Our Halloween Cats...

This is Issy's favorite Holiday...probably because she is a black cat but I think more importantly because it is a Holiday that she gets to share with her "cousin" Guinness.

Issy and Guinness live in the same building (different floors- of course-because you can only have one princess cat per floor!). They share a mutual admiration for their beautiful black coats- Guinness being short haired and Issy being long-haired...as I have said before black cats are definitely a breed to themselves...

Of all the different cat colors, the black cat is more closely related to their wild ancestors and it is believed that black cats were first seen in the wild before they became domesticated cats. Hence, these cats carry a reputation for having a wild and unpredictable side. They can be both stubborn and friendly at the same time, and although they are quite independent creatures, they also thrive on the companionship of people and other cats and household pets. Be warned though, Black Cats have a tendency to roam around and can cover many miles in a short period of time. Therefore, if you are going to allow your Black Cat to be an outside cat, you should make sure that he carries proper identification.

I find this above information very funny..if you know my Issy, she is a persnickety little kitty who really only likes (or should I say trust) her Mommie and Daddy and being the princess-girl she is- really looooves Daddy. If you are anyone else- don't think of getting close even if she approaches you and gives you a friendly leg rub...no hiss warning applies here, she goes right to the extended claw swoop!

When we go to visit our friends where Guinness lives, she usually runs up to us and I swoop her up and we have a momentary love-fest...minutes later I go back to give her a pat and she turns and gives me "the look" as in who are you!?! and a hiss...

...funny creatures these black cats! But once you have one- you love 'em dearly- quirks, hisses, and all because as unpredictable as they can be, they can be that sweet and loving.

So from Issy and Guinness a"Happy Halloween" to all!

Black Cat - Good Luck!

You might be wondering... "What- a Black Cat and Good Luck?"

As many of you know Mark and I have a black cat by the name of Issy...well actually- Isabella Sunshine Conchita Little Havana Brown Molen...and she is every bit of that! Mark and I "adopted" her from the local shelter about 8 years ago. She has brought us so much happiness and we love her dearly.

If any of you have (I could say own- but who am I kidding?!) - "have" a black cat, you well know they are a breed unto themselves! This could possibly why they get a bad rap- but there is another side to being a black cat...

In the United States there's a superstition that black cats bring bad luck. But for a much longer time in history and in many parts of the world (like China and The UK), the black cat is actually a symbol of Good Luck.
The Chinese symbol you see on the cat is 'Ji' and means 'lucky'. The Japanese culture holds cats in high regard also..a waving black cat will bring good health to you.

Here are some more examples of black cats and good luck!

England:
~In Britain and Australia black cats are considered lucky.
~In Yorkshire, England, fishermen's wives would keep a black cat at home to guarantee the safe return of their husbands.

~If a black cat came into a house or onto a ship, it was considered a good omen. The cat would never be chased away, for fear it would take the luck of the house with it. Seamen avoided saying the word "cat" while on the water, but it was lucky to have one on board, especially if the black cat has no white hairs. To throw the cat overboard would raise the ire of the sea and a violent storm would immediately erupt. Cats were rarely left on an abandoned ship -- they would generally be rescued with the crew. This belief in the luck of black cats caused them to be stolen from their masters.

~King Charles I of England was taking no chances with this phenomena -- he loved his black cat so much he had it guarded. The day after his cat died, he was arrested!
~Black cats were once treated like royalty in the homes of English sailors, who believed that keeping them happy would ensure fair weather when they went to sea. They became so high-priced that few sailors could afford to keep them.

~A strange black cat on a porch brings prosperity to the owner. (Scottish Lore)
France:
~French peasants thought black cats could find buried treasure if they followed a specific ritual: turn the cat loose at an intersection of five roads and follow him.

~In the south of France, black cats are referred to as matagots, or "magician cats". According to local superstition, they bring good luck to owners who feed them well and treat them with the respect they deserve.
Other Places:
~In North America, it's considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. BUT in the U.K., switch the colors.

