September Monthly Challenge Theme: On the Farm

September's Monthly Challenge

Theme is... On the Farm

Happy Pigs

Original Watercolor by TheBlueWindmill

September's theme is “On The Farm”... feature farmland or animals that can be found on the farm such as pigs, cows, goats, horses, ponies, chickens, chicks, roosters, geese, ducks, cats, dogs, rats, mice, etc.

Be inspired by colors, sounds, or textures such as bright red barns, vivid green crops, quacking ducks, mooing cows, oinking pigs freshly plowed fields, or gently rolling hills that might be found on the farm.

One can think of what might be found in a farm house such as plates, bowls, rugs, wall décor, etc inspired by farm lifestyle.

An entry may include animals, barns, farm houses, farmland, or the countryside on which farms are built. One can think of the different types of crops that farms produce such as corn, apples, squash, pumpkins, etc. Think of containers that are used for farm produce, such as buckets, barrels, baskets, sacks. One could enter something related to Halloween or Thanksgiving such as crows in a cornfield or a scarecrow or pumpkin or sweet potato treats. It just needs to be farm-related in some way. And if that’s not enough inspiration, here is a lovely poem to further inspire you.

My Farm Animals

© Linda Harris

On a sunny day, I sat on my porch swing

And watched a cool fresh summer rain

Everything then seem to come so alive

Birds flew to birdbaths to take a dive

My horse started galloping with glee

Putting on a show to entertain me

The donkey, he was hee-hawing so loud

Trying to get the attention of a crowd

The cows and goats stepped up to see

What all the commotion seemed to be

Chickens were making clucking sounds

Even little bunnies were looking around

Simon, the cat, awoke, puzzled over this

Fell back to sleep for his daily rest

My farm animals so joyful and free

Well, no one to see, but only me!

Simply tag your entries “teamefafarm” without the quotation marks and send in your entry by September 7th.

Remember, when we've received sixteen qualifying entries they will be entered in our Challenge Competition where the winner will get a free one month advertising slot on either the EFA website or the Challenge blog, winner’s choice, for the following month!

Here are the specifics on how to enter a monthly challenge:

If you are an EFA member & would like to submit an entry, please convo our Challenge Volunteer, Jess of jessicalynneart, with the following information:

1. PROViDE the link to an item in your shop that fits the theme or has been created for the theme.

2. EXPLAiN how you think the item fits the monthly Challenge theme

3. TELL US a bit about your work/donations/volunteer work with animals or animal charities

4. TiTLE your convo with the name of the MONTH and the word CHALLENGE, for example: SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE.

One more important step:

5. TAG your Etsy listing with the monthly Challenge theme tag (this month = teamefafarm) (see the Themes-at-a-glance list here for other tags). Be sure to ALSO keep your regular team tag in place, either 'team efa' or 'team efa cotm'.

THANKS !

Heather of TheBlueWindmill

Python in Glasses Watercolor by thebluewindmill

What's more cool for this month's challenge than a reptile wearing glasses? This original watercolor by thebluewindmill features a lovely python is wearing vintage-style Marilyn Monroe cat glasses.

I help animals by volunteering for EFA, signing petitions, and have currently been tweeting for homeless pets in New Orlean, Texas, and Cincinnati.

Lazy Lizards Collar by hollywoofstyles

This lazy lizards collar by hollywoofstules if perfect for the August reptile challenge. This fun colorful collar is great to end the summer with and shows these colorful lizards trying to catch those last summer sun beams to warm their bellies.

A percentage of our profits are donated to local Atlanta rescue groups. We also contribute in other ways to many rescue groups throughout the United States. Local rescue groups we greatly appreciate for their efforts are Adopt a Golden and Rescue Me.

A Little Dragon Print by oceloteyes

This print of a painting by oceloteyes is of an Eastern Water Dragon. These gorgeous wild Australian lizards certainly look like dragons - and I think these little guys think they are dragons! If only they were a little bit bigger... They try to look fierce, but they're also curious, cute, and all-around incredible. These reptiles are well-known to many Australians, and the reference photo for this one was taken in the South Bank parklands in Brisbane - yes, there be dragons right in the middle of the city!

The ferns and the log came from my backyard. (I don't have water dragons in my backyard, so I combined different elements to create the painting. I do have a friendly resident backyard python - but that's another reptile story...)

