Kitty Genius

Happy Halloween! and a holiday sale

Hello hello! And happy Halloween! Today, Friday Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov.1 I am having a buy 2 prints get 1 free sale!!

Until 11:59 p.m. PST November 1, purchase any two prints you like and in the "message to seller" section simply write the name of the third (and free!!) print you would like.

The only restrictions on the free print are that it cannot be a limited edition or print above $20. If you accidentally select one I will just ask you to request a different print : )

Easy, right?

Just hop right over to the shop!

*** IF YOU ARE STILL SEE THIS SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT IN MY SHOP IT IS BEFORE 11:59 PST. So you still have time to order no matter what time zone you're in : )

Pumpkin planning

Am I eight years old? No… but I did actually doodle some jack-o-lantern ideas. We're going to a B.Y.O.P. (bring your own pumpkin) carving party tonight.

I think my doodling helped me decide that my pumpkin must have vampire fangs (but not particularly menacing, as "exhibit A" up there shows)

This morning I went with my new friend Ami (hi Ami!) and got a ten-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness. I'm never a fan of the obligatory gym tour and sales pitch and the "today only we'll waive this fee and that…" but I did really enjoy all the fancy new equipment. I was sad I forgot my iPod, because each machine has its own little TV and iPod docking station—craaaaazy. I will give it the ten full days before I make my final decision. Any 24 Hour Fitness opinions out there?

If you haven't done it already I wish you happy, successful, and creative pumpkin carving!

The Wonderful World of Small Stuff

Aaahhhh… it's good to be back! After a really great weekend of thrifting, antiquing, and friends I was hit hard with some sort of bug. I checked e-mail once yesterday and aside from that was in bed from Sunday night until about an hour ago. Blehhhh. This is my second time being sick in Portland and I might be making it up, but I feel like when I've gotten sick here it is an entire different level of not feeling well. Although, truthfully, I am a person that gets SICK when I get sick… and it's always viral, so just fluids, ibuprofen, and sleep. But enough about that!

So, this is actually a screen shot from the wonderful Flutter site. See that fantastic red hanging Chinese lantern? Now it's mine!!! I have wanted one for years and years and years, and I never could find the perfect one. Then I found this slightly tattered perfection at Flutter, but it was not for sale :(

The next time I went in the owner was there and is redoing parts of the interior and was actually selling this lantern (along with some other wonderful things that were previously not for sale). So, long story short, I am now the proud owner of the lantern. I have yet to hang it… but that's coming!

Keeping with the vintage lantern theme: I found these pretties at the HUGE antique expo this weekend:

They are from the 1930s or 1940s and have never been used so are in great shape. The nicest older woman was selling them and forcing candy and treats on anyone who walked by so I really wanted to find something from her shop. I had no idea she had so many gems and I had to exhibit a lot of self control. She was selling these for like $2 apiece!

I am also incapable of resisting the tiny vintage trees, and I think these make really sweet little gifts for people. So, I like to hoard them. So, some of you may be seeing these again…

Lastly,

I LOVE THIS RING!!

It is vintage 14K gold and turquoise from the 1880s or ’90s and it was super affordable—and after a bit of haggling, super duper affordable. I had no business buying it but there was something about it I couldn't resist. There is only one person who may like this more than me and that is my mom. So mom… if you LOVE it it may be yours.

There were a few little other things but I have specific friends and family in mind so I can't share them.

I hope you guys had a great weekend!!

Shop Update Thursday 2 p.m. EST

The title sums it up!! Tomorrow, October 22 at 2pm EST I will update my shop.

What time is that for you? You can check right here. I hope to see you there!

Happy Wednesday!

Rainy Voting and Shop News

It's a gray, drizzly day in the northwest. But you know what makes this day very exciting for us? Today is the first day we could mail our ballots!!!!!

Drew drops them in!

I keep saying all I want for the holidays (truly) is to say "President Obama." So close… so close…

In completely unrelated news, I am going to update the shop this week, I am thinking Thursday. This shop update will be filled with limited edition work that was previously only available at a few galleries. But now I am able to post some and I can't wait to get them in the shop!