~African-American folklore tells that black cats are good luck in the sporting and gambling world. Many gamblers will carry a mojo bag or a black cat curio bag -- decorated with a small metal black cat charm on the outside -- filled with a variety of lucky herbs and roots.

YAWN...
~To dream of a black cat is lucky.

check out Issy's NEW  Black Cat BLOG!!

to be continued...next week Issy's favorite Holiday- Halloween!

The Gossips

Many years ago...in a land not so far away...

I created these dolls- The Gossips. They have given me a sense of joy every time I look at them. I remember clearly when I first thought of them in Arches National Park in Utah...inspired by the rock formations of the same title.

I have been working with my web-guy, Brandon, in the ever evolving process of updating my website at ROotie StudiO to have more new patterns and have the ease of PayPal...hopefully to be completed before the end of the year!

But for right now~ I am excited to host my own on-line class of- who else- but The Gossips!

I am very happy that this will give me the capability to reach out to so many more of you who cannot make it to my classes here at ROotie or in my classes that I travel to!

For more information on the Gossips and the Class click here!

I will keep you posted for future ROotie On-Line Classes!

Barn Quilts & the Crooked Man...

I first read about these Barn Quilts in a magazine MaryJane's Farm magazine. I found they whole idea of displaying a "quilt" on your barn wonderful- quilts are usually made from scraps from a family or community- so what better way than to share your work with your community!

Here is a brief history of Barn Quilts:

In 1989 Donna Sue Groves and her mother purchased a farm in Adams County, Ohio. On the farm was a tobacco barn. Donna Sue promised her mother that someday she would paint a quilt square on it for her. As the years passed she kept thinking about her tobacco barn and the quilt square that she had promised to paint. The Adams County Quilt Barn Sampler project was officially dedicated to honor Donna Sue's mother Nina Maxine Groves. Over the past ten years, the National Quilt Trail is rapidly spreading across Ohio to Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Iowa, and North Carolina and beyond. Over 400 colorful quilt squares adorn barns, flood walls and other significant community structures.

While I was in Kentucky, my friend Linda took me sightseeing in her VW convertible. Off we went through winding roads umbrella-ed by trees, up and down rolling hills, winding around onto dirt roads, seeking these fabulous barn quilts!
The Quilts:
Notice what is unique to Kentucky is that most of the fences and barns are painted a mellow color of black!









The Crooked Man who lives in a Crooked House.
Linda drove me by this funny little house and luckily the funny little man was outside too! He has been there forever and being the community that Berea is, neighbors do check in on him...

There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse.
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

until next week...

The NIADA Book

It is here! The new NIADA Book.

It was a labor of love carefully crafted by NIADA artists Shelley Thornton and Chris Chomick. I believe this book to hold the essence of each NIADA artist. The layout is beautifully blended between the new and the old. It is an inspiration for all artist, the quality of the color photography is outstanding...I am thrilled and honored to be included in this piece of history!

NIADA’s wonderful new book, NIADA Art Dolls: Rich Traditions, New Ideas had its premier unveiling at the 2009 conference. Directed and edited by NIADA artist Shelley Thornton, and designed by NIADA artist Chris Chomick, the nearly 400-page hard-cover, all color book will present work from over 150 doll artists who’ve been elected to NIADA since its beginning in 1963. This stunning array of doll images will be an invaluable ongoing inspiration to doll lovers and artists alike.

This book covers the history of NIADA beginning in 1963 to the present, covering the founding of NIADA, "voices" from the artists, what is an art doll, and most impressively the 630 pieces of art. The book in broken into sections of medium- very user friendly!

The one thing that I love about NIADA is the diversity of each artist- each has a their own distinct style and continuing with a well-defined technique of their work. I believe that this is what characterises NIADA dolls as art to share with you!

Some of the pages...

Various artist from the Fired Clay section

Reina Brill from the Mixed Media section

One of my pieces from the Fiber section

For the local CO people,
I will have these books ($65)
available at ROotie-
let me know if you are interested!
email: lmolen@qwest.net