Dreaming of Summer Seashores

Clear skies, cool breezes and soft sunbeams have been flirting with me. Lately this is my favorite color combo: the tranquil aqua blue hues of the surf, the pale golden tan of the sand. Hmmmm, summer must be just around the bend... 

Etsy is one of my favorite places to surf, and here are some beautiful things that caught my eye recently: 

Click here to visit this Etsy treasury

I hope you enjoy this treasury, and if you do, please click on the images, comment, favorite it, tweet and share it... it it would be SO much fun if it were to make it onto the front page of Etsy! Almost as much fun as dreaming about summer seashores... 

Enjoy!

Cat Lady No. 289...Autumn Snow

Cat Lady Eileen and Mr. Maxim always love the first snowfall, which often happens in October when you live in northern Minnesota. It means it's time to find favorite old scarves and hats, or better yet, go shopping for new ones.

Eileen happens to know that the average total snowfall for Duluth in October is 1.6 inches.

That's because she found a great place to look up the average snowfall in your area: Average Snowfall In Total Inches

Thanks for visiting!



This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...add it to your collection by visiting

Let It Snow No. 7 ACEO

Cat Lady No. 130...Feline Sleepwear DeMystified

Cat Lady Reba and Cat Mom Velveteen think that new arrival Kitten Ritz is the cat's pajamas.

I'm sure you know all about curiosity and its profound effect on cats; but did you know that the "need to know" is even worse for Cat Ladies?

That's why Reba could not stop herself from looking up the meaning behind the phrase "the cat's pajamas"; and it's exactly why you, dear Cat Lady, will not be able to resist looking at this link:

The meaning of "The Cat's Pajamas"

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 127...Handmade With Love

Cat Lady Abigail always says "Make me something
handmade" when her kids ask her what she wants for
Mother's Day.

Feline Friend Aretha is always relieved. Her worst nightmare is that Abigail would ask for a new kitten...

Last year Abigail received a beautiful handmade "pop-up" card from her middle child.

It's not too late to make one for your own mother. There are dozens to choose from at paper artist
Robert Sabuda's website, including this beautiful
Mothers Day Flower Card. Happy paper engineering!


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Purrfect for all of your crafting projects, this Cat Lady Apron features 3 pockets for all of your tools and gadgets. Find dozens to choose from at my Cafepress shop:
Susan Faye Cat Lady Aprons

Cat Lady No. 124...Mail Call

Calico Cat Lady Juliette and her feline friend Trina Tricolor enjoy receiving surprises in the mail.

Sending mail can be just as much fun, especially when it involves creative self-expression! Juliette and Trina have been enjoying looking at the entries at the web site of POSTMARKED 2009 , a special art show that raises money each year for the Prison Library Project.

It's not too late to enter your own creative mail! Submissions must arrive by May 25 so plan accordingly--visit the link for details: HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Thanks for visiting!


Want to do something nice for our planet? Choose a reusable bag instead of throwaway plastic. This extra-roomy 100% cotton canvas tote bag has plenty of room to carry all of your treasures over and over again. It features extra long handles for easy over-the-shoulder carrying. I have over 100 designs to choose from at: Susan Faye Tote Bags

• 10 oz heavyweight natural canvas fabric
• Full side and bottom gusset
• 22" reinforced self-fabric handles
• Machine washable
• Measures 15" x 18" x 6"

Cat Lady No. 77...Home Remedies

Feline Fanatic Trillium and her Tuxedo Cat Trixie Two-Tone always enjoy a good sing-along whenever they play a Maria Callas aria on the phonograph.

But there is no singing tonight, because it is cold and flu season and Trillium is in the throes of a flu bug and can barely swallow, her throat is so sore.

