Colorful Duet

Da Boyz, artified by Prisma.

Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Let's Hop!

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Postcard: Chicago Surprise

A postcard from my recent trip to University of Chicago, in Illinois.

Day One: An eyebrow raising 'cat' encounter.

Upon a walking tour of campus, we stumbled across this wondrous artwork.

Artist: François-Xavier Lalanne

Title: Grand Chat Polymorph (1968/2008)

Location: David Rubenstein Forum, University of Chicago

Placard: Written by Jimin Kim, BA in Art History and East Asian Languages and Civilizations, 2022 in collaboration with Roko Rumora, PhD Candidate Department of Art History

“What if we place a giant unknown living creature in a domestic space?”

"In 1968, French sculptor François-Xavier Lalanne turned this question into reality, presenting this immense sculpture as a functional object for lounge spaces. While the work appears as a massive cat at an initial glance, a closer look reveals that it is in fact an amalgamation of the body of a cat with the tail of a fish, the wings of a bird, and the hooves of a bull. Suggested by the word polymorphe in its title, a derivative term of polymorphism, the work visualizes an imaginative organism occurring in multiple forms. Inspired by the fantastical polymorphic creatures from the Ancient Near Eastern mythology the artist engaged with as an at the Egyptian and Assyrian galleries of the Louvre, Lalanne gave life to this imaginative creature, turning his own imagination into a tangible form..."

Art is meant to evoke a reaction in the mind of the viewer.

What do you think of when you see this sculpture?

CK, The Artist

Cathy Keisha, The Stunning Keisha made beautiful art from PO'M photos!

Absolutely LURV these! 

Thank you so very much, CK.

💖Your talent is as great as your kindness.😻

And the well-wishes for Da Boyz's vet visit was remarkable; thank you all!

Vet report:

Chili Bruce weighs 14 lbs, and Manny is 13-1/2 lbs.

CB has significant tartar build up on his teeth; Manny's is less so.

Manny has a slight heart murmur.

Blood work on both will make sure they are both okay for the double dental scheduled in November, and if Manny's heart issue needs attention.

The staff called them "The Beautiful Boys"!

Da Boyz have lovely singing voices, as they alternately serenaded me as we drove there and back.

💗

Let's Hop!

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Art Nouveau Cats

"Émile Gallé (8 May 1846 – 23 September 1904) was a French artist and designer who worked in glass, and is considered to be one of the major innovators in the French Art Nouveau movement. He was noted for his designs of Art Nouveau glass art and Art Nouveau furniture, and was a founder of the École de Nancy or Nancy School, in the city of Nancy, France." Wikipedia

Émile Gallé 
Image from the interwebs

Not only did Monsieur Galle' create beautiful glass items and furniture, but he also created faience cats!

"Faience, also spelled faïence or fayence, tin-glazed earthenware made in France, Germany, Spain, and Scandinavia. It is distinguished from tin-glazed earthenware made in Italy, which is called majolica (or maiolica), and that made in the Netherlands and England, which is called delft." Britannica.com

While watching an episode of Public Broadcasting's Antique Roadshow, a Gallé cat was appraised.

Image from PBS Antiques Roadshow website
Click here to go to the appraisal.

I was intrigued, so I did some research.

Image taken from SFO Museum's site

They are a bit weird, with their stuck-on glass eyes, but charming nonetheless!

Just in case you run across on at a rummage sale...

Jigsaw Puzzle

A true work of art!

120Wild PO'M

Meet 'Treat The Dog'! And don't worry; there is cat stuff too!

Talented people are amazing to me, and any who love animals go right to the top of my list of favorite people!

Meet Pam Baril, the owner and creator of Cookie Cutter Tweets/Treat The Dog, LLC.  I purchased many cat toys and artwork from Pam over the years, where I've visited her booth at the hugely popular Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market in Michigan. She offers a variety of dog and bird items also, and adds new creations often.

