A year filled with changes

Well this post has been a long time coming (nearly a year, really), but I've been so busy doing new things and having wonderful adventures that I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about all the changes that have gone on in my life the last year or so.  Last July I separated from my husband (we're now legally divorced) after 16 years of an unhappy marriage.  I won't go into detail, but I'm sure many of you know what that's like.  Not only did I leave my husband, but I also left Ohio, where I'd lived all my life.  It was a huge and scary decision, but deep down I knew it was the right one for me.  There was just nothing left for me there.  So I flew out to Arizona and found out that I love the West!  Within a few short weeks AZ felt like home, more so than Ohio ever did.  The people seem friendlier and more laid back, and I was finally able to really be myself without fear of being judged.  I'm different, but out here that's OK ;)
After a few months of being single I even got up the nerve to check out a few online dating sites.  This was actually a big step for me because I hadn't dated since I was a teenager.  I was only 21 when I got married and really never got much experience in the dating world.  I felt a little more comfortable with online dating though because I was more in control.  I got to actually exchange messages with the guys without having to meet them in person unless I chose to.  I talked with some very interesting men and discovered that there really were some good guys out there.  After being with my husband for so long I'd had my doubts.  The third man I exchanged messages with was the first one I decided to actually meet in person.  There was just something about Sal that made me want to get to know him better.
Of course I was scared silly (my first date in like, 20 years!), but I really did want to find that one man who I was meant to be with, and I knew that I couldn't hide forever. For a change I was actually listening to that inner voice and it was saying "You need to meet this man". Sal took me to the square in Prescott and we wandered the art galleries and talked about the artwork and our own creative passions.  Sal's day job is as a structural steel detailer, but in his spare time he creates abstract metal artwork.  He's creative, and has a real eye for detail.  He also loves gardening and has several gardens and a greenhouse on his 4 acre property, so we talked gardening, animals, spirituality, and exercise as well.  Our interests seemed to fall right in line with each other.  I think it was on our second date that I began to fall in love with him.  It was October and the veggies in the garden were in serious need of harvesting, so I helped him pick tomatoes and other vegetables.  This was where I got to really get to know Sal- out in the garden, getting his hands dirty, and being himself.  Since I hadn't been able to have my garden that summer, it was a real treat for me to work with Sal in his garden.  I also got to see him with his dog Ziggi.  When you see a man interacting with his dog you get to see a deeper part of him.  And it was easy to see how much he loved this dog.  Sal is happiness, and calmness, and love.  When I'm with him, whatever we may be doing, I'm happy and relaxed.
Over the course of the next few months we got to know each other better.  And as hard as I tried to deny it to myself, I was falling deeper into love with this incredible man.  I had no interest in pursuing any of the other men who I'd been exchanging messages with, even though family and friends kept telling me I couldn't just settle down with the first guy I dated after leaving my husband.  But Sal and I were meant for each other, and I couldn't deny that fact, not if I was going to be honest with myself.  We fit together so well it was just amazing.  We completed each other thoughts, reached for the same spices when cooking (and I discovered I loved cooking WITH a man, instead of just FOR him), had the same views on gardening, animals, exercise, health, and spirituality, among other things.  Yet there were enough differences to keep things interesting.  Sal's very organized and plans everything out thoroughly.  I'm much more inclined to just fly by the seat of my pants and wing it.  I discovered that I have a real knack for creating recipes without any real planning.  Sal's kitchen is stocked with healthy organic ingredients and I've come up with quite a few excellent recipes inspired by these ingredients.
I always knew that I would enjoy hiking and camping, but never got the opportunity to do that with my ex.  Sal, however, loves to go hiking and camping and lives in the perfect area for it.  My first camping trip with Sal was at the end of October, under the full Harvest moon.  It still gives me chills remembering how the moon looked rising over the mountains.  He took me to one of his favorite spots on the Verde River which is just about a mile hike away from these awesome hot springs (my first time in a hot spring as well).  This trip was truly magical and we bonded even more closely during those few days.
 I also found out that I really like riding on the back of his Harley ;)  Cruising the winding mountain roads as we ride into the sunset is a truly awesome experience.  I'm trying to keep my thoughts organized here, but SO much has happened since I met Sal.  This could end up being a very long post!
In the time I've been with Sal we've checked out Sedona, the art galleries as well as hiking in the mountains, wandered Jerome, gone camping and canoeing at Lake Mary in Flagstaff, discovered some awesome little spots on Beaver creek, and swam in the cave and under the waterfalls at Fossil creek, along with lots of other hikes and adventures.  I'm willing to try just about anything, and I know Sal will be right there by my side making sure I'm safe and having fun.
The cats and I moved in with him at the end of February and things have been just wonderful.  He had been concerned about how Ziggi would react to the cats (he always chases any cats that wander into the yard), but I knew everything would be fine.  I know animals, and I knew that Ziggi was not a vicious dog and the only reason he chased those cats was because they ran from him.  He just needed to see that Calcifer and Ginko were family.  It only took about a month before all three of them were just fine together.  It probably could have happened faster, but Sal actually needed the extra time (whether he knew it or not).  Now we're one big happy family :)
So after many years of unhappiness and merely "surviving", I suddenly have everything I've always wanted in life.  A man who is truly my partner in all things and someone that I share a deep and passionate love with, a home in the country, complete with a big ole country dog, chickens, gardens, and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, and endless opportunity to do anything I choose to in life knowing I'll have the support of the one I love most.  Last year at this time one thought was constantly going through my mind: "All I want is to be happy".  These days the thought "I am so incredibly happy!" goes through my mind on a daily basis.  Sometimes you just have to trust that God knows what he's doing and go with what feels right.  Leaving my husband was probably the hardest decision I ever made, but if I hadn't taken that leap of faith I never would have ended up where I am now.  Change can be scary, but it can also be wonderful.

