What's Old Is New Again...Finding Buried Treasure

As some of you may already know, I operated a ceramic arts studio for 15-16 years before turning to watercolor painting.

My mainstay during those many years was designing porcelain jewelry. I hand-crafted each piece from a rolled-out slab of porcelain clay, sometimes creating my own press-molds from plaster so that I could make multiple "blanks" of any particular design.
Once the porcelain pieces were dry, I hand-painted each one with various colorful underglazes, sealed them with a clear glaze, then trimmed each with 22K gold overglaze using a special fine line tool. This process required 3 separate firings in my electric kiln.

Toward the end of my ceramic arts career I created a line of cat lady brooches like those pictured here and sold them in galleries, boutiques and at art festivals. When I drew up these designs for the first time, I had no idea that I'd still be making "Cat Lady" art eight years later, selling it on the internet, and sending it off to exotic and faraway places around the world! Back then I didn't even know what a blog was and Etsy.com was but a gleam in Rob Kalin's eye. I've learned that it's a good thing for an old dog to learn some new tricks!!!

And guess what?

While packing for our recent move, I discovered close to 40 of these pins that have been stashed away since my last move six years ago. I've decided to offer them for sale in my Etsy shop.

Each is one-of-a kind and once they're gone, they're gone!

I am offering them for $22.00 each. They are artist-signed on the back, with a high quality safety-clasp pinback. The brooches measures approx. 2" x 1-1/2". Click on any image for more information, or click here to see the whole collection: Cat Lady Brooches.

Enjoy!

Today's Featured Cat Lady ACEO... Cat Lover No. 63

Cat Lady No 63 was first featured on 365 Cat Ladies on October 4, 2009. She introduced us to an old-timey recipe called Apple Slump and here is how it goes:

Peel and core some apples and slice them up nice and put them in a stew pot. Cook with a little sugar and water until soft but not too soft. Then in a bowl, sift 2 cups flour and 1 big pinch of baking powder with a pinch of salt, add 2 cups of milk, and stir. Roll out to fit into the stew pot and set on top of the apples. Put on the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Don't peek until that 10 minutes is up! Serve with fresh cream.

For more old-timey apple recipes visit the Apple Journal where there are dozens of recipes reproduced from The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture published in 1914 in North Yakima, Washington.


My original ACEO art of Cat Lover No. 63 is now available in my Etsy shop. This mini watercolor painting is in ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) format, which means that the artwork size is 2.5" x 3.5", the same as a baseball card.

It is hand-painted on super-heavy Arches 300-lb. acid-free cold-press watercolor paper with professional quality watercolor paints. Click here for more details.

Thanks for visiting!

Isabella Enjoys Her 'Nip

Meet Isabella. Isabella recently received a Susan Faye catnip ravioli toy and apparently found it irresistible, as documented by Cat Lady Sharon in this clip:



Isabella is the loving companion of Sharon's mom Barbara, pictured here in front of a beautiful geometric quilt. Barbara was lucky enough to acquire the antique quilt at an estate sale auction on Nantucket Island for just $17.

Sharon tells us a little more about Isabella:
"Isabella was a bright light during my father's last year. She would jump up on his lap for some love and would nap with him. She is a very sweet and affectionate cat who has given my Mom much comfort since my father's death in 2009.

"Isabella really is a delight. She is very friendly with all guests, but Mom is clearly her favorite human. Isabella is pretty small and she likes to sit on my Mom's shoulder and lick her face.

"Isabella is a stalker and hunter whether she is in the bay window or outside when she sneaks out. She sits in the bay window of the living room watching for prey outside. If she sees something interesting she hides behind a statue in the window so she can't be seen. Mom has a very nice screened-in porch (with special cat-proof screens) off the back of the house and there is a rabbit who has made its home under the porch. Isabella sniffs around the floor 'til she can 'find' the rabbit and then paws at the floor until something else catches her interest. She sees wild turkeys occasionally but must realize they are bigger than her because she doesn't crouch down into attack mode. She just watches them calmly..."

That's some bunny kick you've got there in the video clip, Isabella. Those turkeys wouldn't have a chance!

Thanks for visiting!

You'll find my catnip ravioli toys in my Etsy Shop at this link: Catnip toys

Cat Lady Spotlight-- Color Coordinated

Cat Lady Carolann has discovered the secret to perfect color coordination, down to the fabulous felines in her life:

"Somehow over the years I have become known for my love of things black and white, and for wearing silver. My cars are generally black too. I live in Melbourne which is renowned for its leagues of women in black (all very stylish of course!!) and in truth it is now very easy to dress. Hot days = sleeveless loose black, cold days = long sleeved many layers of black.... I can even get dressed in the dark with ease because everything goes together!!

