It's Useless To Resist Those Eyes....

My new magnet.

Christmas with Frantic Meerkat & Mincing Mockingbird

Christmas at our house is never "normal." This year it included a pink tree on the mantel adorned with a black bird on top, origami shirts and an awful lot of Wii golf and bowling.

Arbitrary Art Curiosity #8

Since I've been so lax in posting (just recovering from the Christmas rush, plus Unique LA), I thought I'd better at least showcase some of my recent favorites. This is Sinking Fairy Tale by poodlebreath who resides in Vancouver (don't you find the best things come from Canada, eh?) You can check out more of their art here.

Listen To Your Sister

I had this idea for a magnet for a while, but hadn't found the right nun (not exactly a lot to choose from...or maybe I'm picky). Discovered this one while looking for artwork for another card. I put it in my etsy shop yesterday and had already sold two when I realized I was out of magnet parts and the shipment wasn't arriving until today. Now along with trying to get ready for the show this weekend, I have to get magnets made to ship out tomorrow.

When will this stress end....oh yeah, when Christmas sales drop off and then I'll be unhappy because I'm not selling anything. Will I ever be satisfied?

Win Free Tickets to Unique LA!

NotCot.com is giving away 10 pairs of free tickets to the Unique LA craft show this weekend. You just have to leave a comment on their blog and they'll pick the winners on Wednesday. Good luck!

Never Trust a Blonde

My newest print, which will be a magnet by this weekend for the Unique Los Angeles show.

I'm Seeing Purple!

A treasury that my "Let's Get Drunk and Eat Waffles" card is featured in and was put together by visionquest. She has fabulous jewelry -- check out her shop here!

Fierce and Nerdy!

Today I'm featured on the Fierce and Nerdy website in a post about Geek Chic for the holiday season. All the artists featured are from Etsy, so go out and get shopping!

A Weekend In San Francisco

This pretty much sums up our weekend in San Francisco. Except for all the food we ate...and ate...and ate. While Mincing Mockingbird was taking photos of stuffed birds at the California Academy of Sciences, I was taking photos of stuffed fish. And the last photo was a sketch he left under the glass at a table at Memphis Minne's Bar•B•Que Joint and Smoke House where we had the best barbecue chicken sandwiches. A very relaxing weekend, until the Bazaar Bizarre part where it was crazy busy and we met lots of cool and fabulous people and artisans. For more photos, see Mincing Mockingbird's blog here.

Cats! Cats! Cats!

This is a new magnet I just made. Who knew cats could be as insecure as humans?

San Francisco Here We Come!

The Mincing Mockingbird will have a booth at the San Francisco Bazaar Bizarre this Sunday. And as his trusty assistant -- Pepper Potts to his Tony Stark -- I will also be there to replace magnets, run credit cards and make sure his food doesn't end up on the floor. So if you're in the SF area this weekend, and need a plush gallbladder from I Heart Guts or a felted moustache from Nitnaks, or anything else cool and crafty for someone on your Christmas list, stop by and say hi. For more info about the show, click here.

Happy Hanukkah!

Felt Club 2008!

Here I am at my booth at Felt Club. We had a great time and a great turnout!
One of my friends and fellow etsian Nancy Lee (minjae) who stopped by my booth and graciously got me a turkey wrap since I didn't have anyone to relieve me. She also got the Mincing Mockingbird a hot dog, which he promptly dropped on the floor and stepped on. Not because he didn't want it, but because he was so busy at his booth, and it just got accidentally bumped off the table.
Here's Mincy's booth, and the ever elusive mockingbird is nowhere to be found.

Recent Treasuries That Rock!

I was complaining to Mincing Mockingbird that I'm never on the front page, so when Harvey appeared (in the first treasury pictured) I was pleased and surprised. That was last week. Of course, I had no sales from it, but hey, I didn't care -- at least I made the front page.

Now today I get back from a late lunch and see my Two Birdies print is on the front page (second treasury). Of course, Mincy has forgotten is phone at home, so I have to take a screen shot to show him. Again, no sales, but in this economy, I'm not expecting much this holiday season.

Then I just happen to log into my other etsy shop -- the one with the "real" art, paintings, etc. and see that I have a convo. Now I don't check this shop that often because I've only sold one piece out of it and it was to a long-time friend (though I recently added some new art and want to expand it this next year). The convo says that my painting "Claude" is in a treasury and apparently his eyebrows are causing a commotion. It's up until Saturday, so if you get a chance, check out all the comments about Claude's eyebrows here. The treasury was put together by calloohcallay who has one of the coolest shops on etsy. Check it out here.

