The Cat's Pyjamas Blog

$4 e-patterns & mousepad giveaway!

Happy Friday, y'all! I'm giving away one of these Cat's Pyjamas mousepads! To enter, just post a reply to this post. Tell me your favorite pattern of mine or a project you've created from one of my patterns....Be sure to enter your CORRECT email address when you post because I will be emailing the winner. You get one entry per day and I'll draw from all the entries on the last day of the month. And as a bonus, after you enter, you will get to purchase one epattern for only $4! After you entry, I'll email you to let you know how to take advantage of it.

We'll be working on my studio this weekend, I hope! We started putting some fence posts in the ground tonight. We got 2 in the ground before it got too dark. But we only have one small section, so that shouldn't take too long. The list is still really long--lots to do before this fall and I'm not so sure if I can make it by my deadline or not! Keep your fingers crossed for me because I'd love to be able to open by then!! The picture on the left is of our pond last year. The plants have really started to fill in now. I planted some bamboo and bleeding hearts since then. The fence will be to the left of the pond. We planted some fringe flower bushes in front of it and I think I'll put some roses and some kind of ivy or something to cover the fence. I guess I like my privacy! ;)

Little Bit...and a new dip recipe!

Look how pretty Little Bit looks now....I am dying to grab her up an pet her, but she let me know that wasn't going to happen. lol! A few months back, I tried to pick her up and I had scratches all over my hands! She will smell of my hand or take a snack from my hand, but that's about it! When I went to the vet to pick up some cat food, I got a nice surprise. Remember Gandhi, the little kitty that wandered onto my porch that was almost starved to death? He had been neutered that day and someone was coming to pick him up! He'll be living inside and never have to worry about going hungry again. I almost cried when I found out he was being adopted. Unfortunately the other two kitties I took are still there, but they are gorgeous now and I'm sure they'll find a home soon.

I think we may get to start on my roof for my studio this weekend--keep your fingers crossed for me that it won't rain all weekend!!

My friend Alyssa at Olde Common Candles sent me this really easy recipe for taco dip. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds good. I was thinking if you wanted to change it up, it might be good to replace the beans with salsa some time too.

Taco Dip

2 cans Hormel Chili no beans

16 oz. package of cream cheese

shredded cheese

 

In a baking dish, spread cream cheese, then chili on top, sprinkle with a good amount of cheese.  Bake on 350 degrees until cheese is melted.  Take out and serve with tortilla chips.

Where do I start?

 I can't believe I haven't  blogged  in a month! I have been meaning to  do it every day,then every day I get busy   and another day has gone by. And so much can happen in a month! I had the roof for my studio delivered last Friday. Of course it rained all weekend and even SNOWED. (All  I had to do was  buy a roof to get snow!) Its warm this week,  but supposed to rain  again all weekend so I  don't know  if  we'll get it put on, but at least I am one step closer! CJ (the pretty blue-eyed kitty above) has started staying on the porch of my studio all day. I guess he noticed how I spend more time here now, so he moved  over  here  with me.  Then  he walks  me home at  night when I get ready to go home.

Such a gentleman!

Little Bit is starting to come around....she has eaten snacks from my hand and I can pet  her if she has her back turned. (I think she does it on purpose!  ha!) She is still  tiny--she hasn't grown much taller but she's filled out and looks really healthy. I guess she'll always be tiny--I didn't know that when I named  her Little Bit, but the name fits!

We had another kitty show up on our front porch a few weeks ago.  I was sick and in bed when my husband went to work. He came back inside & woke me up to tell  me about a pitiful little cat on our front porch. He said, "you migth want to go check on it." I knew it  must be pretty bad if he woke me  to tell me about it...Before I went outside, I called the vet to see if she would take him in her shelter. I knew I'd want to keep him  if I didn't  see  him first. But I was  not prepared for what I saw...this was the skinniest  cat  I have  ever seen. His  ears were black (what I later learned  was  frostbite),  you could see every bone in  his body, his eyes looked terrible, he had a huge abscess on his foot and he was  dirty. What made it even sadder was how friendly he was. I thought he was a kitten, maybe a couple of months old. When I took him to  the vet and she examined him, she said  he was at  least  9 mo. old because he has all  his teeth. I couldn't believe he was nearly grown and still  the size of a kitten! She tested him for Feline Leukemia & FLV....we were surprised it was negative  because he was in such bad shape. She told me she'd never  seen a  cat in such condition that acted like he  felt so good. He wanted everyone that came into the room to pet him. The vet  said she'd give him a few days to see if he improved. She also told me that a cat would not get  that skinny unless it was trapped or locked up somewhere. Hopefully he just got stuck somewhere--I hate to think someone would leave one like that to starve. It appears he has been neutered at some time too, so its a mystery....I've been checking on him when I am there, or if I'm  close by, I just stop in for a visit. He's still skinny, but he is actually starting to improve! He shocked us all....and I hope to see  him healthy and a normal weight one day. I have to go tomorrow so I'll check on him again. Its been over a week  so he should be looking pretty good by now!

