Kitten on Safari

Illustration Friday

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This calico kitten knows that a backyard is the very best place to go on
safari...

What is your cat's favorite thing to stalk in your backyard jungle? Buttonwillow has her eye on a big fat juicy squirrel (dream on, Buttonwillow)...

Something New From World Headquarters

We're just busy as bees here at World Headquarters now that Spring has sprung! I'm in the process of introducing a new style of pendant into my Etsy shop with the help of my studio assistant Buttonwillow (seen at right, saying goodbye to the old style pendants).

It seems my supplier discontinued the old rectangular shape of glass that I have been using and try as I might, I could not find any other suppliers that carried the same size, in spite of some serious teeth-gnashing.

So I gave a new glass tile a try and I love it! What do you think? It is still 1.25" wide, but a bit narrower at 3/4" and is more rounded, with more of a magnifying effect--not to mention a bit more elegant, I think.

I will be slowly re-formatting my art to fit the new size and will add the new pieces as I finish them. The first batch includes the calico kitty above, plus 10 floral pendants fresh from the posy patch, made with Spring and Mothers Day in mind:

The floral artwork is taken from my original watercolor paintings of tulips, narcissus, and cactus blossoms. Each is signed on the back. Most of these have matching earrings and can be found in my Etsy shop. You can also purchase them by the dozen at a discounted price here--great for fundraising projects, or to give as bridesmaid gifts or as gifts at the office or garden club.

Thanks for visiting, and hope your weekend is abloom with lots of new and fun adventures!

Play Time!

Illustration Friday

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This calico kitten has mastered the fine art of mouse-play: maintain an air of total disinterest and disdain until the perfect moment to pounce arrives, then give that toy a thrashing!

Thanks for visiting!

Just added to my Etsy shop: a brand new pendant for Calico-Crazed Cat Ladies! Click on image for more details...

Cat's Cats

It's probably inevitable that if you grow up with a nickname like "Cat", you will some day oversee a small kingdom of kitties.


Meet Cat Lady Catrina, pictured here with (left to right) Sir Benjamin, Molly the Dowager Queen, Prince Casper, and Young Master Archie.

Catrina tells how her kingdom was formed:

"All of my kitties were rescued. I got Molly from the OSPCA when she was about a year old. She had already birthed a litter of kittens (why don’t people spay and neuter?) and was found with them in a box; someone had just thrown her away.

"My friend Pauline told me about Casper (previously named Yeti), a deaf darling who needed a home. He was born under the porch of her neighbour. Pauline had already found homes for the snow white boy and his identical sister Fluffy, however the people who had taken him when he was a kitten decided he was too rambunctious at nine months so they gave him back. I fell in love with his blue eyes the moment I saw him and we took him home immediately.

"We adopted nine month old Max [not pictured] from the Toronto Cat Rescue as a companion for Casper. They were such immediate and inseparable friends it was simply tragic when he died [of FIP]... After Max, I did not want to get another cat but Casper was so upset and lonely, and Robert convinced me a new buddy for him was essential…enter Benjamin, five months old from Toronto Animal Services. I was firmly against adopting a youngster, since the disease that killed Max usually hits kittens less than one year or older cats more than ten years. But Ben was insistent that we notice him, working hard at the front of his cage, standing on his hind legs and sticking his paws through the bars trying to grab at us. When we picked him up he purred and did swimmy paws in the air. Who could resist, I certainly couldn’t!

"The last to join our family is a cheeky little ginger snap called Archie, six months old also from TAS. He is the bravest and skinniest kitten I have ever seen. No slinking on his tummy or cowering under a bed for this little guy-- he is so bold it seems somewhat unnatural."

It was with a very heavy heart several weeks ago that Catrina had to say goodbye to beautiful Molly (just shy of Molly's 19th birthday). "When I rescued Molly all those years ago I gave her a safe and loving home, good food and a warm bed, today my heart is broken because she gave me so much more in return!"

But there will soon be another royal subject in Cat's kingdom; one from a very distant land who is also in need of a safe and loving home, good food and a warm bed...read all about his story in Catrina's delightful blog: Cat's Cats: BIG NEWS

Thanks for visiting!

It's Talk (or Meow) Like a Pirate Day!

