Celtic Cat Photos

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2011-12-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends out there,
in cyber-space, at Etsy and GCU.

In 2012 may all your wishes come true!

Cathy 12 / 20 / 11

Greeting Card Maker of the Month: Jennifer of Scrap About Love

2011-12-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

I'm Jennifer. By day, I work in TV and IT, by night I'm a wife to a wonderful husband, Josh, and 'mom' to adorable pups, Fry & Leela(Named for the Futurama characters). When I'm not at work or spending time with my family, I have a small time photography business doing portraits and sports photography, as well as my photography oriented Etsy shop: By Jennifer Leigh. My biggest hobby has come to be scrapbooking and card making, which is where my shop, www.ScrapAboutLove.etsy.com comes in.

I have found a huge creative outlet with ScrapAboutLove. I get to play with paper, markers, stamps, ink and glue ~ it's like being back in Art class in grade school (except with a more sophisticated result, lol). When I'm not scrapbooking adventures taken with my family, I'm usually trying to keep up with birthdays and holidays and the like, and on occasion, I find a new idea popping into my head, and that is what ends up in my shop.

The reason I have found that I have taken a liking to creating cards was the reaction I got from my brother of all people. I felt if he could appreciate the time and effort(and love!) put into a handmade card, there would be other people that would appreciate my cards as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

To all my followers who are in the United States:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't eat too much turkey and enjoy the football games

Cathy 11/ 22 / 2011

Greeting Card Maker Of The Month: Royal Regards

2011-11-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

I'm Sara, of Royal Regards Handmade Greeting Cards and I am a member of the Michigan Trolls on Etsy. I was born and raised in Michigan and have lived here my entire life. I grew up on the East side of the state, attended college in the middle of the state and moved to Southwest Michigan with my husband after we got married a little over 8 years ago. I work full time in the commercial real estate industry (not a realtor though) and spend my weekends and evenings (often into the wee hours of the night) making cards and working on my etsy shop. I enjoy scrap-booking, reading, shopping, movies, photography and interior decorating.

My motto when making cards is that "less is more." I like a clean, simple yet cute and elegant look. I especially love the look of embossed cards so I have a pretty large selection of those in my shop.

Fallen On Hard Times

2011-11-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

When I was a teenager, Big Boy's was the place to go on date night. I remember ordering from our car and the carhops who brought your food. Usually, a Big Boy sandwich, onion rings and a coke. Our local Big Boy's closed. We didn't even notice they were closed until they took down the sign and the Big Boy statue was gone.

It was rumored that it was due to failure to pay their taxes. More likely they are just collateral damage caused by the recession.

An article in the paper last week said that Big Boy and Denny type restaurants, classified as Family Restaurants are having a hard time, they are aging businesses with an aging customer base. Places like Applebee's, T.G.I. Friday, and Max and Erma's the next tier up who run specials and serve alcohol are taking their lunch customers.

The flagship Big Boy's on Hall Road in Clinton Township revamped their menu and redid the interior. The colors are brighter, the over head windows are gone, they added a wide screen TV, and they have cute glass cups for coffee and hot drinks. Unfortunately, revamping is costly and will franchise stores be able to afford to do it?

Notes From The Road: International Peace Garden Sept. 11, 2011

2011-10-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

It is the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. There is a service in the garden today, where they have laid i-beams from one of the Twin Towers. The flowers are blooming, the day is hot for this time of year so far north. Both Americans and Canadians are present. The RCMP look impressive in their red dress uniforms.

The Peace Garden lies at the northern edge of North Dakota and Manitoba. At times you are in Canada, and other times you are in US.

I will never forget Sept. 11, 2001: We were in Wichita, Kansas, on the 10th we celebrated my birthday. The next day on Good Morning America we watched a plane hit one of the Towers. Later we got caught up in a gas panic and had to wait in a long line to fill up, all they had left was premium at a premium price.

It was a long day. I refused to stop until we heard from President Bush. Then we could eat dinner and find a hotel and decide whether we should head home or go on to Colorado.

Cathy 9 / 11 / 2011

Notes From The Road: Minnesota

2011-09-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

Actually, we are still in Wisconsin, in Superior, our hotel is the last one before you cross to Minnesota. We go over the bridge to Minnesota every night so we can go down to the harbor in Duluth for dinner at Grandma's Saloon. The building right next to the Aerial Lift Bridge in the harbor is where the saloon is located. The bridge goes up when a Freighter needs to go back out to Lake Superior.

