THANK YOU FROM ZOE!

Zoe would like to say huge thanks to all the sweet kitties who have attended her Kitty Party -- and their sweet Moms too, of course! We've had over 60 sweet furry guests from allover the world... from the US, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands...
We have made lots of sweet friends along the way, both feline and human, and we would like to say...

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

And if there are any other sweet kitties who wish to join us, you are welcome!!! Zoe's Kitty Party is ALWAYS open and we are awaiting you with open arms! You can read here what you need to do or just click on the Kitty Party button on the righthand side of this blog! 

BUY A BAG - HELP A KITTY!

You are still in time to get yourself one of Joan's amazing hadmade handbags, but hurry, because her auction closes on Friday, 18 May! Joan is doing an amazing job rescuing kittens and cats on a little island of the Cyclades in Greece, and she is now auctioning her wonderful handmade bags so as to raise funds for the much needed neuterings, vaccinations and medical expenses! Minimum bids start as low as 10$, and you will have a wonderful, absolutely unique and one-of-a-kind handbag whilst contributing to a great cause!
Hop over to Joan's blog God's Little People to see all the gorgeous handbags and... BUY A BAG -- HELP A KITTY!!!

**** ALL OF THE PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS FOOD, MEDICAL EXPENSES AND NEUTERINGS ****

You can read more about Joan's wonderful project directly on her blog God's Little People or in my previous post, where you can also see some of her gorgeous rescues. 

Rough Days: I Have Them

I'm having a rough mom day. Ryan just won't sleep. He usually spends 75% of the day snoozing away. Today it's been more like 15% . He's exhausted but just won't stay asleep! It seems like he's been screaming all day. (Today, he's definitely earned his nickname Cryin' Ryan). This is very unusual for him, my normally content baby!

Then there's my suddenly troublesome three year old. He is constantly nagging and then pouting if he doesn't get what he wants (snacks in bed, more TV, going to a very specific park, to not have to wear socks!).
He is becoming a very inquisitive and curious three year old. All day long, I'm fielding his interesting little questions.

"What happens if I don't say excuse me after I burp?"
"What does that sign say?"
"What does 'I'm counting on you' mean?"
"What does THAT sign say?"
"What about that sign over there."
"Why can we only drive 50 miles per hour?"
"Is 50 fast or slow?"
"Is that car driving too fast?"
"Why do the police get you if you go too fast?"

Then, my personal fave:

"Can I lick your tongue and you can lick my tongue?"

SERIOUSLY?

So yeah, today has been rough. I almost entertained the idea of dropping my kids off on a random doorstep and running away to Coldstone for a triple scoop of cookie-dough ice cream. But then I looked at the calendar on my phone and realized my maternity leave is almost half over and started to freak out. Because really, I can't fathom leaving both kids (especially the baby) for an entire day. They may be trouble, but they are MY trouble. Waaaahhhh - cue the tear flood.

In the midst of the rough moments, there are always plenty of sweet ones:

He fell asleep in time out

Grumpy face

CYCLADIC EARRINGS

After three weeks of partying, Zoe is having a little rest... She is so happy about the many sweet kitties who have visited us from allover the world and she is looking forward to more visits! In the meanwhile, I'm stealing her the show for a while to show you the latest earrings I created! :)

I made these earrings using gorgeous glass beads with silver leaf inlay and white beads freehand modeled by me in polymer clay. A very summery pair of earrings inspired by the colors of the Cyclades... the white of the witewashed houses, stairs and alleys, and the amazing shimmering blues of the sea and sky.

A SWEET KITTY FAMILY FROM FRANCE!

Today Zoe is very happy and excited to announce that new friends have arrived to join her Kitty Party! We have an adorable furry family joining us from France! And while Zoe's new friends are still enjoying each other's company (just browse back through the previous posts to see them all!), Zoe is happy to introduce the new friends joining us today! :) Welcome!!!

- Pomme -

This sweet girl is Pomme! Her Mommy Alison tells us that "she is about 8 years old and we adopted her from the Cat Sanctuary when we moved to France. I chose her because when I entered the cage to choose a cat, she jumped onto my shoulders and started purring. How can you resist that?! The photo shows her curled up in the bread basket (we’d finished the bread!) at the end of a meal where she’d sat, very patiently on a chair; as soon as we’d finished, she hopped on the table and curled up in the bread basket!". Awww... how sweet is that??

