Halloween Owl Nesting Dolls for the Pfatt Update!

Time seems to keep escaping me lately!! Almost forgot to post these little fellas before tomorrow's Pfatt Marketplace October update! I am offering a set of six hand painted Halloween owl nesting dolls. Hoot hoot! Hope you like them :)!

STJ update tonight!

The other two pieces in my Halloween Circus animal trio will be available tonight at midnight for the Spookytime Jingles update. I am thrilled that the giraffe and owl piece sold this weekend, so that is great news for the auto body shop cats! 100% of the sales of the pig and elephant will also go toward feral villas and feeding stations for them. (See previous post for more details.)

Halloween SnipPets to help cats in need!

Last January, some friends of mine and I started TNRing a colony of feral cats at an auto body shop nearby. This colony has really captured my heart (as they always do!), and I am now feeding them on the weekends since the shop is closed and the weekday caretakers aren't there. As winter approaches, I am already feeling anxiety about keeping them as warm and comfortable as possible. Right now, they only have one small shelter and that just isn't adequate for 11 cats. They also don't have a covered area for food and water. So, I want to purchase 2 insulated feral cat villas and 2 feeding stations from www.feralvilla.com. I have two of their villas at my house for our stray crew and they really love them. I also want to get several bales of straw and a few more small shelters to put under a big pine tree that the body shop kitties stay under. Once I get everything purchased, I will spend a day over there cleaning up and creating the coziest, driest environment possible. These kitties are most likely FIV+ (3 have sadly died over the past few months and one tested positive), so it is imperative that they get as much care and comfort as possible. The group of 11 is doing well right now (no sniffling noses or runny eyes) and they have huge appetites.

The sales (100%) of my newest Halloween circus dolls will fund this project. I have completed the giraffe and owl piece and it will be available during the Pfatt Marketplace update this Saturday. I am finishing up the other two and they will be up for grabs for the Spookytime Jingles update at midnight on the 12th.

Jimmy, Calvin, Diesel, Webster, Sarah, Emily, Jenny, Wendy, Speedy, Pete and Lisa thank you for reading about their needs :).

Halloween Giraffe and Owl





Diesel



Speedy



Calvin



Eating in the snow last winter....they now have bowls but they REALLY need the covered feeding stations.



Once I get this project underway, I will post lots of "before" and "after" photos!

More progress on the Halloween circus....

It is the perfect day to stay in and create....chilly and rainy here in Lexington! This weather is so wacky. It was in the high 90s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday breaking records for September and today a high of 68 is predicted...not exactly a smooth transition to fall. Oh well, I am going to turn on my space heater and speed up the clay drying process so that I can hopefully sand and prime my Halloween circus trio later today.

Happy Labor Day to all of you!

Halloween WIPs

It hit me this week that Halloween is only 2 months away!!! Where the heck did summer go?!! I think it flew by faster than ever before. It's time to get crackin' on some Halloween creations, so here is what I have in the works....

A few circus inspired Halloween animals! Envision an orange giraffe with black spots....and still deciding on the exact color scheme for the ellie. I also have a spooky cute pig clown sketched and will be making the armature shortly.

Sugar Skullcat painting for STJ update!

I have been wanting to create a painting in honor of the millions of cats killed in shelters every year. I didn't want it to be morbid or dark, so I decided to use the bright, colorful style of the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. Those precious lives are lost, but they are not forgotten by me or any of the rescuers who do their best every day to change the reality of pet overpopulation and abandonment. Our hearts ache for each and every kitty, and we will continue to give them voices and fight for change.

This painting will be available tonight at midnight for the Spookytime Jingles update! It was done on a 16 x 20 gallery wrap canvas with mixed media accents...i.e. glittery cardstock leaves and hearts. 15% will be donated to spaying/neutering/vaccinating 2 feral cats through the TNR program in Lexington. Preventing unwanted births is the only way to end pet overpopulation and the deaths of so many adoptable, loving animals.

Spookytime Jingles update tonight!

This month STJ is celebrating a trio of holidays...Halloween, Christmas and July 4th! So, I created a little trio of critters for the update. These ornaments will be up for grabs tonight at midnight.

Spookytime Jingles Sneak Peek!