Tonight I walked down to the canal into Lake Superior and a big lake Freighter was coming through. It was a nice bonus, I was actually down there to get the two lighthouses on each side at sunset. Due to road work we had to give up going to Split Rock Lighthouse and did the Wisconsin Point instead.

Driving through Wisconsin and Minnesota going west is a wonderful trip for photographers. The weather is still unusually warm for this time of year. Unfortunately, for me, my 7D is having a battery problem. Time to switch to my back up camera body.

We hope it will continue with good weather and no snags in our trip.

Cathy 9 / 20 / 2011

Notes From The Road: Michigan

2011-09-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

I am on the road again. It has been a year since my last trip. Travel is fun and exciting, I love going to new places and seeing and photographing wonderful things.

My one problem with a trip is getting going. I have trouble getting out the door that first morning. I worry about my house, my cats and a million small things. We have a very competent house/cat sitter. So I really don't have anything to worry about.

We are taking I-75 up to the UP, there we will pick up Hwy. 2 and head for Manistique. It was raining when we left home, it is a beautiful summer day now. I have spent many a gloomy day up here at this time of year.

Everything is picture perfect, warm and sunny.

I hope the rest of our trip is as nice.

Cathy 9/ 12 / 2011

The Fun Part Of Summer Art Shows

2011-09-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is our last year to do out door summer Art Shows. Both my partner and I are tired of putting up a display tent. It was 100+ on Friday night when we set up. The heat didn't bring this change for us, we discussed it earlier in the year and decided to only do spring and autumn shows. Inside, with no wind storms, rain, or heat.

This weekend at Algonac Michigan on the St. Clair River, we had rain on Saturday about 5 PM. I went to get the van, and was just driving back when it started to rain, then it went to a full summer storm, a driving rain with wind blowing into our tent. You know it is a bad storm when the photos are blown off the peg boards. Couples shopping helped us. Also to hold us down at the height of the storm.

The next morning driving to Algonac we discovered that there were more and more trees down along Highway 29. Trees down, lines down, a mess on the highway and yards along the way. We didn't get much further, the road was closed. We had to go around the long way, get away from the water, go inland and come around.

I could imagine what we would find when we finally made it to the Art Show. Would our tent be smashed against the railing along the river, in the river or would it be in the post office parking lot across the way.

Fortunately for the many artists, Algonac had been spared, The park along the river was fine.

Everything went well. Unfortunately, it rained again at 4 PM. So the show was over!

I won't miss summer Art Shows. I will miss talking to people who visit our mobile shop.

Cathy 9 / 4 / 2011

Card Maker of the Month Kat Wauters of H20Works

2011-08-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

I’m Kat Wauters. Mom, Wife, Graphic Designer (in no particular order, lol). In past lives I have been, a waitress, a bartender, a telemarketer (for only a day, I was not cut out for this job at all), a waitress again, a pizza chef, a Home Interiors saleslady (home parties), a “real” Interior Designer (went back to school, got a degree), and I owned my own faux-finishing business. Then I got my first computer (went back to school again), discovered Photoshop, and it’s been graphics, advertising and marketing ever since. I worked for Lamar Advertising, the national “Outdoor Advertising” company for 5 years, designing billboard art. It was a hoot, going down the road, seeing my larger than life works of art, screaming out, “I did that one! I did that one!” I think this is what I was meant to do all along. I remember watching Bewitched as a girl and thinking I would like Darren’s job. :)

I have two shops on Etsy. My first is H20works.etsy.com . It has evolved thru the past 3 years (as much as 10 categories would allow me) into a few different things, but my steadfast product has always been Mini-Notecards. Yep, this is me, I go from designing 30 ft billboards to designing 2 inch Mini-Notecards! I just love coming up with cool designs for them. I am kind of an amateur-professional photographer, so I have a lot of prints in my shops that you can get as ACEOs, greeting cards or larger prints too.

My Other Shop: H20worksDesigns.etsy.com

I love Cone Flowers

2011-08-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

My side garden by the driveway gets hot. So hot that many flowers won't grow by the brick wall that gets even hotter. I have a nice stand of Black Eyed Susans and a few Cone Flowers, white and purple.They are fairly easy to grow.