Arrrr, mateys, thar be bilge rats and rapscallions afoot. Cat Lady Lulu and her shipmate Captain Mackerel be thinkin that all ye landlubbers best be gettin some learnin in the finer art of Pirate Talkin, fer this day be "International Talk Like A Pirate Day".

Avast and hoist your sails fer these faraway and mysterious shores where thar be lessons and tips on such things:

Talk Like a Pirate Day
Meow Like a Pirate
Pirate Translator

Here's to smooth sailin fer ya, me hearties!

This fair paintin o' Cat lady Lulu and Mackerel be makin an appearance in me ol' Etsy shoppe today: Bewitched No. 6 Drop an anchor there and see what treasures lie before ye!

One World One Heart...And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to Cat Lady Debbie of South Daytona Florida! Her name was drawn out of the 346 entries I received in my One World One Heart Giveaway. She will receive this limited edition print called "Begonia Max". Thank you to all of the wonderful bloggers and cat lovers from around the world who visited my website and participated in the event!!

Debbie is a freelance writer , photographer, and devoted cat lover and says:

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be the winner of your One World, One Heart Giveaway!

I have a wonderful calico cat named Neko, who is such a joyful companion. She is 9-years-old and I adopted her from the local animal shelter when she was just a kitten. It was love at first sight, but I do believe she chose me first!

I would visit her at the shelter every day after work because she was only 3 weeks old when I met her, not old enough to bring home for a few weeks. I would stay for as long as possible and play and cuddle with her. One day the shelter called and said Neko had stopped eating and was losing weight. They were so worried about her that they thought it would be best if they let me bring her home even though she was still so little. I think she missed me when I wasn't at the shelter and wanted to be with her new human friend, because as soon as I got her home she started eating like a pig!

Neko means the world to me and she is such a comfort to have around. She seems to understand that I have a hearing disability because she will come and tell me when someone is at the front door, and even lets me know when the postal carrier has dropped off the mail. She's an amazing, intelligent cat and I don't know what I'd do without her."

Thanks for visiting!


Didn't win? Don't feel bad...The Begonia Max print is currently available for sale in my Etsy Shop; it comes matted and ready to frame in a standard 16 x 20" frame.

I'm offering a 10% rebate plus FREE SHIPPING on this print until the end of the week. Just enter the code MAX in the notes to seller when checking out and the 10% discount and shipping will be refunded through Paypal.

BEGONIA MAX PRINT

A Birthday Surprise!

There is nothing more fun than being in on a Top Secret Birthday Surprise, so I was VERY excited when Skeezix the Cat and his Food Lady asked me to create a portrait of Daisy the Curly Cat for her birthday! Daisy is a famous and talented cat who writes one of the most popular blogs in the entire Pet Blogosphere. She is an adorable dilute calico Devon Rex cat who has the most stylish and extensive wardrobe of any cat I've ever seen, and she loves pink! Daisy has beautiful curly whiskers, and she shares her home and adventures with the handsome rascalcat Harley who occasionally engages in a bit of sibling rivalry...

It was very hard to decide which of Daisy's beautiful outfits to use for the portrait, but Skeezix and the Food Lady narrowed it down to three. I went with the Pink Lady outfit because that poodle skirt is just so darn cute!

Yesterday was Daisy's birthday and you can read all about what she thought of her surprise here: The Best Present, Ever. You can also see a photo of Daisy actually wearing the poodle skirt! I am SO honored that the Food Lady and Skeezix chose me to make this special gift, and SO delighted that Daisy and her Mommeh liked it! (Get well soon, Food Lady!)

Thanks for visiting!

Crazy For Calicoes...Art Auction on Ebay

Did you know that the state cat of Maryland is the calico cat? According to the state website:"Effective October 1, 2001, the calico cat became the official cat of Maryland (Chapter 194, Acts of 2001; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-317). Its colors of orange, black, and white are shared with the Baltimore oriole (State bird) and the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly (State insect).

"Calico is not a breed of cat, but an unusual coloring occurring across many breeds, including Domestic Short-hair, Persian, and Manx. Virtually all calico cats are female."

Pictured here are 10 miniature watercolor paintings of calico cat ladies that were a part of the 365 Cat Ladies featured in this blog during 2009. All are being auctioned off this week on Ebay...here is your chance to collect original artwork without breaking the bank, plus you will own a little piece of 365 Cat Lady history!

