Naughty Strawberry!

Strawberry just couldn't leave the Christmas tree alone!! He tried, but it was just too tempting. But look at the pic below....how could you be mad with a face like that???

Happy 2011!

I'm back! We've been snowed in a couple of times and I've just been trying to stay warm!! Luckily I had Hadley and the other kitties to snuggle up with. ;) I'm working on listing some vintage linens and patterns on my site this week. I've been cleaning out my studio and finding all sorts of goodies I need to part with, so I'll be putting some on ebay and some on my website. Watch out!! My husband has been off all week so we've made some progress on remodeling my studio. Yeah!!!!

Halloween Party

 I know...its been too long since I posted! (I know, because some of you have told me so. lol!!) I've been getting ready for some shows and haven't gotten around to blogging. But I DO have lots of pictures to share with you! First of all....the Halloween party! We had so much fun, almost as much getting ready for it as we did at the actual party! I drug so much food, decorations, etc to Momma's that it took me & Tyler (my nephew) all afternoon to get everything set up. We play a game we call "fear factor". We come up with foods that look like something disgusting and the kids have to eat them. They were tough this year and we didn't have just one winner. Guess we will have to get a little more disgusting next year!! Below are pictures from the party....enjoy! More cat news tomorrow, I promise! :)

 

 
  
  
 
 

I could never find any good "eyeball" recipes so I came up with my own! I bought canned pears and used a melon baller to scoop them into round shapes. With a paring knife, I carved a little hole just the right size for a blueberry (fresh or frozen). I put a little strawberry jam in the middle, put the blueberry in the hole and poked a toothpick through it. For the "blood", mix grape jelly and red food coloring and enough water to thin in just a little and pour around the eyeballs. These actually taste good and the fruit is good for you!

Strawberry on his way home...

Today's the the day....Strawberry went to have his teeth pulled today! Now they are all gone, except his canines. I know he'll be sore, but he'll feel so much better now that they are gone. I checked on him at lunchtime and the surgery went well with no complications. (Whew!) I'm headed to the vet's office to pick him up. I'm so glad to have this over with! I'm taking Mr. Spock for a checkup. He's almost 15, so he needs them more often. Strawberry is getting close to 14!

I will never get tired of looking at his sweet face. Ever since the first time I saw him peeking from under that barn at me, I thought he was adorable!!

I have still been listing stuff like crazy! I listed a WHOLE BUNCH of Halloween jewelry at www.tcpstyle.com and lots of Halloween goodies at www.fullmoonfolkart.com

Now I have to go pick up Strawberry and will probably spend the evening watching over him like a hawk. ha!  

A Little Help from my Friends...

I had a little help from my friend, Strawberry, when I was painting my Halloween chair. Pretty cute, huh? I just painted around him as long as I could. He was too cute, I just hated to disturb him! 

Spoiled Rotten

This is Hadley, getting a good head scratching from my husband. She is so spoiled! She loves to be carried around, follows me around while I do laundry, clean or whatever I'm doing around the house. And she's always so happy when I get up in the mornings, greets me with her sweet little meow as soon as I see her. Now I'm glad the guy didn't want to take her back. He didn't know what he was missing! :) Pumpkin agrees, I'm sure....he loves having her around.

Check out my new Halloween chair....I'll be taking it the show in Dalton, GA but will have it for sale on my site until then. It will cost extra for shipping, or if you are local, I can deliver it or arrange to meet you. If you are near Dalton, you could pick it up at the show, which is the first Friday in October. I'll post more info soon. Chair is listed at www.fullmoonfolkart.com and www.thecatspyjamas.com

Fall is in the Air!

I love the cooler weather...so do the kitties. This is Luke--he's getting fattened up for the winter, I guess. LOL! Its been several months since he was neutered and he has been growing (wider) ever since. But doesn't he look sweet and cuddly this way? I've got my pumpkin ready for the porch and a few other decorations to put out pretty soon. I try to wait until October, but sometimes I just can't wait that long!! I listed some new Halloween paintings on my site this week. Here's one of my favorites....a spooky cemetary scene. If you want to buy, click here to find it on my site. Would love to hear your thoughts on my new Halloween art too!

Kitty drama!

Hadley gave me a little scare this week. I had her spayed a little over a week ago and she had this huge knot pop up at her incision. I was afraid she had a hernia and would have to have surgery again. But I took her in yesterday and its just a "fluid pocket" and will go away. Whew! I didn't want her to have to go through surgery again now. She's still as hyper as ever!

Rusty had SEVEN teeth pulled last Monday! He has stomatitis and had already had 4 pulled a few months ago. The vet thought he'd have to have all pulled but his 2 bottom canines, but he didn't have to have that many pulled. He did have to have one canine pulled. I felt so bad for him, but he got over it in a hurry and got back to eating that same day. He weighs 17 lbs, so apparently not much hurts his appetite!

