Win a Custom Kitty Sculpture

I recently added a custom animal listing to my Etsy shop so people could commission me to sculpt their favorite animal.  When I posted it on my Facebook fan page, many people responded saying they'd love to have a tiny clay version of their cat.  So I decided to create a new listing specifically designed for cat-lovers, but before I can get it going I need a few examples.  If you've got a kitty and you'd like to have a one-of-a-kind keepsake inspired by your pet, I am giving you not one, but THREE chances to win one!  

From now until Sunday, November 30th, you can leave a comment here with a picture of your cat.  At the end of the giveaway, I will randomly draw three people to receive custom kitties mailed to their doorsteps. The winning cat sculptures will be completely free of charge- I'll pay to ship them, even internationally!  Photos of your cat looking straight at the camera are the easiest for me to work with, but I can go from just about anything so please feel free to join in on the fun no matter what kind of photo you have on hand.  And if you're more of a dog person, let your voice be heard and you might see something similar in the near future.

Meow.  Meow meow meeeeoooow.  Purr.

(That's your cat telling you to head over to the giveaway now and leave a cute photo!)

Gather in the Garden

After setting up as a vendor at the Edible Garden Tour last year, I had so much fun that I decided to go for it again.  This event is enjoyable to me because I get a chance to reach a whole different crowd.  And since I only bring my garden-themed items with me to the show, it inspires me and motivates me to think of fun things people might want for their gardens.  Once again, it proved to be an awesome time with lots of friendly faces and good conversation.  Here are a few shots of my setup, as well as the gorgeous gardens I discovered at the home where I was placed.

Along with all the lovely people who attended, I also had a few friendly critters to keep me company. There is a white squirrel who lives in the neighborhood, but the little rascal eluded most of my photos.

The homeowners had a few chickens too, and while they mostly spent their time in the shade of their coop, they were so cute when they eagerly ran to receive scraps from the garden.

I made sure to bring plenty of garden stakes and magic garden kits since they went over well last time, but I also debuted something brand new: bird feeders! 

These sweet little garden ornaments are beautiful AND functional! I kept one for myself and my resident birdies approve.

I hung mine right outside my window, and I get so much enjoyment from watching my feathered friends come to visit.  They fill their bellies with birdseed and take little sips of the water.  It's pretty adorable.  As an added bonus, these feeders can also be used to attract butterflies!  If the glass dishes are filled with fruit and sugar water, butterflies will show their gratitude by gracing you with their lovely presence.

I hope your summer is fluttering along nicely!

DIY Felt Mushroom Toy

My two kitties love to keep toys around the house.  Every day, when they get bored while I'm asleep or at work, they drag out their toys and string them all over the house.  I'm not really annoyed by it, because I'm thankful to have happy, playful creatures in my care.  They are catnip fiends, so I recently decided to make a few catnip-stuffed mushroom toys for them to cozy up to.  My logic was that they're going to be left all around the house anyway, so I might as well make something cute.  These hand-stitched mushrooms are made from felt stuffed with polyfill and organic catnip.  I couldn't find a good mushroom template in the size and shape I wanted for this project, so I made my own and decided to share. Keep reading for the template, and to see the moment my cats got to claim their new toys.

You will need:

-Felt in 2 colors (bonus points if you can find polka-dotted felt for the mushroom caps)

-Thread or embroidery floss

-Sewing needle

-Quilter's pins

-Scissors

-Polyfill

-Catnip (optional)

I stitched up a set of these so that each cat could have one, then I decided to tempt them with their new treats...

Hello, Caesar.  I have kitty drugs for you.

My other cat, Isis, quickly appears at the mere mention of a good time.  Fiends, I tell you.

Ooooh this new toy smells niiiiice.  There must be some grade A organic goodness in there.

So they each got their own catnip kitty shroom to cuddle with.  And yes, these little mushrooms have traveled all over my home.  I might find one in the hallway, or one on the couch.  The resident felines approve of their new handmade goodies.  

If you'd like to make your own stuffed mushroom toy, I'll supply you with a template that is ready to print and use right here.  Just uncheck the "fit to page" box in the printer settings so that it will print the actual size you need for a small toy.

