Video of the week - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Specimen

Long before there was "goth" there was "Batcave", and bands like Specimen and Alien Sex Fiend epitomized this movement in music. Unlike "goth" music today, Batcave wasn't as serious and all 'gloom and doom' - there was a dark undertone to it, but it was more fun, glam and had almost a campy element to it. I loved the song "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" when I first heard it back in the 80's, but have been playing it a lot lately on my Ipod, though I still have their albums on vinyl! This song is still very popular in the clubs today

Take a trip back in time to the old "Batcave" days with the classic song by Specimen

Etsy For Animals - New Craft Challenge

As a member of Etsy For Animals, I like to partake in their monthly challenges in their blog. For this month, the theme was "New Craft" for the New Year. To view my entry for this challenge, please click on this link: http://etsyforanimals.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-entry-for-new-craft-challenge_04.html

Cheers from Catland!
- Jane

Featured Artist - Patti Haskins

Recently in my new Flickr group, "Etsy Cat Crafts and Art", I held a contest called "Cat Christmas Creations". Members submitted photos of various Cat arts and crafts with a Christmas theme to it. There were many adorable and creative entries!
On December 22nd, the voting began, and on Christmas Day, the winner was announced. The prize for the winner was a feature of their winning photo and a direct link to their Etsy shop here in my blog.

And the winner of the Cat Christmas Creation contest was Patti Haskins!

Here is Patti's photo of her winning entry

This is Patti's cute crocheted cat ornament!

In addition to featuring the photo of Patti's winning creation and a link to her Etsy shop - I asked Patti to tell me more about her work with art and crafts, her life, her pets, and what inspires her artistically. Read below to learn more about this sweet, talented and creative woman, as well as to meet Patti's super cute pets too...

"I’m a middle-aged artist with a graphic design day job. I live in Dallas, TX. My husband Mike and I live with two terrier mix dogs and six formerly alley cats, all rescues. Everything I make is inspired by living with these critters. A day doesn't go by that they don't make me smile.

Veronica

Therefore, I have a hard time making "serious" art. When you're surrounded by goofy creatures, goofiness seems to rule your creative output. . . or at least its that way for me. I hope that my work will make people smile the way my critters make me smile: the world needs more smiles.

Mickey

Betty and Ben

These days I have been creating critters using crochet and sewing fabric into stuffed critters or collaged wall hangings. I also manipulate the photos I shoot of these creations and turn them into digital collages. My day job entails computer graphics and I hate to waste all that knowledge on work alone.

Monty

June

I occasionally feel the need to paint. Someday I will return to sculpting critters from paper mache. I am as goofy as my critters and as easily distracted. You never know what will show up next in my shop."

Rose

Marci


For more of me, visit my blog: pattihaskins.wordpress.com

I'm a member of three street teams:

Etsy Plush Street Team: www.plushteam.com/

Etsy Dallas Street Team: www.etsydallas.blogspot.com/

Etsy Texas Crafters: www.etsytx.org/

To visit and shop at Patti's Etsy shop, go to: www.pattihaskins.etsy.com

Congrats again to Patti for winning the "Cat Christmas" contest, and thank you for all the info you provided for this feature about you! :)

~

Also, I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, and creative 2008!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland!

- Jane

Etsy Cat Crafts and Arts - my new Flickr group!

I recently started a new group at Flickr called

"Etsy Cat Crafts And Art".

As an Etsy shop owner and Flickr member, as well as an avid cat lover, I thought I'd start a group for other Etsy shop owners who create cat related items such as I do!

If you are interested in viewing and/or joining this group, click on this link:

http://flickr.com/groups/etsy-cat-crafts-and-art/

So far, I have 33 members in the group, and what I find so interesting about the group is while all the members there create cat related arts and crafts, everyone has their very own unique and distinctive style. There are a lot of talented and creative people in the group, with a wonderful and vast variety of cat crafts and arts!

