Fall/Winter 2015 Inspurrations

Hello, kitties!  I figured I'd hop on and write another journal-style blog post, since I haven't done one in awhile.  Also, I have been brainstorming like crazy.  Re: product line additions for winte, since Hunt & Gather December is already right around the corner!!!

I still have a bunch of ceramic rings, pins, hair clips and necklaces to sell, but my goal for this holiday show is to create a couple new items to appeal to a wider range of people.  Since people will be shopping for holiday presents and such, I want to incorporate some more "gifty" type of items.  

My first lightbulb moment occurred almost immediately following June's Hunt and Gather, when I decided to create a line of kitty Christmas tree ornaments.  Since then, I've been Pinning different patterns and silhouettes.  I went back and forth between ceramic or fabric, and decided that fabric ornaments are probably the best choice as they won't break if they fall off a tree, can double as cat toys (YES!  Another reason for kitty to climb the tree!), are lightweight, and can be made using really fun upcycled textiles.

Plus, in the last year or so, I've toyed around with embroidery a bit and think that embroidered details on a fabric cat ornament would be sooooooo adorable!  I was originally inspired when I saw this photo on Pinterest...

Obviously, I will be making ornaments and not pillows, and I haven't even created a pattern yet, but I love how stinkin' cute this printed fabric looks, and incorporates really well with the embroidered kitty face.  Kinda reminds me of my original prototype for my cat necklaces!  Oh, and if you are so inclined to create the pictured kitty pillow, here is the link.

The nice thing about working with fabric is the fact that I can use a sewing machine and get some ornaments made in a probably one-tenth of the time it takes me to make my ceramic pieces.  With ceramics, you have to sculpt each piece, let it dry, fire it in the kiln, decoupage and seal it, and string it onto a necklace or wire-wrap it.  The entire process can sometimes take weeks!  Whereas with these ornaments, I will literally be able to embroider the face (probably the most tedious part), and then whip out the sewing machine and crank out a bunch of finished ornaments in a matter of a couple hours.  The lack of hand cramps for this project will be beyond exciting!

But apparently I must want arthritis, because my second winter project is sculpting intensive like nothing I've ever done...ceramic cat planters!  I decided to do this because I keep getting hired on freelance basis to make paper bouquets for people, and every time I post pictures of these works-in-progress, I get requests to put them on my Etsy shop.  The problem is, I need items in my shop to fit into the cat lover theme...so naturally, I decided create some little cat planters to house each paper bouquet!!!  Problem solved.  This way, shoppers are getting a two-for-one....a beautiful, one-of-a-kind mini paper bouquet, and an adorable, hand-sculpted cat planter!

This is what my bouquets look like, in case you are wondering :)  I love using old book pages and recycled buttons!  The pictured bouquet is a commission I'm currently working on that features old Harry Potter books (basically my dream project!).

As with the ornaments, I have been Pinning my inspirations for planter shapes and designs, but when it comes to sculpting, I never really create templates or patterns.  I tend to work much better when free-form sculpting, and kind of think it might even be cool to make each planter in a slightly different design.  As always, though, I promise to post some "in-progress" pictures as I start to create these new items, so you can get an idea of what they will look like far before they hit the Etsy shop.  I'm currently loading up on new supplies as we speak, and plan on having all my new pieces ready to go by Halloween, so make sure to keep checking back for photo updates and more journal entries!

I can't wait to show you the designs and ideas come up with!  Make sure to subscribe to this blog, leave a comment, and share this link with your friends if you love what you see here!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend!!!  Get some rest so you can pounce on the upcoming week like the majestic tigers that you are!

Xo*

Jess

Funko Pop Cats!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you most likely have heard of Funko's Pop! Vinyl figurines.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, click the link and I can *almost* guarantee that you may recognize what you see.  They literally sell Pop! Vinyls almost anywhere, and carry collections for cartoons, movies, TV shows, video games, and other facets of pop culture.  This is awesome, but dangerous, because chances are, no matter what your pop culture obsession is, you can most likely find a Pop! Vinyl version!

