A Wonderful Weekend...Hope Yours Was Too!

Oh, what a wonderful world! Saturday night we were treated by good friends (the owners of "The Love Shack") to a gourmet Chinese meal, with celebratory champagne included! It was a fabulous night and the evening ended just as it should (we slid, rolled and glided down their driveway on our bums on the ice and nearly died laughing...you can't ask for better than THAT!) After a few very stormy days, Sunday gleamed and glistened and SHE helped me make a giant Snowcat. His name is Freddo Italiano. We had a grand time and even made snow angels...Gretel's was a bit funny looking, but who am I to judge?
Hope everyone survived the blizzard. Thank you to E. and S.!

Photo: Papa investigates Fredo The SnowCat Sculpture!

'Tis the Season to be Jolly!

Things here are frantic. We've had more custom orders this year than ever before....which is a WONDERFUL thing, but incredibly hectic and we seem to have forgotten all about having a Christmas ourselves. We are having a turkey...SHE is being a star this year and is going to do it all! Marvelous! The last time she cooked the turkey she started cooking it from frozen on Christmas afternoon and we had it on the 26th. Bless her turkey-cooking heart.

We've done most of our deliveries, but still have one more tomorrow (YES, on the 24th!!) I hope the poor man doesn't end up in the ICU with heart palpitations..oh, the nerves! There is a lot of pressure making and delivering someones MAIN gift. Lives are at stake. It is serious business!

We will post some of our custom order photos after the big day....don't want to ruin any more surprises.

I am doing all of my Christmas shopping tomorrow afternoon. I am slightly nervous about it, but shall dive right in. (I will take 2 Ibuprofen and drink a large glass of Shiraz first). I will apologize now if I step on your toe in the supermarket or knock you over in Costco. It's a battlefield out there.

People are actually extra lovely during the holidays. Last week I was in the dollar store buying yaffles and yaffles of tissue paper and there were at least 476 people in line behind me. One cash open. Screaming babies. Oopsy-daisy diapers. Very hot. The woman in front of me decided that she was carrying around too much change and it was too heavy. She dumped it out on the counter. Piles and piles of change. Mountains. Glaciers. I can still hear it. The cashier was apoplectic. I started to laugh and to my surprise, so did everyone else....even the cashier. She ended up helping the woman count out $7.00 in pennies and dimes and we all waited and smiled and it wasn't a disaster at all. Happy holidays!

Photo: Papa Luigi "Ho,Ho, Hold the Turkey Still"

Happy Happy Holidays!

It always warms my heart to see how truly excited the animals get during the holiday season.

Lily was especially exuberant when we put down our work for the day and found his wee Santa suit.

"God Bless us Everyone".....was that Tiny Tim?

Didn't he also play the ukulele and sing "Tip Toe Through The Tulips?"

Here Comes Santa Claws!

Gretel had her Christmas bath and haircut. When she was posing for her annual Christmas photo, we yelled "Here comes Santa Claus!" and she looked around in absolute terror as she recalled her horrific memory of Christmas past when BooBoo and Lily dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and tormented everyone with their jingle bells and scary beards. (Mrs. Claus' beard was exceptionally scary)

Photo: Happy Gretel Christmas 2009

P.S. I think we have the only dog in the world who can look in two directions at once.

P.P.S. Loopy, doesn't she look like "Tony" from Coronation Street, with her giant, mad eye?

Why BooBoo? Why?

Felted wool starfish. With squibillions of tiny beads. I have been making them for Christmas gifts this year. I do this in the late night. It is relaxing. It is meant to be relaxing.

Now, I am truly one of the most unorganized gals in the world when it comes to craft and art supplies. My house is littered with brushes, glue, wires, ropes, tiny wooden figures.....it is chaos.

My glass beads on the other hand are a different story. I spend hours colour matching them, putting them in tiny clear containers. My embroidery floss is wound on little cards. It is a very tidy thing, my bead box. You would be impressed.

Yesterday, I found it upside down, billions upon millions of beads everywhere. All over the house. They are small beads. In fact, they are practically invisible. Floss and yarn strewn across the floor, wrapped around the table legs.

SHE says she didn't do it. Lily and BooBOO tried to deny it, but they both have tiny turquoise beads stuck in their claws. I will never forgive them. Ever. This is not relaxing at all.

Photo: BooBoo helps with the drying of the starfish .

Friends For Dinner

Friday night we had friends over for dinner. It is amazing how conversations wander and take on a life of their own. We started talking about fondue pots and soups of the world, somehow linked that to the laws of attraction and ended it all with the mysteries of "smell". We had far too much Tuscan Bean Soup, became giddy from the Dutch hot cocoa and drank lots of lovely, red wine. Can you ask for anything more?

(Clio, the visiting canine, skipped the wine and went straight for the bacon-wrapped pork rolls)

Photo: BooBoo, Nana and Bear enjoy their very own treats. They figure they deserve them for putting up with wee Clio. Thanks to Fairy Cat Mother Lori for the treats!

No Dogs Allowed!