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, new spooky and sweet holiday treasures will magically appear on the STJ website! I am anxious to see what everyone has to offer this month. Two of my hot air balloon sculptures will be up for grabs....

A frog witch hitches a moonlit ride with a jolly jack o' lantern!



and a little cat 'n' mouse for the holidays....

Sneak Peek for Spookytime Jingles update

It's ALL about the frogs for this month's STJ update tonight at midnight! These little guys are all around 5" tall. Their hands are the tiniest ones I have ever sculpted before. I hope you like these happy itty bitty cuties!

Meet Otto the Wizard....



and the Frog Princes, Jean-Claude and Jean-Paul. Doesn't everyone need a French Frog??!! Oui Oui!

Another Halloween Trio and an Angel Cat!

Here is a little trio of rascally raccoons in their snazzy Halloween costumes! They are dressed and ready for the Spookytime Jingles update tomorrow night at midnight.



This happy holiday angel kitty will also be up for grabs.


This happy holiday angel kitty will also be up for grabs.

Hoot! Hoot! October Pfatt Update!

My little owls are dressed in their spooky best for their favorite holiday! This Halloween Trio is my offering for the Pfatt Marketplace update on Sunday at 9am.

Happy Friday, everyone!!

Hoot! Hoot! STJ Update tonight!

The Spookytime Jingles monthly update is at midnight tonight! Halloween is quickly approaching, so I made a very festive little owl for my STJ offering.

Meet Tricky!



If you haven't entered my AHA giveaway, please leave a comment on the AHA post from a few weeks ago. I will be drawing a name at 5pm today!

AHA Studios Marketplace Grand Opening and Giveaway!

Here is my offering for the grand opening of the American Holiday Artists' (AHA) Marketplace as well as my blog giveaway to celebrate the opening! See below for how you can win this original piece of artwork from me, and find out how to win from our other artists as well!

Trio of Jack o' Lanterns for AHA Marketplace...



Holiday Kitty for AHA Giveaway....




More about the AHA group...

We're three years old, and today we launch our marketplace to expand the horizons for you, our collectors!! Our artist members offer fresh one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality seasonal and holiday theme art---from hooked rugs, to whimsical papier-mâché characters, cloth dolls, folk art, fantasy art, paintings, one-of-a-kind ornaments, artist patterns and more! This is brought to you, directly from the artist's studio to your home year round, made with you in mind, by award-winning and respected artists.

Visit American Holiday Artists Studio Marketplace at http://www.ahaartistsstudio.com/,. Opt in and subscribe to our mailing list and receive our free monthly newsletter-you'll keep up with new monthly-artist members, new work, artist challenges and future events. New arrivals featured the 25th of each month.

And for weekly updates, drop in at our blog: AmericanHolidayArtists.com

To launch us on our artistic journey with you, we are taking the theme of The Christkindlemarket in Europe where all things are possible for the holidays.............

You stroll among the tents where artists have displayed their work, so stroll through our artists' blogs, leave a comment on each one, and perhaps you will be a winner of original artwork! All you have to do is leave a comment, and each artist will announce the winner on September 12th. The artists have all silently picked a random number of a comment, so if your number comes up, you will be the happy recipient of their creation. It's that simple, and that much fun! So settle back, relax and begin your stroll. The list below shows you the participating artists in our market blog giveaway. You can do your hopping thing, leave comments, and have a chance to win fabulous original work from some terrific artists! So, leave me a comment, continue your journey, and enjoy our launch! Thanks for looking!

Suzanne Urban Designs
Mothers Dream Artworks
Seasonal Whimsies by Susan V.
folk 'n' fiber blog
Alycia's Art
Back in the day Originals
Cathy Santarsiero The Christmas Corgi
Elysian Field Originals
Fantasy Whispers
Folk Art By Penny
Folk Art from the Heart
Ginny Diezel Studios
Golder's Creaky Gate
Granny Wolf Original Art Dolls
Howling Moons Blog
Lowell Country Designs
Lynn Bernier Portfolio
Skellyton Art
SnippetGirl
The Goode Wife of Washington County
Whimsical Endeavors
Wings and Paws whimsies

Friday the 13th Spookytime Jingles Update!