Pictures of adorable children or animals playing with these little mushrooms are strongly encouraged.  Hope you're having a happy summer!

Animal Arrivals

Watch out for adorable animals sneaking into my Etsy shop! My tiny animal sculptures have been making people smile at craft shows for a while now, so I thought I might list them in my shop to spread the smiles even further. If you could use a friendly face in your home or office, here are the creatures who are currently up for adoption.


Happy Squirrel Sculpture


Tiny Raccoon Sculpture


The Fisherman- Otter Sculpture


The Cookie Thief



Each tiny animal is hand-sculpted by yours truly with lots of love. Keep an eye out for more critters in the near future! You can soon expect to see a penguin, more raccoons, a fox, a sloth, a red panda, and many more. Happy Friday, you party animals!

More Animal Sculptures

I recently introduced you to my tendency to sculpt odd little animals out of clay. As you can imagine, this trend is ongoing. It's not unusual for me to come out of a crafting session with a tiny new animal to grace my shelves or give to a friend. Here are some of the recent critters I've created.

Three-toed Sloth

 

This little guy can be worn as a pendant, much like the opossums I posted about before.

The Fish Thief- An Otter

The Shroom Thief- A Skunk

Due to a few requests for the opossums I featured in my last post, I've added them to my Etsy shop! You can find them here. I can even create a custom set to represent a tiny, woodland version of your family!

Some of these animals were inspired by the suggestions of my blog readers as well as members of Reddit Crafts. Looking through the comments of the last post I did like this, I'm seeing even more fun creatures I'd like to attempt. In fact, I'm thinking the three-toed sloth needs to take a little trip across the ocean to live with Pili, one of my favorite internet friends and the sweetheart who suggested I make him. So if you have suggestions, toss them my way in the comments and you just might end up with a new friend in your mailbox.

I Sculpt Strange Animals

Throughout my years of sculpting with polymer clay, I've noticed a funny trend at my craft desk. I often end up creating tiny animals, especially paying attention to animals that may not typically be considered "cute". Everyone adores a nice fuzzy bear, or a kitty cat or a bunny. But a friend recently told me her favorite animal was the platypus, and I was inspired...



Something I made for myself long ago and continue to incorporate into my outfit when I'm feeling silly is this little opossum pendant.



After watching a program about the depths of the ocean one night, I decided to sculpt a little angler fish charm. The lure hanging in front of him glows in the dark!



And most recently, I noticed that the cupcake thief and the cookie thief I made have become friends.



I'm always on the lookout for fun new challenges. What's your favorite animal? What strange little critter should I attempt next?

How to Create a Backyard Habitat

You may have noticed by now that I am a big-time animal lover. I don't discriminate- pets of all kinds are precious to me, and I've also got a soft spot for wild critters. For many years now, I've been providing food and water for all the neighborhood animals who care to visit. I can't even tell you how much joy it brings me to have a yard full of wildlife chirping, singing, and happily flitting around with plenty of fresh water and bellies full of food. It's as simple as providing food and water, but I've got a few little tips in case you're interested in creating your own little wildlife haven.

VARIETY
For starters, it helps to set up multiple food and water sources to accommodate a variety of animals. Some birds prefer to feed in the trees, while others are ground feeders. And although I have seen squirrels in my birdbath before, I like to provide little dishes full of food and water on my deck where my four-legged friends can easily reach them.



SEED
Sunflower seeds are the favorite of many bird enthusiasts. Almost all seed-eating birds love them, and squirrels do too. If you purchase a cheaper seed variety, such as millet, many birds will throw it aside looking for the good stuff. To avoid waste and attract a wide variety of beautiful birds (sparrows, cardinals, mourning doves, finches, chickadees, blue jays), pure sunflower seeds or a mix with a high percentage or sunflower seeds will be your best bet.



SUET
An effective yet thrifty way to feed birds is to purchase a suet feeder. The feeder itself is shaped like a small cage and is very inexpensive, and the suet cakes typically cost about a dollar apiece. These high-energy cakes are a great way to keep your birds healthy in the winter, and they also attract woodpeckers! Although ground-feeding birds will be left out, suet feeders would be a good starting point for someone wanting to try their hand at attracting birds to their home.



