The AdictsAnd I'm sure it's been done, but if I was in a band, I'd love to do a cover of this song.
Til later...
Cheers from Catland,
- Jane
"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!
The AdictsTil later...
Cheers from Catland,
- Jane
Vegan Etsy theme front page!Close up of my "October" cat ACEO
The theme of the front page featured items from members of the "Vegan Etsy" team, which I'm a proud member of! And along with the front page, was an article in the Etsy Storque, where Vegan Etsy was chosen as a featured team! You can learn more about this amazing and compassionate team by reading the article here: http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/spotlight/article/featured-etsy-team-vegan-etsy/2264/
Til later...
Cheers from Catland,
- Jane
El Pajaro - Mexican Bingo Card - Handmade Catnip Toy
Savory Sushi - Handmade Catnip Toy
"Frankenstein Grave" - photo © Jane Diamond
Skinny Puppy (from left to right) Cevin Key, Dwayne Goettel (RIP) and Nivek Ogre
... Anyway, today I received a message from one of the Schmap one-line editors, saying their guides have now been released for iPhone and iPod touch. And that my photo of the Frankenstein grave is on the iPhone version! Very cool news! :) You can check it out here if you like to see what it looks like on the phone: at: www.schmap.com/?m=iphone#uid=chicago&sid=sights_attractions&p=10850&i=10850_21
And below is the official video for their new hit single, "DIG, LAZARUS, DIG!!!"
I think it's such a great and fun song! Catchy too - enjoy!...
Til later...
I hope you all have a great weekend!
Cheers from Catland,
- Jane

"Follow the Leader" by Heidi Shaulis
In addition to featuring the photo of Heidi's winning creation and a link to her Etsy shop - I interviewed Heidi, asking her about her arts and crafts, her life, her pets, and what inspires her artistically. Heidi is a lovely and very talented artist. Please read below about this very interesting, fun and informative interview I did with Heidi to get to know more about her, and her artwork, her pets, and her very own new "Catland"......
"Puss 'n Boots"
Jane: How long have you been an artist, and who and/or what inspires you?
Heidi: I have been painting since I was 22...that was 22 years ago. Wow, I just realized that is half my life! When I started painting I was an archaeologist and art was my hobby. Gradually it became my focus and I went full-time 9 years ago. From the very beginning I painted my cats, as they are one of the loves of my life and I think they are beautiful. Among my favorite artists from the past are Franz Marc, Alice Neel and Marc Chagall, but I am head over heels for the Catland art, especially Louis Wain.
"How to Train your Human"
Jane: What mediums do you use, and are there any particular colors you like to work with the most for your paintings?
Heidi: I almost always use Winsor & Newton alkyd oils because I like the glazing qualities of oils, but like that they dry quickly. I am looking into walnut oil paints though, as they are "green" and free of toxic solvents. I hope to eventually move to those but am not sure if I'll have the patience for them to dry. My palette is ultramarine blue, pthalo blue, titanium white, cadmium red, cadmium yellow, raw sienna, alizaran crimson, lamp black, ivory black, sap green and geranium pink.
Jane: And what are your favorite subjects to paint?
Heidi: Cats, of course! I like to do them in both realistic poses and also in an anthropomorphic fashion; I call these New Catland. My big soft tuxedo cat Charlie is my favorite subject in both styles. I also paint other animals from time to time; usually animals that I see around us here in VT.

Jane: I know you enjoy painting cats, and as a fellow cat artist and cat lover myself, I'm interested in learning more about your cat art. How long have you been painting cats?
Heidi: Since I started painting at 22...I painted my best cat Oliver (he passed away 6 years ago at the age of 19) over and over. My paintings weren't too great then, but I loved painting and you have to start somewhere!
"Chagall on Chagall"
Jane: How would you describe your own cat art?
Heidi: I am self-taught, so I call my paintings folk art. This lets me not worry about rules and just do whatever I feel like doing! Some of my cat paintings are whimsical, and with some I like to convey a feeling of peace and contentment; cats seem to master these things that we humans have such a hard time with.