Here is a refresher of some of the work that will be available:

My Secret's Keeper

Top of the World

Pitter Patter

Precocious Little Monster

Where the Earth Meets the Sky

Pretty Pretty

Happy Monday!!!!!

Picture Perfect Pumpkin Post

As I mentioned yesterday we headed off to the pumpkin patch. Truly, few things make me happier. Well, ok, all holiday prep makes me pretty happy. But Halloween!?! Love. Love, Love.

Emily and Josiah make excellent pumpkin patch companions.

Emily's right… my constant companion is a coffee cup. : )

In addition to pumpkin picking there was coffee, hot cider, caramel apples, corn on the cob, animal petting, and general shenanigans. Emily and I were voting for the tractor ride but somehow that one didn't happen.

I loved this little pumpkin couple sharing a vine.

Sauvie Island is really so so lovely.

New Collaboration

Yay for collaborations! Today the talented Christine Street of Chocolate and Steel launched a brand new necklace using "Madame and Monsieur".

The pendants and chain are sterling silver and the necklace is a limited edition of 100. I think they would make a very cute romantical holiday gift. : )

Christine is also featured on the Storque today! You can read about her right here.

Today I am eagerly awaiting the pumpkin patch! Drew and I along with Emily and Josiah are going to have a very autumnal afternoon! The weather is certainly cooperating.

Good day!

It's Been Awhile Since I've Said This...

There is a painting in the shop!

"Autumn is Here" measures 6" × 8" × 1¼"

We've had a couple long days around here with wholesale orders and some design work. And now I can let out a big aaahhhh. I'm ready for the weekend.

I think I want to find a good book to read. I've been lacking in that department for awhile. What else is on this weekend's agenda? Not terribly much.

I'm loving my new car, although Drew thinks I'm crazy. I swear since they fixed it it's actually driving funny and loudly where it was perfect before. There is a good chance that I'm just neurotic… but hey, I am quite familiar with cars making noises they shouldn't.

Even with that said, I feel so free! I am horrible horrible HORRIBLE with directions. I have cried into cell phones and pay phones all over this great country. But not anymore! I have a GPS. With some research I (actually Drew researched this one) settled on the Garmin Nuvi 255W. Now "the nice lady" just tells me where to go. I haven't ended up in a lake à la The Office. The best part? There is just a "go home" option. Anywhere I am I can just "go home". In Portland that is extra handy since it seems that the way you go somewhere is usually not at all like the way you go home. It's weird.

There is no subscription fee… also NICE.

Really, I'm in love. If you are direction-impaired…

Cards!!

For all those folks who request that I create cards, I am beyond delighted, excited, and all that good stuff to announce that some very affordable cards can be all yours with just a little DIY. They are in the shop!

How, you ask? They are print-your-own card sets. Print out as many as you need as often as you need them, or take the file to your local print shop and let them do the work! Each PDF also includes a basic tutorial and recommended cards – great quality, super affordable, and you can find them almost anywhere!

Easy schmeasy, right?

Expect to see more of these in the future. I hope you like them!!

HELLO October

"HELLO October ’08," "I'’m Right Behind You," is now in the shop! This month's charity is about the kids. It's Save The Children.

I know I said it with September but I will say with even more glee: it's October!! It's October!! It's October!! It's October!! It's October!! It's October!! It's October!! It's October!!

I ate a caramel apple, fought the urge to buy a pumpkin at the market, and made baked cauliflower for the second time.

I used mozzarella instead of parmesan.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large head cauliflower
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 pinch dried oregano

DIRECTIONS: Clean cauliflower, and trim off leaves and any brown spots. Place the whole head of cauliflower into a steamer basket, place the basket in a large pot, and add one inch of water. Cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Preheat the oven to 375° F (190° C). In a medium bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted margarine. Season with garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and oregano, and mix well. Place the head of cauliflower into a baking dish, and coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

I obviously decided to cut the cauliflower into smaller pieces… so tasty!

Happy October!