Posts
From http://modjess.etsy.com;
Since discovering items made with real fur on Etsy, I’ve struggled with this conundrum: how is it that some “artists,” of all people, could possibly be part of cruelty to other living beings? Isn’t the very nature of being an artist something that results in a more compassionate, holistic view of life?
Which got me thinking. What is an artist? How do we become artists and what makes us different?
As children, we all start out as blank slates. Of course, our environment weighs heavily on the people we become. But there’s an innate wonder and curiosity about the world around us that is beautifully evident in children’s artwork. They do silly things, brilliant abstracts, wildly original compositions. (I think this is because they’re free from the cliches and knowledge and self-criticism that limit our creativity as we mature.) And there always seems to be a fascination and admiration for other forms of life besides their own, as children often depict animals in their artwork. Children are naturally drawn to animals, understanding, from a very deep place, that they are important cohabitants with us on this planet. Beautiful, interesting, scary, soft, cute, ugly. But always fascinating.
Perhaps artists are a bit different than non-artists because we retain a little more of this precious curiosity as we mature. Maybe, it’s because we really see. Our eyes remain wide open, and must be so, in order to create. In keeping our eyes open, we can see the intricate, almost unimaginable beauty of another living being. Whether that being is a person or a dog or a mink or a mouse, there is a complex system inside them that creates such a stunning exterior. And, in working with living subject matter, there is a sacred relationship we develop with them. How can this not be? To look so closely into the eyes of another living being is to see the world and the beauty of life reflected back at you. It’s surreal. It’s life-changing. And when you’ve done this, you can not possibly be capable of taking that life away.
The death of another living being, especially for such a purpose as creating fur, is unconscionable. It goes against the very nature of who we are as artists. We are the visionaries, the big picture thinkers, who see the sacred relationship between all living things. To exterminate life is the antithesis of appreciating it. And appreciating it is the very first step—as even children inherently know— in making art.
Friday, February 19, 2010
From ModJess -- Artists and Fur
Monday, October 19, 2009
Help A Chance for Bliss
A plea from AnnRan: A Chance for Bliss (ACB) is an animal sanctuary in northern California, not far from my home. Committed to the care and welfare of special needs and elderly animals, particularly canine and equine, ACB is a wonderful place with caring staff and volunteers. Animals that find their way to ACB find a forever home full of unending love and support. Because they take in senior and special needs animals, ACB's veterinary bills and expenses for special feed and medicines are quite high, so any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated. I support ACB through my art sales on Etsy and Bonanzle.
URGENT: A Chance for Bliss needs to raise $60K before the end of November '09 or they are in danger of losing the ranch. Any amount will help and you can donate via the link below. Click here to read a letter with more information. And click here to read a great article that appeared in the San Francisco Examiner.
Click either link to see the listings that benefit them. 
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Help the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA
from their website....
Since the Station Fire first broke out, the Pasadena Humane Society has been on the front lines helping those affected by the fire. As of Tuesday, we had already taken in more than 360 frightened and confused animals from evacuated areas.
Responding to a disaster of this scale is an expensive and exhausting endeavor. The Pasadena Humane Society is dedicated to providing the highest level of care for the evacuated animals. Our commitment to feed, shelter and care for the animals affected by this fire is unlimited, but unfortunately—our financial resources are not.
You can help by making a financial contribution today. Please, be as generous as you can. If we raise more money than we need for this emergency, we will use those funds to care for the other animals at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. Thank you so much for caring for the animals!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Peace to All Creatures: 'Zine Review
"Peace to All Creatures" is a new 'zine edited and designed by Pippi Howard of Uber Duper Creations and Jessi Van Pelt of Ginger Card Company. I have worked with Jessi and Pippi on some on-line projects to raise money for animals in need, and I knew that they were both committed to helping animals, but I really did not know what to expect when a friend asked me to review it. My first answer was "I'm not a vegan!" Pippi assured me that the 'zine was for everyone, and she was right.
