"With Jane In Catland" is my blog about my handmade paintings, crafts, and other artworks of mine, posts about my Etsy shop, my love for cats and other animals, artist friends of mine, artists who inspire me, animal charities I work for and support, animal rights, various videos, and other random things in my life. Hope you enjoy my on-line Catland!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Extra Extra! Read all about it!


It's been a little while since I've updated my blog. This past month, I haven't been feeling too well physically, which in turn has been effecting me emotionally as well. Everyone I know here in Chicago has been sick. Everyone! There's been something going around that just won't seem to go away. The weather here doesn't help. One day it's 50 degrees, warm and sunny out, and yet the next day, it will drop down to 20 degrees, snowy, cold and grey. An old friend of mine once said there are only two seasons in Chicago - summer and winter. It's so true, it seems there's just no in between.
Anyway, I'm starting to get back on my feet, and wanted to update my blog. I have a lot of catching up to do about various things going on with my arts, crafts, and my life. Mostly good stuff, and some sad, but for now, I wanted to post about this......

Recently, I have been making some new catnip toys from this fabulous fabric I bought. The fabric is a cat themed 'mews'paper, with various cat related articles accompanied with cute kitty photos. I cut out the articles, and hand sew them together using a black backing fabric with white paw prints all over it, which I completely fill with 100% organic catnip!

I have sold two of these mewspaper toys already at my Etsy shop, which I'm very happy about. And in addition to that, I recently was on Etsy, browsing through their "Gift Guide" section and was happy to see that one of my mewspaper catnip toys was featured in the gift guide, under the "Pets and Pet Lovers" section! All items listed there are picked and curated by the Etsy staff, so I was really flattered and excited my catnip toy was selected and featured there! Thanks Etsy Staff :)

To see this catnip toy of mine at Etsy's gift guide, click here: http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/pets-and-pet-lovers/30

Below is a photo of one of these catnip toys I have already sold

"Chilly Calico, the meteorologist cat" - handmade mewspaper catnip toy!

And here is a photo of the catnip toy in the "Pets and Pet Lovers" gift guide section at Etsy

"Astronaut Cat" - handmade mewspaper catnip toy

If you're interested in purchasing this cute and clever catnip toy above, please visit my Etsy shop at: www.janediamond.etsy.com

I'll be listing more of these mewspaper themed catnip toys in my shop in the future, and I have other goodies that I'm planning on making, so check back at my shop soon to see my latest crafty creations! And also, 10% of my sales from my items tagged with "efa" (Etsy For Animals) goes to the Etsy For Animals charity of the month. So it's a great way of not only buying something for your cat that they will really enjoy and love, but also to benefit animals in need at the same time!


Til later...

Cheers from Catland!

- Jane

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Kitty Love Cat Creations!

In my group "Etsy Cat Crafts and Art" that I started at Flickr, I held a "Kitty Love" contest in the spirit of Valentine's Day! Members of the group were encouraged to post their own handmade cat creations that had a Valentine's Day/Kitty Love theme to it. The entries were all very cute and embraced Valentine's Day with our feline friends in mind!

I wanted to feature all the entries that the members had entered in the contest. I am happy to showcase all of these lovely cat creations! So please take a look below at these wonderful, beautiful and creative kitty creations, along with links to each members Etsy shop where you can see more of their wonderful work!


"Bombay Cat Brooch" felted cat brooch by KaysK9s

to visit KaysK9s's shop, please go to: www.KaysK9s.etsy.com

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"Purple Heart Catnap" cat sculpture by Endless Whimsy

to visit Endless Whimsy's shop, please go to: www.endlesswhimsy.etsy.com

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"Mau Mau in Love" cat button by MAUstudio


to visit MAUstudio's shop, please go to: www.maustudio.etsy.com


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"Skittles" felted cat sculpture by bjmaiee

to visit bjmaiee's shop, please go to: www.intimateforest.etsy.com


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"Dobby loves Sophia" mixed media ACEO by mishkat

to visit mishkat at Etsy, please go to: www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=41710


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Thank you to all the members of the "Etsy Cat Crafts and Art" group for submitting your entries for the "Kitty Love" contest! All the entries were fantastic and you are all winners!



Since I started the "Etsy Cat Crafts and Art" group, one thing I noticed that I really enjoy about the group, is while everyone there loves cats and creates cat themed items, every member has their own very distinctive style! It's so interesting to see how different people portray and illustrate cats in their own special and unique way!

If you are an Etsy shop owner, and create cat themed items (either for people and/or cats) please come join my group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsy-cat-crafts-and-art/

Hope to see you there!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane