Friday, May 28, 2010

WIP Tweedles and such....

I have been trying to get all of the custom orders on my list sculpted this week....lots of bird cake toppers, mad hatters and this pair of Tweedles for a very special customer. I was scared to try these, but once I jumped into it, the challenge was fun. The customer who requested them is the biggest doll collector I know, and she is particularly wild for Alice in Wonderland. I think she now has 27 Alice dolls from various fantastic artists. She collects dolls of all sizes, but she is particularly interested in miniatures. She creates whimsical "rooms" around all of her miniature dolls and characters. So, these Tweedles had to be around 3" tall to fit into her mini Tweedle room.

So, here they are...Tweedles-in-Progress!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Small Town Living SnipPet Feature and Giveaway!

Oh my, I have been out of town for a few days, and now I am trying to get caught up on everything! It's amazing how behind you can get in just 4 days! Life moves too fast sometimes. I need a "pause" button right now :)!

If you have a few minutes to spare, please head over to the Small Town Living website to read an article about The SnipPets and enter my frog ornament giveaway! This is a wonderful online magazine, and I am honored to be featured! I am thoroughly enjoying reading the comments left by readers....such fun ideas for future SnipPets!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Missy, my sweet street survivor

Beautiful Missy (aka Chumba Wumba) in the hostas. This girl is the perfect example of how spaying and neutering not only alleviates overpopulation but also improves a cat's life immensely. Before we moved into this house, neighbors said that Missy would always be running up and down the streets toting kittens in her mouth, searching for food and shelter, just trying to survive. Now, she is spayed, healthy, plump and happy. She spends her carefree days lounging in the sun...as it should be.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A Cat, a Tiger and a Dragon, oh my!

I just completed a very unique and whimsical cake topper. My customer requested a cat bride, a tiger groom and a beribboned heart to top her fairytale dragon cake. She his having a medieval inspired wedding...such fun!

The tiger's tunic and bride's dress were modeled after the actual wedding attire...just simplified.

This is a picture of what the cake will look like...sorry it is so small, but I wanted you to see it.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Mr. Boyd (formerly Garfield) update

We had a wonderful weekend with a bittersweet ending! My parents drove to Lexington from Raleigh, NC for a visit. We had a GREAT time! We enjoyed meals at our standard favorites...Ramsey's and El Mariachi and tried some new places....Flag Fork Herb Farm Cafe and Claudia Sanders restaurant (started by Colonel Sanders' wife). Mom and I explored the used bookstore and several flea markets and antique shops on Saturday. We can ALWAYS find some quirky and whimsical treasures. We also had a delightful afternoon at the Talon Winery. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy day...sipping good wine and laughing with the other wine tasters!

As for the bittersweet part.... Mr. Boyd (changed his name from Garfield), the FIV+ kitty that I told you about, headed back to Raleigh yesterday with my parents. He is going to the wonderful no-kill cat shelter where my mom volunteers. I am SO unbelievably grateful for that. I know he will get excellent care and hopefully, the purrfect person will come along quickly and give him a loving home. I am just heartbroken because I loved him with all my heart. In 3 short weeks, he crept so far into my heart. His mannerisms and personality and those precious chipmunk cheeks....too much! I cried and cried yesterday as I loaded him into the car and watched them drive away. Fortunately, I talked to mom and dad twice while they were on the road and they said that Mr. Boyd sat on my mom's lap the whole way except for when he got down to use the litter box :). What a good boy!! They said that he watched the windshield wipers with great fascination and slept quietly the rest of the time.

Thank you to everyone who was concerned about Mr. Boyd! I have thoroughly appreciated the support.



Mr. Boyd's face looks so much better now, but I think he will always have a few battle scars on his sweet nose. He is full of character!


Afternoon at the winery...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Smiling Cats Galore for the STJ update!

I went a bit crazy with my grinning kitties this month! I will have four of them available for the Spookytime Jingles update tonight at midnight. I've seen some wonderful sneak peeks from the other STJ artists! I am always so humbled and proud to be a part of this fabulous group. I hope you take the time to peruse all of the special Christmas and Halloween offerings for May.