There are three sections within the 'zine: Animals, Veg Diet & Heath, and Social & Green Issues, and each has several stories. Pippi and Jessi have both contributed articles, as have six other authors, and there is something in here to interest just about everybody. Some of the pieces are funny, some are educational, and some are both entertaining and informative. You may not agree with every article, but one of the things I liked most about the 'zine is that the opinions expressed are clearly individual, and there's no attempt to preach.
A few of my other favorite things about the 'zine were:
- The gorgeous cover art on the front (a painting by Hannah Braden) and back (a sculpture by Green Art Studios).
- Jessi Van Pelt's writing style. She actually made an article about reducing waste fun to read!
- Pippi Howard and Carla Guinta's anecdotes and advice about being vegan in an omnivorous world.
- Erica Freeman's charming article about caring for pet snails.
- Nicole Simone's helpful essay on how you can help animal rescue organizations from home.
- The fact that 10% of the profits from the magazine go to animal charity.
The magazine is printed on recycled paper and bound with a hemp cord, and is also available as a download. I highly recommend it.
Note: you can find "Peace to All Creatures" on Etsy at both GingerCardCo and UberDuberCreations.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A Note from Nakisha
From Nakisha, EFA's former webmaster, a wonderful rabbit/animal artist helping animals; http://bluedogrose.etsy.com;
"Last month because of a generous purchase I was able to donate to my favorite charity, Rabbit Haven. Rabbit Haven is a non profit in Washington state that cares for abandoned and neglected rabbits. They have a huge barn where the bunnies are housed and survive entirely on generous donations. Like many rabbit rescues they are promoting the "make mine chocolate" campaign for Easter, reminding potential rabbit buyers that rabbits are a 10 year commitment, not a gift that can be discarded after the holidays."
You can read more about them on this website- www.rabbithaven.org
and the make mine chocolate campaign- http://www.makeminechocolate.org/
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pets and People Non-Profit Animal Shelter, Yukon, OK
As you can see, there is plenty of fun to be had at Pets and People, a non-profit animal shelter located in Yukon, Oklahoma. Pets and People takes in animals from kill shelters on the date they are to be executed and gives them a home until they can be placed into a loving, forever home of their very own. We love visitors at Pets and People. The kittens will pull you up a chair, the dogs make sure the orphaned kittens are presentable for prospective adoptive families and there is plenty of playing and fun to be had by all.
If you can't come by and see us in person or adopt an animal, you can visit us on line. In 2008, 1800 cats and dogs were rescued from kill shelters and given a second chance by the volunteers at Pets and People. The goal for 2009 is 2500!
Pets and People is operated on donations from caring people like you. We know that you get requests all the time for money for worthy causes--we just hope you will send some of it our way! Even $10. would mean a lot (but we will take whatever you have-the kittens are greedy little eaters-lol). Visit the Pets and People website or come by the shelter and play! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Shared with us by;
http://44thstreetfabric.etsy.com and http://camillesstudio.etsy.com
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Urgent Request for Item Donations to Help Greyhounds
On Sunday, April 19, 2009 Greyhound Pets of America (G.P.A.) - Tampa Bay will hold its 8th Annual “Run With The Big Dogs” charity event (See attached flyer). All proceeds raised by this event will directly support G.P.A. efforts to foster and find good homes for retired greyhound racing dogs from Derby Lane dog track. They are in desperate need of help from the crafting community because the event is just around the corner and they have not received enough donations to fill their gift baskets. Items are also in need for the silent auction... we're running out of time, so please hurry, all items need to be in the mail no later then 3/27. The greyhounds need a comfy home to retire in... won't you help? http://greyhoundpets.com and http://runwiththebigdogstampabay.com
Please send all items to;
Greyhound Pets of America P.O. Box 8071 Madeira Beach, FL 33738
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
From EFA member, Ruby and Bee Boutique
From EFA member, http://rubyandbeeboutique.etsy.com
My pal Casper is in desperate need of help. Casper is a one year old Pomeranian who was born with a heart condition called Severe Pulmonic Stenosis. This can only be treated with a successful surgery. Casper had this surgery in September 2008, but it was a failure. The surgery costs $3500 and Casper’s family needs help raising the money. As of today, we are about $2000 away. The hospital will not even schedule the surgery until the money is there. I am donating ALL profits from my Etsy site to Casper: http://AngelGirl07.Etsy.com. Other stores helping are http://ClaireAmore.Etsy.com and http://RubyandBeeBoutique.Etsy.com.
