  148. What great posters! Yes please!

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  149. Nice, thanks! (zacademic@gmail.com)

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  150. Darn, I missed it! But, I wanted to say "thank you" anyway because this post was a happy reminder. Thanks for that hun...
    xo
    Melis

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  151. Awesome! These would be so great for our new apt!

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  152. Oh, I love Debbie Carlos. Full Disclosure I have one of the Human Nature series, but I really do need another!

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  153. It would be so lovely to have such a nice large-scale piece.

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  154. the foggish forrest makes me dream of serene moments, somewhere out there. beautiful!

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