Quality Control!

I've spent most of my time making beds for the shop, and have just started thinking about how I want the nap mats to look.

I did a sample to check out the size and decided to put it on the bed to see if anyone would be interested in using it.

Diva Samoa seems to fit purrfectly. Just look at the attitude in her pose. She is definitely the top cat in this house, and she doesn't let any other cat forget it!

I also found some adorable cotton cat and dog fabric today. I'm not sure what I'm going to make with it yet, but it was too cute to pass by!

First Sale!

I'm so excited because I made my very first sale in my Etsy shop! This is the Go Fetch fleece doggie bed. Most of the fleece I've been buying have cat designs, however when I saw this cute doggie fleece, I had to get it! If I can find more fleece fabric with dog designs, I'll be making more! Right now, most of the beds are cat designs.

Thank you to Kittanna - a friend on Catster - for being my first customer!

Open for Business!

My Etsy Shop is now open! I've got a lot of beds to add to the shop, and only had time tonight to open up with three items.

I'll be adding more tomorrow, so don't forget to stop by and check out my inventory!

My Head is Spinning!

I'm working on the final stages of getting my Etsy shop up and running! The most difficult part is figuring out how much to charge for shipping. I had to buy boxes to ship the beds because the free large box the post office offers is too small, and I didn't want to squish the beds beyond recognition!

I'm living with a former math major, so he has helped me put all the possibilities into a spreadsheet. There are so many factors - where the bed is going, how much the box weighs, which item they are purchasing. It would be great if Etsy had a zip code/price calculator on their site, but they don't, and you have to list a shipping price.

I'm off to get a scale at Walmart, so that I can accurately determine the weight of the beds + box. I'm excited to open the store, and I hope everyone likes the beds! As Samoa would say, the Diva Collection is pawsome!

Doughnut Head!

My sweet Spunky is wearing one of those e-collars - plastic cone - because the skin on his face is delicate right now from his cancerous tumor. He has scratched his face with his back paw and the skin has come right off his cheek. While we're on vacation, I'm going to keep it on him the entire time, and my catsitter said she would take it off while he eats.

I got on the internet looking for an alternative. I'm going to try soft paws when we get home, but in the meantime, I made this collar with foam covered in fleece. I hot glued a cat's collar around the inner ring to make it go on easily.

Of course, it worked brilliantly when I fitted him with the foam. He could see better because it doesn't block his vision like the plastic cone. So, I added the fleece and the collar. Within 5 minutes of having it on, he figured out how to scratch his face! Back to the drawing board. Sorry, Spunk, looks like you'll be wearing the plastic cone!

I think this alternative would be great for preventing a cat from licking stitches, so I might have to make a few for my Etsy store!

Happy Birthday Calvin!

My sweetie Calvin is 17 years old today. He was my Aunt Phyllis' cat that I rescued from the humane society where he had been taken after she passed away six years ago. Everyone needs a cat like Calvin in their life. If you don't like cats, he would change your mind in about two minutes!

I love him so much, and I hope he lives a long time because I can't imagine my life without him.

Knee Deep in Fleece!

I've been working on getting some beds made before we go on vacation next week. I'm liking the way they look, and it's a good thing we already have wall to wall cat beds in this house, or I'd be tempted to keep them myself!

I'm thinking that I have the most ancient sewing machine and supplies known to woman. Don't they make some fancy cutter thingy that looks like a pizza cutter and you use a board underneath it? Why am I still using scissors?

And do they even sell pins anymore? I think I saw magnets once that hold your pattern to the fabric. And I'm sure they've updated the sewing machine since 1975 when I got mine!

Nothing Says Diva Like A Boa!

I had some time to spare this morning after dropping off Spunky at the vet's office for his cancer treatment, so I went to Garden Ridge.

I was disappointed to see that they are eliminating their party department. I worked in that department for a couple of years when the store first opened. I only worked part-time, and I spent everything I made in the store!

But, I was excited to see several huge bins full of party stuff 50% off! There were colorful boas - not just the feather kind, but the marabou boas too! My diva cat, Samoa, loves getting photographed in boas!

In her honor, I'm going to design a Diva line of beds edged with the beautiful marabou boas!

Got Fleece?

I bought some fleece a few days ago for the kitty beds. I found some cute cat prints, and some other colorful patterns that I think will look nice. Production has begun!

Giving Etsy a Try!

I've started this blog to go along with the Etsy store I plan to have beginning in August. I'm going to be offering small fleece beds for your favorite furry friends! Check out Calvin and Sugar on the left hand side of this blog to see how much they love their Cat in the Clover beds!

A link to my Etsy store is also on the left - click on Violet's picture to take you there! Thanks for checking it out!