Do You See What I See?

looking vs Seeing

How much time do you spend looking versus seeing? 

Looking is passive – seeing is active. How many of you after spending several minutes or even several hours with someone can answer this question? 

What color were their eyes?

Unless there is something that creates a striking contrast, most people will never remember eye color.

I wonder how much of life we are missing because we have turned into passive lookers rather than active see-ers? I am taking up a challenge this year to become more of an active see-er rather than a passive looker. I expect it to filter its way into much of my life, but I am making it a monthly artistic challenge and writing about it for the online publication I work for, GeaugaNews.com, where you will find my full article. 

Below is my office-craft-laundry-bedroom. It is about 10' x 15'. 

This is the linoleum floor.

Here is a close up of one of the squares.....what do you see?

Here's what I saw.

I made a pencil rubbing, 

cut them out and added the second pencil rubbing.

I cut out appliques from cotton fabrics and placed them on a cream polka dot background that has fleece lining underneath.

I stitched the cats on, 

and placed the third tiny cat where I wanted him,

then traced around him with my fine point brown marker and used acrylic paint for details.

I added clouds

and a cotton back with another striped cat like the front one,

quilted around the clouds and small cat then added the road for perspective with some random stitching.

After sewing the back and front together, I now have a lovely pillow for my Catcalls shop! Click on the picture if you are interested in purchasing it or any other of the handmade cat-themed items in my shop! 

TADA!

What do YOU see that others only look at?

Meet a Rescuer on National Feral Cat Day!

Today, October 16, is National Feral Cat Day. Visit Alley Cat Allies to find out more. I thought I would add this to yesterday's post for extra emphasis!  

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About The Feral Cat Rescue Project

The Feral Cat Rescue Project photo blog is an attempt to document the lives of feral cats and their plight. I do my best to feed and care for them, and to protect them from danger. The Feral Cat Rescue Project is not a 501(c)3 charity; it's just the effort of one impoverished artist.

~ Chriss Pagani

Today, October 15, 2012, is Blog the Change for Animals. There are many many good people out there who engage daily in selfless actions to help change the course of life for many of our furry and 'unfurry' friends. I want to highlight one of those people.

Chriss has literally given her all for the care and feeding of the feral cats that she has devoted her life to. Through her beautiful photography, she has allowed a glimpse into the lives of those that are too often considered unworthy of a place on the earth. Her own tragic background has perhaps allowed her to experience a deeper empathy than most toward the plight of these kitties. The loss of her own cat several years ago certainly played a large part as well in her current efforts to provide a safe place for these feral felines. 

Flojo

She has captured and neutered dozens over the years through the help of a local vet and used to house them in an old trailer on her sister's farm property. Sadly, an electrical fire earlier this year wiped out the trailer and as of this writing, I am not sure if she has yet found a place for the 30 or 40 that depend on her to winter over. But she continues to feed and care for them as best as she can through her sales of her art and photos and donations of other caring cat lovers.

Her blog header states:

Photos of feral cats and rescue cases. Full of beauty and sadness, feral cats are not trespassers nor are they alien invaders: feral cats are part of our natural world. This photo-blog documents the lives of feral cats; raw and real. It is not a place for studio portraits or carefully photoshopped pictures of fluffy purebred kittens. Real life is not always pretty, as you will see. This is the feral life.

Please visit her blog. You will find many gorgeous photos as well as her full story along with links to her art and photography and other selling venues. I included a couple of them here. And please consider a donation. A little can go a long way! 

Where to find her art, calendars, and other items for sale:

Fine Art America 

2013 Feral Life Photo Calendar

Zazzle T-shirts and Cards

God Bless you, Chriss! And thank you!

The American Cat and Dog

I do believe that to be a cat or a dog in America is probably one of the best, if not THE best, country to live in! Animals rights aren't everywhere. So thank God - and hug your fur friend this weekend!

Determined Kitty!

Do you own a determined kitty? A kitty who is lazy as can be UNTIL he has it in his head that he wants something? Haha! That's what this series is about! 

Happy week to all you determined kitties out there!

Kitty Art for Sun-Loving Dreamy Cats

It was 80 degrees on Friday (4-20) ...so much like beach weather! The kitties were out having fun in the sun! Finding their favorite 'beam' and settling in for awhile is what makes life so pleasant....ahhh to be a cat....

dreaming about the day when you can float up into the trees and visit those feathered 'friends' and invite them  to share a meal.....oh what a delicacy! 

Enjoy your weather while you have it, kitties - it's cold and getting ready to snow here! 

Art work is available in my Catcalls shop. Click the pictures for more info. 

Valentines Day Gifts Made with Love

Still wondering what to get for that special person for Valentines Day? Don't settle for the same ole same ole. Try something totally original! Something handmade, one of a kind, no other like it on the planet! Now THAT will make them feel special! Just click on any photo to take you to the listing. Mention this blog and I will refund you 10%! 

Even gifts for kitty! 

For you see, each day I love you more
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
~Rosemonde Gerard


Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.  ~Author Unknown

New Cats and Dogs in Watercolor and Ink

I hope you have been busy with new projects! Here's some of my recent art from Catcalls and Dogbarks to start the New Year! Click on any picture for more info!

This one is self explanatory! 

"I ♥ U"

"Happy Kitties"

"Love One Another"

"Greyhound Moon"

IT'S FREE SHIPPING DAY!

Check this out!! YES! There is FREE SHIPPING today ONLY, Friday, Dec. 16th, at Catcalls.etsy.com! 
Use coupon code FREECAT at checkout. 
TheCatRack.etsy.com has FREE SHIPPING every day!! Here are a few of the goodies you can get today!

Click HERE to go to Catcalls

and 

HERE to got to TheCatRack. 

Happy Shopping! 

You'll find LOTS more at both shops!

Catcalls (FREECAT coupon code) and TheCatRack offer the coolest cats and cat themed gifts, clothing, housewares, and art!