60% Polyester, 40% Cat Hair

My beautiful cats bring me so much joy, they are an endless source of amusement, and they cheer me up when I’m sad. All this however, comes at a price. I have had to accept that I may never again wear an outfit, without it being covered in cat hair.

My cats are very pretty, Lori has a tummy like a tiger, and Tilly has the softest coat I have ever had the pleasure to stroke, but their fur looks a lot better on them than it does on me. It’s got to a point now where their hair seems to have become woven into the very fabric of my wardrobe. I’ve tried washing garments, hoovering them, the old sticky tape trick, all to no avail.

I guess I have to accept that I will forever more be instantly recognisable as a crazy cat lady.

Look at them, butter wouldn’t melt.

A Happy Crafting Bunny

The other day I blogged about the new craftroom set up which Mr Monster had sorted out for me. Today I finally have the chance to lock myself away and make use of it. It is immense and I’m sure my work will benefit from having such a lovely workspace.

The cats love the new studio too!

Typical Women

Like most of us ladies, I would happily admit that I love bags and shoes, and if I’m honest it’s because there’s no chance of them making my bum look big. As it turns out, my two pretty little girl kittens Lori and Tilly are no exception to the accessories rule.

Ever since we got them at 8 weeks old they have been obsessed with shoes, climbing in them, climbing on them, chewing them and generally doing a lot of kitty type pouncing behaviour in the shoe cupboard.

The new thing seems to be bags, plastic ones, paper ones, rucksacks, laptop cases – all bags will be sought out and thoroughly sat on or in. Lori in particular has a penchant for Primark carrier bags and so I dutifully go clothes shopping on a regular basis to keep up with the demand. She also managed to narrowly avoid abduction by one of Mr Monster’s guitar teaching clients when she climbed inside his guitar case during a lesson.

The upshot being that all our shoes have tiny holes in them and all handbags etc. are covered in cat hair, but they get away with it cos they’re so damn cute.

Lori's first day

Lori and Monkey

Lori and her Daddy

Tilly Arrives

Pretty Kitty

BFF

Kittens in the Sun

Pair of Bookends

Big and Little Spoon

My Fabric Addiction is Contagious

Cat to the Future

I'm With the Band

My Family

Happiness is…

Sometimes in life, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important.

I am grateful that it’s in my nature to find joy in the small things in life – sometimes I have been mocked or derided for being that way, but I really wouldn’t want to change. Yes, that side of me can have a tendency to make me seem naive and child-like, but are those really such undesirable qualities to have?

On the flip-side, being so easily pleased can also mean that I am equally easily crushed. In the blink of an eye I can go from skipping through the daisies, to the sky caving in. Would I give up one for the other? Would I stop giggling at daydreams and seeing monsters in the clouds in order to avoid the times when the world is ganging-up on me? Ask me that today and I might say ‘Yes please’, ask me tomorrow and I’m sure I will say ‘Hell No!’. That’s just the way I am.

It does me good sometimes to remind myself of the good things around me and of those little things that make me oh so happy – allow me to share.

1 – Tea in MY mug

Mr Monster and I had a lovely day a month or two ago at Flying Saucers in central Bristol – a pottery painting cafe where you can choose from loads of different blank pieces of porcelain to decorate. We spent several happy hours drinking tea, munching on biscuits, and each painting a mug for the other to call their own.

This pretty little owl was painted for me by Mr Monster and I love her. This is her before she was glazed and fired, and on the back of the mug he painted the likenesses of our two gorgeous little kittens. Every time I drink out of it I feel all cosy and warm to know that I have my very own mug and such a lovely man to make me my medicinal cups of tea to go in it.

These are the finished articles including the fox mug which I made for him.

2. The Great British Bake-Off

BBC programming at it’s best. If this is where my license fee is going then I pay it gladly. A good gentle hour of TV, watching people make delicious food with passion and love. As a child I can remember really enjoying watching cookery programmes and into adulthood I have always found them immensely relaxing. As someone who finds relaxation doesn’t come easy, it makes a welcome break from my ever fertile mind.

3 – Stuffed Magazine

Stuffed magazine is a stunning publication showcasing plush artists from around the world. Beautifully put together and endlessly inspiring. I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t pick up one of the copies on my shelf and have a flick through. The newest issue is currently winging it’s way to me from America and every day when I go to check my postbox, the sense of anticipation is palpable. I’m sure it will be here soon and when it is I will be a VERY happy little mistress. Oh… And the title always makes me snigger!

4. Writing

Recently I have rediscovered my love of writing. I guess as someone who has so much going on in her head, getting it all down in words is a good way of letting off steam – a bit like Dumbledore’s Pensieve for any fellow Potterheads out there.

As a teen, I wanted to either be an artist or a writer. For work experience when I was fifteen, I organised a placement at my local newspaper (I arranged it a year in advance, that’s how keen I was!) and gained a good insight into the world of news journalism. Although I enjoyed the experience, I wasn’t keen on the fact that even at a local level stories were being embellished and sensationalised. At that tender age I didn’t really think about the fact that newspapers weren’t the only avenue and turned my back on the idea.

Despite writing endless short stories as a kid and knocking around the idea of a novel as an adult, I haven’t really written for pleasure in very many years. Blogging has been a great way to get writing again – the internet allows self-publication at the click of a button and whether anyone reads what I have to say or not, I can still get my thoughts out there.

Blogging has given me the confidence to put my written work ‘out there’ so to speak and the feedback I have been getting has been wonderful to receive. I have soooo many projects up my sleeve for the future… Perhaps I can be a writer AND an artist after all.

5. My Family

I’m at the point of life where I am not just thinking about myself anymore. I have my family to consider. Mr Monster and our two beautiful little kitty’s are everything to me and I am really enjoying building a life with them. Although sometimes I struggle to look after myself, looking after them brings me so much joy and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.

A Busy Day at Monster HQ…

… And the cats aren’t helping!!

Caught Red-Pawed

Making My Monsters Uneasy