From Here On Out

I have moved the story of my little charges over to a new blog so the people who follow me for my art can continue to do so and yet if they are interested they can follow the story elsewhere

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And Sometimes It Is A Pile Of Poop...

I know that there are a few people that have been following my kitten story and ask about them from time to time. I do not have good news for you today. It seems as if all the kittens have the FELV virus and this afternoon I had to put Cassandra to sleep (thank you Julia for being there with her when I could not) Two of the other kittens are not doing well and the third is not as healthy as he should be. I was told to expect the worst and I have though I am armed with and arsenal of Pedialyte, vitamins, pumpkin, a sock full of rice and a host of other things that could help. I won't give up as long as they do not (or are suffering)

I have great friends in Sara Inc and without them I don't know what I would do. I owe you all big time and I have ideas on how to pay it forward but in the meantime if anyone would like to make a donation (or even better adopt) then visit their site and open your home to what will become a part of the family

It is funny how something that has come into your life for such a minute amount of time can make such and emotional impact on you but these little guys did. I know I did all I could, I know that it would have been worse if they were out on the streets but I do feel helpless and sad because they are so little and young. It isn't easy but I would have done it again if I had to.

I am not sure who in the cosmic universe thought it was a good idea to give a clinically depressed animal lover a litter of sick kittens but when I meet the one responsible I am going to hurt him/her badly.

Goodbye little Cassy

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Sometimes Things Are Not So Rosy

Yesterday mom cat was dropped off to be spayed, tested, and ear tagged in the event that she could not be tamed (we are still working on that part) I returned later that day to pick her up and found that she is FELV positive and I am heartbroken. I also understand that there is a good chance some of her kittens may have it too and that I should prepare myself. What I did not prepare myself for is the quickness of loosing one of them. It happened this morning at 2 am, one of the little ones died in my arms, he was so little and so young.

I have had many, many pets and the loss of any of them does not get easier, this one is certainly no different. There are things that go through your head when something sudden like this happens, the "what if I only" are there, even if it is an irrational thought, but as a dear friend reminded me, at least he died in my arms and was very loved instead of being outside all alone. I just wish I could have done more, so goodbye little guy, you were here only a short time but you were such a pleasure to have around.

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Great Memorial Day Sale At Zazzle!

50% off posters
40% off business cards
30% off aprons
20% off stamps

Visit Pen And Ink for more great business cards, and postage

Just use code MEMORIALSALE when checking out

* 50% of the poster net sale price, 40% of the business card net sale price, 30% of the apron net sale price, and 20% of the stamps net sale price will be deducted when one or more qualifying products are purchased and the coupon code MEMORIALSALE is applied at checkout. The net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). For Zazzle Custom Stamps, the net sale price is the difference between the price of the Zazzle Custom Stamps (excluding shipping and taxes) and the face value of the postage. Offer is valid from May 27, 2010 through May 31, 2010 at 11:59pm PT. This offer does not apply to past purchases and may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

Read All About It

It is finally here! I am being featured in a magazine along with 11 other very talented artists and I am so excited.

Read about Diane Duda, Gina Minichino, Laurie Hardin, Lisa Marie Robinson, Liz Hall, Lora Shelley, Mariana Musa, Melissa Hamilton, Rebecca Bowker Czosnek, Tricia-rennea Wilson, Zoya Geacintov and myself.

The magazine has lots of beautiful pictures created by the artists themselves and a light, candid interview with each of us. The magazine is available in the USA, UK and Canada so far though they will be opening it up to more countries soon.

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Kitten Cuteness For Charity

Kitten Cuteness Card

As any of you that follow this blog know I have found a litter of kittens in the window well of my basement. Since these little guys and their mom need to be checked and spayed and neutered I figured they can at least help me pay for it.

Yesterday I took the little ones outside to expend all of the energy kittens seem to have a boatload of. I happily grabbed my camera of course and caught some very cute poses, not hard to do when your subjects are as darling as mine. Thus "Kitten Cuteness" was born and all the proceeds from the sale of these items will go to defer vet costs.

I have a few bits of cuteness up currently and will be adding more as my models do their thing. Stay tuned for more kitty antics as the days go by, I am sure they will provide me with plenty of material and keep your fingers crossed that mom can calm down enough to be placed in a loving home.

Feel free to spread the word, refer my products or if you are able maybe purchase a few items. I will gladly take any help I can get.

