CRITTER IS UP FOR AUCTION

The following is from Christy Evers.

Click here to go directly to Critter's auction on e-bay!

It has been 15 month, and the time has finally come for Critter's auction! Along with Critter in all his autographed glory, I also made a nice little 20 page scrapbook documenting his travels. you can see the details of the scrapbook by clicking here.

This is a picture of what artist,Robert Bateman wrote on Critter's backside.

Are you just finding out about Critter right now? Who is Critter?
Good question.

For over 14 months Critter has traveled the world visiting talented writers, artists, and authors: while exploring their world. Christy Evers sent out Critter after an interactive art project, directed by the cutting edge artist, Ian Sands.

Critter has visited (and was signed) by PJ Hoover (author of the Forgotten Worlds trilogy) and the Texas Sweethearts, in Texas. Beth Revis in North Carolina (whose debut novel, Across the Universe, coming out in January 2011, is expected to be a HUGE success!). Christina Farley in Korea, New England with Nandini Bajpai, Illinois with Kelly Polark, (who is frequented in Highlights magazine), MG Higgins in California, Rena Jones (author of multiple picture books) in Montana, Cynthia Leitich Smith (NY Times best-selling author) in Texas, Bish Denham in the Virgin Islands, Jacqui Robbins (author of “The New Kid and Me”, and “Two of a Kind”) in Michigan, Tina Ferraro, (author of “How to Hook a Hottie, Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, and The ABC’s of Kissing Boys) in California, Cynthia Chapman Willis, (Picture book author of “Dog Gone” and “Buck Fever”) in New Jersey, Jill S. Alexander, (YA author of “The Sweetheart of Prosper County”) in Texas, Ellen Oh in Virginia, Alberta, Canada with Angela Ackerman (the blog-genius behind the “Writing Thesaurus”. The World-famous artist, Robert Bateman, also signed Critter (on his backside) as an honorary host.

Critter’s Travels have caused him to be beaten around the edges and cracked just a bit, but I think that adds to his charm . . . scarred like a foam-board Indian Jones (for St. Jude) or something like that. It hasn’t taken away from the integrity of the signatures, though. He has traveled the globe in 14 months. He looks pretty good (for being handled by the U.S. post office) The signatures of fabulous people (in addition to his worthy cause) well makes up for his worn edges. Upon his return trip to me he was cracked a bit, but it was easily repaired with super glue.

The winning bidder will receive THE autographed (by the notable people mentioned above) Critter as well as a 20-page scrapbook documenting his travels.

He will be shipped in the flag-case, as shown in the picture, along with the 20 page scrapbook (designed by Snapfish).

You can view Critter's travels on the sidebar of my blog at http://ChristysCreativeSpace.blogspot.com


%100 of the winning bid will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Kidlit Critterpalooza!

Come join the fun that is CRITTER and win awesome prizes too!

by Angela Ackerman

For over a year now, CRITTER, the creation of artist Ian Sands, has been travelling the world, meeting many talented writers and authors and exploring where they live. At each stop he learns more and more about KIDLIT and the importance of literacy and creativity. This journey was the brainchild of Christy Evers, who got her hands on Critter after an interactive art project of Ian’s, where 500 Critters were hidden all over her city for people to find.

Critter at Magens Bay St. Thomas.

Critter has visited PJ Hoover (and the Texas Sweethearts!) in Texas, Beth Revis in North Carolina, Christina Farley in Korea, New England with Nandini Bajpai, Illinois with Kelly Polark, MG Higgins in California, Rena Jones in Montana, Cynthia Leitich Smith in Texas, Bish Denham in the Virgin Islands, Jacqui Robbins in Michigan, Tina Ferraro in California, Cynthia Chapman Willis in New Jersey, Jill S. Alexander in Texas, Ellen Oh in Virginia and finally, Alberta Canada with Angela Ackerman.

Critter with artist and farmer, Breed.

Critter has been to college, rock concerts, national landmarks, a palace, attended his first SCBWI conference, walked among giant redwoods, and met the world famous artist, Robert Bateman. Now that his journey is coming to a close, it’s CRITTER’S hope that you will help him celebrate over at The Bookshelf Muse. His new hosts, together with old hosts, have teamed up to create the Kidlit-inspired event, Critterpalooza! and you’re invited!

There are many AMAZING prizes to be won, all in the spirit of helping Critter celebrate the wonderful creativity & support within out KIDLIT community, and to also raise awareness for his charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

If you would like to donate a few dollars to Critter’s charity, just click on the I Love St. Jude button. Children’s lives are saved every day thanks to the support of people like you!