Presenting Santa Grinch Kitty, Blue Cat Angel, Witch Kitty and Not So Scaredy Cat! They all look like they are up to some serious holiday mischief.




Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Fluffing up for summer....

I am in full on spring/early summer cleaning mode! Once i get started, I tear the whole house apart. So, things are a bit upside down right now. I had a blast cleaning our front porch and planting flowers and rearranging. It is the only area that is complete, so I thought I'd share a few photos. I can't wait to get out there with a special drink and enjoy the warm weather! My parents are coming for a visit this weekend, so we will kick things off with them.



Mr. Tubbs, our newest stray kitty enjoying the new decor....



Natasha, one of our long time feral kitties, sitting under the rocking chair. She is madly in love with Mr. Tubbs...follows him everywhere.



The feral cat SnipPet barn!



Rudy and Mr. Tubbs, best buddies....



Mr. Tubbs....sweetest chubby boy!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Summery SnipPets available tonight!

Hop on over the the Pfatt Marketplace for a new array of artistic treasures from all of the wonderful Pfatt artists! I will have a frog candlestick doll and a butterfly silhouette necklace up for grabs. Here is a sneak peek!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mamas out there!!!!


Friday, May 7, 2010

Mad Catter and a Rabbit Necklace

Yes, more Alice in Wonderland inspired SnipPets...I just can't help myself :)! The creative possibilies are neverending.

So, what do you get when you cross a Mad Hatter with the Cheshire Cat?? A Mad Catter, of course! This large ornament would look great as a wall hanging too.


...and a Rabbit Silhouette SnipPet necklace. Both are in my Etsy shop right now.



Purrs to all and have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Joe and Skinny Magee

Just wanted to share some photos of two of our back patio feral kitties....brothers Joe and Skinny Magee (spelled this funny way because he is named after a bakery here called Magee's). Joe had me worried SICK over the weekend! I didn't see him for 3 days and he ALWAYS shows up for dinner. Then, it rained non-stop all weekend and whenever that happens he comes to the patio to get dry and sleep. I posted about how worried I was on Facebook on Sunday and literally moments later, my husband bellowed, "Jooooooe's hoooome!!!" I flew downstairs and ran outside to give him a hug and a good scolding. Then, i dried him off and gave him his favorite treat...deli turkey.

I painted one of our feral cat houses a few weeks ago....blue polka dots! I swear they are using it more now that it is cute and cheerful :). I will show you the feral cat house that is on our front porch later....it's a little red barn now.

Here are the two boys right after Joe came back home....



Sunday, May 2, 2010

SnipPet Fundraiser in honor of Be Kind to Animals Week!

In case you didn't know, Be Kind to Animals Week started today! Hooray!!!! I wanted to do something special to celebrate, so I have created a section in my Etsy shop dedicated to fundraising for three amazing rescue groups: Good Mews Animal Foundation (no kill cat shelter in Atlanta GA), Caring Hearts Feline Rescue (cat and kitten rescue in Versailles KY) and the Home At Last Feral Cat Program (spay/neuter clinic in Lexington KY). I have volunteered for all of them and can attest to the fantastic work they all do. They are all local groups that rely solely on donations, so they need our support.

100% of the sales in my fundraising section will go directly toward the group of your choice and it will be given in your name. Also, I am going to specify that the money be used to help fund their spay/neuter programs. So, it's basically shopping for snipping!! Lastly, as a little further incentive, I have reduced the prices of all the items that were put into this section to make them very affordable.

Click here to start shopping.

Gisele says, "Kindness to animals is what it's all about!!" (our former foster kitty... taken off the street and in a loving home now.)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

A big hearted rabbit...

...wishes you a very Happy May Day! It's a rainy day here and we need it badly, so it's all good :)! Hope you all have a lovely and fun weekend!!

This rabbit is in my Etsy shop and hoping to be adopted soon.


I have changed Garfield's name...it is now Mr. Boyd. A homeless man had named him Garfield which is cute, but it just doesn't fit him. So, Mr. Boyd it is! He is looking SOOO much better already. His scabs have healed, his fur is softer and he is getting rounder by the minute. Here he is lounging under my art table.