Peek into my studio....

It seems like there's always a picture of my kitties to show how I feel....and this is how I'm feeling tonight. ha! After a long day of working, then running errands, then coming back to work again until 11 pm, that's what I want to do right now! I can't complain too much--my husband called me to come home and eat with him because he had made supper!!

I wanted to share some pics of the progress in my studio.  Of course here's my fireplace which is waiting in its gas logs. I may try to wait it out and buy some on clearance this spring. I think my big heater in the other room will be good enough to hold me over if it means saving me a little money! These things are adding up in a hurry!!

And here is my $20 cabinet! I was so excited to find this at the thrift store! I'm thinking the shelves might be a good place to display some of my smaller paperclay pieces. I was thinking books, but I may find another  place for those. It now has some cloth dolls displayed on top and quilts on the bottom shelf. I use the bottom (where the doors are) to store my copier paper, etc. and the drawers for office supplies. Its a challenge trying to combine my office and a way to display things for  sale. But I want stuff for sale in every room, even the bathroom! No matter what you're doing here, you'll see something you can buy!!!

 

Here's the chair I slip covered. Its not perfect, but that's okay with me. I wanted it to look soft and comfortable. And Rusty definitely thinks its  comfy because he sleeps on it a lot! Although its not his favorite place to sleep....you can probably already guess where that is. Its right in front of my monitor! I'm lucky right now that he is lying down. A lot of time he sits  up and meows at me or takes a bath while I'm trying to see  around him!

  A couple of weeks ago, my nephew (Tyler) and I went thrift store shopping and  we found this oil painting at Salvation Army! I knew it would look great in my office and it was only $15 so I snatched it up! There aren't too many bare spots on the walls or anywhere else in my office  by now. Surely I can squeeze in a FEW more things, don't you think?

Working in my NEW OFFICE!!

  I'm really enjoying my new office! Its nice to have room to move around and have everything in its place. I spent a day organizing my supplies...check out how organized I am! I had a lot of these boxes already but I went and bought 46 more at Home Depot. lol....they must have thought I had a lot of shoes to go in these boxes. They never would have guessed I was putting doll hair in them!! I printed  labels and my hubby helped me get everything labeled & in its place. Its much easier when I get an order, now that all my supplies are in one place. We painted the trim today, still needs another coat, then we'll get the doors put back on. I have had  a looong day today, trying to get caught up on graphics  and working on my office in between. Tomorrow, I have more pictures to share. Even some of Rusty lounging around my office!!

Thrift Store finds

Thought I'd share some pictures of some goodies I got at some thrift stores. I found an old cigar box and several rusty old cans. It was kind of funny, in one store every single thing I put on the counter was rusty! I bought all these cans there and a rusty "no trespassing" sign that my husband confiscated! lol! Seems like I got more, but it was before Christmas so I can't remember now! I did get 3 old quilts for $4 each! That was a last minute thing--my husband was looking at an old chest and  he found them in there. I thought they'd be too expensive but when she said $4, I grabbed them up. I love them when they are all worn out! That's a good deal, but once I got one at a yard sale for a QUARTER!

  Don't know if you can tell much about the front of the cigar box here but it looks old. Who knows--I came home with some one day that looked old but when I opened them, I saw they were pretty new! While I was shopping I saw an old cigar display, a wire stand with a space for 4 cigar boxes and a sign on top. I didn't get it and kept thinking about it so I went back for it later. I saw a churn I wanted at another antique store that I had to go back for too. I thought it was just like one Momma has--it was a little different but I still got it.

  Kenyon found this old framed Jesus print....You can see some other old frames, mirrors, etc. I've collected. These are all in my studio waiting for the perfect spot!

Speaking of my studio....I now have internet over there so I'll probably move this weekend! I have a giant ugly heater in the other room now that will keep me warm for now, but I have to get some gas logs in my office and shelves in my closet and that room will be finished! I'll definitely take more pictures when I get closer to being done. I'll still work on my art in my studio in my house while we work on the rest of my studio.

Before I go....I wanted to share this sweet picture of Mr. Spock snuggling up to my husband. Mr. Spock has ALWAYS loved him the best! lol!

A new bed for Rusty

 

I've had these two ugly cushions for a long time, planning to make something from them and I finally got around to it! I plan to make one into a cushion for my porch swing and made this one into a new bed for Rusty to match my studio! Thought I'd share how I did it--its really simple and I didn't try to make it perfect. I know some of you who are really good seamstresses could give me some pointers. ha! But it works for me.