No Dogs Allowed

Itchy and Scrapples


Forest

About the Cats.....
Newfoundland cats are the greatest cats in all the world. Maybe it's the environment that's made them so strong of character.... maybe it's the salty, sea air that's made them walk so tall and proud. They're not afraid of nothin' these Newfoundland cats... bruisers they are! Filthy and mangy with attitudes as bad as month old milk they march around the bay looking for a fight, a bit of dinner or a scratch behind the ears. They crack me up, these Newfoundland cats..... I just loves ‘em, I do.... I suppose that's how I ended up with four indoor and 10 raggle taggles outside!

Pine, acrylic, mixed media

47 x 105 x 49 cm (18.5" x 41" x 19")
By Cara and Pam

Photo: Eric Walsh

SPCA FALL FAIR

The SPCA Fall Fair was last Saturday and so many people were there to give their support and help the cause. So terrific! The gala a few weeks ago went really well and they raised a lot of money for the spay and neuter program. The pieces we donated did really well, too. Hurray for the SPCA!

Photo: Lily is wearing his "Ciao Bella" T-Shirt

Cat-Astrophe Waiting to Happen.......

Our artwork is constantly under attack. "The Gravy Seals" (our cat brigade)get into paint pots, chew brushes, steal my chimney wires and hide drill bits. They plan surprise ambushes on the squid nets and try to chew up our fairies. According to lean manufacturing, we SHOULD keep them in a separate part of the house to make our work environment more productive. We should, but we don't because poor Lily might lose his will to go on. He spends his days plotting revenge on the squid battalion that hangs from the studio ceiling. We have seen his little attack plans etched in the dried paint on my desk. One day, I know, I will find 100, mutilated clay squidlings strewn about the floor with Lily standing over them all, triumphant in his glory.

If We All Had "Happy Helmets" the World Would be A Better Place

I made the cats felted, wool "Happy Helmets". I even dyed the wool. (I am not allowed to do that again unless supervised.)

Meester loves to play with the little doodles that hang down. SHE says that they probably DON'T like the hats.....that perhaps they should only wear them on "special" occasions......

SHE : How would YOU like to have a hot, wool helmet full of hanging doodles jammed over your ears?

Me : I WOULD LOVE IT!!!!!

Tim Rast said...
"The helmets must bring inner happiness and prevent it from escaping through the rest of their faces."

Now I know what I am making HIM for Christmas.

Images: Meester and Nanabananapants having the best time EVER in the helmets.

A Thanksgiving Miracle

We were in St. John's on Friday and did not bring treats or toys home for the animals. We don't usually bring treats for all 17, but it IS Thanksgiving. We knew we would be in the dog house. On the way home, we stopped and checked our mailbox and there it was....a lovely white express package addressed to all of our friends.....even Fat Aunt Sylvia! Thank you Lori, for the lovely turkey treats and catnip. You saved the day, and we didn't have to put up with any wisecracks or dirty looks from anyone.
It was a Thanksgiving Miracle!

Image Above: "Berg Watching" by Cara
Acrylic on Canvas

SPCA Fall Gala!

Custom Gift for the Gala

"Moonlight in the Tickle" by Cara and Pam
Hand-carved wood/acrylics/mixed media
Donation for the SPCA Auction 2009

Meester Lily

Papa Luigi

This is one of our donated pieces for the SPCA's Fall Gala on Saturday, October 3rd. It is a cause that is dear to our hearts. We try to help as many animals as we can here, at Crabby Cat Cottage, and often end up adopting them ourselves. Papa Luigi has the saddest story, but he is the happiest cat in town. (Except for the time last winter when he had injured feet and had to wear socks for 2 weeks)

Gretel and Lily have both come a long way.

P.S. We think it's silly when people dress their pets in clothes but we have to make exceptions for Halloween and poor Meester (Lily) who doesn't quite feel himself unless he is wearing something frilly.

Hats off to BooBoo...Miroslav and Roberto hide their shame...

We can tell who won last nights game of strip poker Texas hold em.

For the love of cats.............

This is a custom order we did for a client who loves their cats as much as we love ours. It is lovely how much people love their pets. I used to be embarrassed that we had so many cats (and dog), but now I think it is neat. They are all happy and cared for and healthy (most of the time). Forrest and Fat Aunt Sylvia have made a suggestion box and have requested more linens in their hotel rooms and afternoon snacks. You can't please everyone all of the time, but you can try.

Paparotti

Papa Luigi woke us up at 6:40 singing opera again. Here he is, hitting the high note.

She'll regret it in the morning......

After a wild night of monkey business, Miroslav, Roberto and BooBoo have finally crashed.

BooBoo's Lament

BooBoo sat me down today for a chat. She is not pleased at all about being locked out of the studio and has failed to understand that she can't jump on visitor's heads from the rafters. Screaming, terrified, band-aided customers. She just giggled, like she does. I explained that we use the money that the nice people give us to buy her tins. It was surprising how quickly she changed her tune. She and Meester Willard now greet customers at the door with a little dance and a complimentary martini.

Meester will have to learn the fine art of Karate

Willard has been attacked by a savage pair of sock monkeys
for the second time this week. Measures must be taken.