Too many prints!

That's right kids. Krissi and I have some "extra" prints on hand here at La Casa de Kitty and we just hate to see 'em sitting around without anywhere to be this close to the most skellified holidays of the year!

Therefore, if you buy ANY print from my Artfire store today or tomorrow, you can choose a free print from this pile! Just use the coupon code PRINT2FER at checkout and you'll have two skellicious prints in time to add to your All Hallow's Eve decor or to place on your Dia de los Muertos shrine!

No kidding though - the coupon expires at the end of the day on Saturday!

LIVE on "Live Wire" Sacramento

Krissi and I will be appearing on Live Wire (Sacramento Comcast Channel 17 or streaming online) at 5pm tonight, Wednesday, October 21st with some of the chicas from the Scary-Art Collective!

We hope you'll tune in!

More Ghoulish Goodies

The Artfire Ghouls Guild TRICK OR TREAT 2009 continues today with coupon codes and sales from 13 of our members (how lucky is THAT for you?), a scavenger hunt and two more featured artists, Huckleberry Arts and one of my new favorite crazy girls, Christine St. Onge of 2 of Mind and Spirit.

HUCKLEBERRY ARTS

Annette Gambrel

I don't recall a time in my life where something was not being created. I don't ever see not having time in the day where something isn’t made.


Being an artist has been a gift I couldn't be more proud of, the people I have met each one touches me in their own little way, some more than they know. I enjoy the process of meeting new collectors that enjoy my lil creations. It’s a wonderful gift to be given and to be able to share with others, and hopefully bring a smile into another’s life along the way.

Find HUCKLEBERRYARTS:

huckleberryarts.artfire.com

huckleberryarts.com

huckleberryarts.blogspot.com

flickr.com/huckleberryarts

twitter.com/huckleberryarts

and a very creative (and all around fun) person,

2 OF MIND AND SPIRIT

Christine St.Onge

I love to create all kinds of things. I've tried so many crafts at least once just to see how they're made. I make one of a kind items because we are all one of a kind.


Just remember.. You are unique! Just like everyone else! Revel in your individuality!

Find 2 OF MIND AND SPIRIT:
2ofmindandspirit.artfire.com

facebook.com/pages/2-of-Mind-and-Spirit/49612386274

twitter.com/2ofMind_nSpirit

The lucky winner of yesterday's prize giveaway was Drucilla!  She won this awesome set of handmade mini Halloween cards by She's Batty Designs.


Stay tuned for another prize giveaway tomorrow - this time it will be a free digital Halloween party invitation custom created by Rouxbee Design Studio.


Oh, and have I mentioned that yours truly will be giving away a hand embellished 8x10" print of "Goin' Batty" soon.  When?  Well, that would be telling....

Bugs & Hisses,

SK

Yours Truly on Crafty Chica's Inspiration Friday

Guess WHO was featured on Kathy "Crafty Chica" Cano-Murillo's blog today?? She even "outed" Krissi (about her unnatural relationship with glitter).

Diary of a Crafty Chica: INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Skelekitty!


I've noticed a new kitty on the crafting scene - and she literally is...a kitty! This friendly feline has her own web site, a blog and gobs of personality. I was recently able to grab hold of her and ask her a few questions before she sprang out of my hands to go back to her owner's art room. Can you say finicky? By the way, her owner is the talented Krissi Sandvik.

CraftyChica.com: Tell me how you came to be, Miss Skelekitty? Did you get shortchanged from your nine lives?

Skelekitty: Heck no, my nine lives are just beginning! I was introduced to the world in the summer of 2006 when Krissi donated the very first Skelekitty piece a local kitty rescue's annual fundraising auction. Krissi has always loved animals and became fascinated with the Day of the Dead celebration when she lived in San Francisco's Mission District. She thought the spirit of Dia de los Muertos (that is, celebrating the lives of loved ones) fit in perfectly with a kitty adoption organization. Pretty soon, people started asking to see me in more art, so Krissi created a whole line featuring me and my skelecritter pals called Skelekitty and Friends.


Q: And now you are a rockstar kitty - you have a line of stamps in your likeness! Tell me, how did you decide on the poses for the stamps? Did you get final say?

A: Well of COURSE I have final approval on all of my images - I'm a kitty who's definitely not shy about speaking her mind! The stamps were chosen by the nice lady who runs Stampa Fe art stamps in Santa Fe, New Mexico - she picked her four favorites to start off with. The response to the stamps has been so positive, you may be seeing some brand new Skelekitty stamps (and maybe some other skelecritters) soon.


Q: Tell me about your owner, I hear she is very crafty!

A: She sure is - she's always gluing something to something else and started Sacramento's coolest FREE craft night, Scary CRAFT's Night of the Creators. Even her MAIL is crafty! Here is a tutorial!

In addition to her paintings, she makes quilts, reconstructed clothing, shrines, jewelry. Krissi has always loved language and writing and has started to play with photography too! She especially enjoys a challenge where she has create outside of her comfort zone.

Q: How does having a pet helps a person's creativity?

A: Animals are wonderful muses because they are so loving and funny. One of the most popular pieces was inspired by a hungry kitty rubbing against her human's legs when they come home at night.

The antics of Krissi's kitties and dog are often the inspiration for paintings. Anyone who has ever lived with a cat or dog (or small children) will be able to relate to "The Two Sides of Skelekitty."
Q: Will you share your favorite pieces by your owner and how she made them - I'm sure you sat and watched every moment of their creation, right?

A: I imagine everyone expects the portraits of me are my favorites, but they'd be wrong! Like Krissi, my favorite pieces tend to be ones where she experimented by using her favorite imagery within a not-typically-Krissi themes. Painting The Roses Red, which was created for an Alice in Wonderland themed show, is a good example.