Hope to see you in the group soon!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

Charmed, I'm Sure...

I've finally begun working on some pendants that I bought and have been in the process of making some cat charm pendant necklaces out of them. I'm quite happy with how they've been turning out considering the little amount of experience I've had working with jewelry.

Below are some photos of my latest cat charm pendant featuring two cats by my favorite Victorian cat artist, Louis Wain! The pendant has a cat on each side - one happy cat, and one grumpy cat. This necklace would make for a cool way to display the mood you're in. Wear the Happy cat side when you're feeling happy, and the other side when you're feeling grumpy. Or you can just wear it to show off your love for cats!

Happy smiling orange tabby cat

Black and white grumpy cat

Side view of the pendant

Grumpy cat side displayed on an Egyptian cat statue

This was made on a 1 inch silver pendant with a glass insert that magnifies the images.

The pendant comes with a silver ball chain necklace that can be worn at any length of your preference. This pendant is purrrfect for cat lovers, as well as fans of Louis Wain alike!

This pendant can be found at my Etsy shop at:

www.janediamond.etsy.com

And check back at my shop for more cute cat charm pendants in the future! These are a lot of fun to make, so I'm sure I'll be listing some other ones soon!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland!

- Jane

Happy Holidays!

My cat Ms. Abigail and I want to wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday

and a wonderful new year too!

Cheers from Catland!

- Jane

My Latest Crafty Cat Creations!

Greetings from Catland!

I've been enjoying making my latest crafty cat creations!

Below are some photos of my newest catnip toys, enjoy!

"Pretty Kitties" Catnip Toy
Handmade and handsewn catnip toy completely filled with 100% organic catnip!

My beautiful 18 year old cat Ms. Abbey modeling with one of her very own "Pretty Kitties" catnip toy!

My Art Noveau inspired Catnip Toy!

These catnip toys have been a big hit with my cat customers! They are sure to make you cat play and purr with delight!

These catnip toys and other cat creations of mine can be found at my Etsy shop at:

http://www.janediamond.etsy.com

~
I've also begun working on some cute cat pendants! I haven't worked with jewelry much, but I've been having fun making these pendants and they have turned out great so far! I can't wait to add them to my shop.

In other news, aside from work, just getting ready for the holidays! As much as I'm looking forward to Christmas, I can't wait 'til it's over as all the stores have been soooo busy and swamped and I don't do well with big crowds, or the sappy Christmas music! Although there is one Christmas song that I have always liked, "Do they know it's Christmas"? by Band-Aid. I still have the 12 inch and 45 of the song on vinyl too!

Til later...

Cheers from Catland!

- Jane

The Latest 'Mews'

Today I received the latest newsletter from Harmony House Cat Shelter and was happy to find that the photo below of my friend Melissa and I was used in the newsletter! The photo was taken at Harmony House's annual Halloween event.

Also a photo I took of three of the animal communicators at the event was used in the newsletter as well, and both Melissa and I received 'Furry Thanks' for taking photos at this event. It was a nice surprise to see out photos and names mentioned in the newsletter!

Melissa (left) and I at Harmony House Cat Shelter - 07

And below are a couple photos I took of some of the sweet kitties at Harmony House

Sambuca - my favorite cat at Harmony House!

Kitty Love!

A very cute and friendly orange tabby cat

~

In other news...tonight I'm working on a custom lavender sachet for a buyer at my Etsy shop. I make all my sachets and catnip toys by hand. I love to sew by hand, I find it very relaxing.

Update...here is the completed custom sachet. The front of the sachet (as in the photo below) features an original painting by me called "October". The sachet is completely filled with organic lavender and the backing fabric is purple with white stars. I was very pleased with how it turned out and hope the buyer who ordered it loves it and enjoys it!

