Another Update, New Etsy Items & Video of the Week

'Ello Everyone -

Again, it's been quite awhile since I've updated my blog. I'm sorry I've been so behind with replying back your comments here, but I wanted to let you guys know that the main reason is because my computer is having a lot of major problems! I actually started writing this post several days ago and it's taken me that time just to complete it.

Lately, my computer keeps booting me off and freezing up on me. I wish I had a dime for every time this has happened cause I could probably retire off of that - seriously! There's been soooo many times I've had to re-boot my computer around 4 or 5 times just to access the internet - and then times I do get on the internet, it boots me off or freezes up, often as fast as within just 30 seconds. It's also running really slow. Basically - it doesn't work about 98% of the time.

This is the same exact problem I had with my old computer before it eventually crashed and died - and now the same thing is happening with my new computer.

Suffice to say it's been very annoying and frustrating, especially since my job at my Etsy shop is solely done on-line, including the photos for the items I sell at my shop.

And it's also why I've been behind with my feedback and convos there - as well as other places I frequent on the net - like my e-mails, this blog, Flickr, myspace, the Etsy forums and several of the Etsy message boards and blogs of teams that I'm a member of, animal charities, shelters and sanctuaries that I work for and/or donate to - plus much more......

Hopefully I will get my computer fixed soon so that I can reply back to all my friends here, at Etsy, and catch up with all my other favorite on-line activities.

I'm actually very surprised I've gotten this far in my post here without getting booted off

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Though fortunately yesterday I was able to complete a listing at my Etsy shop. It's of a new necklace I made in honor and memory to "Cincinnati Freedom" - aka "Cinci". I had completed the necklace and posted it on Flickr awhile ago, but it wasn't until yesterday that i was finally able to list it.

I was very touched by Cinci's story and made a necklace featuring a beautiful photo of her. 20% of the proceeds from the sale of the necklace will go towards Farm Sanctuary - my very favorite farm sanctuary that I support through my work and donations.

Cinci was a very courageous cow who escaped a slaughterhouse by jumping a 6 foot fence! She was fortunately rescued 11 days later and from there, resided at farm Sanctuary where she finally had the safety, love and freedom that she sought and fought for! The amazing and compassionate people at Farm Sanctuary made Cinci feel right at home and she also bonded with the other cows there, forming close and tender friendships with them.

But tragically, 6 years later, Cinci was diagnosed with spinal cancer which spreads fast in cattle. While her passing was very sad and heartbreaking, Cinci's fellow cow friends kept close by her, watching over her, licking her and keeping her calm until she passed away.

So when I heard of her recent passing, I wanted to make this necklace in her honor and to also remind people of the importance of the will to live, courage, strength, freedom and love - something that all humans can relate to and strive for.

Below is a photo of the necklace featuring sweet "Cinci"

Handmade "Cincinnati Freedom" pendant necklace
proceeds go to Farm Sanctuary

I also have a couple new items in my shop as well that I hadn't posted in my blog here yet...

"Le Chat" - handmade and handsewn lavender sachet

Handmade and handsewn "Koi Fish" catnip toy!

To see these items above and much more in my shop, please go to:

http:///www.janediamond.etsy.com

Thank You!

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Anyway - I hope you all understand why I haven't been as active on-line as I normally am - and I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me while my computer is being bipolar.

Lastly....

below is my video of the week - "It's No Good" by Depeche Mode

I've been in a Mode mood lately, loving their new single, "Wrong", and looking forward to the release of their new album, "Songs of the Universe", and tour too!

I love this song by Mode and the I think the video is really campy, cheeky and fun - enjoy!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

Brief update

It's been quite awhile since I last posted here in my blog. Normally, I don't post or write too much about my personal life, but wanted to let my friends and fellow Catland readers know why I haven't been on-line as much lately.

As some of you already know, I had a concussion a few weeks ago, and since then, I've been really busy since going back and forth to my regular doctor and my new Neurologist to manage the pain since I was initially seen in the ER.

I have been getting better and better as everyday goes by, and for the most part, I feel pretty much recovered. But my doctors are keeping a closer eye on me since I had a concussion back in 1999 after a 2x4 fell off a building and landed on the right side of my head. That concussion was a lot worse than my recent one, but because the blow to my head from the 2x4 was so severe, it gave me a post concussion nerve disorder that I still deal with to this day. So I was afraid I'd get that nerve disorder on the left side now, but so far, it doesn't appear that's happened, thank goodness since that nerve condition is often debilitating since it's soooo painful.

Also... an old friend of mine, Rachel, recently passed away. So I've been trying to process and digest that. It came as a big shock since it seemed like one minute she was here and fine, and the next minute, gone. Obviously, I've been very very sad and heart broken about this, and miss Rachel already so much! I just can't make sense or understand it right now. I guess part of me is still in shock. She was a lovely person, inside and out, so caring and loving, and a very good friend to me, and I feel so sad that I'll never see her again.

The only thing that is of some comfort to me about her passing is I believe that she is now with our mutual and close friend, Tim, who passed away many years ago. I truly hope they are together in heaven, cause Rachel and I often talked about our memories of Tim and how much we missed him, so I'd like to think they are with each other again. In Rachel's memory (and Tim's too) here is of cute and fun photo of us around the time when we all first met - and a pretty photo of Rachel from last year.

From left to right - Rachel (RIP) Tim (aka Timmm - RIP) me, and Randy
during happier and care-free times!