 

This is a shot of the full moon over the Verde river taken from the hot springs

 A shot of the red rocks of Sedona, which is a very magical and healing place.  I've heard people talk about the healing energy of Sedona and actually felt it for myself when we were there.  Before we got there I wasn't in a very good mood and my arm was killing me; within a short time of being among those rocks I felt like a whole new person.

Sal and Ziggi on our camping trip at Lake Mary in Flagstaff.  Ziggi loves nothing more than fetching that tennis ball from the water!

This is our favorite spot on Beaver Creek, very private and secluded.  I just love swimming in the creek under the warm sun, surrounded by the mountains!

 This is a shot from inside the cave on Fossil Creek- it's a truly breathtaking place.  This is where Sal took me for my birthday, and I can honestly say it was the best birthday ever!

And this is me and Ziggi taking a rest on the 8 mile (UPHILL!) hike back from Fossil Creek.  We were ALL sore the next day- LOL.  But it was totally worth it!

I took this picture just the other day, and it is so perfect.  I've finally found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. :)
For all of you who have made it to the end of this rambling post, I thank you for your patience with me ;)  I hope to be able to post on a more regular basis, as there is quite a bit I would like to share with all my readers, including some of my recipes, what's happening in the garden, critter exploits, and my continuing adventures in my wonderful new life.  I do enjoy writing, and I always like to hear your comments and feedback as well.

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Celebrate your pet with Personalized Pet Jars from CreativeCritters

 
Although I've been creating custom pet sculptures for years now it took a suggestion from my boyfriend to make me think beyond just a figurine and make the leap to personalized pet jars.  Above is a picture of my own Ginko kitty with the pet jar I made featuring him.  He was very helpful and more than willing to pose for me during the sculpting process ;)
I can sculpt any type of animal you have (cat, dog, bird, skunk, ferret, fish, etc.) once you send me several good pictures of your pet.  The animal is sculpted by hand from Premo polymer clay without the use of any molds and each is a unique, one of a kind creation.  I pay close attention to all the little details that make your pet special.
 
I carefully texture the fur and after the animal is cured I paint the details of their coat with acrylic paint.  I attach the sculpture very securely to a metal mason jar lid and further personalize the glass jar by covering it with polymer clay and adding a plaque with your pet's name stamped into it.
 
I can also stamp paw prints and other decorations into the clay.  For Ginko's jar I used a cavorting cat stamp framed by swirls and stars since that just matched his personality.
 
I used a half pint mason jar with a wide mouth lid for this pet jar, but I can use any size mason jar you like.  This cat sculpture measures four inches tall and the overall height of the entire piece is 6 1/4" tall.  These jars make great storage for pet treats, office or art supplies, or snacks.  The jars can be hand washed and are food safe.  These can also be used as memorial urns for pets that have passed on.  You can use them to keep your pet's ashes, a tuft of fur, their tags or collar, or anything else you want to remember them by.
Our pets are special, and if you're like me you consider them part of your family.  I think this is a wonderful way to celebrate those special animals in your life.  And what cat or dog doesn't want a treat jar that's completely personalized? ;)
You can click on any of the pictures above to be directed to the custom order listing in my shop.  If you have any questions you can contact me at macreativecritters@gmail.com. 
I truly am passionate about pets, and I understand the connection people have with their cats, dogs, ferrets, and other furry friends.  These jars would make a unique and special gift as well. :-)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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The Phoenix Arises From the Ashes

The Phoenix is described as a bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (literally "sun-city" in Greek). It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song.

