all EFA Treasury Challenge: Inside on a Rainy Day (yarnmiracle)

'Inside on a Rainy Day (YarnMiracle)' by yarnmiracle

...with Team EFA!

April's Treasury Challenge is to: Show us what you like to do or have around when April Showers keep you indoors!

Note: CiaoHound's cookies represent the cookies *I* want to eat on my rainy day. I will not be eating dog cookies, although those totally look tasty enough for people noms.

Unraveling... (8x10 matted p... AlexWijnen $25.00	crocheted Build-Your-Own pre... kirstenlovesdi... $34.00
Rain Cloud Necklace - Stormy... cocoNme $50.00	Cat drawing print - "A ... thoseparasolda... $8.00
crochet slipper pom poms chainone $18.00	Vintage 1927 Compton's L... ScootersShop $12.00
Tazzy 9LivesCharity $4.00	Double Decker Peanut Butter ... CiaoHound $10.00
BUCK NAKED Sheep Skeins (tm)... theknottysheep $50.00	Tortie tortoiseshell kitty c... schmoomunition... $9.99
pairs of spring (memory game... MerryBluesArt $20.00	Recycled CIRCUIT BOARD Geeke... DebbyAremDesig... $9.50
Purr Word Balloon Cat Toy thefrogbag $5.00	Teal crocheted shawl AnnCrochets $50.00
Sunday Morning Porch Scene 8... ruffings $22.00	Vintage Fine Bone China Crow... localevintage $

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Mr. Weathington Original ACEO Card by thebluewindmill

A cute little lop-eared rabbit, Mr. Weathington, finds himself out in the rain trying to keep his fancy clothers dry under his red bumbershoot! Where is he going? Who can say? No one knows, but maybe you can guess by taking a look at this charming ACEO by thebluewindmill.

I painted this original ACEO card specifically for this month's challenge and 20% of sales will be donated to the COTM!

I currently serve as challenge leader for the team and am working on some rabbit cards to donate to Bunfest sponsored by the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast in Fl.
Here is an article about the event for you to enjoy: BunFest - A day all about rabbits and the people who love them.

Cat and Mouse Double-Sided Pendant by adoublegrace

This one-of-a-kind pendant necklace by adoublegrace features a hand-painted image of a cat on one side and a mouse on the other. The clear cabochons protect the image on each side creating a crystalline circle, much like a droplet of water like those that pour from the sky during spring rain showers.

I have participated in activities that benefit animals from a young age, from taking classes at the San Francisco Zoo, Academy of Sciences, and Peninsula Humane Society to gathering signatures for California animal-welfare initiatives; from working to catch and spay or neuter feral cats to fostering feral kittens for adoption. Currently, I donate to various animal-friendly non-profits through Etsy and Ebay sales.

Spring Time Blanket by BarkingDogBlanket

What I think of when I look at this blanket by BarkingDogBlanket is the home, shelter ,and food that this tree is providing for the squirrel and the little bunny running to join in. It may be shelter from the weather on a rainy day or a place to hide from someone chasing the rabbit, but either way, the tree provides a refuge for animals to turn to each spring. Also, what dog wouldn't love to cuddle up and relax on this blanket after a cold, wet spring day? It's a great snuggle spot for your furry friend.

This found fabric is a one of a kind find and I thought it made the perfect blanket for spring! My neighbor has yard sales, and I find the coolest fabrics that she has never used! She loves when I buy her fabric because she knows it goes to good use by making an animal happy and helping other animals with donations from my shop.

BarkingDogBlankets supports several animal rescue groups here in Hawaii and on the mainland, I also support our COTM.

Whisker To Whisker Dog and Cat Note Cards by terikor

Dogs and cats play such an important part of our lives. They’re always there for us rain or shine giving us the unconditional love we so desire.

Choosing “Whisker to Whisker Note Cards” from terikor to exemplify Etsy for Animals’ April Challenge, “Raining Cats and Dogs” was an easy choice. “Whisker to Whisker” features a dog and cat cuddling up together in a loving relationship. When it is raining, our dogs and cats cuddle up to keep warm and stay out of the rain. I can just envision cats and dogs on a rainy day circling up together, keeping warm by the hearth of your family’s fireplace during a rainstorm.