"Paws"
Jane: Which cats inspire your cat art? And do you have any favorite cat artists that you like and/or inspire your own cat artwork?
Heidi: Right now my favorite subject is my chubby tuxedo cat Charlie, but I'm also working on a series with my 3 boys, Charlie, Harry and Will having adventures together (as in the Rescue...my next will be The Treasure). I also do quite a few commissions of other people's cats. My favorite of all time is Louis Wain, but I also admire the paintings of Henriette Ronner-Knip and also vintage postcards with the fun cat scenes from Catland.
"Thrifty Charlie"
(I own a print of this - it's soooo cute, colorful and charming! - Jane)
Jane: And do you have a particular favorite cat painting of you own creation that is your personal favorite?
Heidi: I think The Rescue is my best cat painting so far.
"The Rescue"
Jane: How many pets do you have? If you like, please share their names, ages, and also any interesting stories about them

Some of Heidi's cats - from left to right - Willy, Charlie and Harry
Jane: Aside from your art, what other interests do you have, what hobbies do you enjoy, and what do you like to do in your spare time?
Heidi: Since we live off of our artwork, it is our life and takes up most of our time, but we also have 2 sons (10 and 14) who need us quite a bit. I also like to work with Isaac gardening. I am also a thrift store addict and can't pass up vintage housewares and linens from the 1920's through the 1960's, cashmere sweaters and anything else that I find charming. Our house had been lived in by the same family since 1945, so it has been difficult to make it feel like our place, but slowly I've been incorporating bright colors, vintage finds and artwork to make the place ours. Hopefully we'll be here as long as the last family.
Our big project this summer is building my painting studio. I currently work in a tiny room in our tiny vintage farmhouse, so it's going to be such a pleasure to have a real workspace. We are trying to build it as "green" as possible; the stones for the foundation and the logs for the timber frame were pulled from the woods by our draft pony Noki a few years ago (sadly he passed away last year from Cushing's disease). We're also going to be using recycled materials and local wood for the construction, and placing windows to maximize passive solar heat. It doesn't look like much yet in the photo, but it should be mostly complete by the end of summer! You can see though, that the setting is peaceful and pastoral.
Heidi's Studio Timber Frame
Jane: Where can we find your Etsy shop?
Heidi: My husband Isaac (he's a woodworker) and I share our Etsy shop; it is http://westcorinthstudio.etsy.com/
"Share Your Love For Cats" painting print by Jane Diamond
"Catch Your Dreams" original cat collage ACEO by Jane Diamond
Both the "Share Your Love For Cats" painting print and the "Catch Your Dreams" ACEO print can be found now at my Etsy shop at: www.janediamond.etsy.com
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In other Etsy related news - I have currently begun to expand my items to other animals aside from cats. Cats are by far my favorite animal (in case you haven't noticed yet;) but I love all animals, and wanted to express that through my arts and crafts. I am happy to say I recently sold an adorable pendant necklace featuring "Georgia", a lovely little lamb rescued by Farm Sanctuary! I actually posted a photo of Georgia, along with some info about Farm Sanctuary in my last post here. Georgia and some other baby lambs were abandoned, unable to care for and fend for themselves (especially at such a young age) and were left to die! But fortunately, the amazing and compassionate people at Farm Sanctuary rescued the lambs, and they all are now living safe, free and happy lives!
Below are two photos of the pendant necklace I made with sweet little Georgia on it
A baby calf, chained at the neck in a stall in a factory farm- unable to move, walk, and barely lay down
Chickens on their way to being slaughtered in a factory farm
I know these photos are very graphic and disturbing, but sadly, this is the truth and reality of what happens behind closed doors to animals in factory farms all over the world!
A rescued sweet baby chick, now living a peaceful and happy life at the Farm Sanctuary
