peng peng's place

king of the jungle

2013-05-20T06:09:00.001-06:00

rrroooaarrrrr! (*i want orange-lion kitty!*)

happy monday :)

new BlueBelle on PFATT Marketplace

2013-05-10T12:38:00.000-06:00

Mark you calendars: An Apology to Elephants HBO doc Premieres on Earth Day

2013-04-18T09:29:00.000-06:00

Don't miss the documentary An Apology to Elephants, which will be premiering on HBO on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET (check local listings for times in your region). The film explores how elephants—intelligent and fascinating animals who lead rich social lives in the wild and play an essential role in global ecology—have been exploited and abused by the circus and zoo industries. Click here to learn more about the documentary as well as the people and elephants it features.

Since HBO started working on this film two years ago, PETA has played an instrumental role by supplying the filmmaker with footage you'll see in the film, extensive information about elephants in captivity, and elephant expert recommendations.

Please set your DVRs so you don't miss the premiere of An Apology to Elephants on HBO on Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET (check local listings for times in your region), and be sure to alert your family and friends to this informative and poignant film!

new Apple Scruffs on PFATT Marketplace

2013-04-10T11:01:00.000-06:00

SOLD thank you!

lady rabbits in VW bugs

2013-03-31T15:28:00.000-06:00

hop skip jump.. or grab your frilly parasol and start up the teal blue VW bug :)

see these fancy rabbits in my etsy art print shop.

happy easter!

earth hour tonight

2013-03-23T18:41:00.000-06:00

i wonder if the street lights will be out too? wishful thinking!

candles are ready, signing off...

♣ New! Lucky Mice on PFATT

2013-03-12T07:39:00.002-06:00

we lucky meeces have all been adopted! thank you kindly!

here's my inspiration~ antique wooden mickey mouse toys with bead limbs:

i love those crazy noodley limbs on the early mickey's and early hand drawn black and white animations. hmmm... me thinks i should make black meeces next?

Art Barn Fundraiser for Farm Animal Sanctuary

2013-03-09T13:46:00.001-06:00

moo-moos and cluck-clucks! I've donated a few Patrician Prints for Art Barn fundraiser to benefit rescued farm animals at Happy Trails Sanctuary, Ohio (click banner). wish i lived closer to spend time with all the animals and attend this worthwhile event!
even if you aren't in Ohio, you can still help by sponsoring an individual, like Liberace the rooster, Diamond the gray mare, or Stg Pepper the pig and many many more.

back to the sewing table.. little meeces in progress for tomorrow: March PFATT Marketplace update! enjoy your saturday!

Patrician Prints 1000 Etsy Sales!

2013-03-02T10:02:00.000-06:00

happy March! we've reached the threshold: 1000 Etsy sales! to celebrate (and get me away from the computer) we went to our favorite restaurant last night, Amitabul- korean vegan temple cuisine. their kimchi is the *best* i've ever had. (now i just remembered there are leftovers in the fridge i must attack! :)

the prints have kept me one busy peng peng and yes.. i know i promised new bears last month (how time whizzes by!). i have an acute case of bearmakers guilt, lol. balancing different projects can be a challenge, though i find it keeps things fresh. i have new ideas brewing and the sewing table is a-callin'...

creatures of habit

2013-02-22T11:44:00.000-06:00

foot tracks crossing paths, punctuating the smooth blanket of snow before sunrise this morning; my husband and local feral cat King Henry are off on their morning commutes!
i was tempted to follow King Henry's tracks to find out where he heads to every day, without fail, sun or snow. the little bugger!

speaking of habits, i have joyfully broken the habit of consuming dairy and eggs (yes, even "free-range" eggs which i sadly discovered are not cruelty-free). it took me a while- 25 years to be precise- to make the transition from vegetarian to vegan. this path of abundance has happily led us (Rob too) to explore/ include delicious raw food dishes (way beyond the 'cold salad' cliche). it takes 3 weeks to develop a habit and we are 5 months in and feeling, noticeably, better than ever! one of the catalysts for change was watching Forks Over Knives on Netflix, which i highly recommend seeing.

some fabulous food inspiration:
rawmazing.com
thisrawsomeveganlife.com
karynraw.com
aniphyo.com
kblog.lunchboxbunch.com

hearts ♥

2013-02-14T20:15:00.004-06:00

happy Valentine's day! *new pelican with umbrella print* and much more in my Etsy art print shop- Patrician Prints. now go eat some chocolate (or homemade vegan fudge carob cake, as i am ;) xoxo