"I haven't always had black cats, but over the years they have become progressively more black. The first was a grey tabby whose name was Mitzi, and there was Parker who was white with tabby spots. Then there was Donald Jordan, known as DJ... DJ lived to a very good age and saw me into marriage and then supervised the upbringing of our son Simon. They were great mates and I have many pictures of them sitting looking delightedly at one-another...

"When DJ died, I took my son to the local Lost Cats home for him to choose his own kitten and he chose a black long-haired one. It was Christmas and I tried very hard to persuade him to name the cat Pudding or something similarly seasonal, but he was insistent and our new cat was named Mr Pussy [pictured above]. Since my son is now 23 (and Mr P about 15), we have lived with smirks and giggles for quite a while. Hence the cat's other names: Mr P, Fatness, Fat Cat and when we're cross with him.... Hairy Legs. He is the fattest of the two we have, and steals food with great dexterity and in absolute silence. Until you hear his teeth crunching into whatever he's stolen.

"About 10 years ago we were at the vet and I read a notice about a home wanted for a young cat brought in with many injuries but now healthy. Foolishly I asked to meet it and fell in love with a small fierce black short-haired cat who ran straight out of the cage and up onto my shoulder into my hair where he sat purring. Instantly smitten I put him back in the cage and went out to the car and dragged my son in and the same thing happened to him. He walked out of the cattery with a dazed besotted grin saying 'Mum, we have to have him' so we did. They had already named him Basil so we kept it.

"Unfortunately Mr P was furious with me when Basil [also pictured above] came home, and has not spoken to me since. Seriously. He remains Simon's cat and tolerates me feeding him, but if I pat him (as I do often) he immediately retires to a corner and grooms himself, removing all traces of my hand!! By contrast, Basil is sitting on my knee as I write this... Many are the books I have read with Basil following the pages turning."

When not teaching special education classes, Carolann enjoys blogging, card-making, and most of all, READING! Be sure to visit her blogs--one called Black Cat's Miaow where you can follow her creative endeavors; and the other which is devoted to books: Library of the Black Cat. Carolann belongs to the Order of the Opus Gluei, a fun paper-crafting design group that has a different creative challenge each week.

A big thank you to Carolann's friend Cat Lady Lisa of The Craft's Meow who made the birthday portrait of Carolann, Mr. P and Basil possible!!

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 345...Lucky Day

Cat Lady Blanche is of the opinion that black cats are lucky, and that every day is a lucky day now that feline friend Philbert is a part of her life.

Tomorrow could be your lucky day, if you are one of the winners in the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for December. Three lucky names will be drawn at random to win one of three different prizes: a poster, an ornament, and a tote bag.

Contest ends at 7 pm PST, so don't delay, enter today!! For details, visit Cat Lady No. 339.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 330..Happy Birthday Sagittarians!!

Cat Lady Diane is celebrating her birthday today with the help of cat mom Charlene and kitten Charlie, just adopted from a local shelter. It turns out that like Diane, Charlene was also born under the sign of Sagittarius just a year ago, meaning that she is a very happy-go-lucky sort of feline...

Do you have a Sagittarius cat (born November 22-December 21)? Read more about your fabulous feline at Catster Astrology

Thanks for visiting!

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 294...Raindrops and Kitten

It's raining and Cat Lady Freda and Kitten Clooney are thrilled--Freda because she's been wanting to try out her brand new umbrella, and Clooney because he gets to snuggle up with Freda.

It's also been raining comments on the 365 Cat Ladies October Giveaway post, and Freda and Clooney are amazed at just how many cats have been entering the giveaway by naming their favorite cat shelter or rescue organization...

Kaze, Latte and Chase said: Darn it Skeezix beat us to our favorite rescue- Siamese Cat Rescue in VA. However, we will then put up in the running Rocky Mountain Siamese Rescue because they are awesome too!!

Da Fambly Kitties wrote: We support the Chippewa County Animal Shelter. I am furry proud to say that we are one of only a few county run shelters that are a no-kill shelter that uses foster homes for momma cats and their babies and have 100s of volunteers that walk dogs, groom cats, play with kittens, you name it - they do it.

Morgan the Pirate Gato commented: Our favorite rescue is Save A Sato. Although they do a lot of doggy rescues - they really do a TON of Kitty rescues! They are located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I was born with Diabetes and Cat-A-Racts - and I now live the life of a spoiled Pirate in Bethel, CT. My cousin Montoya was born blind, and thanks to Mom he now lives a spoiled life in Calgary, Canada. Mom did a fund raiser with Catster Moms and they bought some new kennels for the shelter. She and Aunt Tracey have been helping to do fund raising to get the shelter re-done little by little. They had old wood cages with bugs living underneath, and many rusty ones too. We love your portraits, and the Interview on the Catster Blog was PAWSOME!

