Introducing custom pet sculptures from CreativeCritters

I'm now offering custom cat and dog sculptures made to resemble your pet at CreativeCritters.  You can also find smaller versions of these sculptures on Fiverr.  The custom made cats and dogs I'm offering on ArtFire are about 3 inches tall.  Each pet is individually sculpted by hand in Premo polymer clay without the use of molds, making them one of a kind creations.  I ask that customers send me several good clear pictures of their cat or dog, showing all sides and markings, along with a written description naming the breed (if known) and any distinctive characteristics or markings.  The better and more detailed the pictures and descriptions, the easier it is for me to re-create your pet in polymer clay.  For most animals I texture the fur before baking, then paint the markings and details in acrylic paint after the sculpture has cured.  I seal the sculpture with matte glaze to protect the paint.  Each sculpture takes about a week to complete and I'll email pictures of the finished sculpture before shipping it to you.  These sculptures also make wonderful gifts for friends and family, as well as being a great way to remember and honor pets who have passed on.  To view or purchase a custom cat sculpture just click on the picture below to be directed to the listing on ArtFire.
 
The listing also has pictures of several of the custom orders I've created for people in the past, so you can see examples of my work.
To purchase a custom dog sculpture or view examples of dogs I've sculpted for other customers just click on the picture below. 
 
If you're interested in having me sculpt any other type of animal for you, just contact me at artisticduo@sbcglobal.net.  I've been sculpting animals in polymer clay for many years now and I love working with customers to create sculptures they absolutely love.
Thanks for stopping by! ;-)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Video of Ginko kitten playing with Calcifer's catnip toy

It didn't take long at all for Ginko to discover the joys of catnip (especially my very pungent organic catnip).  Within a few hours of bringing my adorable new kitten home he found Calcifer's catnip sack and immediately began playing with it and rubbing his face all over it.  It was so funny to watch!  And Calcifer was so good about sharing his toy, although he made sure to keep a very close eye on his new little brother!  Luckily I had the video camera handy and was able to capture the cuteness so I could share it with all of you ;-)

 

Thanks for watching!  I hope you enjoyed the show! ;-)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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My new kitten

Well I finally got a kitten!  I've been wanting to adopt a kitten for some time now.  Since Cedric passed away Calcifer has been very lonely, and the house just hasn't been the same without two cats running around.  So I went up to PetSmart last weekend where they had the local shelters offering cats and kittens for adoption.  Of course I saw lots of adorable kitties, but this little gray and white cutie really caught my eye.

 

We named him Ginko, after Ginko, the Mushi Master in the Japanese anime show, Mushi- Shi.  At first he was pretty shy and skittish, but this is a very loving, cat friendly household.  It didn't take Ginko long to realize that no one in this house was going to hurt him.  This new kitten was a Christmas/ birthday present for Calcifer, and he certainly seems to approve!  From the moment we brought the kitten home Calcifer has been keeping a watchful eye on him.  I think he likes being a big brother, and he's so gentle and careful when they play.

 

 

Of course being a kitten, he's curious about everything and has thoroughly investigated every room in the house, including my craft room.  I made sure to kitten proof the place, because I know they like to get into everything!  Calcifer is only two years old, so it hasn't been  too long since a kitten was roaming the house.  I still have to watch him when I'm sculpting to make sure he doesn't steal my tools!

 

 

I think Ginko's taking inventory here ;-)

Of course I have plenty of toys that the cats CAN play with.  Ginko has thrashed on all of them already- LOL!  The first thing he found, within an hour of being in the house, was Calcifer's catnip sack.  Ginko definitely likes catnip- he wrestled with that thing for about 20 minutes!  Luckily Calcifer doesn't seem to mind sharing his catnip toys, pipe cleaners, and various balls with his little brother. 

 

 

And the best gift for me?  Seeing the two of them like this.

 

It didn't take Ginko long at all to warm up to his big brother.  And how could anyone not love a creature as sweet as Calcifer?  Ginko has a very healthy appetite (look how big he is at only 3 1/2  months old!), loves to play (with both Calcifer and me), and purrs like a motorboat when I pet him.  And he does love getting petted!  He stretches out as long as he can so I'll be sure to get every spot- LOL.  He's still learning his boundaries (couches, chairs, and the bed are OK, dressers and tables aren't), but I can tell that he's smart, and it won't take him long to figure out where he's allowed and where he's not.  And Calcifer will help teach him as well.  That's another benefit to having two cats- the older one will help teach the younger one the rules (and what he can get away with).