Love Cat + Miss Marple Mouse

2013-02-10T16:21:00.001-06:00

Love Cat & Miss Marple... my February PFATT Marketplace offering! One of a kind set, not to be replicated.
Miss Marple is indeed named after Agatha Christie's Miss Marple (Joan Hickson is my *favorite* Marple). the Mouse Marple enjoys British mystery series and tea with her best friend Love Cat... spending many an evening curled up on LC's lap.
see the full listing and more pics here. SOLD

L o V e ♥ to you all!

aquatic buddha baby hippo

2013-01-27T14:35:00.000-06:00

bulgy-eyed floaty baby hippo... can i hug you?

just a quick pop in to let you know that yes, i'm still breathing!

my print shop has kept me quite occupied since Christmas, and that side of my art making has taken over every flat surface in my studio. however....fear not my bear friends! i am to don my sewing apron once again ;) exciting peng peng bear plans in the works for february ♥

MLK

2013-01-21T21:11:00.003-06:00

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be Light. Be Love ♥

Toot Toot + Beep Beep on PFATT Marketplace

2013-01-10T12:15:00.000-06:00

our picnic basket is packed with ginger cookies and little tea sandwiches... and we're all ready for a road trip to your home! come see this very special one-of-a-kind set with vintage car tin, today on PFATT Marketplace.

Happy 2013!

christmas past

2012-12-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Twinkle on PFATT Marketplace

2012-12-10T12:20:00.002-06:00

Twinkle is my PFATT Marketplace offering for December! the mohair is a delicious hand tie dyed red/ silver on olive green backing, dressed in a cozy little red outfit. see the full listing here. one of a kind, not to be duplicated. ~~to adopt email me~~ SOLD

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

+ peace +

2012-11-22T14:58:00.000-06:00

Before me peaceful,

behind me peaceful,

under me peaceful,

over me peaceful,

all around me peaceful.

~Navajo prayer

(these two lovely Native American women art prints in my etsy shop, under the "portraits" section)

wishing you a beautiful today, and every day...

xoxo

special orders and owl kings

2012-11-21T20:11:00.000-06:00

the month has been whizzing by! i've been busy with my art prints and special orders, like the group above i just completed- 3 christmas bear ornies ('member these? revisit the original gang here).

a special order for a white bear inspired by a childhood imaginary friend ♥

and more imaginary friends... my latest original mixed media art print just released today: Owl King Twins. available in my Patrician Prints Etsy shop!

now i'm off to pick up a few last minute ingredients for thanksgiving tomorroooow. xoxo

the show must not go on

2012-11-09T07:52:00.000-06:00

November is a bittersweet month for me. while the thought of cozy holidays approaching and all the beautiful things that autumn brings.. it also means circus-time in Chicagoland. Ringling Brothers "cruelest show on earth" is in town, November 9th-25th.

Ten Fast Facts about Animals in the Circus

Every major circus that uses animals has been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set forth in the United States Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

Animals in circuses spend about 11 months of the year traveling.

During travel, animals may be caged or chained for long distances and hours, forced to stand in their own waste, in extreme temperatures.

Standard circus industry training tools used on animals include bullhooks, whips, clubs, and electric prods.

Animals born in circus “conservation” breeding programs have never been released into the wild. Most are slated to become “replacement” performers. (read next point below)

From 1994 to 2005, at least 31 elephants have died premature deaths in the circus. Other circus animals who have died in an untimely manner include horses and lions.

Captive elephant and captive feline attacks on humans in the U.S. have resulted in hundreds of injuries, many resulting in death.

In the wild, elephants live in large, sociable herds and walk up to 25 miles every day. Most other wild animals found in circus settings, including lions and tigers, are also constantly on the move in their native habitats. In the circus, animals spend most of their time immobilized in cages or chains.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored obvious physical trauma to animals, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees who report abuse of elephants.

Circuses that feature only human performers are gaining in popularity and provide dazzling, humane, and truly family-friendly entertainment. click for a list here.