To date there are 47 comments which means $47.00 will be donated to the Oregon Humane Society plus each commenter is entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate. There is less than a week to enter, so if you haven't already, visit this link: Gift Certificate Giveaway . Thanks for participating!



This original ACEO watercolor illustration is the first in a brand new series called "Raindrops & Kittens" and has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...add it to your collection by visiting
Raindrops & Kitten No. 1

Cat Lady No. 273...Apple Slump

Cat Lady Ruthie and Hubert have just returned from a lovely afternoon of picking apples in the back yard. Ruthie can't wait to try out an old, hand-written recipe that she found tucked away in the back of the recipe box of her dear departed grandmother. The recipe is called Apple Slump and here is how it goes:

Peel and core some apples and slice them up nice and put them in a stew pot. Cook with a little sugar and water until soft but not too soft. Then in a bowl, sift 2 cups flour and 1 big pinch of baking powder with a pinch of salt, add 2 cups of milk, and stir. Roll out to fit into the stew pot and set on top of the apples. Put on the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Don't peek until that 10 minutes is up! Serve with fresh cream.

For more old-timey apple recipes visit the Apple Journal where there are dozens of recipes reproduced from The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture published in 1914 in North Yakima, Washington.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 250...Something Fishy

Just ask Cat Lady Mirabelle and her trio of finicky feline gourmands: there's nothing like a great fish dinner.

But lately Mirabelle has become concerned about the state of the seafood she and the cats consume. As the Nature Conservancy recently pointed out in its Cool Green Science blog: "Our oceans contain some of Earth’s most imperiled habitats.

"Shellfish beds, coral reefs and seagrass meadows once bustling with life have been depleted, and critical fish stocks have plummeted. Less than 1 percent of our oceans are currently protected. There’s even a giant garbage patch twice the size of Texas floating in the Pacific."

It's enough to make a cat gag on her tuna souffle.

Luckily, Mirabelle found a list of 10 things she can do right now to make a difference, including:

• Reduce plastic consumption
• Choose earth-friendly cleaners and detergents
• Buy local and organic to reduce pesticides and toxins that wind up in your food and in oceans
• Choose sustainable seafood at your restaurant and market (use this handy Seafood Watch Pocket Guide)

For the complete list of tips with helpful links, visit
Marine Conservation:What You Can Do

Thanks for visiting!

WEEKEND DEALS ON ETSY! FREE worldwide shipping on EVERY item in my Etsy shop Friday Sept 11 through Sunday Sept 13 ! Includes all Cat Lady giftware, ACEO art, prints, and Custom Pet People portraits.

Just add the code "Weekend Deals" in Message to Seller section during checkout, and shipping fees will be promptly refunded via Paypal.

Cat Lady No. 212...A Martha Kind of Day

In honor of Cat Lady Martha's birthday today, Cat Lady Genevive did not bake tiramisu cupcakes from scratch, did not re-pot her dahlias, did not make organic compost tea, did not design a designer photo album, did not make a fruit salad inside a watermelon rind, and did not run a business empire the size of a small kingdom.

But what Cat Lady Genevive DID do in honor of her favorite Domestic Godesses' birthday was to make this charming felt catnip mouse for her cat companion Ziegfried. All by hand. And with organic catnip.

Ziegfried couldn't be happier. It's a good thing.

To see some wonderfully creative handmade felt catnip toys, visit this link at Modern Cat , plus you can enter to win one for yourself!


This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Cat Lady ACEO

Cat Lady No. 207...Secrets To A Happy Home

The reason that the home of Cat Lady Clara and Sharkie is such a happy one? Probably the steady supply of choice, home grown catnip from terrific tiger cat Big Poon.

Clara buys directly from Big Poon himself, by visiting Sirius Sunlight Glass Studio in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Every penny from the sale of the catnip is donated to the Iowa County Humane Society. Big Poon has donated nearly $3000 so far.

If you don't happen to be in the neighborhood, you can buy Big Poon's Very Best Fine Home Grown Catnip by mail order.

Your home will be happy that you did.

Thanks for visiting!

This original ACEO mini watercolor painting has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Home Sweet Home

Cat Lady No. 206...When You're Hot, You're Hot

Cat Lady Sian can't imagine what it must be like to be stuck inside of a fur coat when temperatures soar.

Her feline friends Phoebe and Georgie, however, can tell you that it is miserable.

So when the thermometer hits SCORCHING, Sian follows three simple rules that she learned from The Cat's Meow blog:

Hydrate,
Furminate,
and Educate...

In return, Phoebe and Georgie will happily snuggle up and let Sian enjoy their warm fur coats on those chilly, damp evenings in winter that surely lie ahead...

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 203...Home Sweet Home

Illustration Friday
(theme:"idle" )

We all know what diabolical workshop hands can wind up in should they ever go idle, so when Cat Lady Robbi Jo is not petting Tabby Gabby, she keeps those hands busy with all manner of the needle arts: knitting, embroidery, sewing, cross stitch, quilting, applique, crochet, tatting, and an occasional flirtation with macrame.