Three summers ago I decided to get some of the more exotic Cone Flowers: Green Wizard, with no petals. It didn't grow at all. Two summers ago I bought a light orange. It didn't come back the next spring.

Last summer I bought a green, a true orange and a light pink. I gave them a nice spot in the garden, watered them in.

They came back this spring.

Unfortunately, we had a very hot and dry summer. My new flowers struggled to grow. Most of them won't bloom this summer. I tried to keep them watered, but it was too hot. We had one of the hottest July's on record. Hopefully they will do better next year.

This year I bought a red, above, when it first blooms it is more orange than red with a frilly head, in stead of the usual cone.

I love the more colorful Cone Flowers, but I finally realized that they need too much care. With several venues online and doing art shows I need plants that I can water and they will thrive.

Cathy August 3, 2011

Greeting Card Maker Of The Month

2011-07-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce Judi FitzPatrick, the featured card maker for July, from Arlington, MA.

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. This lovely shade of vibrant rose makes stunning cards.

This lovely card reminds me of Venice. It is actually in Boston: The Christian Science Church as seen from across the reflecting pool.

Check out Judi's Etsy shop.

Judi FitzPatrick:

"I love taking photographs, making note cards, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and many other crafts; right now I'm 'Phocusing on Photography'. "

Why Did I Wear Blue Today?

2011-06-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

Normally, what color I wear to the Detroit Zoo wouldn't matter. But today it seemed important to a large blue butterfly. The blue only shows when they land with their wings open, which is very rare.

I was sitting in the butterfly house ( which is in what was once the old bird house), with my husband between trying to get some images of the hundreds of butterflies flitting around us.

When a huge blue butterfly started to flit from my husband to me. He or she finally settled on my hand and proceeded to check me out with his/ her proboscis. (tongue). I sat there for about 15 to 20 minutes while the butterfly checked me out. It didn't hurt, but when the legs moved I felt the barbs.

Cathy @ Celtic Cat Photos

Greeting Cards Of The Month

2011-06-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

When I think back to summers growing up, I think of roses. My father loved his roses.

For June meet Colorado photographer Julie Magers Soulen. Her lovely flower photographs, delicate roses and beautiful blue and purple flowers make stunning cards.

Not only is Julie an accomplished photographer, she has a very artistic way of displaying her artwork.

Julie Magers Soulen Etsy Shop

Spotlight On Claylady42 Of Etsy Michigan Trolls

2011-05-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed doing some sort of craft. I never seriously thought about making a business out of it until 6 years ago. My husband was looking for a hobby while I studied to get my realtor's license, so he bought 1500 ceramic molds. Yep, 1500! Needless to say the real estate market tanked and I got interested in learning about these molds and what I can make.

Once I got the hang of it, I started working with day cares and held parties to teach others this wonderful craft so they could make their own keepsake. Then I discovered hand-building and all the wonderful textures you could add and the infinite possibilities of what can be made. I discovered Etsy through my father- in-law who read an article about it, so I gave it a try.

I'm totally addicted to my clay and Etsy!

My favorite texture is a doily. While helping to clean out my parents' basement, we came across a suitcase of old linens and doilies. I just had to see what I could make with them! Not only do I feel I'm bringing back some sort of nostalgia using the doilies, but I feel like I'm keeping my family's memories alive. I love my ceramics and I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when someone thinks my items would make a nice addition to their home!

Greeting Card Of The Month

2011-05-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Card

This is a new feature. Once a month I am going to feature a card from shops on Etsy.

This Is A Special Father's Day Wish
For A Day Filled With Happiness

Spotlight On Kelly Of AttitudesOfRed

2011-04-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am Kelly, of AttitudesOfRed. I started my Etsy shop late last year, but began beading long before that. I started beading with a good friend, just as something fun to do, then continued to make jewelry to match certain outfits. I work outside the house full time, and have a husband and two small kids, so my daily life keeps me busy. Now I bead to have time to myself and the peace and quiet that comes with it.

The name of my shop comes from my lovable and spunky red-headed daughter. She helped me realize that my mood and attitude are what determines what jewelry I am going to wear on any given day. My physical shop is wherever I can find a free minute to work, usually after everyone is in bed and the house is quiet.

I enjoy getting to know other crafters on Etsy, especially those local. I have learned so much from them, and hope to continue to, and to grow my online shop. Thanks for checking it out!

