Rising From The Ashes, aka It Has Been A While

I owe all of you some catch-up posts. In the last year and a half, my husband and I decided to move to a more rural environment, found a house (and bought it), moved, sold our old house, dealt with a death in the family that was a long time coming, tried to settle in to our new country-ish lives while wildfires raged in the Sierras last summer, and adopted a Queensland Heeler/McNab Border Collie puppy. So, you know, the usual.

Escape (2010) has new meaning for me this year
[READ THE STORY]

In late January/early February of this year, we really got walloped when I had a major health scare and ended up in the ER/OR/Hospital for a few days. When I came home, Ron and I agreed that the phrase, "when things calm down" would be stricken from our vocabularies because you can never really count on life to calm down. After a few weeks of difficult recovery, I realized I also needed to make some changes to my life and business. You can read the hospital story and find out what changes I'm making to Krissi's Art Studio/Skelekitty & Friends at the newly designed krissisandvik.com.

Hug your loved ones and have some fun. ❤️

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Gift Tags from Skelekitty, to YOU (free download!)

Are you still wrapping gifts?  Well, Skelekitty wants to help (so do I)!!  So, for the fourth year in a row, the FREE non-denominational Skelekitty gift tags/stickers (also great for non-holiday gift-giving) are available for download!  You don't even have to buy anything from me.  :)

Just click on the image you would like (yep, you can have both - nobody is keeping track).  Then, from my Flickr page, click "Download original size of this photo" to save the full sheet of tags to your computer.  Print them out, cut them and attach them to gifts (handmade, of course) and watch your friends as they squee with delight!

Positive Mid-Winter Celebratory Greetings and/or Happy 2014 to you all, however you acknowledge these cold and short days indoors.

Love,  Krissi and Skelekitty

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Hand Painted Sacred Hearts are BACK!

Hi everyone!  I went looking through a supply shelf the other day and found several of these awesome 10" high Hydrostone sacred hearts, so they're officially available in the online shop again!

Cesco's Muertos since 2009. Cesco pours each Hydrostone heart, using his own handmade molds (created from his original sculpture, of course!). Hydrostone is a mix of cement and plaster, so it is much stronger and harder than plain casting plaster.

I have several of these hearts in stock now, and if you order your custom heart by Monday, November 4th, I can even finish it in time for Christmas delivery.

Any color scheme is available - you think it up, and I'll paint it.
click photo for link

Thanks to everyone for your continued support!  If there are other items you'd like to see return to the shop, please let me know.

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Fall/Winter 2013 Holiday Sales and Custom Order Deadlines

Howdy all!

It's Autumn, and that means it's time for everyone I know in the art/DIY world to switch out of Con Mode and into Holiday Mode.  Yes, it seems early for Christmas, but every November I have to turn frantic last-minute customers away, which makes me very sad.  It's not that I don't WANT to create a custom gift for you, it's that my technique takes time (especially in cold, damp weather).  Add to that the fact that there are about 10 others begging me to "just do one" for them, and you see the problem.

Scroll down for Thanksgiving sale info and holiday order deadlines.  In the meantime, I'm trying to entice you all into ordering a little earlier this year; therefore, I offer you an early bird sale.

EARLY BIRD SALE

I am giving an unheard of 15% discount to folks who order custom paintings/boxes early!  Now through September 30, all custom work is 15% off.  These items will not be on sale over Thanksgiving weekend (which is past the custom order deadlines listed below anyway), so don't wait!
[see details and limitations at bottom of this post]

DEADLINES FOR U.S. HOLIDAY ORDERS

These dates may be changed as my schedule fills up.  The more orders I have, the earlier the deadlines become.  Those who order first will receive first priority.
[see details and limitations at bottom of this post]

some trinket box sizes and design ideas
top row: Large (TARDIS design), X Large (Celtic dragon knot design)
middle row: Medium (monarch skullerfly), Small (monarch butterfly), Mini (Celtic tree knot)
bottom row: Small (20 sided die), ring box (unpainted - shown for size comparison)

October 28 (Monday) - last day for US orders on custom acrylic on wood paintings and all sizes of custom boxes with original designs and custom mixed-media on canvas panel pieces.

