O.M.Geeeee! It’s Bella! On a bag with green button eyes just like her big round eyes! This new idea couldn’t wait any longer, Bella, in silhouette, at the bottom of a bag and with just big blue-green eyes that are two-hole buttons sewn on with black thread.

I had intended to work it out for tote bags first and maybe a few other items and screen print it, but making screens has been a challenge (workspace issues) so I’ve been holding off, but holding the idea. With the Homeless Cat Management Team and Pittsburgh CAT spaghetti dinner I really wanted this item because Bella is an alum of both organizations! Based on one of my sketches of Bella from shortly after she arrived here simply called “Bella”, I pulled out the scan of the little painting and refined the design in Photoshop. Bella’s eyes are not yellow green, they are a cooler blue-green, and I found pretty close to a good color for her.

This design isn't just for tote bags. Sometimes a new design just works on one item, but not Bella! When I visualized this design I knew it had a lot of possibilities for various totes and also for dishtowels and kitchen textiles, tees and other apparel, and even keepsakes, picture frames and more and even with variations. This is the first and I'm pleased and excited! Visit Portraits of Animals for the hand-printed and hand-embellished tote bags.

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The Creative Cat has been named one of the “16 Cat Blogs to Follow If Your Kids Love Cats” by the parenting-related news site Best for the Kids. I am very honored to be a member of this list among other cat blogs I regularly read and consider reliable sources of information, and many authors who I know personally.

The Creative Cat has also been recognized as a Top 50 Cat Blogger on Thoroughly Reviewed and a Top 100 Cat Blogger on Feedspot.

June is the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, an ideal time to think about the effects of a hurricane whether we live in the direct path of a hurricane or far away. Just over ten years ago in my town the aftereffects of Hurricane Ivan brought a devastating flash flood that happened during the work day and many residents couldn’t reach their houses until the next day. Our local emergency shelter allowed evacuating residents to bring pets because local officials were personally pet-friendly, but in 2004 this was not standard practice. Make sure that both you and your pets are prepared for emergencies. Read more.
 

Adult coloring books haven’t lost their popularity so it seems the authors have found the purrfect product for cat lovers who like to relax and be creative, a little or a lot, focused on detail or focused on fun. Lazy-Ass Cats, a Coloring Book for Adults, Snoozing & Boozing Kitties to Color and Relax is definitely focused on fun—with a title like that?—for both the colorist and the kitties. Illustrations show plump, whimsical kitties relaxing in a tree, mesmerized on a merry-go-round, having a pizza party and raising glasses with each other. Read more.

In my back yard, by the picnic table where Mimi and I have lunch, on my way to the compost bin. Mimi and Mewsette were safely on the basement patio, I saw the little one on the way back to the girls. Guess I’ll have to hold the compostables and we’ll have to stay on the deck for now.

I had the feeling there was a fawn around somewhere; I just kept thinking of a fawn hidden in the grass and taller native plants in the naturalized section of my back yard, and there it was. The fawn's mother has been around as well, in a kind of amusing way. Read more.