The original drawing of “Whisker to Whisker” came about when an invitation was needed to an animal charity function I was participating in. The event was Volunteers of America’s Senior Companion program, which helped provide pet food for needy seniors’ pets. I created “Whisker to Whisker” as the design for the invitation. The original drawing was purchased several years later as a gift for a Veterinarian’s office in Maryland with the proceeds benefiting one of the charities I donate too regularly.

In the case of “Whisker to Whisker” it has turned out to benefit many different animal charities. Currently a percentage of the sale of this set of note cards will benefit Search Dog Foundation. This national organization benefits both dogs and humans. The Search Dog Foundation rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to become search and rescue dogs. Ultimately they partner the dogs with firefighters and other first responders to assist finding humans buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. Currently there are 74 Search Dog Foundation teams located in California, Florida, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. The value of these search and rescue dogs is quite evident as we recently saw in Japan.

This organization is dear to my heart because of the invaluable work they do to help both animals and humans.

Raining Cats and Dogs Print by thoseparasoldays

This beautiful print was made especially for this challenge by thoseparasoldays! It features rain, umbrellas, a cat, and a dog. The dog is my neighbor's dog, who was recently hit by a car, but got away with only one claw missing!

I take care of the street-cats in Costa Blanca, Spain.

Cool Water Fabric Destash from brizel4TheAnimals

Rain Rain Rain... where does all that rain water go ? Hopefully back into the earth & into a nice reservoir :)

Wild animals sure do depend on clean sources of water to drink from or live in so lets help to safeguard our waters !

Here's an awesome water theme novelty fabric featuring cool clear water in multi-tones of blue- from cobalt to aquamarine. It's just a little piece of destash fabric from the private stash of brizel4TheAnimals, but it could make something very unique & special !

***

I own some 20 acres up in the mountains where I have planted orchards and floral gardens. Personal funds are put towards helping to sustain this habitat which attracts birds, butterflies, bees, bats, hummingbirds... and it is also a seasonal mating ground for dragonflies ! Twilight is part of a 2,000 acre ranch out in the chaparral wilderness where wild animals still roam.

I provide a home for my animal rescues, create habitat for wildlife to prosper, support animal welfare through petition & animal advocacy work, donate 10% of my Silk Tapestry Box sales to EFA's Charity of the Month, and promote & support Team EFA members through Etsy Treasuries & the EFA blog. I am also Team Leader, Membership Leader, & Blog Mistress for Team EFA !

Rainy Day Ringo Cards by jessicalynneart

Spring is here, and that means lots of rainy days ahead. Ringo the Rescue Dog is ready with his hat, coat, and umbrella as he graces these cards by jessicalynneart.

Ringo was rescued by my family from the Dakin Pioneer Humane Society in July 2010. You can read his story on the EFA blog.

I donate $1 from every sale in my shop to the Pug Rescue of New England or The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). I also give several items each year to raffles and giveaways that raise money for animal charities. I am also the challenge blog volunteer who looks forward to posting your entries every month!

Pink Cat in the Rain Wall Hanging by catcalls

This pink kitty by catcalls is stuck out in the rain and is pleading for shelter. It has taken on a very fresh meaning with the recent earthquake in Japan. So many kitties have found themselves thrown out into the cold searching for food, warmth, and shelter.

This original acrylic painting is done on a pine heart and coated with two layers of sealant. $2.00 of this sale will go to the this month's charity.

I have several items marked for the EFA charity of the month in my shop and hope this will be the month they sell!

I donate items often to shelters, including my own Rescue Village. I also adopted another guinea pig from them on March 15th, Adopt the Internet Day, and now have four! The Feral Kitten Rescue in Oregon, run by Chriss Pagani, is near and dear to my heart. I donate what I can to help.

Fishing in Oregon Print by AlexWijnen

Having lived in Oregon for the past 15 years, AlexWijnen is used to living with rainy weather and that's what inspired this illustration: it seems like there are times you simply cannot escape the rain, no matter where you go or what you do!

That's when I'm happy to simply snuggle with Tucker on the couch! Tucker is a Golden Retriever rescue from the Oregon Humane Society, which is one of my clients off Etsy (I design their quarterly magazine) as well as the non-profit cause that receives 20% off the sales of my dog illustrations. His big brother Pogo came from the Florence Humane Society and isn't as big a cuddle bums but our two cats (both strays that we took in) more than make up for that!