I also like the pieces she makes with a real sense of irony, like her "Diet Shrine" art quilt.

Krissi Sandvik. I must share that she told me she never was a fan of glitter until she went on the Crafty Chica cruise and became converted. I think this picture proves that! Krissi is a mixed media artist based out of Sacramento, CA. Visit her blog to see more of her work at http://www.krissisandvik.blogspot.com/

Would you like to submit an article for Inspiration Friday? Click HERE for the guidelines. -SUBMIT your piece with INSPIRATION FRIDAY in the subject line and email to kathy[at]craftychica[dot]com


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

Skelekitty & Friends' Shop is Now Open on Etsy

Hey there skelecats and skelekittens - I finally got around to opening up my very own shop on Etsy called "Skelekitty and Friends." Although Krissi will continue to carry prints & merchandise of me and my friends in her store, my online store will be your ultimate one-stop skelecritter shop!

I worked yesterday afternoon to post the most popular skelecritter prints ($16 each), and some are even available with custom hand embellishments ($25 each). Shipping is free on your second print (up to five), and be sure to ask about a discount on multiple print/card purchases, too.

I'm photographing and posting more original art - it just takes me a little more time than it takes you humans on accounta my lack of thumbs. Not only are existing pieces still going up on the site, but Krissi is busy working on two new paintings already - I think she's taking advantage of how fast-drying acrylic paints are in this weather.

HEY KIDS!!!! IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

In the meantime, head over to Etsy (where it's free to register and shop) and add my shop to your favorites and you will be entered into a drawing to win an embellished print of the Angel Kitty from Love Cats:I'll choose the winner next Friday, July 24th from those who publicly "♥" my shop (yeah, that means you secret admirers won't be entered, so ya gotta 'fess up!).

I hope you've got something hip and cool planned for the upcoming midsummer weekend. I'll probably just put my paws up, grab a cold drink and snooze, occasionally checking into see how many people "love" me! (skele-kidding).

Summer skele-love,

SK

My Pal Skelebat Available in a Print!

Until today, prints from Krissi's original art quilt, Goin' Batty, had only been available at art shows or to those in the know (sorta like ordering off menu at In N Out). 

Goin' Batty art quilt - © Krissi Sandvik 2007 all rights reserved

I'm pleased to announce that Skelebat has now been added to both the Skelekitty family and the growing number of art prints available in her Etsy store:



All 8x10" prints shop are printed on high quality archival photo paper and are enclosed in a professional clear envelope with an acid free cardboard backing.  Included with each print is a 1/2 sheet page with the title, information on the original art piece and the artist's name and signature.  Prints are $15 each plus $4.80 Priority Mail shipping and, should you feel inclined to order more than one, shipping on the second print is only a penny.

Here are a few of the prints currently available in Krissi's Etsy shop:
 



We know money is tight with everyone and prints are a great way to collect art you love without breaking the bank.  So is there an original piece of art you'd like to have as a print?  Just let me know - I'll tell Krissi; she's very happy to offer new prints upon request.

Look What She Made!

Krissi's pal and cohort in mixed-media madness, art and crafting, Bekah, presented her with this AWESOMELY CUTE domino pendant yesterday after a monthly artists' group meeting.


She made it using one of the Skelekitty (that's me) rubber art stamps, a domino and some seriously mad skills.  Here, take a closer look:


And here's a pic of Krissi looking absolutely goofy wearing it:

(Thanks for taking that photo yesterday, Yoli!)

For those of you dying to see the rest of Bekah's work, rest assured that she IS opening an etsy shop as we speak and the link will be posted here just about any minute. Bekah and her project DEFINITELY earned a "Skelekitty Stamp -o- Approval."

So what have YOU made using your Skelekitty stamps, Hmmmmm?  Send me your photos or a link to your blog post detailing your project, and I'll post about it here!

A Skele-DOG, Too?

I know, I've been a pretty quiet kitty cat lately. After all of the excitement with the rubber stamps coming out, I just needed one long winter cat-nap under the quilts. Oh, and while we're on the subject of the rubber stamps, why haven't you ALL sent me photos of your awesome creations?? Hmmm?? If you've made anything using the stamps, send me photos and I'll post them here on my blog!

And now, on to the update portion of the post:

While I was napping, Krissi finally got around to making a portrait that had been commissioned way back at one of her very first Body Tribe art shows.  Back in Spring of 2006, the rockin' Allyson Seconds (aka kick-ass Allyson Goble), asked for a skellie-girl with a skele-dog based on Krissi's quilt, Does This Make Me Look Fat?  Way to jump right on those custom orders. 

DOES THIS MAKE ME LOOK FAT? 

mixed-media art quilt - 2005

Although I tease about her lack of hustle to create a piece for Allyson, waiting almost three years gave Krissi the opportunity to get to know Al and Lulu both much better.  She trains with Al 3 times a week at Body Tribe, which includes warm-up and cool-down with Lulu and conversation in between sets of heavy squats and bench pressing.  Now that Abby the JRT (Jack Russell Terror) has come to live with Ron and Krissi, she also has some first hand knowledge of the wonders of dogs and "The R," which is code for the secret dog party locale off the grid and along the waterfront.  All of this experience led to the creation, at long last, of Wanna Go To The River?, a 12x24" mixed media on birch wood that incorporates many aspects of both Lulu's and Al's personalities.

WANNA GO TO THE RIVER?

mixed-media - 2009

For some fun, click on the photos and you can view the notes on the imagery.

detail from Wanna Go To The River?

2009

For those of you who couldn't be less interested in dogs, skeletonized or otherwise, rest assured that I am not going anywhere.  T-Shirts ARE in development and a new Skelekitty piece is in the works for a big show and benefit coming to Sacramento in June (think: big cat, little cat; but that's all the hint you'll get for now)!