November 4 (Monday) - last day for orders (US) on small art and boxes with duplicate designs (i.e., remaking an existing design like painted sacred heart sculptures the TARDIS or boxes in the "Gallery" section of my shop.  Includes duplicates of hand-painted wooden bangle bracelets).

Glass & resin jewelry sizes and shapes
I have over 100 images to choose from 

December 3 (Tuesday) - last day for US orders of made-to-order glass & resin jewelry

December 17 (Tuesday) - last day for US orders of prints and ready-to-ship items (art, boxes & jewelry).  Priority Mail option is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED after December 10 for on-time delivery within US



THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SALE

As T-Day sale details are refined, I will be updating information on this post, as well as on my social media pages and skelekitty.com.  In the meantime, here's what I have decided:

• The sale will last for 4-days over the Thanksgiving weekend (Friday - Monday night) 
• All ready-to-ship paintings, jewelry, trinket boxes and prints will be on sale.  (Custom items will NOT be on sale, and the "add to cart" button will be deactivated on custom items during the sale, to prevent people from ordering customs erroneously.)
• Coupon codes will be provided for the sale and cannot be combined.
• I am happy to combine shipping on separate orders placed over the weekend, and will automatically refund extra shipping charges.

Since custom art and boxes will not be on sale, I strongly recommend that you get your custom order in now.  Just take advantage of the early bird sale, why don't ya?


One more VERY important note

Please check your browser's compatibility with my shop, skelekitty.com.

Over 95% of my customers fly through the shopping process with no problems, but occasionally someone has an issue.  Why? The system on which skelekitty.com runs, (Goodsie.com) no longer supports some older browsers including, but not limited to Safari 4 and Internet Explorer 8.  Updating your browser or switching to a different browser altogether may resolve your issues.

Have you updated Internet Explorer but are still seeing a blank page?
Look for the blue compatibility issues icon and click on it.  

If you are using the current browser version (Chrome and Firefox are recommended), but continue to have problems, please contact me with your OS/browser/version and details and I'll forward the information to Goodsie.

I am happy to send PayPal invoices, however, please note that absolutely no invoices will be sent during the Thanksgiving weekend sale.

Please don't wait for the order deadline or Thanksgiving sale only to determine that your firewall or browser version/settings block my site. Seriously.  Please don't wait for Thanksgiving, since I'll be out of town with no internet connection. You'll miss out on the sales, and we will both be sad.

*     *     *     *      *     *     *     *     *     *

And now, the fine print:

EARLY BIRD SALE FINE PRINT

• NOTE: additional coupon codes ARE NOT APPLICABLE to the early bird sale (I cannot disable coupons for these items, but will not honor additional discounts on this sale.  Please don't waste your coupon codes on these items - orders using coupon codes on Early Bird custom sale items will be cancelled and the coupon code invalidated.)
• * order = payment and all requirements. Your order must be completed, including work requirements, by September 30th to qualify for sale.  Paid orders without requirements will be refunded on October 1.
• ** all listings will automatically include this discount (you don't even have to ask)
• *** custom work = all custom and made to order paintings (acrylic on wood and pastel on canvas panel), wooden bangle bracelets and trinket boxes (all designs), if I have to paint it before I send it to you, it's "custom"; does not include glass & resin jewelry.

HOLIDAY DEADLINES FINE PRINT

• These deadlines are for Christmas delivery in the US.  
• International customers are responsible for determining shipping times to their country from California.  I do not set deadlines for international shipping as each country's customs procedures are different.
• For delivery by Hannukah, add one month to the dates listed (e.g. September 14 is the deadline for custom work desired by November 27).

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SALE FINE PRINT

• coupon codes may not be combined or used on any custom paintings or trinket boxes
• coupon codes may be used for made-to-order jewelry, though!)
• absolutely no PayPal invoices will be sent for Thanksgiving weekend sale items; all purchases must go through skelekitty.com (please update or change your browser well in advance of the sale).

