C is for Calming by DeerMountainWoodArt

My son asked me a while back to make him a Zen Garden. I wasn't sure how to go about it, but I knew it had to be small enough to fit on his desk, yet easy to put away when he was done 'relaxing'. This little gem is the culmination of his desire and my passion for creating, and the first thing he packed in his moving boxes on his way to college!


Instead of drinking with your friends at college to relax, how about a Zen Experience!?!

"Zen to Go!: Tranquility" measures 8.5" x 6.5" and is 1.5" deep, and displays the desired symbol on the sliding lid - which in this case is "Tranquility".

Makes a great GIFT!!

Alone, this character has a broad span of possible meanings. These meanings include relaxed, quiet, rested, contented, calm, still, to pacify, peaceful, at peace, soothing or soothed.. It really works and now we ALL have one! Not as lavish as this one, with it's handcrafted lacquered 'rake' and case, but they're all pretty nice! =D

"Zen-to-Go!: Tranquility" is crafted from a recycled wooden pencil box with the Asian symbol carved in 1/4" Santos Mahogany. It comes complete with a red lacquered, hand-threaded 'rake', micro-burl 'temple'/mountain, 2 "Apache Tears" for good karma, and the finest 'sand' that you ever touched a rake or hand to!

After you're done with your 'meditating' you can place everything back in the case and close it up for later. Truly a uniquely relaxing experience, WHEREVER you are! =D

DeerMountainWood Art (Freida) donates 10% of the monthly sales to the Charity of the Month(EFA). She also helps the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, http://www.rmef.org (they help preserve the health and habitat for the elk and other wildlife) with annual item donations. Freida also works with her local Humane Society, www.canoncityhumanesociety.org/, helping with food drives and charity events. She's very happy to be able to help wherever she can and says, "Animals cannot speak for themselves, so we need to 'speak' on their behalf and use our resources and talents to ensure that they live a long, happy, peaceful, and healthy life!"

C is for "City Kitty" by LolaLynn

The first painting I ever sold was in high school. It was a city scape. At the time I lived in New Jersey and my bedroom window faced the New York City skyline. I loved looking out upon its ever changing appearance. I'm still spellbound when I view it - whether going over a bridge or on the glide path into the airport.

City Kitty captures a glimpse of the New York City skyline. Not necessarily a realistic view but front and center is the Empire State Building and off to the left, more to the background is the Citicorp Building. The black building behind the kitty is the U.N.. All these buildings are on the Eastside in Midtown. While we lived in Manhattan I saw the landmarks on a regular basis. How very fortunate I feel to have had the chance to live in such a fabulous place.

City Kitty is a print of my original acrylic ACEO painting. Printed on card stock, each card is hand embellished with acrylic paint to give it that personal touch. The 2.5 x 3.5 inch art card will come signed on the front and back and is marked "hand embellished print" and comes in a clear plastic protective card sleeve.

10% will be donated to EFA's charity of the month.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13789953

The World According to Merlin: My Interview with Unique!

The World According to Merlin: My Interview with Unique!

C is for Catnip Cats by recycledideas

Feline fanatics, these gift tags are not your ordinary ones - they have been made from recycled, handmade paper that can be recycled itself in a unique way — by planting it!

The kitty lover who receives this fancy feline gets a double gift: Plant her, and she grows CATNIP.


Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family.

Besides driving little lions crazy with ecstasy, it can be used to make tea. The flowering plant produces purple blossoms and will come up again in the spring year after year. It also self-seeds, giving you lots of baby plants to share with friends as the years go by.


** Truly a gift that keeps on giving **


6 tags in set
Cats measure 3.5 tall x 1.25 inches wide
.. and are strung on hemp thread.

Each tag comes with germination instructions so recipients can't go wrong. The paper I make really does grow, you can see the sprouts coming out of the paper on my blog:
http://newfoundlandnews.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-paper-really-can-be-grown-to-make.html


*** ALWAYS RECYCLED ***


Please note: These cool cats are non-partisan; they lean to the left *and* right ;=)

C is for Canine Coat by SturmDM

C stands for canine (or doggy) coat.

This brightly colored doggy sweater will keep your pet not only warm, but safe. It will make him/her easy to see. I like the fiery colors that will also look good for autumn, but in any case, it could be worn year-round to fend off a chill.