Excellent in-depth articles:
End the Circus of Cruelty- LA Times
The Cruelest Show on Earth - Mother Jones
The Problem with Circuses - Born Free

for anyone who is not yet convinced:
www.babyelephants.net - a look inside training camp for the circus, by former Ringling elephant trainer who had a change of heart at the end of his career. These are standard methods used by ALL circuses.

what you can do:

top ten ways to fight circus cruelty
don't attend circuses that feature animals
take a minute to email your congressman here! pass this on to your friends via social media:

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~Mahatma Gandhi ♥

Calorie-Free Treats for You!

2012-10-31T19:06:00.001-06:00

Happy Halloweeeeen! are we in a chocolate coma yet? :) i posted *new* Purple Moon bears and spirit bear necklaces/ ornies on my website. all are one of a kinds! pop on over for some treating (no tricks) and say hello to the little bears! xoxo

purple moons

2012-10-28T21:30:00.000-06:00

according to the lunar calendar, there will be a full moon tomorrow evening! working steadily to have the new bears ready then. it will be a petite update with just a few bears & spirit bear necklaces.
will send out an email announcement when they are up!

*to be the first to know about my updates, join my private mailing list. ♣

on my studio table

2012-10-26T19:26:00.000-06:00

a special order i just completed for a special pink spirit bear~ with healing gemstones and vintage beads. it's been a long time since i made these "portable peng's", and since making this pink one i got a hankering to make some more...

tiny morsels in progress for Halloween update!
and gorgeous deep purple shibori tie dyed mohair, w/ some blue flecks. i am working on 2 little bears from this material. it's been a busy week, but i do promise they will be ready in time for Trick or Treating! will post more sneak peeks this weekend. have a great one!

green elephants

2012-10-19T11:57:00.004-06:00

inspiration for today: life-size topiary ellies!

imagine a whole herd of these with some trees, a bamboo grove and a pond/watering hole... that's what i would do :)

this week i've been working on special order bears and packing up print orders.

i will be doing a little Halloween update with *new* bears next week!

check back here for sneak peeks. ✭

TGIF!

☺

Happy National Feral Cat Day: elusive King Henry

2012-10-16T19:41:00.001-06:00

here's a familiar face... the elusive orange tabby male. i've been trying to TNR him for a year! my last attempt was on my birthday 4 days ago. i had hoped the stars would be on my side and grant me my one birthday wish. but alas, all i caught was a small possum (quite adorable) and a few minutes later a very irate and LARGE raccoon (more round than long, not unlike my teddy bears!). have you ever heard a raccoon growl? sounds like a werewolf! it was my own fault for keeping the trap set out after dark.. i just didn't want to give up. wee possum and rotund raccoon were both let out unharmed.. i was probably more shaken then they were ;)

the story about mr. orange tabby is that neighbors (known and unknown) are feeding him, so he's not seeking out food thus not attracted to the fish baits i set in the humane trap. finally last month, by chance, i discovered a kind neighbor on the other block, Pam, who is feeding him daily. we had a nice chat about King Henry (that's what she named him) and she filled in some details about his origins. apparently a few years ago, a car pulled up in the alley and poor King Henry was simply "dropped off", letting out a loud miaow as they shut the door and drove off. sadly, many people don't bother to neuter/spay their animals and abandon them when they start howling, spraying, and other effects of primal urges. Pam had also tried to TNR Henry, but unsuccessfully. so working together, she and I -the two "Ps", coordinated a trap day, made the appt at the cat clinic, and she withheld Henry's food....

but, Henry never showed up. frustrating since i see him with great regularity. he has a routine that cuts through my yard- i've seen him snoozing under our butterfly bush in the morning, sunning himself belly up in our wildflower patch at noon, napping behind the boxwoods in the early evening (pictured above). Pam is pretty sure that another neighbor is also leaving food out for the cats! which means coordinating with them also to withhold food before trapping day. it's easy to let days, weeks, months slip by...it can feel overwhelming trying to do it yourself. good thing is, a dialogue is happening and there is moral support. a lot of work to nab this guy but i am ever confident we will. you hear me, Henry?

October charity: 10% of each sale of Halloween Kitty Cat Witch print on eBay goes to Alley Cat Allies, helping cats like King Henry nationwide.

Each print is on a unique 1930's dictionary page, no two are alike. pigment ink and real acrylic hand painted eyes. this mixed media art print makes a lovely gift for animal-lovers and for a good cause!

(=^;^=)