- George -

And here we have another kitty in a basket! This sweet boy is George, his Mom Alison tells us that "he was born on St George’s Day, 2010, and we adopted him from our friends. His sister is called Millie. He is very cheeky, and often chases poor Pomme all over the house. When I carried Pomme in the bread basket off the table and onto the floor he ousted her and took her place! He always sleeps cuddled up next to my husband’s chest, tucked under his arm. He purrs VERY loudly (George, that is – not my husband!!!)".

- Millie and George -

And here we have George (whom we have already met) with his sister Millie and their Daddy! Alison tells us Millie's happy story: "She was going to be drowned-in-a-bucket because the owners of the mother cat couldn’t find anyone to take her. Well, we couldn’t let that happen, so we not only took George, but his sister Millie as well. They are lovely, loving - but Very Bad – Kittens. She usually sleeps curled up on the corner of the bed, but sometimes she’ll creep under the covers. Unfortunately she “puds” too much, and always wakes us up!".

- Pumpkin -

To make their Mommy happy, who loved her so much, Pomme, George and Millie decided to take Pumpkin along as well. Adorable sweet little angel Pumpkin joins us in spirit, because she had to go to the Rainbow Bridge. Alison tells us: "It’s not a very good photo of my baby, but it’s the only one I have on my computer as she died soon after I got the camera. Please can we raise a glass to her memory? She used to sleep, inside the bed, curled up by my feet and never once bit my toes. Every night, we’d switch off the light and within 5 minutes, Pumpkin would arrive, meowing and bringing us a present. Usually it would be one of her toys, but sometimes it would be something she’d fished out of the bin – a used tissue, or an apple core! She’d also bring us presents when we were sitting watching TV. Once, when we had friends round for drinks, Pumpkin arrived, bringing a pair of my knickers that she’d got out of the laundry basket!!! I still miss her so very much, even though we have three delightful cats now". Sweet little Pumpkin, you were an adorable girl and you were much loved by your Mommy! We are all raising a glass to your memory, and run free and happy on the Bridge, you sweet little angel!

Thank you sweet Pomme, George, Millie and Pumpkin for joining Zoe's party!!!!!! We are so happy to see you here, and we hope you all enjoy the company! Please make yourselves comfortable and let's wait for more guests to come! :)

Any other sweet kitties who wish to join us can read here what they need to do! We are awaiting you!

Τι κάνουν ο Χοντρός και ο Λιγνός μαζί?????

  Χοντρό καουτσούκ, λεπτό καουτσούκ μαζί!!! Δεμένα μεταξύ τους, αχώριστοι φίλοι. Και φυσικά στη παρεούλα τους χωράνε πολλά φρουτάκια, διάφορα λουλουδάκια, όμορφες πεταλουδίτσες , χρωματιστά κουμπάκια και κάθε λογίς παιχνιδάκια.

  Νέα πρωτότυπα σχέδια, με καλοκαιρινή παιχνιδιάρικη διάθεση για μικρές δεσποινίδες, για μεγάλα κορίτσια και για ώριμες κυρίες!!! Και για τους άνδρες της παρέας έρχονται νέα σχέδια σε μαύρους και καφέ τόνους. Αναμείνατε στον υπολογιστή σας….

GOD'S LITTLE PEOPLE

Zoe's Kitty Party has been much more than just a "party"... We have met lots of sweet kitties from allover the world (and the Party is still open!) and lots of wonderful cat-Moms, and made some amazing friends. Today Zoe has asked me to talk about a special friend of kitties, who is doing an amazing and heartwarming work to help kitties in need on a Greek island...

What happens when art meets a huge love for animals? You meet Joan!
Joan is originally from Denmark but she lives on a small Cycladic island, in Greece. She is a talented artist and has been a successful textile and accessories designer back in her Danish days -- her work being featured in magazines and carried by celebrity shops. But since she and her husband have chosen this little Greek island as their permanent home, Joan has found her true life path in helping cats in need.
Before moving permanently, Joan had already spent her spare time looking up websites run by people rescuing Greek animals (cats in particular) and she helped them as much as she could from a distance. She says: "I felt such an urge to hold and to heal the horribly looking little cats (an to give them a loving home really). Well that all became very real when we moved here two years ago, even though I initially felt a bit daunted by the prospect when the first sick cats began to appear on my doorstep. In no time 2 became 10, 10 became 20, 20 became 30 - and yes, I've sadly lost two of my most incredible rescues (also a precious girl named Noona) but the numbers are still counting. And now I actually have to deliberately look away as I have reached an absolute limit around my own home. Yes, if I won a million or more I know exactly how I would spend them!!".