Felt Club Here I Come!

Last night Mincing Mockingbird and I were in the studio until 11:30 p.m. printing cards and prints for Felt Club this weekend. I still have a lot I want to get done, but unless I give up sleep or my day job, I think some of it will just have to wait for the next show. If you're in the LA area this Sunday, Felt Club should be tons of fun. DIY workshops, margaritas (yes - booze will be available!), dj's, swag bags, door prizes, food, and of course, The Frantic Meerkat and The Mincing Mockingbird! Just stop by our booths (we'll be right next to each other) and mention you saw this on my blog and we'll give you 10% off!

The Frantic Meerkat on Apartment Therapy

Today I sold a Hummingbird print and the buyer said they saw it on Apartment Therapy. It's great decorating website - check it out.

The Rich Aroma Of Old Nicotine In The Worn Leather Of A Trans Am Is Intoxicating

I love this print, as well as the title, courtesy of Mincing Mockingbird. We're getting ready for Felt Club this Sunday, and this is one of the many prints he'll have there.

Arbitrary Art Curiosity #7

I saw this on etsy about a month ago, and added it to my favorites, while also telling Mincing Mockingbird that he could get it for me for Christmas. So, of course, I saw the purchase in our paypal account the next day. I told him that it was okay, but he had to hide it away so I'd forget about it and then it would be a surprise. But as I was perusing my favorites today, I stumbled upon it and remembered. It's from growbots and they have lots of cool robotic stuff from prints to puppets. Check them out while I try to decide whether to delete this from my favorites or not so I can be surprised Christmas morning.

This weekend come check out all the amazing galleries in the Silverlake area! I will be showing a few pieces at the Kickoff Party at the Gold Bear Academy on Saturday night from 9-midnight. The Mincing Mockingbird and I will probably show up around nine, and then we'll see how long we last (I'm more of a morning person actually). What will be fun for me is that I'll be showing some of my oil painting portraits that I used to do almost exclusively, but since moving and starting my etsy shop, haven't had time to do.

There are over 25 galleries participating in the Art Crawl. For more info and a map, check out the website here.

Two New Christmas Cards

Inside the Santa and Bear card reads "Celebrate with friends this holiday season." Aunt Edna's card reads "Seasons Greetings".

The New Calendar's Here!

I finally got around to designing a calendar. I've been doing one for myself and my family and friends for the past couple of years, but decided this year to feature my animal comics and offer it in my etsy shop. The quality is really good.

Unique Los Angeles

Unique Los Angeles is still accepting applications through November 2. So if you're in the LA area, or plan to be Dec. 12-14, and want to sell your crafts in a very cool space, check out their website and apply! They haven't officially sent out any acceptance letters, but did have a "Sneak Peak at a Few of Their Vendors" blog post, and my ocean creature cards were posted, so I'm hoping that means I'm in. LA Weekly is throwing a Friday Night VIP Preview Party, and the craft show is Saturday and Sunday. It will be our last craft show of the year, and then we'll be able to relax...until January rolls around.

How Many Christmas Cards Do I Really Need To Design?

This is another Christmas card I designed in response to "You've made one for people who have cats, now you have to do one for people who have dogs." Do I really? Well, I decided to anyway. Anything in the name of art and commerce.

I just got my removable tattoo paper, so I'll be adding those to my store. As soon as I have time to design and try them out. I can't wait! I think I just wanted to carry them in my etsy shop so I'd have an excuse to make some for myself.

Santa's Helper Monkey

Sometimes the elves are just too busy to help Santa out on Christmas Eve. That's when he calls in his trusty friend, The Monkey Angel. This is another Christmas card I just listed in my etsy shop.

I'm starting to panic (I tend to do that a lot - hence "The Frantic Meerkat") because I want to donate to the swag bags for Felt Club, and the deadline's November 1. I just realized that I have a friend coming in this weekend, and that's a week from Saturday! Gahhhhh -- I guess I'll just have to give up necessities like eating, sleeping and bathing.

Don't forget the Skullz show at Cactus Gallery this Saturday from 7-10. The Mincing Mockingbird and I will be there checking out all the cool Day of the Dead artwork. Stop by and see our new skull paintings...just in time for Halloween.

A New Calendar Is On Its Way!

