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Gift Items and Sampler Boxes
Typically I publish monthly, and feature my newest creations and the sampler box from the previous month, but it's been an interesting two months.
 Here, have another Meowloween laugh. Another lucky shot!
My creations are things I've designed and often I am experimenting with the medium; generally that works out well, and it's really fun, and I include it as an exclusive in my monthly sampler box. The product I'd planned for September, Pet Remembrance Month, turned out to be a little too heavy as I'd designed and a redesign was in the works that ran into my Panhandle Trail exhibit at the end of August. Reworking that ran me toward October, when we celebrate Feral Cat Day, Global Cat Day, International Black Cat Day and National Cat Day.
 Hey, how lucky was I that Lucy peeked around my orange paper lamp at just the purr-fect moment for me to capture her little face, forever?
This month I simply ran out of time to produce the block print I roughed out last year because my car has been waiting for all of October for a part to pass inspection, and trying to run around for materials and general business without a car is very time-consuming. *Sigh*. I keep butting heads with the time-space continuum, and here it is almost November.
I've also been reconsidering my Sampler Box programs, which went well last year, but by the end of summer 2017 had no orders. I designed boxes for September and October with other gift items, but with no orders just put everything away and put everything on hold, at least until after I do the final reorganization on my studio.
I also have an exhibit coming up on November 2, so I'm getting this newsletter out before that exhibit.
And Mimi has been experiencing a puzzling urinary issue so I've been carefully observing her, and she will probably need diagnostics and further treatment. Read more here.
But I still have a special for you from now until the Winter Solstice!
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Mimi in the Laundry Shade, watercolor, 6″ x 6″
My colorful dresses and skirts moving gently in the breeze, the bricks in the patio outside my basement door, the bright sun and shadows, Mimi relaxing on the concrete step in the shade of the laundry. Just a nice memory of a simple summer morning. Read more on The Creative Cat.
30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge
Without newsletters September and October I didn't let you know about the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge in September, the same as the one in January. I never get the chance to paint every day, but every other day is fine with me. I’d planned a few more feline paintings but I’m more than pleased with the two I did paint. One was from a recent photo, and one from many years ago. You can read more about this challenge on Portraits of Animals and visit the page of Creative Challenges.
Late Winter Sunbath, pastel, 6.5 x 9.5
I’d always wanted to paint this photo of my orange boy, Allegro. I took the photo in 1993 or 1994, and it’s been on my mind all this time. Read more on The Creative Cat.
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Can I sell them? Sometimes it takes me a while to consider letting them go, but I need to in order to create new things, and I don't create my art only for me but for all others to enjoy.
I know the idea of purchasing a piece of original art is a pretty serious consideration, and it's not an amount of money most people would spend lightly or a purchase often considered. But if you enjoy looking at images of my art, I can tell you that seeing the original of any artwork is an entirely different experience, and much better than looking at a print. All originals are included, and if you are familiar with my daily sketches you'll know that some are quite small, and it's not limited to feline art, either. If you've ever thought you'd like to own one of my large original paintings or even a daily sketch for yourself or as a gift to anyone else, a 25% discount makes it a little more affordable.
The originals are available for nearly all my daily sketches* and many of my larger portraits. All art is matted and framed and shipping is included so the price you see is what you pay. I have a gallery of just Available Original Art for you to browse so you don't need to check into each listing. Below is a daily sketch I custom framed for a customer.
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Holiday Cards
But other holidays are close behind and I also have holiday greetings to choose from on Portraits of Animals. While you browse gift items you can also browse greeting cards, some of them hand-printed and unique and very special.
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Because I know many followers are not only cat lovers but love all animals your discounts are not limited to feline-themed cards and merchandise but to nearly everything on my website.
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Portrait Certificates as Gifts
Is there an animal lover on your list who has every cat or dog-themed t-shirt and handbag, and even their pets have every toy they can use for the rest of their natural lives? Consider a Commissioned Portrait Gift Certificate. Whether it’s for someone else or yourself, a custom portrait is different from a professional photograph because we can create the scene that you remember even if you never had the chance to photograph it. Your household of animal companions can be grouped in a natural setting even if their lives didn’t overlap.
To see sample portraits visit the Commissioned Portraits page on Portraits of Animals and go to the portrait certificate page to read more about purchasing a certificate as a gift.
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Giuseppe, Mimi and Mewsette spend some time watching out the front door. There are birds fluttering and chipmunks racing back and forth across the porch, Fatso the squirrel runs up and down the tree now and then, butterflies and bees fly around, the leaves flutter in the breeze, now and then a car goes by, or people walk up or down the hill, sometimes with a dog. They watch it all with quiet interest. Until the chipmunk goes by.
This sketch is one of the choices for the New Member Thank You Print for October when you register for an account on Portraits of Animals. Click the image to download your October desktop wallpaper and calendar, or check in the same spot for when I have November's ready.
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Articles on The Creative Cat
You may be a regular reader of The Creative Cat already, but if you're not this is where you read my rescue stories and book reviews, articles on feline and animal health and safety, fostering, pet loss, backyard wildlife habitats and more, and first see my latest portraits, art and photos that later appear on Portraits of Animals as prints, greeting cards, gift items and more.
A few popular recent articles include:
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We All Thank You For Following Us!
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THEY WANT MY S..S......SALAD!! No lie, I was making a salad and turned around to see that! They weren't there to steal my soul, but to steal my salad!
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