I crocheted this little sweater/coat using red, yellow, orange and brown acrylic worsted weight yarn, then added two matching yellow buttons on either side for closure and for a little bit of style - and luck - I sewed on a pretty ladybug.
This coat is for small dogs as seen on the picture. It fits a little snug on my Pekingese, Gizzy, because he has a lot of hair, but it fits my neighbor's little Shih Tzu perfectly and she was such a patient little model. Thank you, Mitzi! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12691093


Once I begin to get sales, I plan on donating 10% to Penn State University for Honey Bee Research. The website I use is http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/ . I like that website because it's very informative and very userfriendly and colorful, a great site for the whole family to visit and learn from.

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!

C is for Sea Cow by bluecicada

The title for my piece is "Gentle Giants." Sea cows, or manatees, are truly wonderful creatures; here in Florida we are treated with their gentle presence when they gather in the warm water of the natural springs during the winter months. "Gentle Giants" was created and carved on a linoleum block and hand printed on paper. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13749425

20% of this sale will go to my favorite charity: http://www.careforcows.org/

C is for... Copper

These Forest Animal Figurines are my entry in the August Challenge "C is for...", Mine is "C is for Copper". They can be found in my shop: TheClayPony. You can view this listing here.

I absolutely loooove copper, so of course I had to use copper leaf on my resin animal figurines for this challenge. They are covered with a clear gloss glaze for protection.
Their measurements are:
Reindeer, 2" high and is just over 1/4" thick
Fox, 1 1/16" high and is 5/16" thick
Squirrel, just over 1/2" high and is 1/4" thick


10% of the sale of these copper animals will be donated to the EFA Charity of the Month: Pittie Love Rescue
http://pittieloverescue.com/

Cool Cat Cafe by Merlinsbarkproducts

C" is for this Cool Cat Cafe (not just one "c" but three!)since it will be perfect for the feline in your life. With three bowls to choice from, your kitty can enjoy dry food, wet food, and water at the same time. Your kitty will also be happy to get their paws (and claws) on this beautiful antique green elevated/raised cat bowl holder. Built out of pine, and measuring 3 1/4" in height, it will be perfect fit for the kitty in your life. Constructed out of recycled oak table legs and pine, the look is completed with two 1-pint stainless steel bowls. The stainless steel bowls are dishwasher safe so they will be easy to keep shiny and sparkly clean. This elevated/raised cat bowl holder is sure to look great on any kitchen floor. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13861733



Did you know that elevated feeders are a great thing for a pup (or kitty) to have. Not only do they look nicer than just a plain old bowl setting on the floor, but elevated feeders are very beneficial for pets too. Veterinarians recommend elevated feeders because they help ease digestion problems, and are easier for pets that have problems with arthritis, neck or back problems to eat out of. Also, using raised feeding bowls help provide pet owners with a more hygienic and cleaner house. How great is that!

If this item is sold during the month of August $10 will be donated to the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania.

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

C is for Connectedness

When making a mobius, each new jump ring goes through *all* the other rings that have gone before. To me, this was a perfect illustration of the August EFA Challenge, "C is For..." My piece shows how "C is for Connectedness." Just as all the jump rings in the mobius are interconnected, so are all the creatures on the planet, and they all deserve our compassion and consideration (more Cs!).

This necklace is made entirely of sterling silver and is just over 16 inches long. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13859820

My shop, Aimee Dars Designs, donates 10% of all sales to animal organizations. My shop profile will specify the charity designated for the month.

Urgent appeal from It's Meow or Never

This post has been moved to:
http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org/index.php/animal-issues/115-requests-for-monetary-donations/226-an-appeal-for-air-conditioning-help

Celebrate

Über Duper Creations is an etsy shop that loves animals. And in keeping with August's challenge we want to feature two items.

C is for Container! We have hand painted treat jars to hold those delicious biscuits for your best friend. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=13499572 . Of course you'll need a lil' something something to fill that jar. . .which brings us to. . .

C is for Crunchy! Beastie Biscuits are on sale through the end of August. Wholesome & ORGANIC!! Made out of real ingredients. People Tested and Dog Approved :0)
Please use your code words "I am a Beast Friend" to get in on this great promotional sale. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13535019

10% if all profits go to help various organizations helping animals in need. The August/September Charity is Mill Dog Rescue Network ( http://www.milldogrescue.org/ ); A wonderful non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes retired mill dogs and educates the general public about the realities of the commercial dog breeding industry.