Hubs and I randomly decided to start collecting Pop! figurines earlier this month, when local game shops started carrying the brand new Harry Potter Pops.  We already have all seven of the HP collection, plus a Hot Topic exclusive variant of Harry with the sword of Gryffindor.  We have also snagged a handful of other cuties along the way...it is a legit addiction at this point.  And you can get these guys for only about $10 a Pop (punny), plus we have gotten all ours on BOGO deals, which is better than spending $10 on stuffing my yap with cheeseburgers as per usual, an advantage that my skinny jeans truly appreciate!

Now that I am obsessed with these vinyl beauties, I of course had to run through the rosters to find my favorite Pop! cats.  And while I haven't found any of these in person yet (I am not really about buying these online, as the IRL hunt and gather is much more special to me than simply Googling for one), one day I will own these three adorable feline Pops....

Oh....I know I just said that the IRL hunt is the best, and it really is, but I am including links with online purchase info for anyone that prefers web-shopping :)

Without further ado...

#1: The Cheshire Cat

I have to say that the Disney Pop! line as a whole is pretty spectacular.  And while this guy was also released in other exclusive variant forms, I am simply smitten with the classic purrrrrrple Cheshire.  I love that they kept his eyes as they were in the cartoon while still retaining the uniform Pop! Vinyl aesthetic.

#2: Chococat

As a woman who had Hello Kitty bedding into her mid-twenties, I can safely say that anything Sanrio wins the cute war any day of the week.  Especially good old Chococat.  I have no words, as I am overcome with severe nostalgia.  Again, I'm loving how the Pop! aesthetic blends with Sanrio's simplistic style, resulting in pure plastic purrfection.

#3: Catwoman

Where do I begin with this one?  While Catwoman is not your typical four-legged feline, she more than deserves her spot on this wishlist!  First of all, I grew up loving the 1960s Batman series that this Pop! line was modeled after, so again, major nostalgia comes into play.  But the glittery costume, winged liner, and lashes all put me over the edge a million percent!  I have to have her!!!  Heck, I want to BE HER!  AmIright???????

Do any of you share my love for Funko Pop! Vinyls?  Which ones do you have?  Leave me a comment and let me know, and don't forget to share this post on social media if you loved what you just read!

Thanks for tuning in!  Until next time...

Xo*

Jess

Catsy--The Cool Cats of Etsy

Since I am now an official Etsy shop owner, I've been conducting serious official market research.  In other words, I'm using Lady and the Cat's shop as an excuse to peruse all things cat on Etsy.  Thank goodness I'm dirt poor, or I'd become dirt poor from spending all my money on kitty treasures.  But I mean, what type of businesslady would I be if I didn't check out the competition?

And because there are so many awesome goodies out there, I decided to start a new feature called "Catsy!"  Catsy posts will feature some of my current favorite feline fancy items on Etsy, and because there are always awesome new items being posted, I figure I can spread the handmade love and share all of my favorites with my cat lady family!

And you know what?  The limit does not exist.  THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST!!!!  That's right, Cady Heron, Catsy posts will not only rave over other sellers of cat jewelry (in fact, this first post features absolutely no jewelry).  I'll also be sharing links to my favorite handmade cat toys, kitty treats, clothing, home decor, you name it!  The limit.  Literally.  Does not exist.

So without further ado, my current Catsy wish list...

Okay, okay.  I realize that I am jumping the gun here with the tree skirts, but #1 I am completely over Midwest summers, so I truly don't care and #2 who can resist these adorable prints from Kay's General Store on Etsy?????  I might need both of these this Christmas.

Vaiva and Indre sell gorgeous, colorful handmade felted wool creations, including these cat caves that had me basically urinating all over myself in delight.  I legitimately squealed for a solid two minutes over these suckers, and truthfully, I am pretty sure my cats wouldn't use them.  But guess what?  I kind of don't want them for the cats.  I want one in every color for me.  Or a tiny house that resembles one.  Regardless, these kitty caves are as majestic as the day is long.

Last but not least...