Place your bid today at:

http://myworld.ebay.com/whimsysu

Auction ends the morning of Tuesday Feb 16. Thanks for visiting!

A Cat Lady with a Heart of Gold

Meet Cat Lady Kimberlynn, who has a special place in her heart for good friends, fabulous felines, and canine cuties too. But then, she has a very special heart, as Cat Lady Rose can attest to:

"My friend Kimberlynn loves animals, she has 8 cats and 3 dogs! All rescued. We have been friends since we were 15, and we will turn 50 this year...Kim is beautiful and glamorous all of the time, and is the funniest person I have ever met. She is kind and intelligent and stronger than anyone I know.

"Thirteen years ago she had a heart transplant."

You can read her story here: Kim's Story. Rose adds: "Following her transplant, Kimberlynn designed her own product called “Goodnight Lines” which is an overnight facial moisturizer and she donates $1 from every bottle sold to Angelcat Haven Feline Rescue."

Feline friends Sly, Jennie, Sweetie, Chloe, Ashley, Bridgette, Paris, and Nikki approve wholeheartedly!

Thanks for visiting!

Meet Cat Lady Marie...Crazy For Calicoes

Meet Cat Lady Marie who just happens to be the baby sister of Crazy Cat Lady Carm (aka Cat Lady No. 217), who tells her story:

"Marie has a love for calico girls! There's just something about a calico kitty's "tortitude" that really makes her smile. So whenn Marie's children Danielle and Brian wanted a pet that was more than a hamster they thought about a kitten...

"Her friend Betsy's barncat had a litter in the spring of 1998. They all fell in love with and adopted the tiny tortoiseshell calico girl they called Cali. The next spring of 1999 Momma Barncat had yet another litter which produced a dilute calico girl with white who joined the family and was named Dusty Rose."

In the mean time, sister Carm had fallen in love with the Maine Coon breed and in the fall of 2001 she took Marie along for the ride on one of her visits to Chadwickoon Maine Coon Cats. Marie saw a brown-patched-with-white mackerel tabby girl and it was love at first sight! She suggested that Eileen (the breeder) should name the kitten Marie. "On the ride home she knew she had to have her little namesake... So she adopted Chadwickoon Sweet Marie a couple months later."

Carm continues the story: "Marie still longed for a true calico Maine Coon girl and asked me to find one that was predominately white with the black and red markings. By then I had LOTS of Maine Coon PURRson friends and one of them told me about a cattery in Eastern Pennsylvania who had such a girl. Emails and telephone calls were exchanged and one weekend in October of 2003 we made our way from Buffalo (driven by Marie's feline fella Bill), NY to Boothwyn, PA, to pick up McKimmey Emily- 7 hours to get there...and 7 hours home!"

"Cali is now 11 years old. Sadly, Dusty Rose lived to be only 6 when she went to the rainbow bridge. Marie is 8 and Emily is 6. Marie and Emily are enormous (not overweight--just BIG) Maine Coon girls each tipping the scales at approximately 20 pounds. Their veterinarian and their groomer both say they have never seen such big calicoes!"

Are you Crazy about Calicoes? [I looked it up--the spelling "calicos" is also acceptable!] Tell us about your tri-color kitties in the Comments section of this post. Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 362...Three is a Charm

Cat Lady Shannon maintains a very balanced household when it comes to pets: three cats share their home with three dogs.

She and her husband Gary are deeply involved with animal rescue. All three kitties - Callie, Pud and Sisko - were rescues. Shannon and Gary frequently foster other animals, so the cats never know who will be showing up for dinner!

Best friend Flora says, "They are truly two of the kindest people I have ever known. Shannon works in public relations, and always jokes that she appreciates animals so much because she has to work with people all the time!"

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 326.. Leftovers Revisited

Cat Lady Juliette and feline friend Babette have an embroidered pillow that says "Waste Not, Want Not" and so they were happy to learn about the Love Food Hate Waste website yesterday from their neighbor Cat Lady Dania.

Another website, Wasted Food, reports that "a new study by a team of National Institute of Health researchers has some fascinating findings. After analyzing USDA and FAO data, the team of researchers found that US per capita food waste has increased by 50 percent since 1974. More interesting, they found that we now waste 40 percent of our available food supply."