So what does that have to do with me?  In many ways I'm like that Phoenix.  My old life has been burned away and a brand new Me has arisen from the ashes.   In my old life I had an emotionally abusive husband who kept me isolated and depressed and stifled the person that I truly was.  I knew there was someone much brighter, stronger, and supremely joyful hidden within me, but she was never allowed to come out before.  Since I left my husband and moved across the country that person has been able to blossom.  I wake up happy every day.  I laugh often and loudly, without fear of judgement.  I share my joy with those around me and know they won't demean me for it, or try to take that joy away.  I finally feel as though I'm truly alive.  I've found my path and am following my Light, and life has never been better.  In the past my husband was always coming up with excuses not to do things reasons to avoid experiencing  life (so of course I couldn't do these things either).  Now when someone invites me to try something new I say "Sure, why not?"  And that attitude has lead me to some wonderful discoveries.  I love camping and hiking in the mountains- both brand new experiences for me.  I've even developed a taste for spicy food, which I never really tried before because my husband didn't like it.  Life is full of opportunities and possibilities, and I intend to take advantage of as many as possible!
Ever since I left my husband I had the idea to make a Phoenix necklace for myself.  I rarely make anything for myself, but I knew, deep down, that this was something I needed to do. I've become much more in touch with my instincts and intuition over the last several months, and have learned to follow those instincts. For months the ideas drifted around in my mind, but I waited to start sculpting.  I've learned that everything happens in it's own time, and that I would know when it was the right time to create this piece.  That time happened to come at 1am last week- LOL.  I was hit by an intense urge to sculpt my Phoenix, and I knew exactly how I wanted her to look.  And since I can now sculpt whenever I want to, without anyone complaining about it, I was up until 3am working on this one.  And the feeling while I was sculpting was absolutely euphoric.  The inspiration was intense.  The flames that are the bird's tail were inspired by a camping trip I took a week or so earlier.  I sat by the camp fire (which I made) and watched the full moon rise over the mountains in front of me and was filled with such emotion and an amazingly powerful feeling of gratitude.  I watched the flames of the fire twist and dance like a living thing: green and blue at the hot center, then red, orange, and yellow at the outer edges.  I've always been fascinated by fire, and I can sit for hours gazing at the flames.  You see, there's just so much more to this necklace than a physical pendant.  The emotion embedded in this piece can't be quantified.  This necklace represents my strength and ability to maintain my true self, even after years of hiding that self behind protective walls.  If my husband had seen this part of me he would have destroyed it as quickly as possible.  I am a happy, energetic, creative, loving person who is filled with the joy of life.  And now I'm surrounded by people who appreciate that person and accept me for who I really am.  It may have taken 37 years, but I've finally got it right and am doing exactly what I should be doing, where I should be doing it ;)

And here are the work in progress pictures of my Phoenix necklace.

I started with a wire armature to add strength to the wings.

Then I sculpted the body and head, using a bright blue glass bead for the eyes and adding feather around the eye and on the top of the head.

Next I sculpted feathers for the wings, textured them, and applied gold and red Pearl Ex powders for an iridescent sheen.

I added a row of smaller feathers and applied red Pearl Ex.

To finish I sculpted the flaming tail and textured the rest of the body.  The tail, body, and head are colored with blue, blue-green, red, and gold Pearl Ex powders, mimicking the colors of actual flames.

After the Phoenix pendant was baked  I sealed it with two coats of high gloss glaze and attached it to a gold necklace.

Thanksgiving is next week, and when I think of all the things I have to be thankful for this year it brings me to tears.  My life isn't perfect, and it probably never will be, but that's OK.  I can handle whatever challenges are thrown at me, and I can do it with my head held high knowing I am being the best person I can be.  I've risen from those dark, smothering ashes and am spreading my newly found wings.

