item #13: GOLDIE the gargoyle figurine from Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN

ok! the winner of the Zombie tee will be the lady who will turn it into a dress for her friend,"starsup0nthars".

Why? because I HAVE TO SEE THAT DRESS... (and maybe someday, i can get her to make me one...)

Incidentally, it is also Rob Z's birthday today, happy birthday, old boss!

Item lucky #13 in my "swallowing diamonds" project (one thing out of the treehouse a day for all of 2014) is a small plushy figurine of Goldie the gargoyle from the SANDMAN universe.

HERE IS THE EBAY LINK.

Neil Gaiman (my boss) created a world of wonder with his SANDMAN comics. One of my favorite characters was Goldie. I got this back in 2001, way before i met Neil. Goldie has travelled with me over the years.

I usually take things OUT of their boxes, but for some reason, I never did with this toy. Packaging is NOT in mint condition, but Goldie is untouched by human paws.

what is strange, they refer to Goldie as a "her"on the box-- i always thought Goldie was a boy gargoyle...aka Irving (see below) maybe i should ask the boss...

from wikipedia: Goldie is a pet baby gargoyle, given to Abel by his brother Cain in Preludes and Nocturnes. Abel originally intends to name him Irving, but Cain insists that gargoyle names must all begin with a "G". Cain then proceeded to murder Abel over this. Abel soon returns, as he is murdered by Cain all the time. He then agrees to name the gargoyle Goldie, after "an old friend", though he tells Goldie in private that he will continue to think of him as Irving.

Sorry overseas friends, this auction is only for the continental US, because I don't have another one to replace if it goes missing over the waters. Send me any questions and I will do my best to answer.

PS Happy Golden Globes tonight with my Greek "sister" miss Tina Fey as hostess--- I have such GG fever that, this morning, I put coffee beans in the cat bowl. DOH! (luckily, we ALL noticed right away)

item #12: parts A & B:FREE Zombie tour shirt, & a package to Montenegro.

happy Saturday, today is going to be busy busy busy, so i thought I would knock two out of the park. I am giving away some tour memories. An all black 100% cotton (bootleg) Zombie/Megadeth tee in size XXL.

This tour was the absolute most fun! Lacuna Coil was our opener and i would make sure to be out in front for the Mustaine/Cristina duet on Le Tous Le Monde, EVERY NIGHT. chills...

( (if you don't know this song, click here to hear/watch it.)

I think i like the spooky back better than the front... Throwing in a tour sticky pass, which allows no access to anything. That thing is long over!

All you have to do to enter to win is tell me your favorite live show ever seen. Please put in the comments, it's the only way I can keep track of anything at present.

You can link to a blog about your favorite show, that's fine, be creative, it can go on any of the three blogs Furrytiger, Neverwear or Swallowing Diamonds. Soon, I'll be streamlining, but it's still a new little baby project. Needs training wheels...

Second thing already has a home, in fact.

I got an email from a hopeful Neverwear customer who said that the site still had an option to send to Yugoslavia, but no option for the recently independant Montenegro. I love political change! So as we update the site, our fine WebGoblin DanGuy is working on this. (@Danguyf on twitter) I told our Montenegran friend that I would send him his tshirt free if he would make a charitable donation to an animal shelter somewhere-- yeah!

so-- winners of #8 and #9 items, the two signed-by-Neil Gaiman OCEAN cards:

"I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else."

from Raquel Moritz

"Words save our lives, sometimes."

from Donna Blitzen

PLUS! Third runner up: (prize to be determined)

“All monsters are scared. That's why they're monsters.”

from Vampi

LAST THING: **the Linkin Park hat was won by Adrienne Hill, but I need an address to ship to.

(winners, please email me: neverwear@gaiman.net)

Happy January to you all.

item #11: MORE BEADS...so many charms...for the tigers.

So, it seems the bead lots are making people happy, I got SO much email about them. Offers to buy all my beads outright, etc.

but...Nah, not yet, this way is more fun for me, i get to go down memory lane with these bead buddies.

PROCEEDS FROM THIS AUCTION WILL BENEFIT VALLEY OF THE KINGS where the mighty Obie and Socrates live! A big cat sanctuary in Wisconsin. (*many other exotic animals live there too)

here we are, marveling at the beauty that is the tiger. The VOTK always needs funds to keep up with the food supply, especially in wintertime...

so, back to the beads:I put myself through college by making jewelry, thank goodness as now, I have no student loans!