Yikes!! If you are as shocked as Juliette and Babette are about food waste, including its impact on the environment, here are 5 easy steps as suggested by author Jonathan Bloom:

1. Plan your meals before you grocery shop.

2. Make a detailed shopping list and stick to it!

3. Serve reasonable sized portions.

4. Save your leftovers.

5. Eat those leftovers!

To help you out, here is another fantastic website to help you use up what you already have! Just tell it what you have in your cupboard and fridge, and it will tell you what to cook, complete with recipes: Cooking By Numbers

Enjoy!

Cat Lady No. 319...Poetry To My Ears

Calico cat Trinny apparently has an ear for poetry, because every time Cat Lady Naomi recites a poem, Trinny stops and listens attentively, whether it be an elegant haiku or a silly limerick.

Writing or reciting cat poetry may be a sign that you are a Crazy Cat Lady. Presented here is a lovely example that was included in the comments of the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for November, submitted by Cat Lady Loryia. It's about little Tom Petty, who started out as a wee orphan, plus a few of his furry friends:

Ode To My Cats

When I gave Tommy his bottles, little did I know
His 1 a.m. feedings he'd never outgrow.
He still gets me up for a soft pac o'fish,
and please oh please his favorite china dish!
Little did I know that now there'd be three,
Three dishes, three brushes, three potties for ME!
And then there's the ferals who come for a meal,
then hang around for my heart to steal.
So outside I go, come rain, wind or snow,
to make sure the hotels are heated 'just so'.
My life is filled with kitty cat fur,
and I live to hear the kitty cats purr.

Enjoy!

Cat Lady No. 316... Qualifications

Cat Lady Sara knows that there is a fine line between being a Cat Lady and being a CRAZY Cat Lady, and although she only has just one cat, Callie, she may still qualify for the special designation of CRAZY.

Based on the comments so far in the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for November, you may be a Crazy Cat Lady or Lad if:

-You volunteer at an animal rescue or shelter organization
-Your cat has his or her own blog
-You are a foster parent to one or more kittens living in your bathroom
-You enjoy writing humorous poetry about your furry friends
-You refer to your darlings as "furkids"
-Your cat goes on vacations with you

But the most important qualification of all?
- You are CRAZY about cats!!

Thanks for visiting!

Have you entered the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for November? The giveaway ends at 7 p.m. PST on November 22 when one name will be drawn at random from all those who have left a comment at that post. Winner will receive their choice of one of these jumbo Cat Lady tote bags from my Cafepress online shop.

Cat Lady 314 and Cat Lad 315...Nine is Divine

What could possibly be better than getting a kitten for your birthday?

Hmmm. Maybe being happily married for over 50 years? Perhaps living in an enchanting 100-year-old farmhouse in a rural area near Toronto? Possibly maintaining your own personal garden paradise in the countryside? Or how about sharing that beautiful home with eight indoor felines, several barn kitties, and a beloved dog, Natasha?

Cat Lady Gail and Feline Fella Frank seem to have found the perfect recipe for contentment. Adding new kitten Elisse to the happy mix as a birthday gift on Gail's birthday today is just a little icing on the cake.

The indoor kitties agree that nine is divine! They include two Norwegian Forest Cats - Oliver and Lelani, one Birman - Buttercup, and six RagaMuffin Cats - Lexus, Mercedes, Lissette, Rhianna,and Annoush.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAIL
and
BEST WISHES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!

Cat Lady No. 301...Don't Call Me Skinny

Illustration Friday

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Cat lady Myrtle prefers to be described as svelte, trim, slender, spare, slim, sylphlike, willowy or lithe, thank you very much!

Cat Lady Myrtle can be found on a variety of giftware and t-shirts at my CafePress Shop:

Just Ducky

Cat Lady No. 300...Faithful Feathered Friend

Autumn is in full swing now, which means that Cat Lady Claire and calico pal Trixie have fewer and fewer feathered friends to admire. Only a brave handful have lingered, including this little song sparrow, but most have taken wing to head for warmer climes.

Until they return, Claire will amuse herself with many projects, including making pop-up bird/birdhouse holiday cards, using the step-by-step instructions she found by the pop-up genius Robert Sabuda. Here is the link: Pop-up Birdhouse

Enjoy!