- Pesto -

Joan is a courageous woman who has found her own inner balance in putting her artistic talents to the service of her sweet, little rescues. She says: "It was a really bad winter. But a life is always replaced by another cat in dire need and I do find it deeply frustrating just how many cats are in need of rescuing. I've completely had to alter my view of what a "real" desperate cat looks like. Nothing like my former view that each cat belongs indoor on a soft duvet!! Within the last 1 1/2 years I've rescued 30+ cats - half of them have just simply appeared on our doorstep as they have had nowhere else to turn. We live in a nature preserved valley where there's only two other houses inhabited during the winter time and I know they don't have the same care for the cats. Hence the many drop-ins (which never leave again!). Over time it's become a very large expense and I've now decided to combine my artistic skills with trying to raise funds for the cats. It's really a marriage of my two major passions. I have a background with a study in fashion design, and I've had my own small company designing and creating handbags and accessories on and off for the last 13 years. Recently I've found my passion for illustrating and watercolour again and I hope to get more time with that. I've got many muses and the cats always inspire an image inside my head!".

Joan has devoted her wonderful blog God's Little People to her wonderful rescues: just look at all those little faces and you will understand what moves Joan's heart in this everyday mission, through hardships, distray and sheer sadness. "A wise man once introduced me to the term 'Gods Little People' when talking about animals. The words are so endearing and so full of kindness and compassion that they've stuck with me ever since".

"Their common well-being is such a never ending source of joy" -- this in my turn is the sentence that has stuck with me... it says it all! How does she get the strength in the hardest moments? "I cannot describe my hearts joy at seing each little rescued life gaining renewed confidence and blooming - and becoming beautiful and full in their rightful way. It's rich beyond words to sit at a distance and see them play and romp and strike up odd little friendships. It is very satisfying and makes my heart feel so full". All her rescues live a sheltered life inside a private sanctuary of over 30 cats - safely set in a nature preserved area. But you can read the full story directly on Joan's blog!!!

Joan sells her wonderful textile art accessories through fundraising auctions on her blog, she has an Etsy shop called Saints and Apostles, and she currently has a fundraising auction on her blog. 

**** ALL OF HER PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS FOOD, MEDICAL EXPENSES AND NEUTERINGS ****

Just pop over to her blog, and if you are interested in her wonderful work and at the same time wish to help her with her wonderful cat sanctuary, you can take take part in the auction (the purses are amazing!!!) or contact her directly. 

And these are just a FEW of Joan's adorable rescues... Each one of them (and ALL the others too!!) a precious little soul saved from hardships and often death, and now living a safe life full of love and care.

- Ellie -

This sweet kitten was found in a state of hypothermia only 10 days old and abandoned by her feral kitty mom after two days of torrential down pour. Ellie wouldn't have lasted more than a few hours (if even that) when she was found. She has been bottle fed and has grown to be a strong and playful kitten. This image is from her first day in the garden.

- Benji -

This beautiful boy named Benji lived a rough "dumpster" life by the side of a busy road and was rescued last winter when one day Joan found him badly mauled and with a flu. He was in such a bad state that it was touch and go for 3 or 4 days but then he slowly began his healing process. Joan tells us that "today he has grown into a huge fluffy lion with a giant lion-heart. He is infinitely kind and is especially good at helping small kittens integrate into our little sanctuary. This is a recent image of Benji in a quiet moment overlooking the Aegean sea".

- Tiny -

Tiny was found as a feral kitten last winter severely weakened from a serious respiratory infection. The vet didn't think he would make it! After a long time of treatment he finally recovered and today he is a goofy and loving young boy.

- Rosie -

This sweet girl was rescued as a kitten, where Joan found her unable to move from severe emaciation. Rosie was in such a weakened state that she only started moving around after 12 days of complete rest. She has now made a beautiful recovery and is a happy and strong-minded cat with a not surprisingly healthy appetite!

- Rufus -

This handsome boy is Rufus. He was found in a town park 8 weeks old and severely emaciated. He lived off dumpster scraps and today - even on a quality diet - still suffers from chronic diarrhea. Otherwise Rufus is a healthy charismatic teddy-bear with a very great and vocal personality.

- Toddy -

This is lovely Toddy! Here he was 11 weeks old. He was found abandoned in the side of a road when he was only 6 weeks old and with a bad case of skin fungus. He has recovered well and is utterly sweet and charming.

And here are just a few of Joan's stunning handbags! Please see more on her blog and... remember that each single cent of her proceeds goes towards medical expenses, vaccinations, neuterings and will go exclusively towards helping kitties in need. Be the proud owner of a high-quality designer handmade handbag whilst helping with a wonderful project! Art meets animal love!!!