I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about a coat!! The weather here has been so horrible recently that I decided I needed a new raincoat, especially if I’m going to venture outside for any length of time. Normal raincoats are boring so of course I had to make one with cats on it :D I’m over the moon with how this has turned out. It took most of yesterday afternoon. I will be putting buttons on it but I haven’t been able to find the perfect ones locally so I’m waiting for some to arrive that I bought online. I couldn’t wait to share pictures of the coat though!

I used McCall’s pattern number M6517 and the fabric I bought from a local shop – Calico

I love it :D

Yesterday it was announced the artist Ronald Searle had died at the age of 91. BBC news article.

On all the different new programmes they talked of his St Trinians work but not of his awesome cat drawings. He has created many many cat books with his wonderful and humourous cat illustrations. He was a fantastic artist and one that will be remembered.

It’s getting to that time of year when you climb up into the attic to get the tatty old box of Christmas decorations down to find that half the baubles have broken and the lights are tangled up in a knot so bad that there’s no hope of ever getting them undone.

How about decorating your house and tree with cat decorations?? I’ve found some great cat Christmas decorations and have made a Treasury on Etsy with some of my finds.

I love this little cat, he’s got a great expression.

Christmas Cat Ornament by Littleandbig

I think these would be lovely decorations all year round.
Tuxedo Cat Star Ornament by NicolePorcelain

Somewhere for Santa to put all those catnip toys and boxes of treats.


Orange Cat Christmas Stocking by AllenbriteStudio

If you’ve not got your card yet, there are lots of my Doodlecat cards in my Etsy Shop

You will need: Felt (two colours), paper, thread, a hair band and some glue.

Create a cat head template with paper and then use it to cut out two pieces of felt. Cut two triangles out of the other colour felt for the tabby markings.

Stitch the triangles on to one of the cat head shapes and then add a nose and mouth.

Take the other cat head shape and glue it onto the underside of the hair band. I used a hot glue gun but I’m sure other glues would work.

Using blanket stitch, sew the piece with the face on, onto the felt with the hairband in between.

Voila!

If you try this, I’d love to see your results.

Another of my cat dresses. I bought this on my birthday as a treat for myself. The also do an awesome jumper with cats on which I bought aswell. I’ll show you that some other time :) I like these two colour tights and they look funky with my purple boots :)

Tights: Happy Socks
Dress: H&M
Boots: Dr Martens

I’ve posted about Simon’s Cat before but just had to tell you about his new book Simon’s Cat 3 – Kitten Chaos that arrived in the post at the weekend. It stars the usual cat plus a kitten which causes so much mischief. It’s hilarious! I don’t know how he does it, coming up with so many funny drawings. Daz and I both laughed out loud so many times as we looked through it.

I think what I love about the book is that it reminds me of four and a half years ago when Arty came into our lives. It was so funny how such a tiny little kitten could turn our world upside down.

Check out www.simonscat.com for more awesomeness.

This pouch is so simple to make and looks really great. You can make it in whatever size you like, even adding straps to turn it into a bag :)

What you’ll need
Fabric, lining fabric, facing and a magnet clasp.

Decided how big you want the pouch to be a cut a piece of the main fabric, adding half an inch all round for the seams. Then cut another piece the same width but about 50% longer as pictured. Round off the corners (only the two lower ones on the smaller piece). Cut the same pieces from lining fabric and facing.

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I’ve got lots of different cat fabrics but only small pieces as they can be pretty pricey. To save spending lots I like to use the cat fabric as a feature on a larger plain item. I came up with this shopping bag idea a few days ago and have made a few now as they’ll be really useful. I hate plastic bags and always try to use my own bags, however I wanted something different to the canvas bags you see everywhere.

You will need some webbing, I’ve used cotton webbing which is usually available in the ribbons and bindings section of fabric shops. Also, you’ll need fabric for the main bag, lining fabric (I used a pillow case) and some pretty cat fabric for the pocket. Pins are essential in making this too.

Cut your bag fabric to the size you want your bag plus a seam allowance of half an inch all the way around, you will need two. Then cut two of the lining fabric the same width but an inch shorter than the outer fabric.

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We were sitting in the living room the other day and had the feeling we were being watched. Oscar was on the roof looking through the window! He was zooming off by the time I got my camera out.

It’s been so hot here and Pixie loves it. She’s spending all her time outside.

Arty isn’t a fan of the heat and spends most of his time asleep or grumpily flouncing around looking fed up. He does like to sleep on damp towels though so we’ll have to keep him supplied with them and hopefully he’ll be happier.