If you are interested in donating, please do so by contacting the hospital:
FL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
352- 294- 9894 (make sure to tell them that the donation is for CASPER SANTOS Account number- 241807)
or if you like you can make a check to
FVMFA
P.O. BOX 100121
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
(make sure that on the check it says that it's for ACCOUNT NUMBER 241807 and its for CASPER SANTOS)
Check out Casper’s blog at: http://www.haveaheartforcasper.blogspot.com/
Check out Casper’s Dogster page at: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/743188
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Spay Day USA - Feb 24, 2009
In shelters all across the U.S., 4 MILLION homeless pets are put down every year. 4 MILLION. Think about that. 4 MILLION innocent lives.
That number will keep increasing if we don't act now to help alleviate the overpopulation of unwanted, abandoned and stray animals that end up in shelters.
One of the most effective things we can do is to spay or neuter our own pets. If you're asking "Why?" - read this. Simply put, spaying and neutering saves animal lives.
That is why members of Etsy teams, EFA and EtsyVeg, have joined together in support of Spay Day. We are offering a 'SPAY DAY 1 DAY SPECIAL' on Tuesday, February 24, in our Etsy shops to donate to our favorite or local animal non-profit organizations, and to bring attention to this very important animal life saving message.
Please join us in making a difference to the hundreds, thousands and millions of unwanted cats, dogs, and rabbits born in the future. And take advantage of our specials by checking out the members shops participating below on February 24!
aguavino.etsy.com
aktie9.etsy.com
alilsumptinsumptin.etsy.com
AllAboutCats.etsy.com
AnnRan.etsy.com
ApacheMoon.etsy.com
BarkingDogBlankets.etsy.com
beckynot.etsy.com
BelleSirota.etsy.com
CiaoHound.etsy.com
claynfiber.etsy.com
creaturecomfort.etsy.com
Dogonwear.etsy.com
DragonRags.etsy.com
elephantdance.etsy.com
jbirkemeierphoto.etsy.com
jlynnpro.etsy.com
kittyanydots.etsy.com
KnittyKrissy.etsy.com
Lacewood.etsy.com
littlestudiojewels.etsy.com
LolaLynn.etsy.com
LoveLuca.etsy.com
LuLusPhotography.etsy.com
midnightrabbits.etsy.com
mvegan5.etsy.com
NanjoDogz.etsy.com
NYCrochet.etsy.com
PetsJubilee.etsy.com
pocketfulofsunshine.etsy.com
punkybunny300.etsy.com
silentlotus.etsy.com
silverrosedesigns.etsy.com
TheFaerieCupboard.etsy.com
veganessa.etsy.com
WeiOpenSecret.etsy.com
WHSKR.etsy.com
wovendreams.etsy.com
~~originally posted on http://www.alilsumptinsumptin.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
It's Meow or Never Auction Item Request
It's Meow or Never Auction Item Request
http://itsmeowornever.org
It's Meow or Never Animal Rescue & Sanctuary is collecting items for our Annual Paws For A Cause 2009 Auction being held in June. Please donate your items to It's Meow or Never, P.O. Box 733 , Woodinville , WA 98072 . We are hoping to raise $25,000 so we can open our low cost spay/neuter clinic and adoption center. Please help us so we can save more animals in dire need! You will receive advertising, a receipt for the IRS as well as the satisfaction of helping so many animals that are needlessly put down every day.
