Vintage Suitcase Cat Bed

I've been seeing some REALLY CUTE cat beds online made from old, vintage suitcases & decided I HAD to make one myself!  Got this wonderful case at an antique store here in town (actually last year) & finally got to work on it.  Added some legs, cute decorations & made a fleece poly-filled cushion to place inside & VOILA!  Turned out just how I wanted!

Do the cats use it?  no

Is it a great decorative piece next to our kitchen fireplace?  YESSS!

I think the cats will eventually figure out it's for them.  They can't seem too eager, you know.  That wouldn't be cat-like.  It took our dog about a year to use the antique bed I bought him but now he's on it ALL the time!
Happy cat-napping to you all!  purrrrr.......

P.S.  The stuffed kitty is from Urban Outfitters & the cute rug is from Target!

From 3 to 4

Meet little Amos!

My 3 fosters came from a litter of 5 ~ I took 3 & another foster mom took the other 2.

Sadly, 1 of hers didn't make it ~ a sweet little girl named Annie.  Bless her heart.  I offered to take her brother Amos so he could be with his siblings & not be alone.  He's just LOVING romping & playing with his brother Mowgli & sisters Moppet & Mitzi & is so happy! 

I took all the kitties in a few days ago for a checkup & vaccs.  They are all doing GREAT & just need to gain a few more ounces before they can go back, have their spay/neuter surgeries & be all ready for adoption!  I know they'll be snatched up quick ~ they are too adorable!

Having foster babies sure keeps you busy!  I have a sketch for a new Frida Kahlo & Cat painting I want to start but haven't found the time yet.  Really wanted to have it ready to list for Cinco de Mayo on Saturday but that's doubtful.  Darn.  I'm taking my daughter to "Junior Day" at K-State tomorrow, then taking her to KU in Lawrence where she'll meet up with her fellow Journalism students for the State Competition on Saturday.  Busy, busy, busy!  Not much time to paint.  I can show you the sketch at least.

Can't wait to fill her full of bright, happy

COLORS!

Ok, back to my foster duties...  =^..^=

Christmas is Coming!

Visit my ETSY SHOP to check out these cute Vintage Cat Christmas Pillows!

I love this fabric I found SO much I think I'm gonna have to make myself a pillow!

Also finished a cute pillow ornament/door-hanger that I'll get listed tomorrow.  Making Christmas things is so much fun!  I really need to get out & do some more Christmas SHOPPING though.  My plan to slow down this year isn't working out so well.  Too many FUN things to do!!!

Feline Friday - Tower of Towels

Zoolou ~ Queen of the Towel Pile!

Man, I am SO behind on my blogging!  All of you who have kids in school know how busy & crazy the last few weeks of school are.  With all the activities going on there just hasn't been much time to blog, paint, sew or much less keep up with Facebook (I seriously don't know how people can be on there & post several times a day)! 

My oldest daughter is graduating High School & we're getting ready for a houseful of company next weekend ~ planning, shopping & doing all kinds of projects around the house.  She'll be getting ready for college this summer too so we'll have lots to do preparing for that.  I can't even describe the EMOTIONS I'm having through all this!  If you've been through it you KNOW!  It's kind of slow torture. sniff...

 

Anyway, I had to post this picture of Zoolou.  Both our cats come running whenever I'm folding towels ~ without fail!  They just roll around on them & think it's a big party.  I couldn't believe Zoo jumped up on the pile without it toppling over.  I snapped a pic before she got too rowdy.  It turned out really cute & I think this just might be the inspiration for my next painting!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Vintage Kitty Ornies

I got a little sewing done over the weekend & here is the result!

A TRIO of cute Vintage Cat Pillow Ornaments!

They are already in my Etsy Shop so go check them out!

We had a nice, relaxing (cold & rainy) Easter!

Hope you had a happy one!

Feline Friday - Shop Cats

Meet Jasper!

This handsome boy helped show us around the "Nelson & Taylor Interiors" shop in Weston, MO.  Weston is my favorite little town just north of Kansas City.  My daughter Kayla & I road tripped there today for the Annual Antique Show.  I can't believe I have a teenage daughter who likes to look at antiques with ME!  The show was held in the Weston Burley House ~ a 100 yr. old tobacco warehouse!  It was a really cool building (only didn't smell so good in some parts - ha).  We had a blast & saw tons of great stuff.  I almost came home with a bed but talked myself out of it ~ plus I didn't know if it would fit in the van! 

After the show we hit the shops on Main Street.  I LOVE how so many shopkeepers there bring their cats to work!  Noone seems to think anything of it.  This one (Jasper) jumped up on a display table & wound his way around GLASS items & noone gave him a second glance!  Weston is a very pet loving community ~ just another thing I love about it.  Not only is it beautiful & unique, I get to see 2 of my favorite things ~ antiques & cats!  There were actually 2 cats in this store.  The other was sleeping on the couch in the background.  Of course my daughter & I quit shopping to pet the cats & take pictures.  heehee

Happy Easter Weekend!

Feline Friday~How Quickly They Grow!

Our little furry children are all grown up & almost 6 years old!

Look how sweet they were as babies!

They're still sweet now - just bigger.  Especially Koda!  He's a whopping 95 pounds now!

I don't really miss the kitten years since I can have foster kittens from the Humane Society all spring, summer & fall.  There are usually plenty of babies to give me a good kitten fix!

Just ran across these old photos & thought I'd share.  They grow up SO fast don't they???

Kiss your babies & have a happy weekend!

Feline Friday ~ The Sunny Spot!

Is Markie trying to tell me our house is too cold???

