Imagining Spring Into Existence: My Process

February is when I start to think about gardening. It’s the time of year when daylight hours are noticeably longer and we start to stir from winter’s hibernation. It’s easier to get up in the morning and easier to drive home at night from work. And didn’t that infamous eternal groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predict an early spring?

The energy the sun exudes cannot be underestimated! It always awakens a fresh hope and anticipation of expectation and I find myself overrun with ideas as the days grow longer.

I recently went out and took some pictures of my property where I intend on doing some landscaping this year. This particular spot is about 10 by 15 feet. I began to imagine myself sitting here in the warmer months and drawing, bird watching, or even napping! I love color and texture and natural fragrances, and pretty soon I was inside a lovely little world of herbs and flowers!

I printed my photo onto a piece of acrylic art paper.

My Connecting Threads ‘junk’ mail had come this week, so I pulled it out and began looking through for colors, shapes, and patterns.

I started tearing and cutting tiny pieces

and randomly placing a few on the photo.

Gluing such teeny tiny scraps is a chore! I added some paint for detail – and of course our fat cat Chubbs had to be there! And then I saw a trellis – reminiscent of the one my son Gabe made for me many years ago – and I wanted that to be my entrance point.

Painted clay pottery adds a lovely artistic flair and can be arranged and rearranged. I imagined several sizes bursting with color and foliage. I envisioned the soil dotted with some ground cover of white allysum and lemon thyme, added some flowers – anemones would be nice – over by the propane tank to hide it a bit, and outlined and shaded here and there.

Lastly, I coated it with some diluted Aleene’s tacky glue and put it into a frame!

I can feel the warmth and smell the fragrances every time I walk by it; and now I REALLY can’t wait for spring!

“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.”

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

They Can't See Me!

Great hideout Chubbs.

Yeah – not too many places a 25 lb kitty can hide in a tiny house....

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?

Cat-themed Apparel and a Real 'Cat Bird'!

I've been busy with custom orders in my Catcalls shop! Lots of fun!

Doofus Pet PJs. Do you know why they are 'doofus'?

And a cool Halloween skirt for a party.....

But what is this?????

Poor 15 year old Nipper! 

Fall Hunting Stats

Hunting Stats 9/22/2012

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King Chubbs on Greenhouse Duty

King of Greenhouse......???

Can we get an assistant in here? 

Chubbs - KING of Greenhouse

I am Chubbs.

King and Guardian.... 

of Greenhouse. 

I earn my keep. 

Unlike other certain habitants of this household.

Kings must be paid for their services. 

NEVER interfere with a King and his Nip Bit!

Then they retire to bask in a chosen sunbeam. 

Burr-Butt River Queen

I am Nipper - Queen. After 15 years of life, I should be -  don't you agree?

Today, I went out to do some exploring and to claim the Bitterroot River as my own. The humans got a bit worried since it was in the 90s. But I am a tough old cuss.

I seem to have picked up some foreign matter on certain parts. 

Upon closer inspection, it appears to be burrs - hence the Burrbutt title. 

But my owner did not want me to be shamed, so she quickly removed them. 

Now it's time to retire to MY spot for the evening. 

The time has come! After 30 some years of waiting and wishing......

Stevensville, MT

I'm moving to Montana! 

I'll be leaving in July with my sister, who has also decided she is tired of Ohio, and we will drive with whatever we can fit into our cars. Everything else must go! Chubbs, her kitty, and my guinea pigs, Tooey and Violet, will be coming. I will be looking for homes for my other piggies. 

Since Chubbs will be traveling with us, he needed a harness for our rest stops. I have not made such things before, so like any good creative soul, decided this was a good time to try! He has never been in any kind of clothing or harness before, so this was quite a shock to the fat guy! Fat indeed! He has 22" girth! 

As you can see, Chubbs has some adjusting to do! 

I had such fun making this one, that I made another 'plus size' kitty harness-jacket and listed it in my shop. I do believe these will become more populous in both Mewmart and Catcalls! 

I will try to keep you posted on our preparations. I am having a moving sale this Saturday, June 9 and my sister is having one June 23 to raise money for our trip.  So we have plenty to do. I have very little - she has much more! LOL

Prayers are always welcome! For both the leaving and the traveling.....

I CAN'T WAIT!!!! 

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!