Best of all, C is for Celebrate! Celebrate Life! Celebrate Community! Celebrate Nature! Celebrate the amazing Creatures that share this earth.

Be well friends!

Paws and Smell the World

Coming soon, this is the sweetest book, full of doggie wisdom and delight by Dana Thomas. You can check it out and see inside some of the pages at Amazon.com here or order from your local bookshop. All you wish to order it locally the ISBN details are :- (10 digit) ISBN-10: 1933958286 or (13 digit) 978-1933958286.

It is also available as a Kindle book for those in the USA with Kindle readers.

Cowabanga!! Sooooo many treasuries...

...All featuring the EFA Store :D
Yaay!! Looks like this Birthday Bash Bug has bitten everyone.

Talk about a jackpot!! A treasury featuring ONLY the EFA Store in all the slots!!
THAAAANK YOOOOUUU Kary!! aka theknottysheep.



Two from our famous Cyn. And need I say how gorgeous they are? I'm tellin' ya, this girl was a treasury ninja mistress in her previous birth!





Now who can resist these oh so "awww" faces in Sewelsonwoodcraft's collection? A treasury all about people supporting shelter dogs and cats...



What a lovely color!! You're sure it "ooohhh and ahhh" at CurlyGirlCrochet's cornflower blue treasury.



And finally, another one of Destashtique's awesome BNRs. This one's the 'pick of the litter'.



A HUGE thank you to all of you talented treasury curators from EFA and the animals!! :)
Please continue to feature the EFA store in your treasuries.

With love,

your treasury hunter -
- Susmitha :)

C is for Cat Chokers with Chinese knots - 15-20% charity donation on all sold by Sept 1st

Of course, with a shop called PurrPrints, C would have to be for Cats--but that's always the case, so I decided there needed to be some extra C goodness: and out popped the Cat Chokers with Chinese knots (and some added Cs for it being on a satin Cord, super Cute, and eCo friendly bamboo? or maybe I'm just pushing it now...).

Anyway, I'm in the midst of making more, but right now there are a couple different versions of these cat chokers in my shop--and I'm donating 15% of the profits to EFA's August animal charity on ANY choker that sells by September 1st, no matter how many that turns out to be. Plus, if you mention that you found the chokers through the team then I'll bump it up to a 20% donation.

If you like your necklaces longer than 16" I have those too--like this orange cat on the right--and as a special secret to efa-ers I'll turn those into 15% donation items as well if you mention this blog post in the notes to seller.

C is for Carousel Unicorn by FrumsGlassMenagerie

Esty for Animals August Challenge: C is for Carousel Unicorn.

Handpainted with glass enamels on a fused glass pendant, is a carousel horse. The painting is a permanent part of the glass between a grey layer and a clear layer of glass.This pendant measures approximately 1 1/4 inches wide by 1 7/8 inches high, excluding the bail. A drilled hole and a 14/20 gold filled wire forms a bail, allowing it to hang from a 18 inch 2mm black leather cord necklace. Ask about the availability of custom necklace lengths. I also have 100% acrylic faux suede for vegans. The metal necklace shown is not included. Leather and flat faux suede options are shown in one photo

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13778192

20% of the proceeds of this item go to The Windchill Legacy, Ltd. Take a moment to visit their website at: http://www.thewindchilllegacy.org/

EFA Chat - Help!

Gena needs help from sellers who attend the popular weekly chat in the Etsy Virtual Labs.

Gena says:

I need someone to help with with the weekly chats in gathering information together

I also need someone who can fill in every once and a while like this .... 27th August 08 I have a company meeting at work.

If you can help Gena out it would be a big help and also count as 'participation' for submitting your EFA Charity of the Month nomination. Gena will fill you in on the details but I don't think it's rocket science. A Northern Hemisphere EFA member would be most helpful as those of us in Australia and NZ are, I think, asleep then :-))

Convo. Gena at her store (link above) if you can help.

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.

C is for .... Crystal by Rainbowmom

Rainbowmom's C is for Crystal

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13781209

This photograph was taken last weekend in Tsawwassen, BC during a Crystal Healing workshop I attended. :)

I donate 5% of my profit to a local animal charity. I love to create jewelry with all natural crystals and stones and I love to go out and spend hours in nature, trying to capture all of Mother Earth's beautiful bounty in timelessness. :)