Tiger photo courtesy of Tim Kant Photography
Columnist: Linda aka LindaGJ

I found this fabulous artist on Etsy while looking for pictures of cats. And what a treasure I found in this delightful artist’s work!

Her name is Jennifer Lambien, 35, and she lives in NYC now. She is not only an artist but a designer, licensor, and owner of Studio Petite. You can find her at www.studiopetite.com and studiopetite.etsy

Jennifer grew up in Naples, Florida and her family moved to Ohio to be closer to her mom’s family towards the end of High School. She moved to Manhatten a little over a year ago and she’d LOVE to travel to Europe, and will some day! Jennifer loves NYC, as the eclectic and creative vibe is what brought her there. She still is very close to her family along with her brother, that she misses dearly. She also grew up with 3 kitties and only one kitty named Boris is still living. She loves dogs and cats equally. She does have a lot of cat paintings and plans on adding more dogs to her collection eventually.

She attended Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio and majored in English and minored in art. She really considers herself self taught especially because she never painted until a couple of years ago. One would think, by looking at her paintings, that she was born with a paintbrush in her hand though!

I asked her what got her started in the arts, what mediums she has worked with and what inspires her.
“Hmmm…I can’t even say when I got started. I feel like I’ve always been an artist. I started out using a combination of pen and ink, marker, and colored pencil. However lately my passion is watercolor. I’d love to find the room and time to get into oils someday. I would also love to get into ceramics. Anything and everything can truly inspire me. A song, a person, a moment, a movie a book, a flower, another artist…anything. I liked seeing the results other artists I admire were getting in their career. Both success wise and technique wise. I wasn’t sure if I’d take to painting. I honestly used to be intimidated by it! However, luckily, I sat down with a paint brush in hand, dipped it in some paint, touched the brush to paper, and the rest is history! Of course you never stop evolving and improving.”

Her great Uncle, Grandfather, and mother are all artists. Her mother, Deborah was a cross-stitch pattern designer for “Leisure Arts” for several years. Jennifer had 2 books published under “Leisure Arts’ some years ago & she thoroughly enjoys what she is doing now. Her father is so creative as he plays a myriad of instruments and has always loved writing.

“I’m very fortunate to have parents who have always supported my artistic dreams. I’ve heard several stories from others involving their dream of becoming an artist, only to have their parents sadly tell them to get a “real job”. Don’t get me wrong. I do understand their concerns. This is a very competitive industry. It’s in no way for the impatient or overly sensitive…ironic that I can be both!!! But you have to keep pushing yourself to break past the crowd and stand out! With your art utensils in one hand and a brightly colored flag in the other, raise your hands in the air madly hoping someone will notice. If your hands are high enough and your flag is bright enough…SOMEONE WILL!!! Though it’s challenging and worthy of some tears from time to time, over all it’s an extremely special and rewarding career. I can assure you.”

To explain further of what Jennifer exactly does, is that she licenses her designs out to be placed on products. This can be anything from a placemat to a mailbox cover. The possibilities are endless! She’s had agents in the past, but she is on her own now. She’ll be doing the Surtex Licensing show in NYC at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in May. She admits that she’s a little overwhelmed but SO excited! She still sells greeting cards that she prints herself on Etsy

“As I said earlier, this career is a slow uphill climb. Especially today. Due to the internet, the competition is stronger than ever. Having said that, the internet allows you to be seen in ways you never thought possible. Also, with the economy being the way it is, many companies have done away with their in house art department. It used to be that they were responsible for doing everything beyond creating the actual art. Now you are much more responsible for doing your own mock-ups, collections, etc. to present to the company. For example, I’ve had to learn Photoshop even though I paint by hand. I’ve also had to learn to be a business woman aside from being an artist. Anyone thinking of getting into any kind of art as a career, REALLY needs to pay close attention to this. You HAVE to see yourself as both an artist AND a business person. If you don’t, it will never go beyond just being a hobby. Worried about selling out? Ok, well then I guess you’re not worried when you don’t sell enough to quit your day job. I’m not saying you shouldn’t stay true or stay you. I’m simply stating that you have to do it in the realm of what sells. Would Marc Jacobs include ponchos in his fall line if no one else was wearing ponchos? Maybe, but that’s ONLY because he’s built a brand and has a strong following. It’s important for you to do the same. First know what sells and do it. Next build your brand and following. Lastly, paint ponchos if you choose to…I can assure you others will begin to do the same. Ha!”