At the market

For the birds

For the dogs

EC: Tell us about how you began Treat The Dog, LLC.
PB: I’ve been in business for just over eight years, when I started selling bird seed feeders.  At the first farmer's market where I sold them, the market manager asked if I would consider getting licensed to sell dog treats (which I did), and the rest is history! The cat people spoke, so I started making organic catnip toys, which I sell more of than any other of my pet products!

Kitty enjoying a catnip toy made by Pam

When I saw the sign at Pam's booth,,
I grabbed it right away!

EC: Describe your product focus:
PB: I hand-make every item I sell, and although it’s a lot of hours sewing and baking, I love every minute of it!  Being at my markets are “my happy places”.  I look forward to seeing my customers, both human and furry; the dogs know I’m the treat lady, and get their sample treat when they see me. The customers that don’t have their pets with them always show me pictures. It’s a thrill seeing them wearing one my bandannas in person or a picture!

Dog fashions!

Bandannas for every holiday

EC: Do you have an interesting story from a customer who purchased your products?:
PB: One of my fondest memories is of a dog named Zoey, who would visit me at both the Northville and Farmington markets. She came to my regular space in Northville, but I wasn’t there that day, and she just stood there in disbelief.

Dog watercolor

Cat watercolor

Thank you, Pam, for taking a few minutes out of your busy schedule for us today. We know you are ramping up to start the new summer season, and we know there will be lots of dogs, cats, birds… and humans in your future!

Disclaimer: All photos used by permission of Pam Baril, or are my own images.  I was not compensated in any way for this interview; I just really enjoy Pam's work!

Uh-oh, She's At It Again!

A couple of recently purchased cute cat items:

Watercolor, from the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market
(to be reframed) 

Blue cat figure found at resale shop....

...has a cute curly tail!

Have not yet decided if these will join the office collection, or the home gallery.

'Starry Night' by Quint

Quint's Starry Night

Official authentication documents!
Ruby's official stamp of approval too!

As a present to myself, I purchased 'Quint's Starry Night', created by Colehaus Cats.  I am a huge fan of Vincent VanGogh, who's rather famous 'Starry Night' is in every art history book, however I think Quint's art should be featured by the experts!  I adore Quint Cole's painting, and I can actually own his pieces.

Downloaded from internet, VanGogh's 'Starry Night'

I enjoy celestial viewing, often dragging The Hubby with me to watch meteor showers or lunar eclipses.  I sit on the back deck, with Patty O'Malley by my side, and stare at the stars.  So, naturally for me, an piece of original art made by a kitty, representing the night sky, was a must-have!

Thanks again to Quint and the other lovely kitties at Colehause Cats, and Carole too!  I have specific plans for framing this treasure, details to be revealed in the future.

Office Addition: Quint's Art!

Yay!  Not only do I have cat photos in cute frames in my office, now I have Quint's art hanging right where I can stare at it while sitting at my desk.

Check out more of Quint's artwork at Colehaus Cats!  I am very excited to have this!

Score!

Received early Christmas presents from my co-worker, and boy, does she know what I like!  The book, "Sorry, I Barfed On Your Bed" by Jeremy Greenberg is an adorable set of essays by kitties who are trying to live a cat life in human homes.  I also received a very cool photo frame; it says, "Love My Cat"!

AND...My very own Quint painting has arrived!  Go to Colehaus Cats to see all the neato artwork that Quint creates, plus a terrific blog by the kitties mom.  I chose Quint's painting of Spring, because it's my favorite time of the year.

I am so excited to have this cat booty!  Thank you, CD for the gifts, and to Colehaus Cats for the painting!

But wait...there's more!  I purchased a big cat pillow over the weekend, and used an old box to make a new beddy for Chuck, up on the bookcase. Actually, I thought it would suit Angel's black-and-white fur perfectly, but once Chuck found it, he claimed it as his!  That old Gateway box is a hoot; cannot believe it's been kicking around the house for all these years.  We all certainly SCORED this week, with great cat stuff all around!