Thanks, again.
~Kelly

Spring Is Here In South Eastern Michiagn!

2011-04-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. I know it, even though it is cold by the Yellow Crocus in my front yard. My Day Lilies are about 2 inches tall, and so are my Irises.

I planted new Cone Flowers last fall. Orange, Yellow, and a Green variety. Hope they come up so I can take some photos and let everyone see how lovely they are.

Cathy 4 / 7 / 2011

Spotlight on Alpha Dog Photo

2011-03-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

Meet Ada, A.K.A. AlphaDogPhoto on Etsy. One day about five years ago my husband and I were visiting the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Florida when Steve looked down at the sidewalk and said, "look, this crack looks just like a K." That was the start of a very addictive hobby.

We have traveled all over the United States and have taken photos of pretty much every crack and crevice we ever walked by. We go on wonderful vacations with beautiful scenery and come back with photographs of things that look like letters…but none of ourselves. We’ve even been driving down a highway and had to turn around and go back because something looked like a "P". Many times I’ll focus in on something on the ground or way up high--I must admit unlikely places for a Kodak moment. By the time I’m done snapping away, I realize that passersby are looking up or down perplexed and trying to figure out what I could possibly be taking a photo of. Little do they know that it’s something that looks like a letter that will eventually end up on Etsy.
In November 2010 we joined Etsy and wish we had signed up years before when one of our friends told us about it. We tried, and failed many times, at setting up our own website. Merchant accounts, tags, URLs… it was all so confusing. Etsy took a difficult and expensive part of our business and made it easy and affordable. We sell our alphabet photos and unique barn wood frames at craft fairs and Farmer Markets and love meeting new people and being part of the crafting community. What we did not expect when we joined Etsy was that it was also a community, but even BIGGER! I just shipped to the United Kingdom today and "convo’d" with someone in Hong Kong.

Who knew that Steve noticing a crack in the sidewalk would lead to an International business called Alpha Dog Photo?
www.alphadogphoto.etsy.com

To Twitter or Not to Twitter?

2011-03-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know how you felt when you opened your shop with Etsy or Artfire. I didn't know anything about setting up a shop, nothing about online e-commerce, would I need a webmaster to do it? Would anyone look at it? How do you collect the money?

Before I joined Etsy I did get a website, and I had a Business Paypal account and an email account set up by my webmaster. It was still a slow process for me. What to add to my shop. Now I add images that are new and sometimes different than what I sell at Art shows. I love the creativeness that Etsy has given me to try different things. There is so much to do now during the winter off-season. I also love the world-wide market place Etsy has opened up for me to sell my cards and photographs in. And still have the Shop Local option, for Michigan sales.

I am now in the process of converting some of my old negatives to digital, a very slow process, some of them aren't in as good of condition as I hoped they would be in. An example is the blue boat above, taken in 1985, in Connemara, Ireland, on a rainy afternoon. The old boat has been retired. The grounds landscaped and the Abbey enlarged. New boats are in its place, nice boats, but without the character the old boat had.

I recommend Handmadeology, Facebook, and Twitter to new people to e-commerace whether it is Etsy, Artfire, or one of the card companies.

Cathy March 8, 2011

Spotlight On MelJoy Creations

2011-02-20T13:22:00.001-08:00

MelJoyCreations on Etysy

Hello, my name is Melissa, I’m “Mel” of MelJoy Creations and a member of the Michigan Trolls on Etsy. I’ve lived in various areas of Michigan over the years, mostly in the “thumb” of the mitten, which is where my husband and I reside now.

I love all things creative, and art has always been a big factor in my life. In my younger years I was a dancer until illness changed my body forever. Move ahead a few years (okay, maybe more than a few) and I'm still creating, just not in a choreographic form. Crafts are my new outlet. Jewelry, quilts, scrapbooking, card making, wirewrapping...you name it and I enjoy it!

The other half of MelJoy is my mother, Joy, who also lives in Michigan 9 months of the year (I don’t have to tell you which 3 months she prefers to be away from Michigan..ha ha). Over the past two years our jewelry making passions have led us into teaching classes. Then last fall I was introduced to Etsy. The land of handmade…where have you been all my life!? Ha! Within a month, I had our shop up and running.