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Custom personalized wedding cake topper

My youngest brother recently got married and I had the honor of making their wedding cake topper.  He and Sarah first met while playing the World of Warcraft.  He played a female Blood Elf and she played a male Tauren.  They wanted me to create their characters in polymer clay wearing the same outfits which BJ and Sarah would be wearing for the wedding.   Sarah wore a beautiful white wedding gown and BJ wore full Scottish dress to represent his Celtic heritage.  I even created her wedding bouquet to match the flowers in the real bouquet.  This highly detailed cake topper posed several challenges for me.  It had to be lightweight since I didn't want it to sink into the bride and groom's special cheesecake.  I also learned a lot about Scottish dress outfits while painstakingly matching the plaid pattern on the Blood Elf's kilt to the clan pattern my brother would be wearing in the wedding.  I included as many details as possible, like the sporran, the purple tie, the laced gillies, and the belt buckle. 
 

This cake topper measures about four inches tall and 5 inches wide and took about a month to complete.  It was a real hit at the wedding.  Everyone liked it so much I decided to  make a custom order listing in CreativeCritters for personalized wedding cake toppers.
I can create toppers to resemble your online avatars, characters in a game, or anything else you like. 
Your wedding is one of the most important events in your life. You want your cake topper to signify that importance, rather than have just another generic bride and groom! This is a keepsake you will have for the rest of your married days. It should be as special and unique as your wedding :-) I can create any character you like, so long as you can provide good pictures. I can also create more traditional bride and groom, or same sex cake toppers, but still customize them to make them resemble the bride and groom. There are a lot of options when it comes to wedding cake toppers, and I do my very best to create something that is completely unique, something that really captures who the bride and groom are.  If you have any questions just visit CreativeCritters and use the Contact Artisan button under my avatar.
Thanks for stopping by!

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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I've reached the next level on Fiverr!

Due to consistently good customer service I've reached the next level on Fiverr and can now offer my customers the option to order my gigs multiple times at once. For example, you can now order several Custom Cat Sculptures at once, rather than having to place a separate order for each sculpture.  This option will be visible to customers on the gig page.  I can also offer my buyers Gig Extras for $5 or more.  You now have the option to upgrade your order and get better value for your money.  Many of my Gig Extras allow you to order a larger sculpture as well.  I also offer extra fast completion of your order for when you need it fast!  Starting at just $5.00 you can get customized pet sculptures

 

 

Adorable personalized gifts

 

 

 

Pets with logos or messages

 

 

catnip toys filled with my own organic catnip

 

 

And fun handmade jewelry

 

 

I plan on adding more gigs as the Christmas season approaches, so be sure to stop by CreativeCritter on Fiverr to see all I have to offer!  You could do all your Christmas shopping without spending a ton of money (and still get some really awesome personalized gifts).  And if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, just let me know- I may be able to create something special just for you ;-)

I hope to see you soon!

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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The Mighty Oak

The weather is cool and rainy today and very much like Autumn.  After walking the dogs in the rain and smelling the crisp air my mind turned to changing leaves and Oak trees in particular.  So I was inspired to put together this collection of awesome Oak trees and Oak leaves.  I found lots of great Oak themed items, everything from Tree of Life pendants, to vinyl wall decor, to paintings, photos, and sculptural wall decor.

The Mighty Oak

   Curated By: CreativeCritt...

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Autumn- I know I enjoyed putting it together! :-)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Calcifer cuddles

This is a very special video.  It allows me to share the unique bonding time between Calcifer and me.  Ever since I adopted him as a tiny fluffball of a kitten he's burrowed in my hair and cuddled with me like this.  Calcifer and I have an extraordinary relationship- we each fill a deep need for the other.  I've been through a lot with this cat, and he's always been there for me, filled with love.  Normally no one would ever get to see him cuddling with me like this.  He only does it when we're alone and it's a private thing just between us.  This is also the only time he purrs, as though his purrs are a special gift just for me.  Calcifer's love and cuddles helped me cope with the loss of my Ozzy cat, get through the last difficult months of Gramma's life, her death, my messed up marriage, and much more.  We helped each other get through the loss of Cedric kitty, who was like a big brother to Calcifer.  And together with Ginko we've adjusted to a whole new life here in Arizona.  I was afraid that Calcifer might stop cuddling with me after we moved, but that was a needless fear.  We cuddle at least once a day, 10 or 15 minutes at a time.  We both sort of get lost in the moment and afterwards feel calm, relaxed, and refreshed.  Even Ginko seems to get some peripheral effects just from watching us.  He can't quite figure out the whole cuddling thing, although he's quite affectionate in his own way.  He just sits nearby and watches us cuddle.  Afterwards I make sure to pet Ginko and give him plenty of loving too.  I'm truly blessed to have such sweet and loving cats! 

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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