She looked up some home remedies on her medical provider's website and she has tried each and every one:

• get extra rest and sleep
• drink hot tea or warm broth
• breath warm, moist air from a humidifier, steamy shower, or sink filled with hot water
• apply a moist warm towel to your face for 10 minutes several times a day
• gargle with warm salt water twice a day
• drink plenty of fluids and take vitamin C

Trixie Two-Tone is perplexed that they neglected to list the very best treatment of all: hug a purring cat for at least 10 minutes, 6 times per day, until all symptoms go away; then continue the treatment for at least another week. Or two. Or three...

Thanks for visiting!

Would you like a Custom Cat Lady Portrait? ...A one-of-a-kind and very affordable gift for any cat lover...For pricing and options, please visit my Etsy online gallery by clicking here: CUSTOM CAT LADIES

Cat Lady No. 73...Bink's Waltz

Neurosurgeon Jamie Jo rescued this handsome white cat from a local animal shelter and named him Galahad. She thinks that whoever abandoned him should have their head examined...!

Jamie Jo and Galahad recently joined the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of Waltzing with Cats (SPAWSCats). Jamie Jo has always been a fan of the King Of Ragtime, Scott Joplin (1868 - 1917), black pianist and composer. But she was surprised to learn that he also wrote incredibly beautiful and wistful waltzes. They include: Bethena Waltz, Harmony Club Waltz , Pleasant Moments, and Bink's waltz, which is
Gallahad's purrsonal favorite!

Visit THE WALTZING CAT and you'll be able to listen to Bink's Waltz; you'll also find dance instruction, Official Cat Waltzing Apparel, plus much, much more to enhance your Cat Waltzing experience.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 72...Achoo!

The true measure of a Cat Lady's devotion lies in an unwavering willingness to endure sneezing, wheezing sniffling, itching and watery eyes in order to enjoy the company of her favorite pets.

Vicki B. is just such a feline fanatic. After her last kitty passed away, she thought perhaps she should give up her feline habit after years of enduring cat allergies.

But how could she resist a dashing gray charmer who hinted of Russian Blue ancestry and exhibited a talent for suddenly and effortlessly leaping straight up into the air? After springing him from the animal shelter, Vickie and her husband Brett named the fleet-of-foot-feline "Misha"after Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Willa also proved to be irresistible and was adopted from Independent Animal Rescue
(http://www.animalrescue.net/homepage), which recently won the "America's
Favorite Animal Shelter" contest (http://www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest/browse). Willa and Misha love their giant cat tree/playhouse in the kitchen, which was custom-built by Brett; they are also fans of tuna, a feather toy called "Da Bird", and a loving Cat Lady who has invested heavily in antihistamines and air filters!

If you would like to see a fun step-by-step tutorial that shows how this custom portrait was created, please visit "How To Paint A Cat Lady".

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 70...They're Grrrrreat!

Tabby Cat Fanatic Brianna enjoys a quiet moment with Tony Tiger, her pride and joy. Tony's pride and joy is his amazing fur coat which he will promptly begin disposing of on the first day of Spring. Over the ensuing months, Brianna will vacuum up enough fur to assemble several entire new cats if she chose to, and Tony will become noticeably slimmer in profile.

Tony does not know that Brianna named him after the mascot of her favorite childhood breakfast cereal. Back then, they were known as "Sugar Frosted Flakes". She doesn't remember exactly when they took the word "sugar" out of the name but she still always refers to them as "Sugar-Frosted-Flakes" as if it was all one word. Childhood habits sometimes die hard.

Tony's childhood habit of chasing his tail is what he can't leave behind. The sight is enough to make you laugh so hard that milk might come spilling out of your nose while you're eating your Sugar Frosted Flakes...

Cat Lady No. 39...California Girls

Jojo is Cat Lady Sarah's favorite, but shhhhh---don't tell the other seven adoptees that they live with. What makes Jo so special? That she likes to watch birds in the backyard or chase laser beams? That she has the prettiest eyes and sweetest face that could just melt your heart? There's more...

Jojo was a special needs kitten with brain damage when Sarah and husband Bill rescued her: "She could only scoot around in little circles and might only be a lap cat for the rest of her life. We came in to see her and just fell in love on sight! Even with the problems she had, we had to take her."