Jennifer truly loves working on things for the Fall/Halloween and Winter/Christmas seasons. They are such magical months and she loves the colors and subject matters. She loves doing cheery things for Spring as well! Oh, and coffee. She is a HUGE fan of coffee, and it definitely shows in her work. She loves painting kitties too!
She has teamed up with a friend on Etsy to support Susan G. Komen’s fight against breast cancer. You can see her greeting card here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/38121113/greeting-card-breast-cancersusan-g-komen
It’s also available in a set of 5. She also can print more as well.
I asked Jennifer if she had any suggestions on keeping artists inspired:
“I would say turn on “Eye Of The Tiger” from Rocky really loud and jump around the room lol! Seriously though…My advice is to definitely only surround yourself with people and things that inspire you. I’ve had to do a lot of soul searching this past year. I’ve gotten to the place in my life where after asking God for a lot of guidance, I realized the critical importance of kicking all toxicity of one’s life. It can be difficult to embrace change or eliminate a person you’ve had in your life for so long. However, at times it’s the only way we will truly find success and happiness. Embrace change and free yourself from any negatives in your past and present. Having said that, also learn from your past. First and foremost, take responsibility for yourself and your choices authentically. There’s a line from the movie “The Money Pit” that I swear by…”No, this wasn’t an easy one, but the foundation was good, I’ll say that. And if that’s okay, then everything else can be fixed.” Make sure your foundation is solid. If it isn’t everything else will crack, so fix it! Music and movies also inspire me greatly. I have one of the most eclectic iTunes libraries ever. I make mixes that will lift my spirits or put me in a great place artistically. Sometimes I just karaoke! Also, get involved with other artists. Swap stories, learn from them, support them as they will support you. Look, we all have our down days. I have been known to work at very odd hours or not at all. Artists are not by nature conventional creatures. We can be known to be beautifully and delightfully off balance. You will never find me getting up at the crack of dawn or putting my paintbrush down at 5pm. Somedays I paint for 8 hours straight, and other days I don’t paint at all. Seriously! You can coax creativity, but you can’t force it.”

“Thanks sincerely you lovely souls for taking the time to read my Mad Hatter rantings…May you all STAY INSPIRED! “

Editor:Barbra aka AllAboutTheButtons

LindaGJ aka LindaGJ

Hi everyone, Katie here.
Yes, I became an IndieKitty awhile back when Linda GJ wrote an article about Cat Blogs. Well, since I have my very own blog : http://glogirly.blogspot.com/ I have been elected with becoming the new Mascot for Indiesmiles, which I am not at all surprised, since I am well known for my sharp tongue and sarcastic wit. A floofy, sweet lap cat, I am not. I am so right for this job because I soooo… fit the meaning of Indie.
‘INDIE’
The Urban Dictionary defines Indie as “Cooler than Emo.” Now I don’t know who this Emo guy is, but I’m going to assume he’s very cool. The Urban Dictionary goes on to note that Indie is an informal version of Independent. Here’s where it gets even cooler: Indie has come to symbolize originality and forward-thinking.
So as an Indie Kitty, I am an independent, original, forward-thinking, cooler than emo CAT. Now how cooler than emo is THAT!!
Just call me Indie’s Mascot Kitty Katie.
You all also will have to go visit my blog which is all about me.
Here is the movie I was featured in with the article that 1st introduced me here on Indiesmiles. I am the star and it all about me… naturally!

By contributing columnist Nicole Majewski aka Sugar Shox Craft

Move over Morris; this week’s Etsy Spotlight pick shows that cats aren’t just meant to be seen in cat food commercials—not when they can imitate humans so closely.

Instead of burying his face in a bowl of mush or hard brown shapes, a short-haired orange and white tabby cat named Hamlet takes his first whiffs and samples of birthday cake. This tender moment was captured by Etsy seller Cathy Gangwer (“Celticcatphotos”), and is sold in her shop
as the Birthday Cat Greeting Note Card.

Taken on Hamlet’s first birthday, the image perfectly personifies an animal’s life. It shows an animal acting completely human in the context of the mostly- human situation of a birthday party. Hamlet is shown at just the right moment conducting himself in a reserved, thoughtful manner like any person would when first taking in the sight of their birthday cake. The picture also shows some human body language with the way the cat curiously leans toward the cake to examine it.

Surprisingly enough, Cathy said the card’s image was a lucky shot, as she was only able to get this one image from the party.

