5 comments about Sassy Cats: Purr-fect Craft Projects.

1. Ms. Rauen's deeply felt ideas about creativity are inspiring. Her warmth and romance with art and life are evident. I especially enjoyed her thoughts on getting rid of negativity, and "filling up". The well organized projects are a lot of fun. I look forward to more of her titles.



2. I have both this book and "Cats in Hats" book and they are both invaluable resources for painting on wood, fabric, umbrellas, tile, as well as quilting, free-motion machine embroidery...well, you get the picture! A variety of approaches to fundamentally adorable designs add to the value of this book.
   
   Clear and helpful directions and a sense of relaxed playfulness make this book a welcome addition to my art room library.
   
   Kathleen



3. "Sassy Cats" was not intended to be just a quilt book. The title is "Sassy Cats - Purrfect Crafts Projects". It has 15 projects for everything from silk painting, painting on wood, canvas, glass, and ceramics to applique, quilting, and free motion embroidery. As the author, I have been very pleased with the response and the feedback. In the book, I recommend that people play around with the designs, enlarging and reducing them for their specific project ideas. One fan even hooked one of the designs as a wool purse. Most of the designs lend themselves very well to be used as applique projects for quilting. Many of the painted projects were created in applique for HGTV's "Simply Quilts" television show with Alex Anderson. I'm sorry that the reviewer Lamkay thought it was just a quilt book. I do feel that based on her misunderstanding, her review is unfair and damaging to me. Thank you. Sheila Rauen



4. I expected a quilt book and received a paint on silk book. If you like to paint on silk, buy it. If you expect patterns for quilting, forget it!



5. Anyone who crafts and loves cats will love this book! I first saw the author on Carol Duvall and knew that I had to try what she was demonstrating that day - a painted cat looking in a fishbowl. And when I found out she had written this book, I immediately went looking for it. You will NOT be disappointed. All of her projects have easy to follow instructions and they can also be used for any medium you want to try, be it painting, quilting, applique, etc. Her cat pictures are darling and my two (Mad Max and Maisie) already have their requests in to me! The only problem you'll have is trying to decide which one to do first!

1 comments about In Remembrance of a Special Cat: A Keepsake Memorial.

1. "In Remembrance of a Special Cat" is similar to a sympathy card in that it has poems and verse to help the recipient handle grief. I gave a copy to a friend whose pet died. A month later that friend showed me the book and the pictures of her cat, from kitty to maturity, that she had glued into the book on the pages reserved for photographs. My friend told me that, of all the words of condolence she had received from friends, that this little book was the most important.

3 comments about Little Tyke (A Re-quest book).

1. This is a unique and heartwarming story of a lion cub who grew up vegetarian. For those that believe in Heaven and creation, it is a wonderful glance into what was and will be again. For those that do not, it is an interesting and sweet story of a lion who grew up detesting meat and blood. For those who do not know how to eat healthfully as a vegetarian or those that do not understand that no creature truly has the need for ingesting meat or blood, this may seem baffling. But for those of us who have been vegetarian for generations, and healthfully and wonderfully so, or have raised "carnivores" as vegetarians and watched them lead healthy, happy, long lives, it is easy to understand! No matter what side of the creation/evolution carnivore/vegetarian belief you may be on, you will enjoy this non-religious story of the lion who grew up as a gentle giant. It is a wonderful read for children, families, and adults alike. Enjoy!



2. Little Tyke was truly as gentle as a house kitten. As a boy I knew Georges and Margaret Westbeau and Little Tyke. Not once did Tyke ever display the negative tendencies we expect from a wild animal. She was raised as a member of the Westbeau family, would eat out of your hand, kiss you on the cheek and rub against you for attention. Raised in an atmosphere of love, she returned love to those around her. I have given dozens of copies of Little Tyke as gifts since it's first publication in the 50's, and will continue to do so. Little Tyke definatly understood humans. Her story will change the way you view a lion forever.



3. A lion cub is born, apparently allergic to meat and blood. While the diet described should have resulted in blindness and death, she grows to normal sized adulthood as a family pet (!) light reading, no explainations offered. Ripley's believe it or not is offered as a witness. More of a kids book than a serious analysis of the implications, it is a good read and the photos are amazing.