I would describe our shop as traditional jewelry with a modern makeover. Some styles are classic patterns that my mother learned many years ago. But we’ve taken these patterns and styles of weaving to a new level with designs in modern colors, using more modern styles and variations of beads, crystals and findings. We are very particular of the beads and crystals we use and we’re known for spending hours and hours just deciding on color combinations and weave patterns. This year we plan to begin selling our jewelry at craft shows throughout Michigan. And we’re really hoping to meet up with some of the other members of the Michigan Trolls Etsy Team, too!

February 20, 2011

To Watermark Or Not To Watermark?

2011-02-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

I spend a lot of time on Etsy, I find that I could stay at my computer 24/7, and still not do everything I need to do on Etsy or Thistle and Shamrock Publishing. I have to limit my time, do the most important thing first and then go to the next most important one. But from time to time I like to take some time off and browse through what is listed in the Photography Gallery on Etsy. I have never been able to get into a Gallery, not that that is all bad. I have only heard a few good things about them, and many more bad things.

Often in the Gallery I will see watermarks on the Photographs. I have seen discreet to bold across the photo marks. If the photograph is sized at 72 dpi and lowered to medium size I don't see a reason to watermark a photograph. If someone wants to take the time, the watermark can be removed. I have to admit that sometimes I put my shop initials on a photo, never in the center, never at the edge, it is small and in a place it would be harder to remove it from.

When I do Treasuries I never select a photograph that has a blatant watermark on it. It takes away from the beauty of the photograph when you see the watermark first, and then the image.

Happy V-Day everyone!

Cathy 2 / 12/ 11

Spotlight On Michigan Artists

2011-01-18T18:05:00.000-08:00

Howdy, I am Willew or Lisa, if you find me in real life. I am currently residing smack dab in the palm pit of Michigan, but dreaming of relocating to a more rural area to live the farm life. About six years ago, I transitioned from the corporate world to life as a stay-at-home-mom and embarked on a journey to a more natural, less-is-more lifestyle. I documented my journey on my blog and discovered the wonderful world of the blogosphere and all that inhabit it. Through this, I found Etsy and immediately knew I wanted to open a shop. It took a few years, but Willew Creations opened this year and I have been thrilled with the experience.

I describe Willew Creations as a treasury of handmade items to green up your self and your home. Our signature item is the hand knitted, cotton, washcloth sets. One of the first things I did to green up my home was to toss all paper products and these washcloths made it possible. I’m still amazed at how much money that one act can save. Soon, I will be expanding our product line and offering: market bags, plastic bag holders, sweeper covers and more. I envision Willew Creations growing into your one stop shop for items to help you save money and be earth friendly.

Contact Info:
Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/WillewCreations

Facebook fan Page: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Willew-Creations/143248295725451

Blog: bemyleaves.blogspot.com/

Spotliite On Holiday Cards

2011-01-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

Cards are my favorite graphic to create. Here are several I created over the years.

Cathy 1 / 6 / 2011

Michigan Cotton AKA Snow!

2010-12-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Winter is my favorite time to take photographs. Especially after a snowstorm, the next day the sun is perfect. Since cotton doesn't grow in Michigan, I thought this is the closest we will get to it.

From My House to Yours ~ Happy New Year to All, have a safe and prosperous New Year.

Hopefully, this year I will be able to keep my blog up to date!

Cathy 12/ 28 / 2011

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all my friends out there!

2010-12-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

Swans in Winter

Maple Leaf - First Snow

I have reworked my First Snow print and have a 3 card set of Mute Swans in winter.

Everyone have a great Holiday!

Cathy

Save Now

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

It is in the 60ties today in Michigan. Hard to believe, when it is November 22nd., the Monday before Thanksgiving Day. This like black squirrel was peeking in my window to say hi.

I just wanted to say hello to everyone out there, and those of you in the States, Happy Thanksgiving!

Cathy 11 / 22/ 10

Vote Today!

2010-11-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, get out and vote today!

Not Your Father's Election!

2010-10-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Photo Info

It is time to step out of voting along strict party lines. Time to vote for the best person to
bring this country back to prosperity. To get beyond great speech makers, and those who want to give us the old sports mantra of next season, next year, but not today or tomorrow. Vote for people who will get the job done. Look beyond the blue and red, beyond being a Democrat, Republican or TEA Party member. We need to vote for the person who will do the best for our state and our country.