I am working on new dolls to take to Art Sunday next month. I'm looking forward to it, but I hope it cools down a lot by then! I do have new jewelry at Talk of the Town in Scottsboro and will have new jewelry at Art Sunday too. Come see me there!!

No Excuses

I wish I had a good excuse for taking so long between posts! I've just been busy and my blog got put on the back burner. Shame on me! Its not like I don't have anything to tell. Its just getting around to doing it!

I got my new issue of Create & Decorate today and my Barry the Bat pattern is in there. After looking at the October issue, I am REALLY wanting fall to get here. Not to mention that we're having temps over 100 here. I was out at 10 this morning, thinking I would beat the heat and it was already 95 degrees. Whew!!

Little Hadley is growing like a weed. I just looked back at some of the pictures of her on my blog and can't believe how much she has changed. Its kind of funny I was talking about finding her a good home. Some of you that know me probably knew she'd end up staying. She is such fun and Pumpkin really loves playing with her. A few nights ago Pumpkin kept crying while we were eating dinner and I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized Hadley was locked in the bedroom. I let her out and Pumpkin was fine! Hadley goes to the vet on Friday to be spayed. I hate leaving them for surgery, but will be so glad when its over and behind us!

I thought I was through with shows for the year, but I will be at Art Sunday in Scottsboro, AL next month. If you're in the neighborhood, look for me at the Talk of the Town tent! 

Hangin' with Poncho

I've been pretty busy with graphics & cats lately! Poncho is one of the new strays that I recently got neutered. I thought he was feral, but it turns out he is a sweetheart! He finally let me near him a few weeks ago, then I got him fixed. He was so scared at the vet and I really felt sorry for him! I had to keep him in a kennel overnight and he was so upset. But he was back within a few days and has been putting on weight and getting more comfortable around me every day. Now he'll climb in my lap and follow me around like a little puppy dog. He pats me on the ankles if I'm not petting him and meows at me constantly. He must really have a lot to say!! The other kitty I got fixed has a new home just across the road from my studio, so I get to see him every day still. He spends most of his time indoors, but does get to come out and visit.

I am getting together with my family today--we're going out to eat and to Crow Mountain orchard. Should be fun and I know I'll come home with way too much fruit and will probably be busy all weekend canning and freezing. It will be worth it when the winter gets here and I'm eating a buttermilk biscuit just out of the oven with some peach preserves I made myself! If anyone has good jelly, jam or preserves recipes, I'd like to hear them! I think they now have peaches, apples, blackberries & plums, maybe nectarines. Mmmmm...I can't wait!

My studio is coming along....we built a small closet on the back of the house connected to the back bedroom. This is where my hubby's music room will be and the closet will be for storage. (So he can get his stuff out of my way. ha!!) The closet is painted and the bedroom primed. I'll pick up more primer and paint today and we'll probably have it painted by the weekend and ready for flooring. (I saw "we", but my husband has done all the painting in this room!) Can't wait to get started on the last 2 rooms of my studio so I can officially move in and start creating here!!

Hadley in action

This is supposed to be for sharpening claws, but she had other ideas!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....

My nephew, Jack, is learning to sing! I was shocked when I went to visit him and he was walking around singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. It is the cutest thing!

I've been busy listing some supplies on my site. Click here to see all the new stuff. I have some really cool old quilts. Its really hard for me to part with them....I got out 4 to photograph and only decided to keep one, so I thought that wasn't too bad! I also found some old octagon soap coupons that I'm working on listing now. There's no telling what else I might find while I'm trying to clean out my studio! It is packed and I need room to work on it....so I'll be listing more soon, I hope.

The new little kitty is keeping me busy...she is definitely happy and healthy. She plays constantly, rarely sits still more than 30 seconds when I'm in the room. I'm glad she's happy, but I would like for her to stop and sit in my lap for a while! I am thinking of naming her Hadley....any opinions? Does she look like a Hadley?

Been a long time...

...since I posted! I was busy with my show and then taking care of cats!! Had a good time at the show in Dunwoody, GA and met lots of nice people.

The day before yesterday, I saw a little tiny kitten across the road. My neighbor & I tried to catch it until it started to rain & lightning. The next day (yesterday) it was on another neighbor's tire and I finally was able to catch her. Now I just need to find her a home! She's really sweet & fun and likes to snuggle! I'll have a hard time parting with her, but maybe she'll find a good home soon.