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I've Been Livin' In A Box (Lots Of 'Em, Actually)

Holy mackerel, I've been MIA from my blog for too long!!!  Why, you ask?  Well, I've actually been creating new things in the studio, which is always a good thing.

Last November, I officially reintroduced the Krissi's Art Studio trinket boxes for the Dia de los Muertos show I did at Little Relics in Sacramento.  Since then, I've introduced multiple sizes and new designs, and people have responded by requesting plenty of commissioned boxes.  Here are a few of the new pieces I've been working on since February or so:

Geeky Boxes

Crown Royal bag inspired "Critical Hit" trinket box
(custom/sold - other designs available)

Adipose Industries trinket box

"Timey Wimey, Double Heart" trinket box
(yellow, more colors available)

"Sleeping Dragon" D&D themed trinket box
(custom/sold)

Tentacles mini trinket box (sold)

Just the TARDIS!

large "TARDIS" trinket box

mini/x-small "TARDIS" trinket box

"TARDIS" ring box

Not Just for Geeks

large Cherry Blossom trinket box
(sold, custom reproductions available)

Custom upgraded Bat Box (additional charge for detailed painting)
jewelry with this image is also available

nouveau bee trinket box

Monarch Skullerfly trinket box

Cupcake o' Guadalupe is BACK!  And it's a BOX!

Custom "Paris Metro" box

Wow!  No wonder I feel like I've been hip-deep in wooden boxes!  I kinda have.  And nope, I'm totally not complaining about it, because there are more coming down the pike!

That's the wraparound sketch on the "Golden Bought" Pawn cash box for my pal Aaron, creator of La Brujeria comic.  This one will be loaded with lots of inside references for readers of the comic.  And yes, that IS the Geek In The City Radio podcast playing in the background.

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CLOSED - GIVEAWAY! BUTTERFLIES! SKULLS! WOO HOO!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!  Did you win?  Scroll down to see!

I had planned a giveaway through a skull-themed blog this week, but it fell through.  Since I hinted about the giveaway last week on my Facebook fan page, I figured I should deliver!

Here's what you will receive if you win:

Soul Searching (top) and Spirits' Journey (bottom)
enter to win 8x10" prints of these paintings or just shoot overto my shop and snap up a pair if you don't want to take your chances

The giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents 18 years and older.  Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below (be sure to use the images and tweets provided), and I'll pick a winner within a couple hours after the giveaway entry period closes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!

~Krissi

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Because It's ALL About You! (new landing page at skelekitty.com)

I spent two full days this week working on making my shop easier for folks to get around in.  There are two big changes that I think are pretty cool:

New main page.  Instead of the old main page, which took you to the first 20 or so products, now you will start at this awesome page, where you can browse by item (paintings, earrings) or imagery (hearts, Doctor Who, etc.)   It looks like this:

NEW skelekitty.com main page helps you browse items using pictures

As you can see, all the text links are still available on the left nav bar, but now you can browse visually, and easily find imagery (previously these categories could only be accessed from a pull-down menu on the ALL THE THINGS page).  If you ever want to return to this page, just click the shop banner and it will take you right there.

Links inside listings.  Let's say you are clicking around and come across a pendant you like, but you don't wear jewelry, so you wonder, "is this available as a print?"  Now all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of that listing and click SEE ALL ITEMS WITH THIS IMAGE (it's right above the price).  Clicking that link from inside any listing will show you all items with the same image or group of images.  In the rare case that there is no link, it means that the item is unique or is not yet offered on other items.

I'm always looking for ways to make shop browsing easier for customers, so if you ever have a question or suggestion, drop me a note using the contact link in my shop.

Thanks for dropping by!

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Spring Forward In Time - Timey Wimey Piece and Print of the Week

It's Monday, and that means it's time for a new Print of the Week (and it's early since I'm not catching up on last night's episode of a show my husband won't watch).  But first...

Timey Wimey Weeping Angel
pendant with watch gears

I was going through my supply stash recently and came across some Nunn Design 1" bezels I purchased at an expo a few years back.  I was doing a run of glass and resin pendants anyway, so I thought it would be a perfect time to do some resin layering in one of the bezels.

