Cute Doggy Coin Purses and Wristlets

We love cute here and most anything that has to do with animals, especially dogs -- so when I came across these darling coin purses and wristlets they qualified for the cute factor and we wanted to share with our friends in the blog world -- okay, all right, we just had to show the kitty wristlet too. And if animal related is not what you're looking for Antiquebasketlady has various other patterns and styles too choose from with some beautiful fabrics and colors to choose from.

Dogs on Parade Coin Purse


Gone to the Dogs Wristlet


Cats on Parade Wrislet

Cat Photography

Our featured Etsy Blogger this month is Donna Pool and her shop is full of cute buttons, magnets and keychains, but what caught my eye was her wonderful cat photography. I love black and white photography and I love animals so these were my favorite picks from her shop. Stop by and visit Donna Pool on Etsy or at her blog.

A Lil Sumptin Auction for HSUS

Fellow Etsy and EFA member alilsumptinsumptin is auctioning off two lovely necklaces with 100% of the proceeds going to HSUS. This shop and the woman behind it puts so much time and effort into the animals, she's a true lover of our four-legged friends, so check out these two auctions to help the critters! There's one for the dog lover and one for the cat lover. The auction is through December 5th so stop by and take a look.
Cat Lover's Woven Garden Necklace


Dog Lover's Woven Garden Necklace

The What?

Catfish SnipPet

The Snippets of course -- and what exactly is a SnipPet?
A snip~pet is...
1-PET art created with SNIPS of paper, paint and clay.
2-a PET that has been spayed or neutered...the kindest SNIP of all!

And that is how the Snippets shop describes these wonderful, whimsical creations. I love mixed media and absolutely adore polymer clay so the all of these mediums mixed together makes for a wonderful piece of art!

Cat and dog BFF's

A great story -- every time I find a touching story about an animal I love to share it so when someone sent me this great article, I just wanted to post it. It's the story about a blind dog and his cat buddy who is his best friend, his eyes and his little helper. What a wonderful bonding between the two --isn't it wonderful!

Ashton Publications

Beautiful Big Dogs Quilt Pattern Book
Quilting is a beautiful art form and handmade quilts are such an expression of love. I own a couple and I have made a couple myself and I cherish each and every one. So if you are someone who loves quilts and loves to sew, if you're a beginner or an experienced quilter and you're looking for a new project check out dashton4, a shop of pattern books published by Darcy Ashton, a self-published quilt book author.

These books also include various technique suggestions for hand and machine applique and they each come with their own little surprise, for instance, the cat pattern book comes with patterns for collars and bows so you can dress them up and add them to your cat design if you'd like. These pattern books will get you motivated to start your next quilting project so whether you're adding several designs to your quilt or just one block these patterns will definitely liven up your next quilt.

Claire's Cats Volume II Quilt Pattern Book

Pussycat and Peacock Feathers Pendant

Pussycat & Peacock Feathers Pendant is a hand-sculpted polymer clay pendant depicting a pussycat residing beside a bouquet of peacock feathers.

The pendant was first sculpted from clay, stamped and painted in gold and brown colors and highlighted in blue and green. The pendant hangs from a gold tone reclaimed jewelry bar with two handmade matching clay 'peacock' beads and a turquoise colored acrylic bead.

Size of pendant is approximate:

1-1/2" square (including the top bail piece hangs approximately 3-1/4" long.)

Kathy is a sweet little kitty who likes nothing more than to sit in the window and look to see whats going on outside and sometimes her mommy even lets her go outside to play.

Kathy is hand-sculpted from polymer clay. She has a purple head, yellow body with blue and yellow ears and turquoise tail and a green nose. She has a floral cane on her tummy and her feet are multicolored canes. She has a small black/white heart stamp on her booty.

The approximate size of the bead is:
1" top to bottom
3/4" side to side
3/4" front to back

The bead is pierced vertically from top of head to bottom.

EFA Interview - Jane Diamond Designs

Gretchen Kitty Angel

Here is another installment of my monthly EFA (Etsy for Animals) interviews. This interview is with Jane of Jane Diamond Designs. It is a wonderful interview that reveals Jane's love of her cat Abbey, her love of cats and all animals and how that shines through in her artwork. I do hope that you'll read on and get to know Jane. I've added a couple of pieces of Jane's wonderful artwork that are available in her Etsy shop.