I donate 10% from all sales of my artworks, to animal charities.

Aside from EFA, I'm also an exhibiting member of the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society, which promotes the study, appreciation, and conservation of wildlife through art, specifically relating to Australia's unique species. (The original Water Dragon painting was first exhibited at one of our exhibitions at Australia Zoo this year - where a percentage of art sales went to support the Wildlife Warriors Animal Hospital.)

I also foster a baby elephant, Sities, at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya - they do incredible work in rescuing orphaned elephants and rhinos, and I'm happy to support them.
At home, we've got a rescue dog, Charlie, whom we adopted from the QLD RSPCA. :)

Matthew and Me Painting No. 6 by LolaLynn

The "Matthew and Me" Turtle paintings from LolaLynn have been created by my 5 year-old grandson and myself. We started painting shortly after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but turtle rehabilitation continues. Matthew paints the background using water color paper, water color paints, straws and paper towels. I add the turtles and the finishing touches. So far we have sold 11 paintings and donated 50% to turtle rescue.

Our shop has been contributing to the EFA charity of the month and other animals causes promoted by members of our team since 2007. We sold last month's challenge entry and 50% was donated to the Audubon Nature Institute. A stash of jewelry has just been donated to Courageous Cats of Long Island for their summer fund raiser.

Take Five Reptile Print by terikor

This Monotype was made specifically by terikor for the EFA’s August Challenge, Reptiles. It is my first venture at creating a piece of art showing any kind of reptile. I always love new artistic challenges and experimentation because it shows my growth as an artist. In addition I get to add something new and different, in this case a lizard to my portfolio.

I chose to create the lizard as a Monotype because I feel I am more fluid and loose with this medium and I employ brighter colors. Lizards can be very colorful making the use of this medium ideal for conveying what I wanted to portray.

Take Five portrays a lizard sunning itself on a rock. The background of this Monotype represents the both a sunny day and a rock. Like humans this lizard is taking a respite by lying in the sun; hence the title “Take Five”.

I choose California Wildlife Center as a charity to support because they assist so many different types of local fauna. I figured this rescue was befitting of benefiting from the sale of this particular piece of artwork.

Mediterranean Lizard Silk Tapestry Box by brizel4TheAnimals

Reptiles DO rock !

Mediterranean Lizard is a sweet gentle fiber arts container by brizel4TheAnimals featuring handcrafted vegan banana silk yarn in variegated greens and earthy reds. It has a lid of its own which is embellished with an oval shaped silver tone metal button with an etched lizard on it.

Lizard loves to meditate in the full sun... sometimes she will even do a step dance in celebration. Maybe its because she received a special message or insight ? Lizards are here to teach us how to relax & let our inner voices show us the way through a challenge.

This lovely mini Silk Tapestry Art Box measures approx: 3 1/8" in diameter x 2" high with an interior cavity of 2" in diameter x 1 1/2" high. Its silk weight is roughly 1.5oz (36g)

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I own some 20 acres up in the mountains where I have planted orchards and floral gardens. Personal funds are put towards helping to sustain this habitat which attracts birds, butterflies, bees, bats, hummingbirds... and it is also a seasonal mating ground for dragonflies ! Twilight is part of a 2,000 acre ranch out in the chaparral wilderness where wild animals still roam.

I provide a home for my animal rescues, create & maintain habitat for wildlife to prosper, support animal welfare through petition & animal advocacy work, donate 10% of my Silk Tapestry Art Box sales to EFA's Charity of the Month, and promote & support Team EFA members through Etsy Treasuries & the EFA blog. I am also Team Captain, Membership & COTM Leader & Blog Admin for Team EFA !

Sea Purrtle Pillow by catcalls

I bet you didn't know there were such things as Sea PURRtles! Neither did I, but I had to invent one to fit the theme of Reptiles in a CAT shop! This pillow by catcalls is made from recycled pillow liners. I hand painted the design onto wet fabric to give the watery look then quilted it onto two more layers of pillow liners, adding more details. The back is an envelope style made with an out of print fabric called "Meow". I thoroughly enjoyed this as it is something new for me, and I was pleased with the outcome!

I am the "Tweeter" for EFA as well as a blog contributor. I also support cat rescue, especially concentrating on The Feral Cat Rescue in Oregon.