WATER
If you enjoy seeing birds wildly splashing around in puddles, setting up a bird bath would most likely bring a smile to your face on a daily basis. One thing to remember if you have a birdbath is that a few stones at the bottom of the birdbath will allow birds of all sizes to drink and bathe. Even the tiniest of birds will be able to find a spot that is not too deep. Place your bird bath a good distance away from any trees or hedges so that birds can drink and play freely without the fear of something hiding nearby, waiting to attack.



CONSISTENCY
If you plan to attract wild animals to your home, be aware that they will come to depend on it as a food source so you should refill the feeders as soon as possible once they're empty. If it becomes a reliable feeding ground, the birds will introduce their young to your home as a safe place to get their grub on.



REWARDS
I can promise you one thing: If you provide food and water for local animals, they WILL hang out near your home. It doesn't matter if you live on a farm or in an apartment, if you've got even a tiny slice of outdoor space to call your own, you can enjoy the company of feathered and furry friends. You never know what kind of animals will show up. The birdseed I buy has sunflower seeds, peanuts, and berries, and I've often noticed a little bunny enjoying breakfast with the birds!



Even when I lived in a third floor apartment, I had an abundance of creatures on my balcony at any given time. If you want to know more about my adventures with these little friends of mine, click here to view past posts and you will see that it's been an enjoyable part of my life for many years now. What kind of wild animals would you most enjoy having around?

This project is linked up with other fun tutorials here!

Meet Gypsy!

As I mentioned in my last post, we recently welcomed a brand new pet into the family. She has an interesting story, so I'll tell you a little bit about how this Gypsy girl wandered into my life. It all started when I made a stop at my bank on a Monday afternoon (2 weeks ago exactly). As I walked in, I noticed a very skinny German Shepherd laying near the walkway, panting in the heat and covered in burrs. But before I tell you how I ended up with her, let me give you some history.



My husband and I have never had a dog together, but we had them as kids and we've always loved them. Since we moved into a house with a yard 1.5 years ago, we have plenty of space for a dog and we had discussed getting one. We had even talked about getting a German Shepherd because we had heard of certain traits they possessed that appealed to us (loyalty, intelligence, no barking). So when I saw this underweight, overheated dog in front of my bank, I couldn't help but ask about her.

I was told that she had been there for days, nobody had come for her or claimed her. Someone had left her some water, but it didn't look like she'd eaten much. I went home and called my husband to let him know the situation, and he surprised me by telling me to go get her and bring her home. So I bought a leash, went back to the bank, coerced this sweet girl into my car, and took her straight to the vet. I found out she's about 2 years old and in perfect health other than needing a bit of extra weight.

We checked local ads, even posted an ad ourselves to see if she had a loving family out there who missed her. But she acted very timid and fearful, so we came to the conclusion that she was probably dumped and possibly treated badly. She was very sad when she first came to us...



...but now she's happy!



We have been loving on her and making her feel secure about having us as a family. My husband came up with the name Gypsy since she probably did a bit of wandering before she ended up at the bank. She's doing very well, and she's even put on a little weight since we got her. We've been spending a lot of time with her, going for walks every evening and taking advantage of her intelligence by teaching her commands (she now knows how to sit, stay, lay down, and come). Having her around has been so rewarding.



Isn't it strange how people, friends, and pets just wander into you life sometimes? I feel like it was meant to be...

My Squirrely Visitors

It's been awhile since my squirrel friends have made an appearance on my blog, so I thought I'd gather some photos to show you what their typical visit looks like.

First they jump onto the railing of my deck, where I leave little cups of food and water for them.



Being the nervous creatures they are, my squirrels usually look around to make sure the coast is clear before jumping onto the deck.



Before too long, they head toward the bowl of seeds and dig in.



I don't know if you've ever seen the look on a squirrel's face when he's got his little paws full of delicious sunflower seeds, but I would call it a look of satisfaction.



I've also added a new nature-themed item to my shop. I'm pretty excited about these. I can personally attest to how much cheer they will add to your home.


Mushroom Garden- Maintenance Free Mini Terrarium

There are some things in life that are simple, yet uplifting. For me, seeing an adorable woodland creature filling its little cheeks with plenty of food right on my back porch is one of them. What's a surefire way to make YOU smile?