Even after getting a crap ton of IRL tattoos, I still have a strange fascination with temps.  And these days, there are some seriously kick-tail designs out and about.  The Netherlands' own Tattoorary is my personal favorite in all of Etsyland, hands down.  Their 3-piece cat lady set is obbbbbbbbviousllllllllly my top choice, but seriously, if you are like me and love "temporary tats, bro", you must check out Tattoorary.  The designs are all ridiculously pretty, and promise much more than just cats.  But I mean...the cats.  Look. At. Those. Cats.

Well, that's all I've got for you today.  Go visit those Etsy shops, visit mine while you're at it, and leave me a comment with some of your cat lady faves on Etsy!  If you like this post, make sure to share it on Facebook or Twitter!  I really loved writing this one, so I definitely want to keep sharing my Catsy favorites every month or so.

Oh!  I also just realized that next month marks one year since I created this blog.  We'll just have to do something fun and exciting to celebrate, won't we?  Stay tuned...

Xo*

Jess

We Got a Second Cat!

For the last few months, Matthew and I have been talking about getting a second cat.  Right off the bat, though, we decided that we wanted our second kitty to fall into our lap the same way Roland did.  Right place, right time, right cat, and from someone we trust.  When we got Roland, I knew the second I saw him that he was the right cat for us.  He just looked like the Roland kitty we envisioned, and when I opened the carrier, he went right in and fell asleep.  It was just meant to be.

So even though I knew it may take more time, I trusted that we would know when the right cat came along, just like we did with Ro.  And I was correct.

About two weeks ago, I learned that the family I got Roland from had some stray cats that they were trying to find homes for.  A handful of wayward kitties were hanging out on their property, and they felt so bad for them because it was clear that all these cats wanted was some love.  Since the family already has several cats, though, they simply couldn't take the abandoned kitties in themselves.

My interest was peaked when I found out that one of the cats is a female Maine Coon, already spayed, and about the same age as Roland.  The fact that I'd be getting her from the same family who gave us Ro got me even more excited about the prospect of possibly finding "the one."

I was then given this photo and I absolutely fell head over heels.  Immediately.  Undeniably.  Irrevocably.  Intensely.  And then when I met her, the love grew times a million.  

I'd like you all to meet our newest family member, Hermione.  Hermione is the perfect fit for our family, and I can't tell you how obsessed with her we are.  She's such a teeny thing, so sweet, and in her short time on this earth, has already had to overcome abandonment and had to live solely by her wits.  I keep calling her my little ragamuffin cat, because she was essentially just a stray until we got her.  Someone tried to adopt her at one point, but had to give her back because unfortunately their resident cat was beating up on and bullying her.  So even though she isn't an official shelter rescue, I truly feel like we helped to save this little girl's life.

I had my mom come with me when I met Hermione, because there was another cat that this family was trying to home. I am happy to report that I've officially turned my mother, who has previously claimed to hate cats, into an official crazy cat lady.  She bonded instantly with this 9-month-old green-eyed black cat, took him home, and named him Sancho.  Isn't he adorable???  Now my mom can hardly bear to leave the house and her snuggle sessions with her new kitty baby.  Really, who in their right mind can resist kitty snuggles?

I have to say, it's been an adventurous week with these new cats, especially in our household, since we're acclimating Hermione to our family while also making sure Roland isn't traumatized over not being the only cat anymore.  I must admit that my anxiety reared its head a few times when the two cats first met.  They were both clearly a little scared of each other and had a handful of scary sounding hissing matches.  While I know that this is completely normal, I was still so worried that my cats were going to hate each other and I didn't want either of them to be traumatized.  Also, I watch far too much My Cat From Hell, which only convinced me further that fur would fly if we weren't careful.

Luckily, it only took about a day and a half for them to start warming up to each other.  After the first night, they were able to eat next to each other without hissing.  After the second night, we were able to let Hermione roam the house freely and explore.  She and Roland initially kept their distance, but at this point it's only been three days, and I can already tell that Roland is just very interested in Hermione and wants to play with her and be by her.  And it's very clear that Hermione is slowly learning to trust Ro.  She's starting to learn that he respects her boundaries and keeps away from her food bowl and litter box, so she seems to be way less standoffish when he is around.  