“It was Hamlet’s birthday and so I bought a small cake and tried to see if he would pose with it,” she said. “I only got one good frame of him, and none of his [feline] brothers.”

Cathy said she turned this image into the Birthday Cat cards about six to seven years after it was taken. The card features a cut out window for the image, a simple thin-lined border around the image and, of course, the image of Hamlet, which is professionally printed. They are also blank inside so buyers can write in their own message and give the card for either a birthday or at any time.

This card happens to be Cathy’s favorite card—its image says it all.

“It is simple and needs no text,” she said. “You also know that it is a birthday card, or you can just give it to a cat lover.”

Cathy is approaching her 20th year of selling her photography. She attends numerous art shows from late May to early December in southeastern Michigan (she is from Detroit), and also sells her work online at both the 1000 Markets and Etsy websites.

She has been involved with photography since her girlhood, and has used many of the various technologies that have popped up in the field in that time.

“I have been taking pictures since I was a young girl. I remember my first camera, my first 110 camera, and then my first SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera,” Cathy said. “I wasn’t sure about stepping up to digital, but on a trip to Newfoundland a roll of film was damaged, so I switched to digital and kept a film camera only for panorama captures until I learned to do a pano in Photoshop.”

Is beautiful as the Birthday Cat card and her other animal images are, she prefers to photograph a very different kind of subject even more.

“I think of myself as more of an architecture photographer,” she said. “I love capturing lighthouses, old barns, farms and old buildings in Detroit and Ireland.”

Whatever she will be photographing, count on seeing much more of Cathy and her unique work. Her future plans include expanding the number of shops she has online, to keep selling at art shows and to get into even more creative photography that is “outside the box.”

By Contributing columnist LindaGJ aka LindaGJ

One of my favorite clients turned out to be a friend as well.

When Kelly first bought a set of kitty cards from me maybe over a year ago, she was talking about her dream to open up a website with her photographs and now she is doing just that!

Most of this article that your are reading is taken from Kelly’s bio with some of my own additions as well.

I want to mention that she also does fundraising for a very special cause for the Beaver County Humane Society in PA. They have fundraisers with auctions as well as collecting money for walks she & many other people that also join her.

I have given to that cause and she told me a box of my cat cards was part of a basket that was raffled off, this meant so much to me! She is so dedicated and has been for years.

Kelly works as an Executive Assistant in Moon Township & resides in Center Township in PA with her 3 cats, Flynn, Lyonesse, and Duffy. All 3 of her kitties were rescues from the Beaver County Humane Society where she does her volunteer work in a fundraising capacity. She also finds new homes for cats when contacted by friends & acquaintances. She is really dedicated to helping cats, in any way possiible, as yall can see! Over the past 4 years she has been instrumental in finding new homes for approximately 25 cats & kittens. What a record! These cats are strays or abandoned when their owners can no longer care for them.

Kelly remembers the last such call came in from a friend of a friend. The cat needed a new home, was a 10 year old female who was doted from her family. She had been found as a tiny 2 week old kitten & was hand fed until she could eat on her own. Needless to say, she was a bit spoiled. And don’t all of us animal lovers love to spoil our house pets that are like family to us!!! This cat’s owner had gone into an assisted living facility & could not take her beloved pet with her. Within 2 weeks, she was placed into a loving home with a new feline brother and she is adjusting very nicely & her new owner reaches out to the family with updates and photos!

Kelly Dinwiddie is also a talented photographer who specializes in Casual Pet Photography & Photo Greeting Cards. Yoy can find Kelly’s work in her “>website titled “Kelly Dinwiddie Photography

I, personally, just had to order eight of her gorgeous cards! She says that she is still working on perfecting her site. And so far it’s fabulous!

Along with regular photo greeting cards, she has a special line of greeting cards known as “Kelly Kat” greetings. These cards are digitally enhanced photos, yet her favorites for photo shoots are nature scenes, wildlife, flowers, butterflies and pets.

Kelly is also available for pet photo shoots in the pet’s home which is ideal for a pet that does not like to travel or one that would be apprehensive in a studio setting.

Her love of photography started all the way back to when she was in college.

In this slide show you are about to see, only captures a few of her photos and cards, then you must go to her website to see all of her information and even more of her fabulous work

I know I am a huge fan of her work and hopefully you will be to, once you visit her website.

I don’t know about yall, but I would rather buy and support Indie artists anytime than buy factory produced items. They are so special and Kelly is indeed also very special as a person as well!