This brand new watercolor painting, called "Bird Watching", is another sneak peek at one of the fine art Cat Ladies that will be part of a special art exhibit at Lawrence Gallery Sheridan here in Oregon. "Gallery Gals Holiday Art Exhibit" will take place November 1 through December 31, and will feature the work of four gallery staff members, including yours truly!

Cat Lady No. 298 and Cat Lad 299...A Happy Family

When soon-to-be Cat Lady Teresa and soon-to-be Feline Fella Tony were wed in July of 2005, they started talking about adopting a pair of cats. So, one Saturday in September that year, they visited their local Petsmart for a Fancy Cats (www.fancycats.org) adoption fair. The rest is heart-warming history as recounted by Teresa...

"After looking at all of the kittens, our eyes were locked on a small muted calico kitten named Rita. Everyone in the store kept commenting on how beautiful she was. So, we asked to hold her. It was love at first sight.

"She had two brothers, Reggie, a tabby cat, and Batman, a black cat. We would have to adopt Rita and one of her siblings. But, we could not leave one of the brothers behind. We ended up with all three.

"The woman who had brought in the litter said that there were two more siblings that had already been adopted. Later that year, I went to the rescue website again to see the new cats on the webiste. I found out that their siblings (a calico named Abby and tabby named Riley) had been returned to the rescue.

"I called the woman who we talked to at Petsmart and she said they were available for adoption. So, my husband and I decided that we should try to reunite the family (mostly because we wanted Rita to have a sister). After a few days all five were running around like best friends. They are all very loving and cuddly cats, and their favorite thing in the whole world is turkey. "

Sadly, Rita-- the smallest of the family-- passed away from feline anemia in December of 2007. Although her time on Earth was short, Teresa and Tony are sure that her life's work was very important: ensuring that her beautiful littermates would be united in a loving, happy home.

Thanks for visiting!

Numbering Note: It might appear that I skipped Cat Lady No. 297, however, it turns out that I used No. 127 TWICE back in May, hence the correction!

Cat Lady No. 290...Warm Hearts

It's getting blustery outside, but Cat Lady Katlin and calico cat Katinka have had their hearts warmed by reading all of the entries so far in the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for October.

Each entry includes a favorite animal shelter or rescue organization and here are some great examples:

Cat Lady Amy writes: My favorite rescue group is Second Chance Pets here in Houston. They work very hard to place cats, and to keep cats together when an elderly owner has passed away or can no longer care for them. As we have no children, my husband I have named them in our wills in addition to our siblings.

Petie the Cat from Canada says: Our favorite shelter/rescue is Darcy's ARC in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I would loves to win a portrait of me and my mama, purrss

Cat Lady KSee wrote: I have 4 rescued cats. My two girls were rescued by Metro Ferals. The boys were born across the street and Alley Cat Allies trapped an neutered, returned them where they came back to my patio. After much work they are indoor kitties.

To find out how you can participate in the giveaway, visit this link: Gift Certificate Giveaway . Thanks for participating!



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. 8 ACEO

Cat Lady No. 255...A Lucky Lassie

Look lively, ye feline femmes, here be the rollickin results that ye bin waitin fer!

Yes, Cat Lady Lulu and her shipmate Captain Mackerel are getting all warmed up for Talk Like A Pirate Day and Meow Like a Pirate Day on Saturday, September 19.

In the mean time, they would like to announce the winner of the 365 Cat Ladies September Giveaway No. 1.

A plethora of beguiling and bewitching names were suggested for Lulu's pal Nancy who wants to change her name. A random number generator was employed and comment no. 11 is the winner:

It's Danielle, who also just happens to be Cat Lady No. 122! Congratulations!

As Lulu might say, "Lady Fortune be smilin on yon lucky lassie for she'll be findin this fine satchel bestowed upon her by ye olde cargo carryin crew ".

Meanwhile, Cat Lady Nancy will be mulling over all of the suggestions, but is thinking there might need to be a second contest to come up with the winning name. Stay tuned...

Does your favorite feline friend enjoy wearing tricorne hats and eye patches while dreaming of bilge rats and sailing the seven seas? Then be sure to enter the "Meow Like a Pirate Contest" at The Cat's Meow Blog by Friday, Sept 18 for a chance to win great prizes!