Our sweet boy can always be found where the sun is shining!

Ahhhhhhh.......

Wishing you a happy SUNNY weekend! purrrrr...

House of Purrs

Welcome to the "House of Purrs" ~

the Bed & Breakfast for cats in LOVE!

This is my 2nd in a series of "Little Wooden House" paintings I'm making from the tops of fence panels I rescued from the trash.  I meant to get it done earlier for Valentine's Day but so it goes... I finished it last night & it's on Ebay now if you'd like to check it out. 

We got another snowstorm Tuesday!  Most people are sick of the snow but I'm lovin' it!  Winter is so much prettier with snow, the kids get fun snow days & I even think it's kinda fun to drive in!

Happy Thursday!  Stay warm & toasty!

Cozy Cat Cabin

"Cozy Cat Cabin" now on EBAY!

A wood cabin painted on REAL WOOD!

We had to repair part of our fence recently & I had the workers save all the tops of the fence panels they were planning to throw away. They are the perfect "house-shaped" wood blocks great for paintings. I'm starting a series of cabins, cottages, holiday houses & all kinds of dwellings! Stay tuned!

Feline Friday~Computer Desk Companions

Happy Friday All!

I am never ALONE when I'm working at the computer!  As you can see, I have 2 furry helpers busy at tasks such as taking inventory of cabinets & testing boxes out for naps.  You can't really see it, but Zoolou IS in a box.  I've since gotten her a bigger one!  :)

What would I do without them?

I have a new painting almost finished ~ my FIRST 2011 creation!  Will post pics soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Early Christmas for the pets!

Koda enjoying his new toy!

Zoolou gettin' happy with some catnip!

Zoo trying out the new scratching post!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYONE!

Christmas came a day early for the West pets!  Koda's going to the boarders today so he got 1 of his presents early ~ a stuffed toy to tear up ~ his favorite!  The cats' new scratching post came this morning so we went ahead & set it up & it's already being used as you can see!

I have another "Feline Friday" post coming later so check back for some "GOOD MEWS"!

Have a wonderful day!  Hope your shopping is done & you get to relax a little!

Feline Friday~What's YOUR Cat Getting for Christmas?

(source)

Little furry mice!  I think just about every cat LOVES these little critters!  They're cute, cheap & now they make ones that rattle!  Just make sure you buy a bunch because they always disappear under furniture!  My two will be getting a new supply of these in their stockings this year. 

Their other gift is a replacement post for their "Purrfect Scratching Post".   As you can see, their previous one is down to the bare bone!  I ordered this post online HERE about 4 years ago & it's the greatest!  I highly recommend it.  It's solid, sturdy & strong enough for even the heftiest of felines!

Do any of you remember the old Hartz Catnip Mouse that came in a pink box???  When I was growing up our cats always got one every year at Christmas.  I tried to find a picture of one but couldn't.  Nowadays they have to make fancy, elaborate toys with all the bells & whistles.  Cats couldn't care less.  The old Hartz mouse was plain blue with tiny stitched eyes & a tail.  It was always fun to give it to our cat & watch him try to tear open the box to get to it!

What is YOUR cat getting for Christmas???

Feline Friday ~ "Furry" Decor

A holiday table just isn't complete without a cat.

At OUR house anyway!

"I make a better centerpiece than that stupid Santa!"

HAPPY HAPPY WEEKEND MY BLOGGER FRIENDS!

xxoooxx

Vintage Ornies now in the Shop!

This cute set of 2 Vintage Fabric Kitty Ornaments is now available in my SHOP!

Working on a set of Christmas Kitty Cards today & tomorrow I'm attempting a Kitty STOCKING!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving & are getting in the Christmas spirit!

Fundraiser Painting

Saint Francis and Friends

HAPPY SUNDAY!

This is the painting I've been busy at work on last week.  I'm donating it to a great organization called

"Animal Advocates of Moore County, NC".

They are having a BIG fundraiser in December & this will be in their Silent Auction.

I'm happy to have been asked to be a part of a special event that helps animals.

I hope they raise a TON of money for all the sweet furballs!

Check out their website HERE!

New Cards & Print now in the Shop!

Frida's Funky Braids~Art Print

Halloween Note Cards

All Packaged up Cute!

Happy Saturday!  Hope everyone's having a great day!  I've been spending mine getting a few new things listed in my Etsy Shop!  Hope you like them!

My son & I are going to the "Kansas" concert tonight!  Our Wichita State University Symphony is playing with them & it should be awesome! 

CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON!

Feliz Cumpleanos Frida!

Happy Birthday dear Frida ~ Happy Birthday to you!

Frida is one of my favorite subjects to paint!  This is one of my very first paintings of her from a few years ago.  I had fun with her hair - ha!

I'm working on a new painting at the moment ~ it was inspired by all the neat lighthouses we saw in Door County, WI last month on vacation.  I should have it finished tonight & posted tomorrow!

In the meantime...here are some cute cat pics!

What's out there???

Oh...it's Mrs. Cottontail sampling the salad bar!

Something sure was interesting out the back door but for the life of me I never could see what it was!  They definitely had their eyes on something!

I left out the little box from my foster kittens' canned food & Zoolou decided it was a nice place to take a nap.  Doesn't seem to bother her that half of her is hanging out of it!

"I'm not fat, I'm FLUFFY!"

Hope you're having a great day!

meow

A Pet Blogger Hop!

The blog at Nip and Bones is having a fun Pet Blogger Hop!

Click on this LINK & it will take you to their blog where you can see all the blogs on the list.

It's a lot of fun & I've discovered so many great blogs this way!  Try it!

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!