The upshot is that I have LOADS of beads to get rid of, as I just don't have time to make the jewels so much these days.

From my travels, I have picked up charms and beads at flea markets, vintage shops, thrift shops, yard sales, bead shops, the world wide.

Some pieces I can't recall where I got, but I have made a little list to describe as best as I can.

as always, the auction starts at 99 cents.

CLICK HERE FOR THE EBAY LINK.

here's what's in this auction:

4 x stretchy bead string for jewelry making (great for bracelet making)

1 x bag of assorted accent ball beads

1 x faux-diamond K pendant (do not know where this came from)

1 x sterling and pearl earring (I had planned on making necklace)

1 x labrodorite bead/ sterling thunderbird spirit earring (marked 925)

1 x lapis lazuli pendant set in sterling (925 stamp on back)

1 x brass world expo pendant w/Austrian crystal accents

1 x glass glob pendant

2 x heart lock w/key charms (silvertone)

2 x Celtic cross charms (brass?)

1 x heart pierced with sword Milagro charm (one of my favorite pieces)

6 x rose quartz beads (the love stone!)

1 x circle pendant in sterling stamped 925 (Balinese, I believe)

1 x faceted glass? ball bead (may be citrine, I got this from broken antique necklace)

2 x rhinestone charms w/light green stones & moonstone-esque pieces

1 x pair of vintage rhinestone & milk glass beads? (no earring backs w/ these, sorry)

1 x very interesting agate pendant set in sterling (925 stamp)

1 x pair earrings w/Kali heads, green glass beads, not sure of material, no markings.

4 x kitty cat charms (silvertone)

4 x filigree charms (2 gold tone/2 silver tone)

2 x wishbone charms

1 x fairy charm

1 x teeny tiny little star charm

7 x assorted crescent moon charms

Sorry overseas friends, I am only shipping in the United States, because I can't replace these if something happens in the post.

any questions, lay em on me.

I will work anything out with anyone, I am one of the ebay good guys! Meanwhile, I am getting a little behind in the winners, WORKING ON IT, i swear. ALL feedback appreciated and accepted. Comments section is open.

item #10: a Neil Gaiman tea mug *mistake included. (plus bonus chocolate dragon coins)

I am a mug collector. I admit it.

I also admit I am fairly picky about what vessel I use for my hot beverages.

My favorite combo is dark on the outside and light on the inside, I believe it's so i can see if the mug is dirty or not. This one fills the bill perfectly, as my other condition is that it is big enough for my required quantity of said hot liquid.

We made these up for Christmas gifts this year and I have a few left over. This is a part of my "swallowing diamonds" project, of getting one thing a day out of the treehouse. So far, so good!

If this one does well, we may add it to the Neverwear line. Click here for the link to our ebay auction.

It's a quote from Neil Gaiman's amazing University of the Arts commencement speech from May 2012, which is up on line HERE.

In his speech, he advises that no matter what happens, make art out of the situation. And in making art, when mistakes are made, all the better. He describes a moment when he misspelled "Caroline" while typing, and that's how he came up with the title of his wonderful "CORALINE" book.

In fact, I made a conscious "*mistake" on this mug, as i couldn't fit the actual quote from NG, too many letters for the printer to wrap, so had to improvise, as much as I don't like to do that, I believe it contains the essence of his brilliant message, which is to take chances and be unafraid to do so.

to quote Queen:

"...and bad mistakes, I've made a few..."

This little reminder while I drink my morning tea makes me present and accountable. ( *editor's note: mug also works really well for coffee, but I have never seen Mr. Gaiman drink the stuff. He's a British tea man, more often he drinks green tea these days)

*I will throw in some chocolate dragon coins to sweeten the deal. they come in this little golden pouch which will be nestled in your new mug:

any questions, put them to me. The Ebay auction is for world-wide shipping, sorry that it costs so much to ship outside of the US, but them's the breaks, kids. I shipped one of these mugs as a present to friends over the seas and it cost 16+ bucks!

meanwhile, SPIDERMAN auction has four hours left! lots of watchers, no bids, so go get it!

I am one of the ebay good guys. Save my seller name: Kitty9thlife as there will be glorious, amazing mistakes ahead.

meanwhile, now I am off to LAX to pick up a friend (believe me, that's a favor in this town) and when I return, I will post the OCEAN card winners, and did I ever post the Linkin Park hat winner? ayyyyyyyyyy!

item #8 and #9: from the move

The last few days were whirlwind packing and sorting at Neil's beautiful Cambridge house. I flew out to help him finalize the move out of Boston. Here is a link to Neil's blogpost on the move.