1. Tell us your name and a little about you?

Greetings! I'm Jane Diamond. I am a huge animal lover and am passionate about supporting animals rights. I've been a vegetarian for 18 years, and have currently been converting to becoming a vegan. I love all animals, but cats are my favorite! My own cat, Ms. Abbey, being my favorite cat of course! I am a self taught artist and crafter. I love all creative forms of self expression - from painting, to dying my hair bold and fun colors, to dancing. Some of my favorite hobbies are photography, hula hooping, and playing piano. I like to collect old postcards of cats, vinyl records, and books. I'm a quiet person by nature, and spend my free time at libraries, museums, conservatories, watching silent films and early talkies, and spending time with my cat. But when I go out, I like to go to clubs to dance, or attend concerts of my favorite bands.

2) Where can we find your Etsy shop?

You can check out my Etsy shop at: www.janediamond.etsy.com. And I have a blog at: www.janediamond.blogspot.com and you can find my personal website at: www.geocities.com/janediamondsart/

3) What do you create (if multiple things, what is your favorite)?

I create fabulous and fun items for people and their feline friends. My arts and crafts range from cat painting prints, handmade and hand sewn catnip toys and sachets, as well as other cat themed items like magnets, greeting cards, jewelry, and more! I have recently been making ACEO prints of my cat paintings too. Of all the things I create, my favorites are my cat paintings and catnip toys. I also create collages, decorative paper mache' boxes and cigar boxes purses, and people portrait paintings as well.

4) Who or what inspires you?

My cat of 18 years, Ms. Abbey, inspires me the most. I fondly refer to her as my 'mews' (muse). Because of the strong and loving bond we have, and her very expressive and sweet personality, Abbey inspires a lot of my personal cat art. My other main inspiration comes from my favorite artist, Louis Wain. Louis Wain was a English Victorian cat artist who was very popular in his time. His artwork and life story has had a great impact on my own cat art. Our cat art styles are very different, but the intention of our cat art is the same - to spread and share the happiness cats fill our lives with, to other people. I am also inspired by other Victorian/Edwardian cat artists, as well as other different types of art such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pop Art, and much more!

5) How many pets do you have and what are their names (any interesting stories about how they came to be your pet)?

I have one cat, my 'golden girl', Ms. Abbey. Although I've had other cats and other various pets growing up though the years. Ms. Abbey came into my life when I was a Veterinary Assistant working at the animal hospital in the small town where I grew up. Abbey's original owner had become allergic to her, and brought her to the animal hospital for us to keep her there to be adopted out. But she didn't stay at the hospital for long. It was "Kitty Love" at first sight, Abbey and I had an instant bond from the start, and I soon took her home, and she's been with me ever since! :)

6) How do you give back to our animal friends? What charities do you hold near and dear to your heart?

I give back to animals in a couple different ways. At Etsy, I am a proud member of "Etsy For Animals", and I give 10% of my sales from my items tagged with 'efa' to the Etsy For Animals charity of the month. EFA always selects amazing charities each month that I'm so happy to help out and be a part of. Also via Etsy, I help animals by buying items from the Etsy For Animals shop, as well as from other people's shops who are Etsy For Animals members too. In addition, I also work with a no-kill cageless cat shelter in Chicago called "Harmony House". I do commissioned cat artwork to help promote their special events - such as their annual Walkathon and many of their different Holiday Fest events, and more. I have donated my commissioned cat artwork, money, and attend their events at Harmony House to help support and raise money for the shelter. Also, anything I sell at my Etsy shop that I created for Harmony House, I donate 20% of sales from those items to Harmony House Cat Shelter. I also donate money to Farm Sanctuary, another one of my favorite animal charities. Etsy For Animals, Harmony House Cat Shelter and Farm Sanctuary are the animal charities I hold closest to my heart and feel the most passionate about.

I really love helping animals through my art. Painting and making crafts are so much fun for me, and it's extra special when I know the people buying my cat creations for themselves and/or for their kitties, love and enjoy what I make, but I feel that helping our animal friends in need in the process of my work is especially rewarding to me. As an animal lover, making changes to improve the welfare of animals can sometimes feel overwhelming, since are so many animals in dire need all over the world, but I am a firm believer in that every little bit counts. Because all those 'little bits' actually add up to make for big and wonderful changes in the lives of our precious and beautiful animal friends.
Kitten Dreams Magnet