Monday, December 15, 2008
EFA Team Store Closing! 50% off plus FREE shipping!
FINAL SALE at the EFA Team Store at http://etsyforanimals.etsy.com!50% OFF and FREE SHIPPING!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
APPEAL from Meow or Never: Saving Kittens
Small is beautiful and they don't come smaller than kittens. Its Meow or Never is raising funds to save six kittens from a kill shelter. They are on a mission to raise $25 for each kitten and would welcome your help. it doesn't need to be a whole $25, although that would be GREAT. Any spare cash, change, or whatever you have might help keep a kitten from harm and give it a chance of a good life.
Here's a kitty picture: http://www.itsmeowornever.org/kittensinneed.asp, and here's where you donate if you can find a few dollars in the bottom of your purse or pocket: http://www.itsmeowornever.org/donate.asp. There is an easy to use PayPal donation button, and information about donating in other ways.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
APPEAL for Help with Medical Expenses for Cats at Meow or Never!
Help with medical expenses is urgently needed for three cats at It's Meow or Never Animal Rescue and Sanctuary!
The Sanctuary recently had some unexpected emergency vet expenses, and are in need of monetary donations to help these three cats, Sweetie, Max, and Donovan.
Sweetie has a urinary infection. Her medications/treatment will cost around $150.00.
Max (pictured to the left) has a polyp in his ear and needs surgery to remove it. It could be cancer. The vet said it would be $250.00 for his surgery.
Donovan is not eating, he has diarrhea and he needs his eye removed. He can't wait any longer for help.
You can see photos of Donovan, Sweetie, and Max (along with many other wonderful animals) here.
It's Meow or Never says "Please help these precious kitties. Donovan is just the sweetest kitty, he really enjoys life. He was playing yesterday and now today, he is just walking around, and he won't eat or drink either. Sweetie is a good girl and Max is a great long haired male kitty. Please donate whatever you can because we truly do not have it."
To make a donation, please visit http://www.itsmeowornever.org/donations.asp. They thank you in advance for your support.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
APPEAL: Helping The Elephants at Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants
EFA has received the followig appeal for help. It sounds like a nightmare situation and if any EFA-er can help then let them hear from you. Imagine being kept is something the size of a bathroom for most of your day and night - it's a truly awful thought.
"We are Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants. We are trying to get the 3 elephants out of their inhumane living conditions at the zoo and into the 2,700 acre Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. The poor girls are kept in a tiny, barren barn room for 18 - 20 hours a day!!!!! When they are let out, they only get a fraction of an acre. In addition, WPZ had a young elephant die of herpes so now all the eles are carriers but that doesn't stop the zoo from artificially inseminating Chai, the mother of the deceased girl - to the tune of 11 times!
Our Elephant-Sized Comedy show and art LIVE art auction is May 11 and we have catalogs to print, we need to have the art in hand by April 23rd. All are welcome! Thanks for your support.
Donations can be sent to:
Alyne Fortgang
10011 Vinton Ct. NW
Seattle, WA 98177"
If you have anything you can send - get in touch with them right now. Time is short and to get their fund raising catalogues out will take time. get moving you guys!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sugar Glider Rescue: Hope for Gliders
Do you know what a sugar glider is? I didn't, until I began reading about EFA member kaczie's charity - a sugar glider rescue called Hope For Gliders. I asked kaczie (Danielle) for more information and she responded with a great write-up about gliders and glider rescue, and wonderful photos of her own two sugar gliders and their cage. These beautiful and sensitive animals are abandoned far too often - thankfully, there are caring people out there who are helping them.