Critter shows us how to blow a conch shell.

Critter's Last Stop

A few words about Critter. Just looking at him makes a person smile. Critter, the creation of artist Ian Sands, has been on a KIDLIT world tour. His journeys began with Christy Evers at Christy's Creative Space, where you can visit for the full low down about the fabulous Critter.

Now, over a year later, our Critter has come to the end of his journeys. Last stop is with Angela at The Bookshelf Muse. Be sure to hop on over because Angela is planning a BIG CRITTER SEND OFF before he goes home to Christy to complete his mission in raising money for St. Jude's.

Just look at all the wonderful people and places Critter has visited.

15 Stop: Angela in Canada
14th Stop: Ellen Oh in VA

13th Stop: Jill S. Alexander in Texas

12th Stop: Cynthia Chapman Willils in New Jersey

11th Stop: Tina Ferraro in CA

10th Stop: Jacqui in MI

Critter's interview with the Texas Sweethearts

9th Stop: Bish, in the Virgin Islands!

8th Stop: Cynthia Leitich Smith, back in TX!

7th Stop: Rena in Montana

6th Stop: MG Higgins in CA

5th stop: Illinois with Kelly

4th stop: New England with Nandini

3rd stop: Korea with Christina Farley

2nd Stop: NC mountains with Beth Revis

1st stop: Texas w/ PJ Hoover

Meet Critter's Creator, Ian Sands

I hope you will join in with us in helping to make Critter's auction and rousing success. And now, for your entertainment, a slide show of his visit to the Virgin Islands.

TWO MOCKINGJAY GIVEAWAYS!

YOU MUST GO OVER RIGHT NOW TO

Christy's Creative Space TO ENTER!


Critter at Emancipation Gardens, St. Thomas U. S. Virgin Islands.

This isn't about the books but about the Awesome Critter who has travelled all over the place and will, soon enough, be auctioned off with proceeds going to St. Jude.

Please stop by Christy's bog and help spread the Critter word. The more people bidding for him, the more money Christy will be able to send to St. Jude. For your efforts you just might win a copy of Mockingjay, the last book of The Hunger Games Trilogy.

So please hop on over to Christy's blog where you will learn more about Critter. You can also read about Critter right here on my blog. Look to the right, under "About Me" you'll see a side-bar with links to all the places he has been. You have until Tuesday Sept. 7th to leave comments. Christy will announce the 2 winners on Wed. Sept 8th.

Thanks for spreading the word. The more the merrier!

PS Hurricane Earl Update: Power was restored at my sister's home yesterday! YEAH! Things are getting cleaned up and trees getting cleared away.

CRITTER! Part Four: His Last Days

Critter had the good luck to be on St. Thomas for my high school's 40th class reunion. We were all a little stunned that's it's been 40 years since we graduated from All Saints Cathedral School. After all we basically felt just as good as we did when we graduated. Could we really have aged 40 years?

Here's a picture of All Saints Cathedral, an Anglican church.

It was built by the people of St. Thomas in the year 1848, to honor the slaves who had won their freedom from Denmark that year. Because of a severe drought they had to mix the mortar with molasses instead of water. In 1995 Hurricane Marilyn tore the roof of the old church. The ancient and beautiful pipe organ was destroyed. Through a great deal of effort the church was restored. And this is what it looks like today. It is quite a bit different from when we were kids going to Wednesday Mass.

Anyway, although Critter didn't go to church with us, he did go on Ride the View up to Paradise Point to watch the sun set and get in some dancing.

Here he is waiting eagerly for the tram.

Here he is with the sun behind him at the top.

And here he is overlooking the harbor and city of Charlotte Amalie.

My classmates and I got to go to Cane Garden Bay on the island of Tortola in British Virgin Islands. We went on a small yacht own by one of my classmates, a most excellent surgeon (and I should know he helped save my life....) I was sure I had left Critter behind because I was concerned about him getting blown over board and drowned in the ocean. But that little bugger...he managed to stow away and only made his presence known until after we had anchored at Cane Garden Bay.

He was brazen enough to take the captain's wheel!

Alas, Critter's last day arrived. We spent on St. John

at Hawksnest.

Reluctantly Critter packed his bags and we said our good-byes. He's heading back home to Christy Evers who has further plans for him.