1 comments about The Little Tabby Cat Book (The Little Cat Library).

1. "The Little Tabby Cat Book" is a great little (and I do mean little, as in total pages and dimensions) coffee table book, or, as I like to call them: "bathroom books." Almost all of its 61 pages are filled with color photos and drawings of tabbies. There are bits of facts and history, but it doesn't really go into depth. Sure, you'll probably learn a few things (I did, anyway), but don't expect a complete how-to guide here.

   The book is organized into four parts, as explained below:

   "Creative Cats" -- This six-page section spotlights famous tabby cats, whether in folklore (Puss in Boots) or aviation history ("Jazz, the only animal aboard the first airship to fly the Atlantic") or even film (Stephen King's "Catýs Eye").

   "Gallery of Cats" -- The longest chapter in here (at approximately 18 pages), "Gallery of Cats" is just that--a photo gallery of cats. All types are shown here--Chocolate Tabby Angora, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon, Chocolate Lynx-point, Blue Classic Tabby Persian, and Non-Pedigree (the typical household tabby)--and each breed is given a double-page spread, pointing out each one's origins, "cateristics"/quirks, you name it. While I really enjoyed this section, I didn't quite understand why other breeds were added, since this is a book on tabbies. Still, a great visually-beautiful chapter.

   "Me and My Cat" -- This is a really fun part of the book. Here you're given a two-page "Purr-sonal History" for your cat where you can document his/her features, favorite things, and "firsts," as in the first time s/he opened his/her eyes, gave you a "mouse-gift," etc. While a cutesy idea for doting owners, there really isn't enough room to go into detail, and it's only just for one cat. Also in this section, cat-naming tips are given, along with 13 possible names and their meanings. But my favorite part would have to be the cat horoscopes.

   "Practical Cat" -- This is where all the facts are given, starting with what to look for when choosing a kitten (nothing on adult cats, though, but the same rules apply), understanding "cat chat," creating cuisine treats (which I found absolutely revolting, being a vegan, but there are snack options like cantaloupe and other veggies/fruits, which some of my cats prefer over meat), grooming and health, and a final A-Z care guide. A lot of this stuff is just common sense (like cat-proofing your house as you would if you had a child there), but for some readers, it may be something new.

   It goes without saying that "The Little Tabby Cat Book" is ideal for cat lovers, but it's especially perfect for tabby lovers. Worth buying if you are such a person.

1 comments about Cat Talk.

1. I love Sonia Fitzpatrick books, so helpful!
   
   Here, she talks of how to telepathically connect with animals (not just cats, though there's more on cats in this book).
   
   For more on calming the mind, I'd recommend Personal Power Through Awareness: A Guidebook for Sensitive People (Book II of the Earth Life Series) and more on meditation, plus you may like to tryAnimal Talk: Interspecies Telepathic Communication

No comments about Dog Names.

3 comments about Crazy Cats.

1. It's always amazing what cats can(& do)get into. You can almost see them think. There's always something about them that is almost human. They can surely work their way into your heart..



2. Those of us who love our kitties to an almost "nutty" degree will appreciate the psycho cats depicted here!
   
   Another book with humorous cats worth having is Henry Beard's "French For Cats: All the French Your Cat Will Ever Need;" Bob Walker would no doubt like to have a few pictures of a cat with Le Trombone (the wild paperclip)!



3. This book is fabulous. It definitely proves that cats have true personalities. The pictures are well taken, funny, touching, and the captions detail all of the reasons why cats are so great. It's fun to go through the pictures and recognize things that my cat does. It's nice to know he's not the only crazy cat!

No comments about Allergies (Natural Pet Care Pocket Series).

3 comments about What's Up with My Cat?.

1. This is an excellent book for the cat owner who is not sure what to do with signs and symptoms of their cat. Each sign or symptom has an algorithm with little "yes" or "no" arrows to follow till you reach a probable diagnosis and plan. It also includes Kitty CPR. I wish I had known this book existed before, as I would have bought it for my sister before her cat got sick and died.



2. The book did the trick for our initial diagnosis of allergies and continues to help us out when our cat has an issue. The charts are great and this book is worht the money.



3. Great flow charts of sorted by symptoms. Very useful!

No comments about How to draw cats (Walter T. Foster "how to draw" books).