"We did physical therapy with her to help with her motion control and put a ramp up to the bed so she could get up there easier. She was very sick during the first couple weeks, and one night I spent the night on the bathroom floor with her with the humidifier. She has a special little Jojo walk, and when she jumps she overshoots her target, but there is nothing she can't do anymore!"

Jojo just turned eight, and her vet is happy to report Jo no longer displays any neurological symptoms; apparently her brain has remapped itself!

Says Sarah: "I like to think it's all the love that made the difference. She is our little miracle."

Jojo often has a starring role in Sarah's websites: SARAH HUNT PHOTOGRAPHY and OC PET PHOTOS. Check them out!

Thanks for visiting!

Would you like a Custom Cat Lady Portrait? ...A one-of-a-kind and very affordable gift for any cat lover...For pricing and options, please visit my Etsy online gallery by clicking here: CUSTOM CAT LADIES

Cat Lady No. 26...Well-Groomed

Feline Fanatic April and her handsome Himalayan Rochester hope to win Best of Show in the regional Cat Show this weekend.

Rochester loves to be groomed, which is a good thing, because April faithfully brushes and combs his thick and silky fur each and every day, wearing her personal Cat Grooming Apron pictured below. Rochester is less enthusiastic about the weekly baths, but enjoys being fluffed up with the warm hair dryer at the end.

April is inspired by her favorite domestic goddess Martha who owns seven Himalayan cats named after composers. ''They are friendly and affectionate but not demanding; they are quiet and easy to care for; and they get along well with people and other animals,'' Ms. Stewart wrote about her cats in the ''Ask Martha'' section of her Martha Stewart Living magazine in February 1999.

April would love to have that many Himalayan cats, but only if she too had a personal grooming staff. Rochester thinks that one Himalayan is more than enough for any household...

The purr-fect Cat Grooming Apron comes with your choice of over 100 different cat ladies. Ties at neck and waist. Two center-stitched bottom compartment pouches for keeping tools handy. 35% Cotton / 65% polyester blend, twill fabric. Machine washable and guaranteed.
Available at: Susan Faye Cat Lady Aprons

Thanks for visiting...I'd love to hear your feedback!

Cat Lady No. 16...Terrific Tabby Tamer

What could be more fun than an armful of tiger kittens?

Cat Lady Tanya has her hands full with Cat Mom Tabitha and her litter of tabby kittens, just adopted from the local shelter. As Tanya often says, "Don't delay, neuter or spay"... Luckily for these kittens, Tanya will lovingly care for them until each one has a new home.

Out of curiosity, Tanya looked up "Tabby" on the internet, and was surprised to learn that Tabby doesn't refer to a breed of cats, but to the particular pattern of markings on any given cat with stripes or spots. In fact, quite a few recognized breeds include the tabby markings.

And Tanya further discovered that within the category of "Tabby" there are quite a few variations of the patterns with exotic names like "agouti (ticked)", rosetted", "mackerel", "marbled", and "classic".

Tabbies also come in many color variations: brown, blue, red (really more of an orange...), cream or silver.

If you would like to learn more, here is an interesting article that Tanya found:
The Glorious Tabby

Do you know a Tabby Tamer? They just might enjoy a refrigerator magnet from my gift collection. You'll find magnets and other great gift items with this design at my CafePress Gift Shop.

CAT LADY No. 3...Empty Nest

Her last chick just flew the coop this morning, heading out for college, but Cat Lady Loreena won't suffer from an empty nest as long as she has Tuxedo Tillie at her side. Together they will enjoy bird watching, gardening, and an occasional game of hide and seek. Not to mention long, luxurious bubble baths for Loreena while Tillie sits on the bathtub's edge and taps the bubbles cautiously with her paw, on the alert for the stray goldfish or tuna that might be lurking beneath the foamy brine.

If you like this design, you're in luck! It is featured on t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, note cards, and much more at: www.CafePress.com/Susan Faye.

Thanks for visiting!