Kitten Cuteness Mousepad

Kitten Cuteness Bag

Kitten Cuteness Magnet

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Everywhere, Cats

Floral Calico Kitty Rescue Bumper Sticker

Now, I can't imagine why I have cats on my mind, well maybe I could and I guess these floral calico cats came out of my recent backyard find.

I have found that I am quite fluent in Cat but my Kitten is not so good. One quizzical tilt of the head of any of my cats and I know immediately what they need, they have me trained well. Kittens are not so easy. They mew and cry all of the time and sometimes I think it is just because -with no reason behind it.

I love these little guys, the entertainment is endless and yesterday after a little play session some of them were so tired they started to fall asleep standing up. Their little eyes would droop and over they went into a deep little kitten sleep. I am glad they are here, they make me feel needed which is something I do not often feel anymore and I am enjoying the time I have with them.

If you purchase any of the Floral Calico Kitty line (or anything in any of my stores for that matter) it will help me to make sure these little guys get the care that is needed. Vet bills are costly and there are five kittens and a mom, all of which deserve a better life than that of the street reproducing.

Floral Calico Kitty Blue Bag

Floral Calico Kitty Orange Mousepad

Floral Calico Kitty Pink Sticker

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Usquequaque Prosum

Usquequaque Prosum, I recently learned this phrase while working on a freelance job. Usquequaque Prosum means, if loosely, "Always Do Good"

Now anyone that knows me knows how much I love animals and there must be a cosmic sign over my home that only animals can read and it says I am a safe haven.

For about a week I have seen a beautiful orange and white tabby, rather young and very elusive and it wasn't until 2 days ago I understood why.

I had begun the task of yard work after not being able to get outside because of the weather or other engagements. Against my house was a bunch of tall weeds that have taken root in the spring. I have an old picnic table that houses my container garden up against the house and below it is a basement window-well...and well that is when I came across this:

Yup 5 of them all tucked away next to the window shielded from the elements by the well cover and safely under the table, perfect spot. I certainly do not need any more animals as I have 6 cats of my own but if I do not do something now these little guys will reproduce and become an even bigger problem so guess who has a litter of kittens for a while? Now of course I wouldn't let mom stay out there making more kittens so out came the Have-A-Heart trap and within an hour she too was caught.

Thankfully I have friends that volunteer for S.A.R.A. a wonderful rescue and they have been giving me guidance, lent me a cage for mom and a lot of other help. I never had baby kittens before as all my cats were young adults when they adopted me so this is certainly a learning experience and I am a nervous new mommy.

Since this is kitten season and they are so overwhelmed I will be taking care of these guys until they can be checked and fixed as well as their mom. Hopefully I can work with mom so she can be placed in a home. Right now she is feral and maybe with a little love and lots of patience I can turn her around...spaying might help too.

I have seemed to go off the subject of art which is the norm for this blog but animal welfare is very important to me and I wanted to share. Maybe it will inspire some of you to "Always Do Good" in whatever is close to your heart.


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Pirates, Princesses, Time Travel, Fairytales, Super Powers And More

Hmmm, where have I been? Yes I have been laying low and by my own admittance have slacked off on any Zazzle updates. It is not my fault so much as I have been getting work quite regularly.

One thing that I have been making progress on is with a company called Once Upon A Puzzle. Now we are not to the point of going live just yet (hey I am painting as fast as my little hands allow me) but things are moving along almost smoothly. If anyone is interested in following a brand new company from the ground up head on over to Facebook and Once Upon A Puzzle, become a fan (or like us as it is now called) and maybe even take a guess as to what is brewing on my end. (yes puzzles are involved but it is so much more than that.)

On another note that top secret project that I have been working on, that very hush, hush one is off to the printers for a proof. I guess I can let you know that very soon a new magazine is being launched called "Indie Arts And Illustration" I have been helping a friend with the layouts and each issue will feature 12 artists. The first issue will be available for purchase very soon and don't forget to keep an eye here to find out where and when. You might even know a few of the very talented artists that grace the pages of the first issue and if you don't then you are sure to become new fans of them.

The Espy awards as well as the MTV Movie awards are just around the corner and I am so excited about it and wonder who will be receiving my work.

I also have a website that I am redesigning for a very talented artist named Lora Shelley. I am giving her a whole new updated look to showcase her beautiful artwork.

I guess that is all for now. I must get back to painting, I think time travel is the order for today, perhaps even a few superpowers too, we'll see what comes out the end of my brush.

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