Considering the fact that Hermione has had mostly bad experiences with other cats, and the fact that Roland hasn't even been around another cat since he was 8 weeks old, I'm ridiculously proud and impressed with how good both of them have been so far.  I seriously can't wait until they get even more used to each other and start to play together and such, because I know Ro will love having a play buddy!  Today he even tossed a toy at her for the first time!  Hopefully soon she will start to play back!

In the meantime, we are continuing to work with them and help them adjust.  I am extremely happy with how things are going and can't even describe the amount of feels that I've had over my amazing little family.  Especially during moments like this...

I look forward to more adventures with Hermione and Roland, and can't wait to post more photos and fun stories on the blog so you guys can share in the excitement!

On that note, I am going to hit the hay to prepare for a lovely and relaxing Caturday with my two cat children and husband.  I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend so far!

Xo*

Jess

Lady and the Cat on Etsy is Meow Live!

Alright, cat ladies!!!  After months of hinting, previewing, and preparation, I am super excited to announce that my Etsy shop is now officially up and running!!!!!  I absolutely can't wait for all my lovely readers to find a purrfect piece to add to their jewelry collection!  

The shop as it is at this very second is still quite small, but worry not!  I will be adding new pieces every single day throughout this week.  I have quite a few more rings to add, not to mention kitty ear hair clip, pins, and a few more statement pieces.  Because I will be adding so much to the shop this week, I probably won't be linking every single update on the blog.  I will be writing a follow-up post as soon as my shop page is full, though, just in case anyone misses this post.

I hope you like what I have to offer on Etsy!  This shop has been in the making for a long time, so I really do look forward to feedback and responses about the collection.  I love you all and hope you have a great week!

CLICK HERE FOR LADY AND THE CAT ON ETSY!

Xo*

Jess

Summer 2015 Featured Cat Lady

One of the best parts of being married is gaining family members.  Especially when those family members are crazy cat ladies.  I hit the in-law jackpot, not only in general, but also in sheer abundance of fellow cat lovers in Matt's family.

So when our cousin Rachel sent me an Instagram photo of her cat several months back, I knew I had to eventually feature her on the blog.  She said something that really struck me at that time, about the way cats leave bits of food in their dish all the time.  Most people think it's because cats are a real bunch of jerks, that they are insistent and finicky creatures, demanding more food before they finish what they have.  Right?  Rachel said she thinks cats actually leave this food for their humans, as an offering of love.  Like, "here, mom, you feed me all the time, so I am going to leave you a bite.  Thanks and I love you."  I. Love. This.

I'm pretty sure if more people looked at cats (and, not to mention, life in general) through those lenses, we'd be far better off and a hell of a lot happier.  Rachel is one smart cookie, and she isn't even in high school yet!  To say it's high time for her to get featured on this blog is obviously an understatement, am I right?!

Rachel is pictured above with her 4-year-old black cat wonder, Mario.  Back in the winter when I first asked Rachel about Mario, she told me that he's very nosy and has a lot of attitude, but loves to be around her and tends to pose at the camera.  As you can see, the above picture proves the last statements to be extremely true.  Come to think of it, Mr. Mario seems to be intentionally posing in every picture I've ever seen of him!  And clearly he loves his human!

Rachel is the coolest because even at a young age, she is fully unafraid to embrace her cat lady ways and unique sense of style.  A woman of my own heart, I tell you.  Plus, she tags me in anything cat-related, so I find her to be a wonderful source of feline pop culture goodies, especially since I'm a self-proclaimed geriatric at heart.  I have to stay in the loop somehow, guys!  

Anyhow, because Rachel is the coolest, she decided to visit me at Hunt and Gather this past weekend!  I knew she was going to die over my embellished kitty ears, and I was right!