 First I found some fabric and a volunteer to help me....I didn't even have to ask him! I laid the cushion on the fabric and cut around it with about ½" extra all the way around. For the back I folded the piece I just cut in half and laid it on the fabric, then cut a piece that size. The 2nd piece for the back is cut like the other, but make it about 2/3 the size of the front. It doesn't have to be exact, they just need to overlap each other. Then I cut a strip about ½" wider than the sides. I didn't have a piece long enough so I cut 2 strips and sewed the ends together.

   

 

  Turn down the long edges of the two back pieces and hem. Next, sew the strip to the front side of the pillow. Be careful to match the corners up and pin if you need to. (See pics above.) In the picture on the left I was trying to show you how I sewed the two back pieces on! Match up the corners and sew on the smaller piece, then do the same with larger piece, overlapping over the smaller piece. When you turn it right side out, it should look like this:
 

  You could stop here and it would be just fine for a pet bed or a cushion. You can easily take the cushion out so you can wash the cover too! I decided to add some buttons to mine. You could use covered buttons with matching fabric, but I liked the look of mismatched buttons on it.

  I made a couple of pillows too while I was sewing. After I started sewing, I was a little worried that they might not match but look how good they match! Next project for my office is to slipcover and chair where these two pillows will go. Rusty wouldn't stay on his bed long enough for a picture. This is the best I got....

Best of all, when you're done you can feel proud that you made it yourself.....and take a LOOONG nap! Now when you're at the junk store, look out for those old pillows! I got 2 for my outside chairs that I recovered for $1 each and I think these long cushions were $2 each. I got the fabric for the outside cushions for about  $1 at the junk store too and it actually matches this fabric!

Happy New Year!

 I haven't been able to log on to blog for almost a month!! I had all kinds of fun stuff going on and couldn't even get on here to tell about it all. Thanks to all of y'all that emailed and wondered where I was and asked about my kitties. We're still here! I made some New Year's Resolutions and been doing pretty good so far. As usual, I plan to lose weight. I started before the New Year but I've already lost 12 lbs. so that's a good start. The other one was to start working on my studio. We have done some work over there. I have just have a few little things to do before I move over there. I cannot wait! This is my "new" desk. You can tell I'm not done--my walls are never this bare! I have a chair to slip cover, an old white table and a filing cabinet to move over there and maybe that will be it. I'm trying to get down to the basics after working in a cramped up room for way too long. Rusty has been roaming around and he likes it. He just wouldn't be still long enough for a picture in my new office. I have to get him a bed...I can just see him curled up on his bed while I work (or my lap, probably!). We went antiquing on my birthday and got some good stuff. I'll share more pics later, but this mirror is one of them. I'm going through my dolls that were left over from shows and trying to get some decorating done in there too. And notice my new wood floors....those were under the layers of carpet, vinyl and plywood! We had to take out a few bad ones and replace with some that Kenyon had saved up. Then we cleaned and waxed it. I love how it turned out! And I have this big kitty keeping me company in my studio too. Ha! He is perfect for this vintage wooden chair, isn't he? I'm sure I'll be sharing more pics through the weeks. My goal is to have the whole studio ready for an open house this fall and I'll share the progress with you. Almost 2 rooms down and 3 more to go, plus the outside. I shoulda asked for a roof for Christmas!!

If any of you reading are from Scottsboro, I have some of my jewelry at Talk of the Town...if you're down that way, be sure to stop in and look at my jewelry!

Flowers...for me!

Look what my husband brought home to me today! Ain't that sweet? He picked them just for me....I thought they made a pretty arrangement too!!

And as I was working here at the house, he was working in my studio. He decided to pull up the floor in my office and guess what....there is a nice, old wood floor underneath! It will need a little repair in a couple of spots, but I know he can fix that. I'm so excited about that!!

Its now almost 3 am and my allergies are getting to me...gotta go rest my sore eyes so I can get back to the dolls when I get up. And I have to make a trip to the thrift store....for something for my "projects"! :) Tomorrow I will tell you about the new family member (Frazier the Kitty) coming to live with us next week....

Last person without a cell phone?

I think I was the last person in the world without a cell phone! I really didn't care, but I have a trip coming up so I thought I needed one. So....maybe everyone in the world has one now! LOL! I even got a headset although I think it is so strange to see people walking around talking when you can't see their phones. I got mine for driving--maybe I'll be using mine all the time. Even though I'm on the comptuer a lot, I guess I'm not really into technology that much. I don't have a high definition tv, no laptop. We didn't have a game system until my husband bought my nephew's used one. Now I'm kinda up to date--a cell phone and a used X-Box. Maybe I'll even get a laptop one day!! Besides playing with my new phone, I worked on some graphics. I made a new banner for Helena and helped her get her colors matched up on her blog. But mostly I worked on dolls....got a bunch finished that I will be putting on my site pretty soon!

I hate to do it but I am going to have to take about a month off from working on my studio. But my husband worked over there today and took over my job of painting. I'm sure there will be plenty left for me to do even with him painting for me!

And last but not least.....some cute kitty pictures!