Blue Crystal Raindrops Wristlet Pouch by purpleandlime

This pouch by purpleandlime kicks off our April challenge with a a bit of rain and shine that glitters from its jewels! I used the crystals to add a bit of sparkle, just like real rain.

Since the theme this month involves cats and dogs, I will donate 50% from the sale of this pouch to PAWS Chicago, the city's largest no-kill humane organization for cats and dogs! It's a special place to me, as my girl kitty, Lexie, was adopted from PAWS. They do such amazing work for animals! I give donations to this organization a few times a year, and this will be in addition to the normal amount that I give.

APRiL's Monthly Challenge Theme is...

Raining Cats and Dogs:

Rain, Rain, Rain…

Things to do with cats, dogs

AND lots of rain !

I once heard that the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs” started in England in a time when thatched roofs were common and relatively low to the ground so that animals such as cats and dogs could climb on them. Cats and dogs who happened to be walking on house rooftops in rainstorms were suddenly swept away when a storm became too heavy, thus pouring enough buckets of water down to sweep a 40-pound dog or a 10-pound cat off of a roof!

There is an obvious error with this derivative idea: cats and dogs do not seek shelter from a rainstorm on top of a roof!

But the true origin of the phrase isn’t any better, and I’m not going to divulge it here. Suffice it to say, I can’t ever remember using the phrase myself and, after learning what I’ve learned, I am glad that I haven’t.

What is more important is that we are a group of individuals have joined together in order to help animals!

So... here are some thoughts for this Monthly Challenge:

One could focus on providing shelter for cats and dogs when it’s raining outside or even adopting a cat or a dog thus saving it from an outdoor life which includes inclement weather.

One could focus on providing rain gear for a dog if one has to go out for a walk on a cloudy, potentially rain-filled day, especially if one happens to live in a region where it rains more than it shines,

OR one can simply focus on rain itself :)

I found quite a few art works that would be perfect for our challenge competition but I didn’t want to show them here because I’m hoping that these works will be entered in our April competition so that we all can see, enjoy, and share together!!

This month’s tag is “teamefaraining”, all one word without the quotation marks.

If you are an EFA member & would like to submit an entry, please convo our Challenge Volunteer, Jess of jessicalynneart, with the following information:

1. PROViDE the link to an item in your shop that fits the theme or has been created for the theme.

2. EXPLAiN how you think the item fits the monthly Challenge theme

3. TELL US a bit about your work/donations/volunteer work with animals or animal charities

4. TiTLE your convo with the name of the MONTH and the word CHALLENGE, for example: APRIL CHALLENGE.

One more important step:

5. TAG your Etsy listing with the monthly Challenge theme tag (see the Themes-at-a-glance list here) and be sure to ALSO keep your regular team tag in place, either 'team efa' or 'team efa cotm'.

Submit your entries asap…remember that once we have 16 entries, those will be entered in our Monthly Challenge Competition where the winner will win a free advertising slot with EFA!

THANKS !

Heather of thebluewindmill

Challenge Leader & Promotions

Lovebirds ACEO Card by thebluewindmill

Nothing says "sweet shelter" and "comfort" like a nice, pretty branch to land on (if you happen to be a bird, that is)! And what is more "cozy" than a fellow companion bird (wink, wink)? So, here's to the Sweet Shelter and Cozy Comforts found in this ACEO by thebluewindmill! I volunteer as Challenge Leader and give to the EFA's COTM!

Lilac Scented Cat Pillow by catcalls

This little pink and gray pillow by catcalls is filled with a lovely lilac scented sachet to help bring the fragrance of spring into your home. It can be used in a closet, thrown into a drawer, or tucked into the corner of a favorite chair. The cats are hand drawn with an original design.

I am a supporter of my local shelter, Rescue Village, and donate whenever possible to their fundraisers. I also support the Feral Kitten Rescue Project by sending cat toys and donations when ever possible. Recently, I am the very proud new owner of a 3 month old guinea pig that I 'accidentally' found while writing about Petfinder's Adopt the Internet Day for my blog. $2.00 of the sale from this pillow (and the sale of the other pillow) will go the current month's charity.

