Kitties in a Lineup

It turns out my "assembly line" is my coffee table.  My current batch of tiny cats are all in a row, so I had to snap a photo before they go to their new homes this week.

And because in my family someone was always snapping a photo from behind, not necessarily on purpose, here is a bum shot of the same characters.  Their curly tales are pretty endearing.

You can see the yarn already laid out for the next batch - as soon as I get a nose onto Mr. Cheeto - my crochet hook will be dancing away.

Here's one cheeky devil who is literally a cat in a hat.

Holiday Color

I still have my holiday decorations up, because they so cheer up my living space.  It makes the living room feel warm and wonderful.

My white yarn-wrapped tree from West Elm and fluffy owl ornament from Pier 1 may stay up until the spring.

Where will I put things when I break down and buy a modern, slim television?

Tiny Crocheted Cats

I've been so busy crocheting tiny cats to keep up with the demand, that I haven't even been blogging!  It all started with a holiday craft sale at work where the first woman to see them bought all 3 of the tiny cats I had for sale.  From there I have been crocheting special orders.  The first was a black and white cat who went to a good home, friend to a little girl.

I'm working on my third special order for coworkers, and finally have finished one for Etsy, with another still in pieces on the coffee table.  Here's a cat in a hat (I've been crocheting hats, too).

Next up:  modifying the pattern to turns tiny cats into tiny dogs.

The Feet of a Creative Type

Is this what the feet of a creative type look like?

Actually I am trying to stretch my shoes out with some new super-spray that promises miracles.  I'm wearing heavier socks for maximum stretching.  I couldn't find two matching socks so gave up and have spent the afternoon strolling through the house mis-matched.  Folded Ear Cat is not taken aback by my failing fashionista grade.

Perhaps this look says, "Can't be bothered to spend the time matching my socks - too busy crocheting"?

Bainbridge Fabric Found

On my recent tourist-close-to-home day a ferry ride away on Bainbridge Island I wandered into Eileen's Fabrics and just as I was about to have some fabric but I remembered to look in the basket of smaller fabric swatches.  I know you quilters probably do this all the time, but for those of you who hadn't thought of it - you can often find smaller pieces of fabric already cut for good prices.  Here's what I found:

I'm always on the lookout for unique cat fabrics which I can make into catnip toys or potholders. These will do nicely and I didn't need to ask for them to be cut!  They were just waiting for me to take them home.

Vintage Buttons - Stash Update

I got distracted last weekend shortly into my walk just a few streets from home by a big sign "Button Sale."  OMG!  Walk paused while my feet led me right in that door.  Not that my stash needed any additions, but I always like to have a stash of lovely buttons on hand (and yarn, and fabric).  Maybe I am a stashaholic, but you never know when you might need a beautiful button to complete a project, am I right?

Tell me if you don't think these are gorgeous vintage pearl buttons.  Well, I take that back, don't tell me because I am in love with these buttons of gloriousness.

And vintage glass buttons, too.  I was in heaven!

Yes, I went back for day #2 of the sale and added some more buttons to my bag.  Sometimes you buy the buttons . . . and then you come up with a project in which to use them.

Do These Eyes Freak You Out?

I'm trying out some more realistic safety eyes for my amigurami cats and I don't know what it is, but they kind of freak me out.  What about you?

I hope when completely assembled with a nice, embroidered nose those eyes will blend in with the rest of the face, but otherwise I'm going back to the regular safety eyes.  Yikes!