Danielle says:
Sugar gliders are small, nocturnal, arboreal marsupials native to Australia that have a gliding membrane called the patagium that extends between their front and back legs. They can live up to 15 years in captivity (4-6 years in the wild). They bond by scent and will form a strong bond with their main caretakers. In the wild, they live in colonies of up to 30 gliders, so in captivity, they need to be kept in pairs or larger groups. They eat insects, small vertebrates, and sap of the eucalyptus, acacia and gum trees and extract the juice from their meals by pushing the food between their two front teeth.
Gliders are becoming more common as pets because they have few health problems and form a close bond to their owner, something that most other small pets do not. However, glider ownership must be carefully considered - gliders require daily attention, out of cage time, a large cage (most people use large bird flight cages), fresh nightly prepared meals from one of the "accepted" glider diets available (there are no commercially prepared glider foods), are messy eaters who get food everywhere, and must have access to stimulating toys. If gliders don't have these things, they will become bored and depressed, and can develop health problems. Many people do not have the time to dedicate to these creatures for 15 years.
Unfortunately, people purchase gliders on impulse, and don't realize how much work they can be, so gliders often end up being dumped at rescues (or worse yet, being dumped outside). They sometimes are bounced from home to home but eventually, many will end up in a rescue. Change stresses gliders, so a glider rescue may become a glider's forever home simply so the glider can relax and finally feel loved/wanted. Other times, they will be adopted out to caring new homes that have been prescreened by the rescue.
Glider rescue requires funding and dedication. Since gliders require fresh meals every single night, rescues go through a lot of food. Because gliders are exotic animals, vet costs are not cheap and many vets are not experienced enough to handle glider care. Rescues must cover these expenses for each and every glider, and also provide them a cage, toys, bedding materials, specialized wheels, companionship, and more.
For more information, or if you'd like to help, please see
Hope for Gliders website
Jeanne's Hope for Gliders blog on the Best Friends Network
Gliders available for adoption from Hope for Gliders
(Hope for Gliders currently does only local adoptions in the Dallas, TX area, but may be able to provide referrals to rescues in other areas.)
by mishkat
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bonnie and Nicole
As a regular poster on the EFA blog I keep and eye on many of the active blogs posted by EFA sellers.
On 14th August Nicole blogged about her recent rescue animal Bonnie. Her first post was desperately sad - with pictures that would break your heart BUT thanks to the Chip In button on her blog Nicole is getting close to her goal fundraising for Bonnie's treatment and has updated her blog with a YouTube snippet while she waits for tests to come back from the vet.
Nichole is an active animal lover and sells the sweetest pictures in her Etsy shop. If you want to get something for your hard earned donation check out the pictures here.
Nicole's most recent post on Bonnie informs her readers that Loyal Rescue are going to help with Bonnie's fostering and care but she needs to be fit and well soon. Check out Nicole's blog for Bonnie's progress.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Ollie's Place needs help!
A regular sponsor has pulled out leaving them in an unsteady situation. They have a good web site and a quick and easy paypal donation button.
Brook from Ollie's Place says :
"Dear Friends,
As some of you may or may not know, I have been volunteering for a cat adoption center called Ollie's Place for the past few months. The shelter serves as a no-kill, not-for-profit rescue organization, housing homeless cats in New York City and overseeing the care and adoption of them. Ollie's Place is run solely from donations and volunteers. All funds go towards rent, vet bills, food and supplies.
Unfortunately, over the past few weeks, a major sponsor has backed out which leaves the shelter in an extremely vulnerable position. It's a pretty urgent situation so, for the time being, each volunteer is letting the word out to friends asking for small donations which can be made on-line. Anything as little as $10 can go a long way so if you get a chance, please take a look at the website and go to the "get involved" section.
Volunteering there has been a great oulet for me lately since I love animals but am not ready to get a pet. Centers such as these are crucial for not only fostering cats and finding them homes but to control the population of strays in the city. This hopefully will get us back on track so this will probably be the last mass email I'll have to send. If anyone is interested in more information, programs and events, please let me know. It means a lot!"