I've had 2 cats that were shot recently....I think I wrote about Luke having a pellet removed from his leg. Another black kitty came up and had been shot with a BB. I took him to have that removed and get him neutered. He stayed a few days before his surgery because he had a fever. We named him Yoda because he's got huge ears that stick out to the side. Sounds funny, but its really cute! He has a new home with my cousin. I dropped him off last weekend and he seemed happy I guess he loves the kids--I miss him sititng in my lap every morning but happy he has a home where he'll get lots of attention.

Rusty had to have FOUR teeth pulled last week, so I've been dealing with that too, plus a couple of sick strays that I trying to sneak antibiotics to. I have lots of new stuff left from my show that I'll either list on my website or take to Talk of the Town. (Or both!)

Keeper of the Garden project

Here's my new pattern in Create & Decorate magazine, Keeper of the Garden!  As always, they did a great job with the photos. Wish they could come here and photograph all my projects for me!!

Check out my website for brand new patterns too....I started adding some HALLOWEEN patterns today!

I don't think I've shared any good kitty pics in a while....this is a pic of Sookie a while back, not long after I rescued her from that buggy in Wal-mart parking lot! She's doing well and put on a lot of weight. (Not that she was that skinny before anyway!) She really prefers to stay outside unless I'm going to let her sleep in the bedroom at night!

I took Luke to get him fixed last week and they found out he had been shot with a pellet gun. I had no idea--poor guy! He has a staple in his hip and I hope he comes around in the next few days so I can take him to get it out. Right now he's still a little scared and only comes around every couple of days and always at night. At least the vet says its okay if he doesn't get to come back....he's still skinny. Can't wait to see him start putting on some weight too!

Someone is trying to steal my pop tarts!

Rusty is on a special diet--he only gets limited ingredient canned food because of his allergies. (Maybe he'll lose some weight as a bonus!) I tried to eat a pop tart at my studio and that was a mistake. He tried to steal it! I feel bad for him--I know how hard it is to diet. And I'd rather have something better than a pop tart for breakfast (egg mcmuffin, biscuit and gravy, sausage biscuit.....) so I can sympathize with him. Guess I'll have to stay home to eat from now on . Its just too tempting for him!!! I've been working on some new jewelry for my next show. I'll be in Dunwoody in may for the Dunwoody Art Festival! I'll have 2 booths--one with my jewelry and one with my dolls/artwork. Please come out and visit me if you can!! (Helena...I'm gonna be looking for you!!!!) 

Up to no good?

I spied CJ out my window one day--looks like he was up to no good! I'm sure he was watching some little birdies, but I have never seen him climb a tree, so I think they're safe. Why are the biggest kitties always the ones that are the "fraidy cats"????

New artwork...and stuff

I took some new stuff to Talk of the Town last week--took these painted canisters. Well, the 2 on th eleft. The one on the right is MIA, but I'm taking it when (and if) I can find it! Also took soe dolls, jewelry and a painted Grandfather clock! Go check it out if you get a chance and let me know what you think about everything.....

I just found out yesterday that one of my projects is going to be on the cover of Creat & Decorate for the April 2010 issue! I'll  remind you when it comes out....I was pretty excited to find that out!

I was going through my pics and found this funny picture of Pumpkin on a pumpkin!! That's a huge pumpkin my Daddy grew. I brought it inside for a few days and Pumpkin used it as his new stool! 

Pile O' Kitties

Pile o' Kitties on my couch! (Bilbo and Strawberry!) 

Frasier

I can't believe I'm having to write this so soon after losing another kitty, but we had to have Frasier put to sleep on Thursday morning. He was having trouble breathing and his heart was enlarged. They tried treating him overnight but he didn't improve at all, he was actually worse when we went back Thursday morning. I surely will miss seeing him everyday and was looking forward to having him helping me in the yard and garden this summer. We only had him for a short time (about 2 years), but I am still glad we were able to rescue him from being put to sleep in the pound and that he was able to live out the rest of his life running around with other cats. I think he was happy and that makes me happy. He will certainly be missed by me and I'm sure his buddy, Little Bit is missing him too. When she first came, he was the one who took her under his wing and she was his little shadow. My front porch looks empty when I go out to feed them in the mornings--without Elvis and Fasier, it just doesn't look right. 

The Tempting Christmas Tree

Strawberry has been so good about leaving the tree alone....until the past few days! You can see here he just sits there with the ornaments touching his head until he can't take it anymore. ha! I'm not sure, but I think he tries to use the needles of the tree as dental floss. Hopefully my tree will make it until Christmas. I stopped using tinsel of any kind after I got my kitties. I don't use tinsel garland or those little icicle things. I think my tree looks just as good and I don't have to worry about the kitties eating it. (Just in case you don't know....it can be very bad if your pet eats one. Just ask Pumpkin, who ate a string once. It wasn't good...it can make them sick just like a string or other foreign object....dogggies too!)