I loved handling all the beautiful books there... dreamy.

Also got to enjoy some wintertime while in the east, man, I miss the change of seasons.

Walked through snowy graveyards and found some mystery skeleton keys hidden up in a closet near Neil's office:

We were so busy that I got a little behind on posting items, so Neil offered up two of these magnificent postcards showing the British version of the OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE cover.

He signed both of them on the backs, and I am giving them away to two of you lovely readers.

How to win? Send me your favorite quote from OCEAN! email to: neverwear@gaiman.net

announcing the winner of the Sailor Jerry lighter, i loved all the tattoos, but this one was my most favorite:

a quote from GRAVEYARD BOOK, etched forever at her side, miss Ali from Kentucky. She's planning a whole literary sleeve. Ali, message me a good mailing address for your lighter and keep us posted on that sleeve--

send me some quotes to win a postcard, I'll pick my two winners and tomorrow will be something new to get out of the house.

last but not least, there are 47 minutes left on my bead lot over on ebay, I shall pack their tiny suitcases and print out their miniature boarding passes, it's time to send them out into the world!

happy to be home.

item #7 was gone before I even posted it. MY TOOL BACKPACK

we got these Tool backpacks as tour swag in 2007 from the good people of Eighth Day Sound. I have NEVER had a better back pack.

not ever.

Sadly, he made his final voyage with me in a few days ago-his tombstone will read 2007-2014.

it's the second time I have replaced the zipper on one of the pockets.

BUT SO MANY POCKETS.

It is now is going off to live with my friend, Jordan. I had to give him first dibs, because of his great love for all things TOOL. (carved dragon from Mexico not included...)

that tour was one of the highlights of my road career, every night better than the last.

stay tuned for tomorrow's thing. and also i got SLAMMED w/item #6 photos, so still lighter-deciding, but will know soon.

it's busy over here packing up the boss. i did take a break to walk in a snowy graveyard though.

goodnight, all.

**As long as one thing is leaving the house a day, I'm still in my resolution zone, right?

item #6: come on, baby, light my fire: FREE LIGHTER

Oh, tattoos and I, we go way back.

They represent the perfect little filter on who's judging solely on outer layers...

a favorite quote from my sweet Dad, when he started seeing tattoos pop up on me:

I'm going to hold you by your ear and dip you in bleach.

He has since settled down, and he sees them for what they are. A means to make me happy and to protect me at the same time. How can that be a negative?

for years, in my kitten hood, i worked tattoo conventions, and so maybe I have more art than the average cat. it still cracks me up when people say things like, but what will you do when you get older? Newsflash, friends, who really cares!

I love to read the historical accounts of the ancient rituals of tattooing around the world. Only for those that can commit, my friends.

Anyway, to my point. This blog/project was meant to do two things at once. 1. get things moving out of the treehouse and into the world, to the people that may appreciate them. 2. to keep me writing a little bit every day, a discipline.

True, I will be spending quite a bit on postage, but it's an exercise and a resolution. Like I said, discipline, baby.

offered here:

a lighter that you need to add butane to, adorned with a design by Sailor Jerry, one of the premier brights in tattoo history.

i am not sure who is getting the royalty on his art, if it's still in his family, I didn't buy this lighter, it was given to me, on the Tool tour of 2007, by who, I do not recall. Thanks, person! I don't smoke, and Drew is trying to quit, so fire starters of the world, this is for you.

To take this off my hands, send me pictures of your favorite tattoo here: furrytiger@gmail.com

It doesn't have to be your tattoo, but that will be considered extra points.

No need to send me giant files, those just break the code of internet conduct. 100KB or so, that's just fine. This is open to worldwide shipping, so get busy. I will close this contest tomorrow at midnight EST.

Drew and I dreamed up all kinds of fun ways to get these things out into the world, modern geocaching. Stay tuned, and feel free to give me your ideas. I still haven't ironed out all the kinks. WORK IN PROGRESS.

ps. Adrianne Hill, who won the Linkin Park hat, you have a week to get me your address or it goes to the second runner up. you can message me: furrytiger@gmail.com

here is me getting a tattoo by the ever-accurate Craig Jackman of American Electric in LA.

good night from Boston.