2 Little Owls ACEO by SharonFosterArt

This ACEO by SharonFosterArt features two little owls cozy in their nest. Nice and warm with room service from Mama Owl - who could ask for anything more?

I recently donated items to the Columbus Lowndes County Animal Shelter for the fundraiser to build the new shelter. The items donated included 10 new Halloween costumes for dogs among other items. I also painted 2 watercolors for the Friends of Rabbits in Huntsville, AL and 1 has already sold (Yeah!). I agreed to donate to the Palm City, FL Rabbit Fund Raiser and sold an ACEO for Cedarhill.

Wool Lamb Toy by yarnmiracle

Nothing can get much cozier than a woolly lamb, like this charming creation by yarnmiracle! His fleece are from the cozy, happy sheep of another Etsy seller (shadysidefarmstudio) and his stuffing is equally snuggly and predator-friendly eco-wool. He will definitely keep you warm on a rainy night.

Yarn Miracle Animal Update:
Daisy (our current foster dog) is off on an overnight auditioning a new family. Daisy being Daisy, I am sure her potential family has had NO sleep at all because she is SO EXCITED to be there. Y'all cross your fingers that they love her anyway - she loves their big fenced yard.

William Henry reports that the kitchen trash can is still delicious. He loves the edges of Ellie's phony bologna sandwiches. Without mustard, please. I'm glad they don't go to waste.

Birdhouse Stoneware Bead by bitsofclay

The singing of the birds this month not only signals the beginning of Spring, but also the time to clean out the birdhouses for new nests to come. This sweet bead by bitsofclay celebrates the homes of birds everywhere as spring approaches.

I volunteer as a rabbit rescue. I keep the rabbits at my home, take care of their daily needs, see to their medical needs including spay/neuter, and hopefully adopt them to forever homes. Today I have 13 rabbits in my care. 10 are for adoption and the other 3 are under medical care.

Doogie Treat Bone Pillow by AubreyMade

This bone pillow by AubreyMade is customized with the doggie's name and promises to comfort any canine pet. It offers a sweet, personal way for your pup to enjoy his or her home and space.

15% of animal related listings goes to the Team EFA COTM. I also feed stray cats in my home.

Quilled Dragon Shadow Box by fairycardmaker

Many moons ago, I was once told that my dragons are unique and interesting and that I should find ways to incorporate them into a greater work, like mobiles or other room decor. I have finally done it! This shadow box quilled dragon monogram by fairycardmaker is my first foray into home decor. I'm glad my adventure was spurred on by Team EFA and our "Sweet Shelter and Cozy Comforts" team challenge.

10% of the proceeds of this item will go to the Southern Ontario Animal Rescue which is a small registered charity who rescues, fosters and finds homes for dogs.

I teach card-making and other paper crafts on a volunteer basis for the Southern Ontario Animal Rescue (SOAR). Having grown up with pets, I really wish I had more time in the day to keep one of my own. Since I can't, I try to help in what way I can. A portion of my class fees and a portion of some items in my shop are donated to SOAR to help dogs in need.

Small BarkingDogBlanket in Waikiki Coral

For the lucky pampered furry one, whether at home, in the car or traveling, he or she will always feel cozy with their coral blanket from BarkingDogBlanket.

I am a finance/business major and never did anything creative until my blankets. My husband and I work together in our photography business; he the creative one and I the business one. Until I started making blankets for my late "Rockie" I didn't know I could create anything. Being able to help animals through my blankets has been such a gift.

I love animals, especially the abandoned and lonely ones. I volunteer at both our local shelters on Oahu, OahuSPCA and Hawaiian Humane Society, with my time, monetary donations, and gifts. Yesterday I was at HHS helping with the 150 puppy mill dogs that were just recovered in the largest puppy mill bust in Hawaii. Hopefully this travesty will bring awareness to this issue and bring about improvements in our animal protection laws here in Hawaii. Also, I am working with OahuSPCA on designing a pet product that they will be able to sell at the shelter and events and make 100% off the sales :)

I support also ECOTM, EMAR BooBooZoo on Maui, United Animal Nations, Farm Sanctuary, SeaShepherd Conservation Society, and PigsPeaceSanctuary. Every little bit helps!