And so I have two happy kitties once more, which of course makes me very happy as well.  You can be sure I'll be sharing more about both Calcifer and Ginko!  There will be pictures, blogs and videos filled with adorable felines- LOL!  Thank you for helping me welcome the newest member of my furry family! =)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Calcifer's story

 

{Calcifer and Cedric}

Many of you who know me, know my kitten, Calcifer. For those who don't know Calcifer's story, I thought I'd share a bit about my fluffy friend.  Calcifer's story actually starts with Ozzy, the cat I had since I was 21.   Ozzy was my constant companion for 13 wonderful years until he passed away December 21, 2009.   I knew I would get another animal when I was ready, but our other cat, Cedric helped speed that decision along a bit.  The two cats had been like brothers, and Cedric mourned Ozzy's death as much as I did.  He wasn't used to being the only cat in the house.  I missed having a lap cat and a snuggly friend.  Although Cedric was affectionate, he wasn't a lap cat
. {Ozzy}

  I started going up to PetSmart on the weekends when they had their cat adoptions to see if I could find the right cat to bring home.  It wasn't easy- I wanted to rescue every cat and kitten I saw!  I knew I wanted to adopt a kitten since he would be more likely to adapt to a new home, and would accept Cedric more easily than an older cat who might be more set in his ways.    As for specific breed, I've always wanted a Maine Coone, but knew I would adopt any kitten that seemed "right".  After several trips without finding "the one"  I was going past the cages when a fluffy kitten caught my eye.  He seemed a little shy, but he was beautiful- a tiny silver ball of fluff with black stripes.  My heart dropped when I read the name on the tag: "OZZY".  I thought, "This is too much.  I can't have another Ozzy- there's only one."  So I went to look at the other kittens, only to find myself repeatedly drawn back to Ozzy's cage.  While I held the squiggly little kitten I learned that he only had sight in one eye, the other was covered by a milky film.  He had been one rescued from a hoarder's small apartment, along with about 50 other cats and kittens.  The shelter nursed him back to health, but said that he would always be blind in one eye.  They even offered to give me a discount on the adoption fee because of his eye and the fact that he was so shy.  They feared no one would adopt him because of his drawbacks.  Then I'd looked at his date of birth- December 23, 2 days after Ozzy died.  I looked into those beautiful kitten eyes and I just knew.  Just a bit of my Ozzy's very special soul had come back to me in the form of this "less than perfect" kitten.
It only took a few hours in his new home for this "shy" kitten to show me his true personality.  He was fearless, loving, playful, and intelligent.  He and Cedric quickly became  fast friends.  And I am Mommy- the love I feel from this creature is absolute. He was very young when he lost his mother and  I think that's why he started suckling on my hair when I held him.  I hold him on my chest, over my heart, and he buries his face in my hair, suckling and purring loudly, kneading my hair.  Now the really bizarre thing is that this is the ONLY time he purrs, no matter how happy he is.  I think of it as our special time together.  We have a very strong bond.  He even has many of the same habits as Ozzy, like sitting in some of the exact spots, in the same positions.  After I took him to my vet I discovered that he may be able to regain some of the sight in his bad eye.  He has diminished vision, but it doesn't seem to slow him down in the least.  As he's grown, I've discovered he IS a Maine Coone cat (there's really no doubt when you look at him now).  He's everything I could ever want in a cat.
And the unique name Calcifer come from the movie Howl's Moving Castle by Hayou Miyazaki.  Calcifer is the (good) fire demon whose magic moves the castle (among other things).  And my Calcifer certainly lives up to his name!  The way he races and leaps around here you'd think he had wings!  This fluffy beast is pure joy.  He just had his first birthday and seems to keep getting bigger every day!  He still cuddles with me (and suckles on my hair) several times a day.  And that's STILL the only time he purrs.  He's discovered that he can sit on my lap as well, and has even convinced Cedric to sit on my lap a few times (something I thought would never happen).  Calcifer's curiosity and intelligence seem to know no bounds.  And his love- I have never been so loved by a cat!  He's always near (if not on) me, and is interested in everything I do.  He enjoys draping himself across my shoulders and just hanging out with me.  I couldn't ask for a better friend!
{me and Caclifer}
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Check out my new craft room!