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By Contributing Columnist LindaGJ aka LindaGJ

My shop on Etsy, portrays a lot of my cat Peanut, who passed away 2 yrs. ago after having her for 20 years since she was just barely born. I keep her alive in my art work and look forward to meeting her again someday when it’s my time. She was my muse and inspired me so much as she was such a cartoon kitty! Oh how I adored and loved that little creature so much!

And now I have a darling white cat named Kenzie, and although I have included Kenzie & Peanut in some of my Blog’s posts, it is not a Cat Blog. My blog is about my art work mainly, but of other artist’s art work and many other subjects.

If yall are cat lovers and have not seen the “Cat Bloggers World” you are missing out! Once I started my blog, I began to meet and follow some Cat Blogs. I adore cats, as well as all animals, but I found the cat blogs because a customer of mine started following me.

It’s amazing how these proud owners have put into words their take on their fur babies, with captions, stories, pictures, charities and more. And rightly so! These little creatures are so cute and hysterical!

I have had such pleasure scanning through these special blogs and know that you will enjoy the 3 cat blogs that I have decided to showcase in this article.

I have fallen deeply in love with each one of the cats that are displayed and want to take them home with me!!! I wonder what my cat, Kenzie, that I have now, would think about that? make you fall in love with their unique felines, and they all support varous Animal charities as well as my many online friends if their cat is sick or has passed away.

And I am included in taking action even though I don’t have a cat blog. I support the sick kitties and also the kitties that have passed away, by words of encouragement. I do give alot of the money I make with the selling of my art work & some of the cat bloggers do too!

Well! Let me get to the point! I just had to share these cats willing to be in this article so yall can take a look at a part of this adorable world.

Some of the Cats have their own blogs as well and they talk in their own words!

Peggy’s Place
A House with 6 Cats!

Featuring: Jeannie, Babe, Summer, Romeo, Isis, & Bob
Modeling Peggy’s Blankets: My cat, Kenzie
One of these blogs is Peggy’s Place

She also makes furry blankets and all the money goes to animal charities. I have purchased 2 blankets for myself and also bought one for my friend in South Carolina that has 2 kitties of her own and one of them is leash trained!

If you go to Peggy’s Place you will see a link to where you can purchase her blankets or go here for Blankies for Kitties:

Peggy is like the Pied Piper when a kitty needs donations to get well or taken care of. She will post it on her blog and then others follow with donations as you will see if you visit her blog!

Even Peggy’s Chistmas gifts will be donations for many charities under her friend’s names! Wow what a generous and special woman she is! And all of her rescued kitties are fabulous!

This video is an introduction to the 6 cats Peggy owns now, so when you go to her blog you will know her cats and their backgrounds and feel at home there. I also have included my own white cat, Kenzie, as a model, to show off some of Peggy’s blankets!

Peggy wrote most of the words in this video and of course took all the pictures I chose to use. I added my own words in some places and edited. Peggy has chosen “People are Strange by The Doors” song to portray her cats and since it’s a longish video you will hear the song replayed almost 3 times, which really makes this slideshow fun!

It’s a perfect song for a
Purrrrrrfectly Beautiful Cat Family

Blog segment #2

Glogirly (aka) Debbie, is the Girl (Owner) of Katie (the Cat)

Actually Katie (the Cat) writes in her own words and from her perspective. She has become known for her sharp tongue & sarcastic wit. A floofy, sweet lap cat, she is not.
Read more and view the fantastic slideshow
Tails of a cat girl

blog segment #3

The House of Cats

Amy started this blog about her cats when she got an abandoned kitten named Virgil in August of 2008. She found him at her vet’s office! She just started the blog to watch Virgil grow.
Read more and view the fantastic slideshow:
House of cats

With all 3 videos that are included here:
If you aren’t able to read the words fast enough in the slideshow, just place your mouse on the photo that is showing and it will freeze until you take your mouse off it. Also if you don’t want to hear the music, turn your speakers down or off. You can also enlarge the slideshow if you desire.