I've been working on getting my Frantic Meerkat 2009 calendar done before the holiday season. This is one of my images for it and I hope to get it finished up tonight and sent to the printer. I'd like to have it for Felt Club on November 16 which is coming up rather quickly. Was hoping to get a single sample printed first to see how it looks, but at this late date, I'm just going to order a bunch and hope for the best. Gaaahhhh!

Another Holiday Card

Who doesn't?

I finally broke down...

I've been denying that Christmas is coming, but finally faced the fact that if I wanted any new Christmas card designs, I'd better start before Thanksgiving.

Am I Pretty?

Here is my latest card animation.

Skullz

Mincing Mockingbird and I both have art in this show at Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock. The show opened Saturday, October 11, and the artists' reception is Saturday, October 25, where Mincy and I will be found drinking wine and eating the fabulous food that Sandra always has at her openings. Stop by and say hello.

Fencing With Kittens Goes Animated

I'm learning Flash at work, so this is my first attempt at animating one of my cards. It was fun AND educational. Soon I will have all my cards animated and I will start my own network of animated greeting cards...ONLY animated greeting cards...ALL THE TIME!

Skulls at Cactus Gallery

This is the piece I'm showing at the "Skullz" show at Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock. The show runs from October 11 - November 8, with an artist reception on Saturday, October 25, 7-10 p.m. Mincing Mockingbird will have a painting in the show as well, and we hope to be able to hang out that night and talk art talk with friends and fellow artists.

Women, Wine and Art

That was the art opening at Heny Road in Studio City last night. Left to right: Hannah Childe of HannahMade, Michelle Caplan, and myself at Michelle's big coming out party at Henry Road. I'd say it was a girl's night out, except that Mincing Mockingbird was taking the photo while Michelle husband, Tom, made faces at us next to him. We're standing in front of one of Michelle's larger pieces in the store. It's a wonderful shop and just off Ventura, so stop by and check out some great art. But if you'd come to the opening, you could have had wine as well....

Let's have a Robot House Party!

Today I'm introducing a new etsy shop - Robot House Party. As the banner states - "Everything's Coming up Magnets", but contrary to the illustration, they are not done by robots. Not even awesomely cool robots who have house parties. They are done by two struggling/starving college students in between classes and studying with very little time and money left over to have house parties. They sometimes have magnet making parties and do the robot while making magnets though. Robot House Party is so awesome, they're the exclusive maker of magnets for The Mincing Mockingbird and Frantic Meerkat.

Jonah Hill bought one of my cards!

The Mincing Mockingbird said I shouldn't mention it, but since already posted it on his blog, I thought, why not? The joke in our house is I never see celebrities. They can walk right by me and I am just not paying attention I guess. Unlike the mockingbird, who can spot a celeb driving by us at 60 mph at night. So I'm at the Abbot Kinney Festival and am walking back from a trip to the wonderful Andy Gump portable toilet service (shudder), when a guy in front of me turns around and talks to someone behind him and I think "Oh my god! That's Jonah Hill!" So I proudly make a beeline back to the mockingbird to prove to him that I do NOT have a fame-sighting defect. While I'm telling him, he says "Oh yeah, he's standing in front of our booth." To shorten an already long story, he actually came into our booth, liked the mockingbird's painting of a roadrunner and a rattlesnake, and purchased one of my mother birthday cards.

The guy with him loved my cards and bought four, which is a wonderful feeling when you connect with someone and they "get" your humor. Not sure who he was, but he was probably some celebrity that I just didn't recognize.

Obviously he was a genius of some kind because he loved my cards.

I Made Ety's Front Page!

Mincing Mockingbird always seems to make the front page of etsy, and I've only been on it a few times, so when a co-worker and fellow etsyian, Minjae, told me my Pretty Kitty print was on the front page - I was overjoyed. Plus sales have been really slow this month (due to the financial crises I imagine), so the extra visibility boost was great. What was weird is that I always check the treasuries to see if I'm in any of them, and I didn't remember seeing that one. I went to look for it, and couldn't find it. Then I checked my screen shot and it says "Hand Picked" at the top. How cool is that? Someone hand picked my insecure cats.

Craft Show Mania!

Just thought I'd post a couple of photos to illustrate the madness and mess in our studio. The top photo shows our tent mascot, which Mincing Mockingbird found at Michael's and decided we needed. The other photo is the disarray that is my desk currently. Imagine a whole studio and half a house that looks like that. Hopefully after the Abbot Kinney Festival this Sunday, we'll be able to regain some semblance of order.

A Dog in a Top Hat, Some Hard Cider and Shortcake

Isn't this all a dad really needs on his birthday?
Introducing my new birthday card for dad.