I have the film "Grand Hotel" playing in the background. I usually work on my arts and crafts with a movie or some music playing in the background. Grand Hotel is one of my favorite movies from the 1930's. It's an excellent film with an all star cast. I love old hollywood, especially the fashions from that time period. The woman were so beautiful and elegant, and the men were very dashing and handsome. If you like old films, you should check out Grand Hotel! Lionel Barrymore is especially good in this film.

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

The Latest 'Mews'

I'm in the December issue of Chicagoland Tails Magazine!

I had attended the 4th annual 'Pet Psychic Fair and Halloween Boo-tique' at Harmony House Cat Shelter. I do promotional art-work for Harmony House - a cageless no-kill cat shelter in Chicago.

My art-work for them helps promote their special events, such as this one. My art for Harmony House has been used in their newsletters, website and T-shirts. I attended the Halloween event with my friend Melissa, and we had a wonderful time catching up with all the Harmony House cats, kittens, and staff. The photo below was taken at the event, and is now published in this months issue of Chicagoland Tails Magazine!

I'm the one in the middle, along with Patricia Clancy (left) and Alicia Halloran (right) two of the animal communicators at the event.

This is sweet sweet little "Sambuca"! She's my favorite cat at Harmony House!

She's shy but very precious, I adore her so much. She only has one eye - but I like to think of it as her perpetual wink ;)

Me (right) with my good friend Melissa at Harmony House

This lovely long haired orange cat kept staring at me with those big 'take me home' eyes. This cat really took a liking to me, perhaps because we both have orange hair ;) This cat later gave me a kiss, and was more than happy to let me takes lots of pictures. What a great kitty model!

My friend Melissa with one of the cats she fell in love with, and this cat fell in love with her right back. Total Kitty Love!
~
Last week, I got a package in the mail. I didn't know who the sender was, and was confused as to what was in the package. But once I opened it, I realized that I had won a very nice photo bracelet cuff from Chicagoland Tails magazine. The have contests every month in the magazine, and I had entered to win this bracelet, and I didn't even know I won 'til I opened the package, it was quite a nice and unexpected surprise! Chicagoland Tails has been good to me this month :)

~

In other 'mews', I'm still working on some items for my Etsy shop that I will be adding soon in the weeks to come. I'm working on several different projects at once, been very busy, so it takes me awhile to complete all my new items, but they all will be worth it once I finish them. In the meantime, come check out what I have available now at:

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

And check back soon for my latest cat related crafts and arts

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane

Latest Cat Creation!

Here is my latest handmade catnip toy, "Puss at Home"

It features a charming and heart warming Victorian design of a beautiful brown

Mama tabby cat, with her sweet faced kitten all cozy and close at her side.

This toy measure approx. 2x3 inches in size

Ideal for kittens of for grown cats that prefer smaller sized toys

This catnip toy would make for the purrrfect stocking stuffer this holiday

for your feline friend!

This toy is available now at my Etsy shop at:

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

Cheers from Catland,

Jane

Cat Video of the Week!

Nora - The piano playing cat
and yes, it's real
Nora looks like my Abbey too :)

All Things Handmade

My Etsy shop is now featured in a wonderful new blog called "All Things Handmade"!

Thanks to my friend Michele ('mvegan5' at Etsy) for letting me know about this blog
To check out my shop listed there, just click on this link: http://etsymini.blogspot.com/2004/08/art-and-illustrations-page-4.html

Also, I wanted to thank my other Etsy friend Katie ('mishkat') for taking screen shots of two of my treasuries at Etsy. The first one I did recently featured donated items in the "Etsy For Animals" shop, and my theme was EFA Harvest, in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Check out the screen shot of it that Katie took for me, it has some wonderful Thanksgiving and autumn themed items...

The second recent treasury I did was an ode to Victorian cats! Obviously I'm a huge cat lover, (just in case you haven't noticed ;) and I love the charm, warmth, and elegance of Victorian art. Below is the screen shot of my "Fine Victorian Felines" treasury!

Cheers from Catland,

- Jane