Rachel in 2008 - RIP always my sweet dear friend

So due to those reasons, I've sort of been keeping to myself, taking it easy per doctors orders, and trying to deal with these issues the best I can. During this time, I've also been working on some new items for my shop that I hope to list soon. I've been working on some new catnip toys, and all my catnip toys (and sachets) are not only handmade, but also handsewn, and sewing has always been relaxing to me, so it's been helping me to relax and get my mind off things for awhile.

I feel bad that I'm sooo behind in my e-mails, feedback and convos at Etsy, but I've just been so emotionally and physically drained right now. But I'm sure once I feel better, I'll get back on track and have more time to reply back to everyone and also be more active with the groups, teams, message boards, websites, blogs and more, that I'm a member of.

In the meantime, I'm wishing all my friends well, with much love to you all!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

An overdue update

So, as some of you may know, I took a vacation from my Etsy shop for awhile. I've had a lot of things going on here. I typically don't like to talk too much about my personal life in my blog, so I'll just say that the past couple of months have been really hard and challenging, mostly in emotional and physical aspects.

But the good news is I have re-opened my Etsy shop, and will be listing some new items soon I had been working on during my time off. I was planning on listing them earlier this month, but then I started having lots of problem with my computer, and then I was out of power for awhile due to the crazy storms and tornado activity that happened just a couple days ago in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. So that's why I haven't been on-line as much these days.

The storms have now passed, and I'm hoping the same applies to the personal problems I've been having too.

In the meantime, look for some great kitty goodies coming soon to my Etsy shop, including more catnip toys for your feline friends and cat themed sachets for yourself!

Below are two samples of new items to come...

El Pajaro - Mexican Bingo Card - Handmade Catnip Toy

Savory Sushi - Handmade Catnip Toy

Also coming here soon will be a new feature in my blog called "Cool Cat Customer of the Month"! I wanted to feature the cats that own my handmade catnip toys from my shop. My friend Katie (aka 'Mishkat' at Etsy) will be the first to be featured, including stories and photos of her beautiful cats, along with the toys I made that they now enjoy playing with! Also in the feature will be information about Katie and the wonderful and hard work she does for Etsy For Animals!

If you would like your cat(s) to be featured in the future for the "Cool Cat Customer of the Month", contact me at Etsy at: http://www.janediamond.etsy.com Thanks!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

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

Blog feature on me and other recent 'mews'

Recently I was featured in woodnvisions blog for my "Calico Queen" painting. The woman behind "woodnvisions" is Diane, who is also a fellow Etsy seller and Etsy For Animals member too! She creates very unique, beautiful and well crafted sculptures and clocks out of wood. I especially love her Poodle Clock

"Poodle Clock" by woodnvisions
So cute! :)

Diane is a wonderful supporter of Etsy For Animals! She is currently in the midst of creating an Etsy For Animals video featuring the work of EFA artists and their pets too, and I'm very excited and honored that I was selected to be one of the artists featured for the video! Thanks Diane for your feature on me in your blog, and also for all the hard work you are putting into this video to showcase and support the art and artists of EFA! I can't wait to see it!

To check out Diane's wonderful wood creations, go to her Etsy shop at: www.woodnvisions.etsy.com/

To see Diane's feature about me in her blog, go to: http://woodnvisions.blogspot.com/2007/12/featured-seller.html

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In other news, I have begun some "Kitty Love" style work for my Etsy shop, since Valentine's Day is fast approaching. I already have this catnip toy available in my shop right now!

This is a super cute catnip toy that I sewed by hand and is completely filled with 100% organic catnip! I have made these retro style catnip toys for my own cat, Abbey, and she loves them! She assures that your cat will love their very own retro style catnip toy too! I love the fun and flirty look and style to this toy, and all the pink flowers and hearts is very festive and purrrfect for celebrating Valentine's Day with your cat(s)!

Also available in my shop is this adorable and sweet painting print

"Gretchen - Kitty Angel"

This is a high quality print of my original painting based on the second cat I ever had, Gretchen. She was a very pretty long haired white cat with very long whiskers, and two different colored eyes, one green - one blue. Gretchen also had the cutest high pitched mews, and had a very girly purrrsonality. This print is ideal for fans of white cats and also the color pink!

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I also recently picked up some new cat themed fabric, as well as some new ACEO cards and other craft supplies that I look forward to working with to come up with some new creative cat designs. I only wish there was more than 24 hours in a day! I always have so many ideas for new arts and crafts, but never seem to have enough time to complete them all in the time frame I would like. But I will still have some new items in my shop soon, so keep an eye out to see what's in store! Valentine's Day is an especially fun time of the year for me to come up with "Kitty Love" items!

You can visit my Etsy shop by clicking here: www.janediamond.etsy.com

And speaking of "Kitty Love", on February 3rd, "Harmony House Cat Shelter" in Chicago is holding their annual Valentine's Day open house! If you live in the area, you should stop by. There will be lots of cute and crafty items that you can buy that helps support Harmony House, yummy cupcakes and other sweets, a raffle, and of course, you can visit and share your love with all the lovely cats and kitties there too!

To find out more about Harmony House, as well as this event, go to: hhforcats.org

Here is my commissioned painting that I did for their Valentine's Day open house

"Share Your Love For Cats"


Me with my cat Ms. Abbey - Kitty Kisses!

Til later......
Cheers from Catland!

- Jane