But which image should I use and what stuff should I layer in there?

We learned in the Doctor Who episode Blink that the Weeping Angels use time to "kill you nicely. No mess, no fuss. They just zap you into the past and let you live to death."  Then they feed off all of your life's stolen moments.  So yeah, it seemed obvious: one of my Weeping Angel paintings + timey wimey stuff (gears) = awesome.  I made one of these to see how you guys like them, but if I make more, each would be slightly different (and yes, of course you can get one custom made with a different Weeping Angel).

Sage Bee 8x10" print

Moving on to something a bit lighter (but wait!  We "lost" an hour recently!  Was it the Weeping Angels or daylight saving time?)  It's definitely feeling like here, which means sunshine, sneezing, blossoms and bees!  I'm celebrating the return of the honeybees by putting the Sage Bee print up as Print of the Week.  Sage Bee was one of the paintings I did for the Spring "Out There" nature-themed art show last April.

You know the deal by now: the 8x10's are 50% off (only $7.25), you don't need a coupon code, and the sale is good all week (I switch them out mid-day on Mondays).  You can always find the Print of the Week by clicking the link in my shop, or find all the sale items by clicking on OMG, ON SALE!!! (and I added some more pendants to the sale/clearance section last week!).

Oh yeah, and I'm working on something else to help you navigate the shop, but that will have to wait for another blog post.

Happy *ACHOO!* springtime!

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Print of the Week: Pomegranates and Skulls

It's time for the Print of the Week!

Love & Death, one of the fin de siècle flower series I painted in the Spring of 2012, is 50% off this week.

Love & Death features pomegranates, which symbolize either love or death
in different cultures/mythologies.  The poms are set against a deep blue
background with layers of images including insects, clocks and muertos.  

Here's the scoop on my weekly print sale:

• Sale is from Monday to following Monday, I usually switch them up around lunchtime (or some time that afternoon)
• You don't need a coupon code, Prints of the Week are automatically marked down
• 50% off 8x10" prints (only $7.25!) and more than 30% off 11x14" prints 
• No limit - get as many as you like
• I'll decide which prints go up, BUT I will make that decision based on fan/client input
• Images will not be POTW more than once in a 6 month period, so snap up your favorite when it comes around
• You can find the POTW by clicking on the Print of the Week link from my site (or click the OMG, On Sale! link to see everything that's been marked down).
• Occasionally, I'll put a pair of prints on sale. When I do, you can get just one or both if you like.

Check back next Monday (just click on the "Print of the Week" link in my shop) to see which print will be on sale. I will switch them up around lunchtime (or so) here in California.


And of course, let me know which image you would like to see as Print Of The Week!

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Prints of the Week: Butterflies On The Brain

Maybe I was inspired to make these prints the "Prints of the Week" because we saw a Monarch butterfly while walking the dog this weekend.  Maybe it's because The Venture Bros. is finally coming back with Season 5.  Honestly, who's to say?  Either way, you can have 8x10s of either Soul Searching or Spirits' Journey for half off this week (a limited number of 11x14s are also available and also on sale).

Soul Searching (top) and Spirits' Journey (bottom)

Here's the scoop on my weekly print sale:

• Sale is from Monday to following Monday, I usually switch them up around lunchtime (or some time that afternoon)
• You don't need a coupon code, Prints of the Week are automatically marked down
• 50% off 8x10" prints (only $7.25!) and more than 30% off 11x14" prints 
• No limit - get as many as you like
• I'll decide which prints go up, BUT I will make that decision based on fan/client input
• Images will not be POTW more than once in a 6 month period, so snap up your favorite when it comes around
• You can find the POTW by clicking on the Print of the Week link from my site (or click the OMG, on sale! link to see everything that's been marked down).
• Occasionally, like this week, I'll put a pair of prints on sale.  When I do, you can get just one or both if you like.

Check back next Monday (just click on the "Print of the Week" link in my shop) to see which print will be on sale.  I will switch them up around lunchtime here in California.

And of course, let me know which image you would like to see as Print Of The Week! 

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