My new craft room in the spare bedroom is really starting to take shape.  That used to be my brother's bedroom and had been used for storage for quite a few years, so there was a lot of cleaning to be done before I could even start bringing in my craft stuff.  For my clay area I used a desk that I got at a garage sale for a few dollars.  This one has more storage than my old craft table.  I'm able to fit most of the supplies I need on the desk, and I have a three drawer plastic cart next to it for things that won't fit, or that I don't use as often.

I'm hoping to be able to keep things more organized.  I'll have more storage space in the new area, so that should help.  I should be able to keep the clay things separate from the fabric and yarn things as well.  Although many projects do contain clay, fabric, yarn, and more, it's easier to keep them separate.  Of course I had plenty of help organizing my supplies!  Calcifer was with me every step of the way, poking his little nose into every box, and stealing the occasional tool or jingle bell (which I let him keep because he enjoyed it so much- LOL).  He's taken on Ozzy's role as chief supervisor in everything I do.  I even had to put another chair next to mine so he watch while I sculpt!


I've nearly filled the bookshelf that was in the bedroom already.  I haven't moved ALL my craft books yet, but I managed to get the bulk of them set up, and am in the process of organizing them on the shelves.  I have books on everything from polymer clay sculptures, to jewelry, to knitting, sewing, doll making, stuffed animals, anatomy, fantasy artwork, and more.  I have many interests, and as I've found books that cover those interests, I've added to my collection.

This room has a really good feel to it.  I love the color, and it's the brightest room in the house. I even moved Gramma's plant (which has been around since before I was born) into the room. Plants always make a room happier.  After spending the last several years working in the basement, I really appreciate a bright and airy work space.  I feel good in this room.  I've already created my first piece in my new space.  My mask for the Polymer Clay Smooshers guild Masquerade Clay Ball was a lot of fun to make, and I enjoyed working in a much more organized space.  My work area will never be completely uncluttered, but I hope to keep things a bit more organized this time around.

I like that I can now go into my own craft room and shut out the rest of the world for a while.  Before I was sort of in the middle of everything, and was constantly being distracted.  I was actually able to complete this mask in two sittings, which would have been done in many short sessions between interruptions before.  I'd be a happy lady if I could create all I wanted (which is pretty much all the time)!  Stay tuned to see what other creations come out of my new studio! Thanks for spending a little time in the world of CreativeCritters!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Introducing Organic Home Grown Catnip from the Gardens of Creative Critters

I'm now offering my home grown dried catnip for sale. I wanted to wait until I had a large enough harvest to share. I should get at least a few more harvests this season, so I'll have plenty to share! I grow my catnip organically and never use chemicals or pesticides. Like most herbs, catnip benefits from regular pruning by producing even more leaves and flowers, so I am able to get several harvests a season. I slowly air dry the plants in my garage to ensure no loss of potency. And this stuff is potent! Just ask Calcifer, my 6 month old kitten, or Cedric my 12 year old cat. They get to sample fresh catnip branches from each cutting, just to be sure the catnip meets their high standards. This is the same catnip I use to stuff my handmade catnip toys with. My toys and the catnip have been thoroughly tested over the years, not only by my cats, but by the cats of friends, family, and customers. Young or old, cats love this catnip!

This is the dried and packaged catnip. I'm selling 1/2 ounce bags for US $4.00 a piece. That's my kitten Calcifer on the label.

These are the potent and delectable catnip flowers. I make sure to include as many as possible with each harvest.

This is my 6 month old kitten, Calcifer, doing a little product testing with a branch of catnip fresh from the garden.


Even 12 year old Cedric enjoys his catnip flowers!