It's been an honor and a pleasure to host Critter. I hope you, my goodly readers, have enjoyed his little escapades as much as I have enjoyed having him as a guest.

CRITTER! Part Three

On the last Sunday of every month way out on the West End of St. Thomas, (nearly 30 minutes from our house and about 10 or 12 miles away) at a place called Bordeaux, there is a farmer's market.

I took Critter.

Here he is with O'Neal Pennyfeather, also known as Breed, a farmer and artist who comes over from St. Croix every month. Breed was most kind. When he heard Critter's story he graciously agreed to have his picture taken with him. Those mangoes Critter is sitting among are the best tasting I've ever had. (We bought a dozen.) And look at the size of those star fruit to the right!

From the farmer's market we stopped by the Texas Embassy.

(You thought I was kidding didn't you?)

On Monday June 28th, which was also my birthday. My sister and I took Critter to The Butterfly Farm.

We learned all kinds of things about butterflies. Like: moths make cocoons, butterflies make chrysalises; that every chrysalis has some gold on it,

some more than others;

that monarchs are the only butterfly that can be found world-wide because most everywhere has some kind of milkweed on which they lay their eggs; that the nectar butterflies live on, because of sunlight, is actually about 4% alcohol, so butterflies, when you see them are pretty happy; that rain forest butterflies sip only on fermented fruit nectar while all other butterflies sip only on fermented flower nectar; and most amazing of all, when a caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, the caterpillar completely disappears. It literally becomes a puddle of DNA filled liquid in the bottom of the chrysalis and it is out of this liquid the butterfly is made. Miraculous.

Unfortunately The Butterfly Farm has been hit hard by the down turn in the economy and is closing its doors the end of this month. It's very sad as one of the things they have been doing is hatching a releasing native butterflies that were nearly wiped out in the late 50's and early 60's when they used to spray for mosquitoes with DDT.

I'm glad we got to visit.

CRITTER! Part Two

Critter was very excited to see all the historical buildings in down town Charlotte Amalie.

Fort Christian, built in 1671, is being renovated. Critter had to content himself with looking at it through a fence.

From Fort Christian we went across the street to Emancipation Gardens, named for the day when all the slaves in the Danish West Indies learned they had won freedom for themselves by their own efforts, through revolt and passive resistance.

Next up was Royal Dane Mall where some of the finest rock and brick work done by the slaves can be seen.

Of course he had to see where the greatest of the Impressionist Painters, Camille Pissarro was born.

He liked Market Square, but was shocked to learn that a quarter of million slaves were bought and sold here.

Critter asked me about my favorite place in town and I told him it had to be Enid M. Baah Public Library, a place I went to almost every day after school. It’s hard to see him, but he’s there, in the middle of the center arch at the top of the stair.

Here’s a close up.

He was curious about the two baobab trees in Roosevelt Park. I told him they were anywhere from 300 to 400 years old, probably grown from seeds brought over from Africa by the slaves.

Next up was Blue Beard’s Castle. Although it’s named after the fearsome pirate, Blue Beard never lived on the island. This is one of two watch towers (the other one is called Black Beard’s Castle) build by the Danes.

The Danes meant them to protect the harbor and town. Just to prove it, here’s Critter next to some of the cannons. Arg!

Here’s our guy looking over the harbor.

Last but not least, here’s Critter taking a look at the world largest cruise ship. He wasn’t all that impressed, because as you can see, not even this ship is big enough to contain the joy that is Critter.

Stay tuned. More is yet to come!

CRITTER! Part One.

Are you one of the many millions who has been wondering, "Where the heck is Critter?" For those of you who may not know, Critter was created by Ian Sands. With the help of Christy Evers at Christy's Creative Space, Critter has traveled to such far flung places as Texas, Montana and South Korea (just to name a few.) When he is finished with his travels he will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to a worthy charity.

Well, you need not wonder where he is any more.

Now he’s in the Virgin Islands!

He arrived a couple of weeks ago and we have been so busy seeing the sights that I’m only just now getting it together enough to post some pictures.

I have to say he is a most agreeable and adventurous guest.

The minute he came through the door he made friends with Daisy Dog.

Then he checked out our rocking chair.

But he decided he liked the chez on the porch the best.

For our first foray we went to Magens Bay for a swim. He was impressed that it is a mile long beach.

I tell you, Critter is a hoot.

He wants to ride an iguana but I told him not to get his hopes up.

Stay tuned for further adventures when Critter tours fabulous Charlotte Amalie