Why create a new blog award?

Perhaps I'm ego-centric? overflowing with excessive creativity? desperate for ways to avoid the work I should be doing?

Or maybe it's simply because there are so many cat blogs I've come to love that I had to personalize a way of thanking them for all their kitty cuteness?

(Aww, I'm soooo sweet--I know, I know--go brush your teeth now to prevent cavities, but then come back to find out about some wonderful cat blogs and my pretty new award for them).

Anyway, I figured that since I do draw cats after all, it made sense to turn some of my art into a blog award for my favorite cat blogs. Since I'm sure my faves will have their own faves, it will be a pass-it-along-to-up-to-7-others thing just like the other blog awards I've seen (actually, I could really give this to almost 20 blogs, but I didn't want to take away some of the re-awarding fun--so if you're a cat blogger who isn't here but who I've dropped EC on or left a comment with, trust me, I love you too!).

Alright, enough already. The rules are pretty standard ones: link to the blog who gave you the award, plus the (up to 7) blogs you're awarding it to, and display the award on your blog if you want (though please don't use the image for anything un-award-related, since it is from one of my original drawings. Oh, and you probably don't want to award it to a blog that has nothing to do with cats because, really, you'd just confuse the poor thing).

My picks (in alphabetical order, not order of preference, because you are all freakin' fantabulous):
BeadedTail --Thanks for inspiring me with your wonderful crafting and cute kitties
Chica & Pumuckl -- Thanks for sharing your adorable orange kitties adventures
Daisy the Curly Cat -- Thanks for inevitably making me laugh
Friends FurEver -- Thanks for adorable floofiness
Grr, Midnight & Cocoa -- Thanks (most recently) for the video of your cat chasing the aquarium--I've watched it a few times at this point, and it always makes me giggle.
Luxor -- Thanks for haring pictures and stories of such a beautiful white cat
Of Cats -- Thanks for reminding me about my house cats big cat cousins--and the important things going on in their world.

You all rock--I can't wait to find more wonderful cat blogs by following this award out to new places!

Review of ColoradoCatnipToys: Cats give it 4 paws up

So ColoradoCatnipToys and I arranged a trade on etsy (trades: one of the reasons to love etsy). She was interested in these cat cards and I was interested in her adorable catnip quilts. So she kindly suggested a trade and I eagerly agreed.

Tonight (after very fast shipping) the quilt arrived and I pulled it out. She'd also included one of her handmade catnip toys as an added goodie for the kitties, and boy were they happy about the whole package. Below is just a little of the fun that followed.

<--Allie Mae thought the blanket should be all hers.

Puma disagreed --->









& he wanted the toy to himself too...


but Zorro used a classic 10-yr-old-boy technique to lay claim to that:


This basically provided the Saturday night entertainment for my husband and I (and while part of me finds this so pitiful, another part knows I laughed a lot harder watching these kitties get messed up on catnip than I would have at the latest comedy in the theater--and this was much less expensive!)

Don't forget: my contest from the previous post is still going on! You could get freebies from me and then use those unspent funds to go get your cats some wonderful stuff from ColoradoCatnipToys :)

Note: Just in case anyone was wondering, this post was not at all sponsored or cajoled--it was purely inspired by how much my cats loved these items and the cute pictures that produced. Any time I do write a review that has been sponsored or arranged for through anything other than sheer delight I'll be sure to let my readers know--but I also won't ever write a review that's less than honest because without my integrity what good am I as a blogger and artist/crafter?