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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Critters Make Me Smile!

It has been a busy summer full of "surprises," so I decided to do a few relatively quick paintings to cheer myself up.  It worked like a charm!

These first two portraits were "payment" for my end of a couple of trades.

Gracie, the Australian Shepherd

Mustard Danger, International Lhasa Apso of Mystery!

I was on a roll, so I also did one of my husband's cat, Mouse.

Mouse, the cat who was raised by a dog.  

And while I was awaiting photographs for new portrait orders, I did this for some fun.

For the story behind the Red Kitty with a Pink Tail, see the
"Happiness Happens If You Make It" post on the Corporate Rejects blog

For those interested in a custom portrait, they are available through my online shop at http://skelekitty.artfire.com.

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FAQ: Can I Use That Image? (aka Copyright 101)

Intellectual property (patents, licenses, copyrights) is a pretty tough concept to get your mind around, but you are in luck.  As it happens, before I was a full time artist, I used to negotiate licensing agreements.  True story.  And since I received two almost identical inquiries involving this very subject in the last few months, I figured it warranted its own post.

In both cases, the requests boiled down to this:


they wanted to commission a piece of art from me and then sell reproductions of the image (one on jewelry, one as prints).


My short answer was "no" to both because, whether or not they purchase a physical painting from me, the image still belongs to me.  That's where the "intellectual" part of intellectual property comes in - the idea (and execution of that idea) is my property.  Yep.  No matter what they pay for the paintings themselves, such payment does not include the right to use the images.

Still a little confused?  No problem.

Think of it this way:  Let's say you go to Borders or your local book store (they still have those, right?) and you buy a copy of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.  You own that physical book, that thing with pages (the "tangible property") - you paid for it.  You may put it on the shelf or dog-ear the corners, sell it in a garage sale or even, God forbid, burn it if you want to.  However, you don't own the rights to the IDEAS contained therein.  You may not make copies of the book and sell them.  You may not make a movie of the book.... unless of course you have permission from Ms. Rowling (customarily in the form of a license agreement and huge-ass amounts of cash going from you to her).

Art works very much in the same way.  Let's say you pay me for a custom painting of your cat.  No matter how much I charge you for that painting - you are only paying for my time, supplies and creativity, not for the rights to use the image.  So even if I charge you an exorbitant amount, you still may not make copies, prints, Christmas cards (not even for your own use) unless we have a written agreement where I specifically give you those rights (which would be under a License Agreement).  Yeah, I know, even though it's YOUR cat.  Even if I painted from a photo you took.

2011 ADDENDUM:  The reverse/reciprocal is also true: I have the right to do whatever I want with the image.  As the artist, I may create prints, cards or another painting OR I may license the rights to someone else to make items using the image: rubber stamps, posters, car wraps, whatever.  The recipient of the original has no rights outside of the ownership of the tangible, physical property (painting) and may not dictate what the artist may or may not do with the image.  Even if it's a painting of YOUR cat.  Even if it was painted from your photo. 

Another intellectual property tidbit: you need to enforce your intellectual property rights or you lose them.  That's why the Disney Corporation protects Mickey so vehemently.  It's also why I do not ever make exceptions - not even for friends.  I mean, you all saw The Godfather, right?  "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business." 

Anyway, I hope this helped to give you a very brief overview of intellectual property as it pertains to questions I get asked pretty often.   If you have more questions, let me know!

Krissi

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YAY! Bewbies!

For the entire month of October, 8x10" prints of my painting "Survivor" will be on sale for only $8.50.  This sale may not be combined with other offers, but there is no limit on the number of these you can purchase, so if you want 10 of 'em, I'm happy to package them all up for you!

"Survivor" features a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon with butterfly wings in shades of purple, on a bright green background with inspirational words. This painting was created for a friend's wife, a breast cancer survivor, and is a representation of her tattoo.

And as always, you can get deals on my other prints by buying multiples - there are 2 for $22, 3 for $33 and even 5 for $45 deals.

Oh, and speaking of cancer, my pal Mo Love of Madd Style fame is still running her Cancer Fund of America campaign!  ALL profits from listings in the CFA section of her shop will be donated.  She has LOTS of awesome lip products, goodies and... THESE babies!

Thanks for reading. Now go FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!

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Most Requested List: Image Transfer Tutorial (packing tape version)

Y'all have been begging and bugging me for this for at least a year.  Here it is!

Packing Tape Image Transfers

Almost every single one of my mixed-media pieces has some kind of an image transfer in it.  Some are gel medium transfers (we'll do that another day, OK?), but most are packing tape transfers.  I prefer them because they are FAST and really easy.  If you goof up, you don't have to wait hours to fix your mistake.  Packing tape is also great for transfering text onto just about any surface you can imagine.

You will need:

• laser printed* graphics** or text
• brushes/spatulas
• clear packing tape
• a bone folder or spoon
• gloss gel medium in soft or regular
• scissors
• a small bowl with water
• paper towels

*NOTE:  I use a pigment inkjet printer by Epson.  Pigment inks give an image transfer that is nearly as crisp as a laser jet or photocopier. If you use a printer with water soluble inks, you will get a faint transfer, if any, when using this technique.



**IMPORTANT:  NEVER EVER use copyrighted images (especially if they're mine).





Place a piece of packing tape carefully over your printed image. Avoid getting wrinkles or bubbles in or under your tape.