A Word from the publisher

I adore animals and especially cats so these bloggers are very close to home in regards to my heart. As a member of EFA (Etsy for Animals) I must say that you cannot help but love what artisans do for animals. Whether it’s taking in a stray and giving them a home or donating money to charities. Whatever the case, Indiesmiles wants to say thank you to all of you that make a difference in the lives of animals. I also want to say that Indiesmiles will be purchasing a blanket from Peggy’s Place. Enjoy all the fun slideshows from LindaGJ she really worked hard on these! Thanks for being there everyone!

by LindaGJ
Contributing Columnist

Don’t you just love what people can do when they Team up! In our busy society collaboration is the name of the game! Etsy Team members have done some exciting things and a very artsy team, Magical Holiday Artists has given us a taste of Halloween and what we call the Primitive Frights…..enjoy the show!

Images courtesy of all the artists, please visit their individual shops:

1st slide:
(shops are listed in order that pics are presented)

http://Momandmevintagewares.etsy.com

http://magickmermaid.etsy.com

http://pattee.etsy.com

http://sunbyrum.etsy.com

http://rabbithollowprims.etsy.com

http://thegourdqueen.blogspot.com

2nd slide:

http://theprimitivelady.com

http://pearlavenuestudios.etsy.com

http://raggedyrhondas.com

http://soniarodriguezdesign.etsy.com

http://artbyme.etsy.com

http://cottagegarden.etsy.com

3rd slide:
http://cheriesartsncrafts.etsy.com

http://shesbattydesigns.artfire.com

http://www.fantasywhispers.com

I hope you enjoyed your stay. Please return & visit us again for more fabulous artwork and articles that will leave you entertained, with eye candy, knowledge, and many more surprises! Indiesmiles is one of the best places to advertise, so please use this site to take advantage of their wonderful options!

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When cat lover, Mishkat in the Etsy Forums mentioned the combo print, note cards and magnet sets at Visual Smiles Gallery (aka LindaGJ) I became quite curious and decided to take a peek. When I clicked to view her amazing shop I savored items that were a cat lover’s dream!

This was especially true for myself since my cat Yingy, a female Tuxedo, resembles the cat that Linda features in her prints - Miss Peanut Jones! She not only resembles her in looks, but in size and spirit as well!

Sadly, Miss Peanut is no longer part of Linda’s household but her memory will never be forgotten! You will find Miss Peanut in Linda’s numerous prints sets and in the two books that she has written, “The Itty Bitty Kitty from New York City” & “Peanut Jones Thinks about Fun!”

Now if you fall in love with her prints, as I have done, when you purchase anyone of these darlings….included is a matching magnet and a matching boxed set of seven gift cards! Wow, I was floored! How does she do all that at such a fantastic low price? Needless to say, I am a proud owner of a couple of her print sets, the quality of these items are great and you’ll love her whimsical subject matter!

Listen to what Linda has to say when describing her beloved kitty (see her shop for the full story):

I just have to say that she had such an itty bitty tail, itty bitty cow legs, & the cutest itty bitty face…yet,lo & behold…she had a very big round body! Perfect shape for aN ornament ball, that you will see in my store as a sculpture figure adorned in a variety of costumes as well as a magnet. This lovable feline who was raised in an art studio environment & exposed to the visual & performing arts her whole life, made Miss Peanut, not only a very cultured feline, but also a legend!

With the holidays now upon us, I am always looking for fantastic decorating ideas, and this clay and paper mache figurine of Miss Peanut Jones is just perfect as a display item or as a beautiful gift for a lover of cats.

LindaGJ’s shop is highly recommended! I hope that you stop by and take advantage of her Miss Peanut lovelies!

IndieSmiles favs are unsolicited reviews of Sue and El’s favorite indie shops and are not compensated for these reviews. If you would like Sue and El to notice your shop, please send them an email at info@indiesmiles.com

Here you’ll find items that completely benefit the animals. Each week El and Sue will choose items that donate 100% of their proceeds to animal charities. These items are from shops that may or may not belong to our smile program, but are certainly from animal friendly shops. Links to the items are provided below the image section.

Please note: Each of the shops that have submitted an item pledge to donate 100% of the items proceeds  (displayed below) to an animal charity of their choice, Indiesmiles does not make any guarantees of such donation.

We want to spread smiles for the animals, so if you have an item in your shop that completely benefits the animals (100% of the proceeds) and you would like to see it pictured here, please fill out our Smile for the Animals Form. These smiles are shared free of charge! By filling out our form and submitting an item that completely benefits the animals, you can receive our Smiles Subscription at a reduced rate!!! Check it out here.

These items were listed here free of charge to benefit the animals. If you would like to have your item listed here and it completely benefits the animals (100% of the proceeds), then please fill out our Smile for the Animals Form.