So why not give your furry feline a special treat straight from the garden of CreativeCritters?
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Cute pictures of my Calcifer Kitten

Today I thought I'd share some pictures of Calcifer. I know, I've been holding out on you. I've been taking plenty of pictures (thank goodness for digital cameras!), it just took a while for me to download and edit them all. Calicifer's growing like a fluffy weed and is a happy and very active six month old kitten. Not to mention the fact that he's very intelligent. He even taught himself how to play guitar! Seriously, I heard "someone" playing around with the guitar, turned around, and there was Calcifer plucking the strings with his teeth and claws! He's so curious, he just has to check everything out! It wasn't a one time trick either. He still likes to "play" every so often, and I've never had to train him in any way. Most of his "tricks" are ones he comes up with himself.

My kitten the rockstar!
This is Calcifer impersonating a mink stole- LOL! He loves sitting on my shoulders, and even riding along as I go about my daily chores. He's got incredible balance and enjoys laying across my shoulders while I'm sculpting. He wants to be involved in everything I do!
Calcifer just adores his big brother Cedric (sometimes a little too much). Cedric is a VERY patient cat, even putting up with a kitten draped across him like a blanket! They love looking out the window together. I can almost hear Calcifer saying "Did you see that?"

And this is just Calcifer being too cute for words! Sometimes he wakes up, bathes briefly, then falls back asleep before his tongue is back in his mouth. Luckily he doesn't seem to get offended when I laugh at him.
I hope you all enjoyed my adorable kitten and his very silly antics. Never fear, there will be plenty more pictures as my little fire demon grows into a big fire demon- LOL! Thanks for visiting CreativeCritters and sharing a smile!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Calcifer is living up to his name

Well, I named Calcifer after a fire demon in one of my favorite movies, and he's been living up to that name! At first he was a bit shy and reserved, but his true personality has really come out now. He's definitely a cuddler (he's on my lap right now), and he loves to play, leap and jump like a ballerina. He's got long legs and a long tail, giving him incredible balance. Calcifer sleeps curled up under my chin at night, purring loudly until he falls asleep. When he wants me to hold him he'll sit at my feet and mew until I pick him up. Although he's blind in one eye, it doesn't seem to slow him down a bit. He likes to watch TV too. Calcifer is sweet and friendly- I don't think I could have found a more delightful kitten. It's amazing how quickly and completely I can bond with an animal. He and Cedric aren't exactly best friends yet, but they can sit near each other without hissing now. Calcifer feels much more comfortable if I'm holding him when he's near Cedric. I think it's just a matter of time and patience before they're friends. I'm so glad I found this little guy- he makes me so happy, especially when he looks up at me with adoration in those pretty kitten eyes.
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

I adopted a kitten today!

Today I adopted a sweet little kitten up at PetSmart. I've been looking for a new furbaby to add to the family for some time now. My cat Ozzy died December 21, and it's been pretty lonely around here with just one cat. I know Cedric wanted a new friend to play with too. I think I was meant to adopt this particular kitten. First off, his name was Ozzy, secondly, he was born December 23. Nobody can ever replace Ozzy, and that wasn't what I was looking for, but Ozzy may have had a paw in pointing me to just the right kitten. I renamed the fluffy gray kitty Calcifer, which is a fire demon (with a great personality) from the movie Howl's Moving Castle by Hiyou Miyazaki. Although he's only 3 months old, this little kitten came from a rough life. He was rescued from an apartment with 35 other cats, many that had to be put to sleep. Calcifer had an eye infection that had gone untreated for so long he's now blind in one eye. They even lowered the adoption fee because he wasn't as "adoptable" as the other kittens. He is a bit shy, and spooks if you approach him from his blind side. He's also very sweet, absolutely adorable, and very gentle when he plays. He even likes to sit on the arm of my chair, just like Ozzy used to. Maybe when Ozzy passed, a bit of soul came back in Calcifer. Ozzy had a pretty big personality- plenty to spare- LOL. Cedric is still getting used to a new creature in the house. Aside from a few hisses, they just watch each other from a distance. I don't think it will be too long before they're playing together. Neither has shown any real aggression toward the other.
Of course there will be plenty more posts about my new baby, so stay tuned!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

OK, I've been playing around with videos a bit just lately, and thought I'd try adding one to my blog. This should be Ozzy and Cedric (if it works).

-Michelle of CreativeCritters