Using your bone folder or the smooth side of a spoon, burnish (rub!) the tape to ensure complete contact between the ink/paper and the adhesive.


Tear away the extra paper from the edges of your tape, turn your image over and peel away some of the paper from the back.  You do not need to peel off all of the paper, but removing some will help the water to penetrate and will make your life a lot easier about 2 steps down....


Submerge your image in a small bowl of room temp/cool water for a few minutes (5 to 10 is usually good, but if you forget it for a couple of hours, don't panic - it's all good).


Using only your fingers, gently rub the paper until it starts to pill up.  Continue to rub at all of the paper residue until it is completely gone.  Your tape will not be crystal clear, but you should not feel any rough spots or bits of paper left.


Once you have removed all of the paper residue, let your tape dry on a paper towel.


Trim up your image and do a dry fitting. Trim more if needed.


Spread a generous amount of gel medium on your working surface and brush some on the back of your image/tape.


The tricks (and the part where you get messy!):

• Place your image to your working surface and put a little gel medium over the top to reduce friction.   
• Using your fingers and starting from near the center of your image, press down firmly and rub out any bubbles.  
• Continue to press and rub firmly working outward so that all of the gel medium is pressed out from under the tape (you'll be able to tell when there are no white spots under the tape).  
• Run your fingers around the edges to ensure complete contact. You are going for as close to 100% contact between the tape and your working surface as you can achieve.  

This little trick will not only help eliminate the appearance of "bumps" around the edges of the tape, but will also reduce your drying time!

Troubleshooting tips for working on an uneven surface (like this lovely plaster heart here carved and mold poured by my pal and all around nice dude, Cesco). If you are working on an undulating surface, you may not be able to achieve 100% contact between the tape and your piece. So, here's what you do:

• Lifting beneath the image
1. Change your uneven surface into an even surface by adding gel medium and leveling it with a credit card or the edge of a spatula.  Let it dry, then start over with a new transfer (you don't want all the old gel medium gunking it up).
2. Follow the instructions above, but use the side of your finger to press out the extra gel medium from beneath your image.  You will see white spots of gel medium where your image was previously lifting.  Pretend you don't see them.  Your drying time will be increased, but your image will be perfectly adhered in the end.
• Lifting at the edges
1. Since tape will not stretch to follow curves, try trimming the edges of your image if that is where the lifting is occurring
2. A trick I learned for sewing curves: Rather than trimming away excess tape, try snipping inward toward your image in the problem area.  
3. Use a trick similar to #2 under Lifting beneath the image - use light pressure around the edges and allow gel medium to take up the space between your tape edges and your working surface.
4. Did you do a dry fitting?  Really?  Are you sure?  I don't think you did.  Either that, or you were in denial and thought this would fit (silly you).  Go back and resize your image and try again WITH A DRY FITTING THIS TIME.

   

   Trick #2 for keeping the edges from lifting:
   snip inward toward (not into) your image

   
   

Add a generous layer of gel medium over the top of the image to blend away the edges of the tape.  Your image will look cloudy/milky at first. Let it dry. Drying time can vary from a few minutes to a day or two depending on thickness of gel layers, porosity of your working surface, temperature and humidity.



Now GO FORTH AND TRANSFER THY IMAGES!


Here's a pic of the winged sacred heart I'm creating for my ol' school pal, Sam.  It's still in progress, but you can see several other tape image transfers (my apologies for the messy photo background).



Other stuff you can do with packing tape (I'll continue to update this as ideas come to me):

• Using rubber stamps and Staz On or Archival inks, stamp onto the clear side of the tape and then follow the application instructions above (you know to let your ink dry fully first, right?  I didn't need to tell you that, did I?)  Oh, and you do stamp/transfers with tissue paper too, but you get a much different look.
• For a "ghostly" looking transfer, use an inkjet printer to create your images.
• To transfer larger images, you can "butt" the tape edges up against each to pull the ink, then do it again when putting down your image(s).  Or, if you're lucky and you can find it...
• You can use the above techniques with clear CON-tact® paper for larger images!
• Oh, and YES, you can do this technique with colored copies for a really cool effect.

See my tutorial on image transfers using inkjet overhead transparency film!

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FINALLY I Can Talk About This!

I'm sure it will shock each and every one of you to the core when I say that I have a difficult time with keeping information to myself.  I know, you're thinking, "but Krissi, you are so quiet and shy!"  Go figure.

Anyway, I've been working on a commission that I couldn't post updates on since the person it was being commissioned for is on all the same networking sites that I am.  Well, he opened his Chanukkah present (the aforementioned commissioned painting) today and NOW I can spill the (Kosher) beans!


This young man is Samson Mordechai Wezenheid, an applehead teacup Chihuahua belonging to San Franciscans, artist Mim Weisburd and her 'hubbear' Michel Chagall.  Michel describes himself as "married, queer, eco-kosher Jew, San Franciscan, dog lover, baker of challah who works with developmentally disabled adults (no relation to Marc Chagall)."   Thanks so much to one of my favorite people, Mim, for commissioning a piece from me and to Michel for just being yourself and giving me such great material to work with!


I think Samson approves!

As always, you can visit Flickr to see photos of this work in progress.

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