I've been telling Rachel for ages that I wanted to feature her on Lady and the Cat, so when she snagged her kitty ears at Hunt and Gather, I asked her to take some pictures for the blog.  As you can see, she went above and beyond, not only tagging me in her selfie after the market, but took another adorable picture with Mario since they had matching kitty ears.  I am obsessed with this photo of them!  So cute!

I've really missed my featured cat lady posts, so getting Rachel and Mario on the blog after so long makes me very happy.  I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that it's always nice to feel a sense of community among other people with similar interests.  This is particularly true in the case of cats.  To most, we are a bunch of crazies, but truly, we are a special breed of unique women who are able to understand an often misunderstood animal, and I swear, we tend to be more creative and "outside the box" than everyone else in general.  Rachel is no exception, and I hope you all are as happy to meet her as I am to introduce her!  

If you want to be a Lady and the Cat featured cat lady yourself, shoot me an email at ladycatdesignco@gmail.com!  I'm always happy to get to know my readers, and love writing these feature posts, so don't hesitate to get in touch with me!

That's all for today, but don't forget to keep checking back for more updates.  I will be adding lots of items to my Etsy shop over the next couple of days, and all of the links will be posted here the second they go live.  If you missed me at Hunt and Gather, then Lady and the Cat's Etsy shop will be the perfect place to scoop up your very own pair of kitty ears or a ceramic decoupage kitty ring!  My Etsy shop is something that I've been waiting to share with my blog readers for such a long time now, and I promise the wait will have been worth it.  Stay tuned for links later this week!

Until then, be safe and have a purrfect Monday evening.  

Xo*

Jess

June 2015 Hunt and Gather meets Lady and the Cat!

Well, cat ladies, your beloved author has survived her first pop-up market!  I'm super excited to report that Hunt and Gather was everything I was hoping for and more!  I met so many new cat lovers, spread the word about the fun we have on this blog, and introduced the public to my jewelry line.

Now that this is all said and done, I need to admit (happily) that I was shocked over how many of my gut instincts were right.  The two items that I banked most on were indeed my biggest sellers.  Going extremely niche and catering to cat ladies only may have narrowed my prospects, but 100% ended up being worth it, because the cat ladies flocked to me from across the room.  After a couple of hours, I could instantly tell the difference between casual browser and cat lady.  The cat ladies bee-lined to me every time, and I could have cried happy tears, because that means I am doing something right with this.  I even had the cutest girl take my card and tell me she wanted to tweet about Lady and the Cat, because "even though I don't like cats, I just love you and think you're so cute and you deserve recognition."  Cats may have nine lives, but I must have many more than that, because I died about three hundred times from all the love this weekend.

I really have all of you to thank for what Lady and the Cat is turning into.  My blog readers have been loving and loyal from day one, and I felt like we were all gaining a victory when I did well over the weekend at this market.  I just kept thinking about how excited I was to post pictures from the event and fill all my readers in about how it went.  

So yes, overall, super successful times at H&G.  My original goal was simply to make back my table fee, and I did that in the first night.  This market was such a learning experience, too.  I took notes throughout, asked questions, listened to feedback from shoppers, and met a bunch of new contacts and other makers.  I've heard some nightmare experiences about selling at big markets, but I am certain that this show is probably the exception and not the rule--a true testament to the market itself and the wonderful people involved.  I would love to get to be part of it again in the future.

Before I go, I need to say hi to anyone who is reading that I met at H&G!  I loved meeting everyone, it's always a great thing when cat ladies can unite!  Also (and I'm realllllllllllllly purring over this one), I will be adding all of my leftover inventory to my Etsy shop!  I will provide links once everything is live.  I can't wait for this, because this will be the first time that I've had most of these items stocked online, especially the newer pieces!  

And as you already know, I have missed my regular blogging schedule so badly.  That being said, I already have another post ready and waiting to go live.  I haven't featured anyone else in this lovely community in quite some time, so I am pumped to announce that tomorrow you can come back here and meet Lady and the Cat's newest featured cat lady.  You won't want to miss meeting her!  

But I'm a fan of creating some anticipation, so until tomorrow...

Xo*

Jess