Gabby on the other hand, knows she's better off keeping her paws idle. Trouble always seems to be just a claw's-length away...

Thanks for visiting!

This original ACEO mini watercolor painting has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Home Sweet Home

Cat Lady No. 185...Give Peas A Chance

Cat Lady Judith never liked to eat peas much, until she started growing her own. Today Garden Cat Theodora is going to help Judith build a trellis for the peas vines, which are suddenly taking off and growing like crazy.

Judith prefers building simple trellises out of bamboo poles and twine. Theodora prefers twine that can be mistaken for a mouse tail and needs a good pouncing...

Here are some simple directions for a bamboo trellis that can be used in a container or in a garden: Building a Bamboo Trellis

Happy gardening!

Cat Lady No. 162...Shopping For Dad

Karina is an avid nature lover thanks to her father, who led nature hikes every Sunday afternoon during Karina's childhood.

Feline Friend Tuxie Lula is also an avid nature lover. She never met her own father but imagines that he was a wild and handsome black cougar who also enjoyed nature hikes.

With Father's Day just a week away Lula and Karina will spend the afternoon picking out a gift for Karina's dad at the Nature Conservancy website.

Whether it's adopting an acre of rainforest, planting trees in Brazil, or giving carbon offsets, Karina's dad will be delighted to receive a gift that keeps on giving to the planet.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 136...Happy Victoria Day!

The Victoria Day Parade and weekend celebrations are almost over in Canada, but Cat Lady Dominique and Vicky have one last thing to celebrate: the unofficial end of the winter season!

Time to put away the galoshes and plan the garden, as they make a toast to Queen Victoria and eat a bit of cake in her honor.

For more information about Victoria Day, visit this link:
Victoria Day

To find out more about Queen Victoria, and all things Victorian, click on this link:
The Victorian Web

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 LADY PORTRAITS

Cat Lady No. 135...Puzzle Time

Cat Lady Brigitte and sidekick Lorenzo like nothing better on a Sunday evening than working a jigsaw puzzle.

Lorenzo's job is to push puzzle pieces around the table a bit to make sure they are not actually bugs or mice in disguise, and then he curls up inside the box lid while Brigitte fits the pieces together.

Brigitte recently found a series of fun Animal Planet jigsaw puzzles that can be played right on the computer and feature images of different cats:
FELINE FACTS PUZZLES

While Lorenzo was disappointed that these virtual puzzles did not include a box lid, he eventually conceded that sitting in Brigitte's lap was just as cozy, if not more so.

Enjoy!

Cat Lady No. 118...When I'm 64

As the newest members of the
Society for the Preservation and Advancement of Waltzing with Cats, Cat Lady Janice and her calico cutie Ophelia spend a lot of time practicing their slow dance steps. But their first love is be-bopping to Beatles music.

Though she doesn't realize it, Janice has had a crush on Paul for almost half a century. Like all of the other girls, she thought he was the cutest Beatle, and never dreamed that he (or she) would actually grow old, even when singing along to the song "When I'm 64".

And although decades have seemingly whizzed by, Janice doesn't mind. She and Ophelia will continue to waltz, and be-bop, and dream of marrying Paul someday...as she imagines the cutest Beatle helping her to blow out 64 candles in just a few short weeks...


Hey all you creative types...Time is running out! Cat Lady Belinda needs your help naming 5 new kittens. Don't miss out on the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for April featuring 3 different fabulous Cat Lady prizes. Visit the link for complete details on how to enter...

My handsome cat nephew Tamayo is famous! Vote for him in Etsy's weekly poll at http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=44 (he is the Custom Cat Portrait item). If you aren't already a member of Etsy, it's easy to sign up!

The original ACEO watercolor illustration of Janice and Ophelia was just listed today in my Etsy shop: Calico Cat Lady ACEO

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 111...Oceans Need Love Too

Terra firma gets the lion's share of attention on Earth Day, but Mermaid Cat Lady Luana and Cha-Cha, her Cat Fish, would like equal time for the oceans of the planet.

Luana and Cha-Cha enjoy star gazing on warm summer evenings, but the swirls of trash floating on the surface of the sea are starting to obliterate the view. And just last week Cha-Cha got tangled up in a plastic bag and nearly became lunch for a passing shark!

The Ocean Conservancy has lots of useful information and great programs to address the problems facing our oceans. In September, nearly 400,000 volunteers at 6,485 sites in 104 countries and 42 U.S. states picked up trash along the world's coastlines and waterways during the annual International Coastal Cleanup - and they collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash.

Luana and Cha-Cha hope you will reduce, re-use, and recycle and help to keep trash out of their home!

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"