Hope everyone has a very lucky Friday the 13th! It's the perfect day for the STJ update. Head on over there for the spooky cute and hip holiday array of art. I just perused everyone's offerings and as always, there are some fantastic treasures!

Here are my STJ Snippets....

Bat Cat in the Moon Ornament/Wall Hanging



Santa Frog Grinch Ornament



Santa Frog Grinch Ornament

Theater of Spooks for STJ update!

It is a BIG month for the Spookytime Jingles crew....we are turning TWO! I have been a member of this wonderful group for a little over a year, and it has been such a great experience. I am so honored to be surrounded by such talent and inspiration!
Please make sure to head over to the STJ site at midnight tonight for our spooky and sweet anniversary celebration!

My Theater of Spooks will be up for grabs. I had hoped to finish two other pieces, but this project took a bit longer than I had anticipated. I am so glad I finished it just in time! It is full of sculpted details...the weathered tree, spiffy owl, hanging bat, costumed raccoons, kitty ghost and jack o' lanterns were all sculpted with paperclay and painted with many layers of acrylic washes and pastels.

Halloween Theater WIP and Punkamunk update

This Halloween critter theater has been quite a challenge for my befuddled brain. I am still arranging and rearranging and deciding what else needs to be sculpted. So far, there are 2 raccoons, an owl, a bat and a ghost kitty. I had to step away and clear my mind for awhile. We'll see how it turns out in the end....



Punkamunk, our new "permanent" foster girl, is doing well. Oh how I adore her! She is living up here in our art/computer room which has plenty of space, lots of windows, a sofa, a big armchair and lots of stuff to play with, but all she really wants to do is be loved, fill her tummy with good food and nap A LOT. I just wish she would sleep on the sofa or in the soft cat beds, but she prefers the floor. I guess she is so used to sleeping on the ground outside all these years and that is what makes her comfortable. I haven't decided what to do about her mammary tumor. I have gotten differing opinions from various trusted vets, so I am trying to weigh all the information and figure out what is best for her. It feels like it is getting bigger but I can't be sure. I am trying not to worry and obsess too much and enjoy this time with her. Punkamunk is a purrfect art assistant!

Here she is on a stack of bubblewrap :)...softer than the floor, but still...

A Theater of Spooks in the works....

Pixie and Cheetoh are helping me design this soon to be Halloween theater! We are pondering jack o'lanterns...owls....raccoons....and cats, of course. I am anxious and excited to get started on this one. My mom found this beautiful clock frame at a flea market awhile back, and I finally got it painted black and ready for its spooky transformation. Let the sculpting begin!

Spookytime Jingles updates at Noon tomorrow!

A little change for the STJ update....instead of the usual monthly midnight time, Spookytime Jingles will be updating at Noon tomorrow. Dani Nelson, our fearless and tireless leader, has a son who has been in the hospital undergoing tests for an illness. Please keep them in your thoughts!! Despite this challenge, she is still managing to update our work as scheduled on the 13th...just a teensy bit later in the day. So, that means you all can sleep in and enjoy the spooky new creations at lunchtime :).

Here is a peek at my Halloween offerings....

Juggling Jack O' Lantern



Mr. Eckelworth the Owl



...and we are also celebrating Americana this month, so I created another Americat ornament.



How cute and fun is this badge for the Americana Hootenanny?? Love it!

Crazy Cats!!

These two grinning kitties are in my Etsy shop right now.

Skelly Cat!


Owl Kitty! Hoot! Hoot!


and this Kitty in Bloom will be available next week for the Pfatt update...


...last but not least, a special ornament for the Halloween Fanatic, Robert Brawley. Be sure to check out his blog and collection of "Twinkle" inspired artwork. He is a wonderful artist and collector of holiday inspired treasures! I am honored to have a SnipPet among his amazing array of art. Thanks so much, Robert!!

WIPs SnipPet Spooks for STJ

A peek at two Halloween WIPs for this month's STJ update.

I realized that I really needed to attempt a pumpkin head doll for a change. I had a vision of him juggling and thought, why not let him juggle a cat's head and a frog's head??! A sort of spooky idea, but the entire piece will still have a silly and happy vibe!


I haven't made any owls in WAY too long, so this little guy was a hoot to sculpt. (sorry, couldn't resist :)!) He will be holding a pumpkin lantern on his pole.