I have shared my life, and my home with a cat (or more commonly cats) all of my life.
And a home is not a home to me unless it includes at least one animal. Just the same, it is also true that everything in our house is covered in a patina of cat fur. I can vacuum, dust and clean until the cows come home and there will still be cat hair. Everywhere.
Years back when an allergist requested that I bring a teaspoon from the vacuum to our first appointment what I took to him was dirty cat hair. Interestingly of the ten most common allergens the only ones I am not allergic to are cat and dog hair.
I have frequently said that if only I could knit, I could knit another cat.
Which is why the smaller portion included this book with my Christmas presents this year.
And the author was not joking. She does indeed make handicrafts from the cast-off fur from her cats, and those of her friends, and assures us that 'No cats were harmed in the making of this book'.
Finger puppets, coin purses, trinket boxes, book covers, portraits, badges... This book contains a step by step guide to making these things - and more.
I laughed when I opened the parcel and read the book with a great deal of interest. Her instructions are detailed, and I suspect quite easy to replicate.
Will I follow suit? Not a chance. I appreciate the work which goes into making them, but these are too cute for me. Nauseatingly cute. And far too fragile as well. Like the cats they came from, these craft items would moult. And none of them purr.
She is much, much more diligent than I am and less wasteful as well. The piles, clumps, mounds and mountains of fur that our cats discard will continue to collect in corners on their way to the compost bins. And the vacuum. And the furniture. And our clothing. And everywhere else as well.
And a home is not a home to me unless it includes at least one animal. Just the same, it is also true that everything in our house is covered in a patina of cat fur. I can vacuum, dust and clean until the cows come home and there will still be cat hair. Everywhere.
Years back when an allergist requested that I bring a teaspoon from the vacuum to our first appointment what I took to him was dirty cat hair. Interestingly of the ten most common allergens the only ones I am not allergic to are cat and dog hair.
I have frequently said that if only I could knit, I could knit another cat.
Which is why the smaller portion included this book with my Christmas presents this year.
And the author was not joking. She does indeed make handicrafts from the cast-off fur from her cats, and those of her friends, and assures us that 'No cats were harmed in the making of this book'.
Finger puppets, coin purses, trinket boxes, book covers, portraits, badges... This book contains a step by step guide to making these things - and more.
I laughed when I opened the parcel and read the book with a great deal of interest. Her instructions are detailed, and I suspect quite easy to replicate.
Will I follow suit? Not a chance. I appreciate the work which goes into making them, but these are too cute for me. Nauseatingly cute. And far too fragile as well. Like the cats they came from, these craft items would moult. And none of them purr.
She is much, much more diligent than I am and less wasteful as well. The piles, clumps, mounds and mountains of fur that our cats discard will continue to collect in corners on their way to the compost bins. And the vacuum. And the furniture. And our clothing. And everywhere else as well.