Another rescued animal from Farm Sanctuary. This is Georgia, a lovely lamb, also now living a life of joy and freedom at the Farm Sanctuary
As an Etsy shop owner, in addition to being a member of the wonderful street team "Etsy for Animals" (EFA), I have also recently joined another street team, "Vegan Etsy"! I am a proud member of both of these groups now!
In the blog, "Vegan Flower", they wrote a small post about my Etsy shop, which I was happy to come across. You can read about it here: http://veganflower.blogspot.com/2008/05/jane-diamond-designs.html
"Catch Your Dreams" - handmade cat collage ACEO by Jane Diamond
I sent one of these ACEO's to my friend Katie (known as mishkat at Etsy) for her birthday and I was really happy to know that she liked them so much!
I hope all you cat lovers out there will check back at my shop to see when the "Catch Your Dreams" ACEO is listed, as well as my other crafty kitty goodies that I have in store now, and also coming soon, thanks!
Til later...
Cheers from Catland!
- Jane
But in better news, two of my "Etsy For Animals" friends, WHSKR and Mishkat, wrote a wonderful article about Etsy For Animals (also known as EFA), and I wanted to share it here in my blog since they did such an amazing job on it, and also because Etsy For Animals is an Etsy street team that I am very proud to be a member of!
Here is a direct link to the article: http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/craftivism/article/etsy-pets-worldwide-animals-with-efa/1715/
I hope you will take some time to read this article and learn more about EFA (accompanied by some super cute pictures of EFA members pets and art). In the article, I am the "cool cat artist" mentioned in the first line, and also included is a photo of my ACEO of my "October" cat painting! It's so nice to be featured amongst so many talented and compassionate EFA artists there. Each EFA artist has their own unique style of art, we live all over the world, and yet we are all bonded by our passion for helping animals!
Many thanks to WHSKR (Marjorie) and Mishkat (Katie) for writing the EFA article, which helps spread information and exposure on how EFA members are committed to helping improve the welfare of our animal friends through our arts and crafts.
And a special thanks also to another one of my EFA friends, Michele (mvegan5) who started and created the Etsy For Animals team! Thank you Michele for all your hard and loving work that you do for EFA, and for bringing Etsy artists together through your group so that we can all be a part of making positive changes to animals in need!
~~~~~~
For more info on Etsy For Animals, please visit the EFA shop at: www.etsyforanimals.etsy.com
or at the EFA blog at: www.etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
All items at the Etsy For Animals shop have been donated by EFA members, and 100% of the proceeds (less S&H) go towards the EFA charity of the month. You can also type in 'efa" or 'teamefa" in the main search box at Etsy.com to find members shop who donate percentages of their sales to Etsy for Animals.
To me, shopping at the Etsy For Animals shop and/or from artists' shop who are EFA members is a win-win situation. You get lovely and creative handmade arts and crafts, and get to help animals in the process too!
Til later,
Cheers from Catland!
- Jane
"Greyhound Art Pendant"
"Pomeranian Crystal Flower Pendant"
"Greyhound Summer Sunshine Distressed Pendant"
I really enjoy Nancy's work, but I like her greyhounds the best since they are one of my favorite breeds of dogs, and Nancy really captures the striking and beautiful elegance of greyhounds in her work as you can see!
To check out more of Nancy's work, please visit her Etsy shop at:
And thank you so much Nancy for the 'Etsy For Animals' member feature you did on me for your blog! I really enjoyed the interview and also answering all your questions! :)
Til later...
Cheers from Catland,
- Jane
"Chilly Calico, the meteorologist cat" - handmade mewspaper catnip toy!
"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
"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
~~~

"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![]()
Click on the link below to see my entry for the "Etsy For Animals" February Challenge, "For the Love of Animals". As a member of EFA, I like to participate in their challenges. My entry for this challenge is especially close to my heart...