Please get out and vote on November 2, 2010

Cathy October 25, 2010

American Heros - Fire Prevention Week #2

2010-10-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Our local fire department held their Open House on Saturday. As we waited for our tour
of the new building, two of the trucks were called out on a run.

We cuaght them in action just as they were leaving.

FIre Prevention Week

2010-10-03T12:27:00.001-07:00

The fire department in the town south of us had an open house today for the beginning of Fire Prevention Week. I like going to their small downtown area, it gives me a good excuse to have lunch at the Shamrock Pub. Not that I really need one, I do try to eat more than burgers and fries.

Above is a simulation of taking a car apart to get the passenger out.

Cathy October 3, 2010

September Boat Trips!

2010-09-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to do an autumn lighthouse tour on Lake Michigan and the next day Lake Huron. Sounded good when we booked the tour in early summer. Unfortunately the weather turned cold and windy. Our trip on Lake Michigan was canceled. On Thursday the weather improved and the boat left Mackinaw City heading first to Mackinac Island and then out to Lake Huron. It was fun while the boat was going slow around Round Island Light, pictured above. When the boat got going out in Lake Huron it was bitter cold.

I have never used the hood on my jacket before, I had to pull it up over my hat and tied it on to keep the wind out of my ears. All and all, the trip was great. Our last day in Mackinaw City was my birthday, we got a chance to see the old fort and go out to an old mill. We celebrated later at an Irish Pub.

Cathy Sept. 10, 2010

Mouse Trouble! No not that kind of Mouse!

2010-08-28T07:14:00.001-07:00

Iceberg off of L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland

No, not the kind with whiskers and a tail. The kind you use with your computer.

I love the iMac my partner helped me purchase last Christmas. The 27" screen is wonderful for graphic work.

But the wireless mouse eats more batteries then my cat Finn eats cat food. What to do? I ordered a USB wired mouse, but I miss the ability to scroll up and down with ease. It isn't an Apple mouse so it isn't as efficient as my wireless one. So I located the battery charger I bought to use with my Dimage camera and started charging. It took about 6 hours to get them fully charge.

So far, so good. I will see how long these batteries last before I have to recharge them. At least I won't have to buy more.

Cathy 8/ 27 / 10

Vintage Style Photography

2010-08-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

Vintage Style Photography seems to be the rage on Etsy and other online sites. Sometimes I love it, and other times I don't. I would love to hear other opinions on the subject of a vintage look added to digital and film images.

From Ireland With Love

2010-08-06T07:22:00.001-07:00

I have visited many parts of our beautiful world, fun places that I would love to go back to. One of my favorites is traveling by car through Ireland. I haven't been there in several years. But I would go there in a minute if my partner said "Let's go!"

This photograph is of my favorite castles and pub! Bunratty Castle and Durty Nelly's.

Bunratty Castle & Durty Nelly's

Cathy - 8 / 6 / 10

Metallic Paper Something New For Me

2010-08-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am just beginning to print some of my images on metallic paper. I like the slight 3-D effect it gives and the pearl like look it give your image. Unfortunately, you can't see how great it looks on this Zebra Butterfly. It just doesn't translate to your computer or Etsy shop.

I shot this Zebra butterfly in South Dakota in a wonderful butterfly house. I have photographed them in the wild down in Flamingo in the Everglades. I textured and created the fringe edge on this image.

Cathy 8/1 /10

Come Visit Me At Grant Park

2010-07-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

All those in South-Eastern Michigan, come visit me at Grant Park this weekend, Hahn St. & Van Dyke in Utica Michigan

Last week was the kick off for Celtic Cat summer shows. Here in Michigan we are looking forward to a great summer.

Well I Decided to Take The Plunge!

2010-07-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am going to join a folio site to list and have buyers, friends, and relatives look at my photos.
I have already added a slide show to my blog and will be adding one to my website.

As soon as this new site is ready to go, I will post a link here.

Cathy 7 / 14 /10

Light At The End Of The World!

2010-06-26T14:20:00.001-07:00

This is Cape Spear, Newfoundland the most Easterly point in Continental North America.
On New Years Eve, the new year comes in at 10:30 PM due to the time difference.

Tir Na Nog! Notes From the Road!

2010-06-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

I am on a trip to Philadelphia. My trips are mini now, due to my cat who is sick and needs a shot twice a day.

Our first stop: Hershey, Pennsylvania, the chocolate capital of America. It is the first time I have seen the gardens in bloom. I even saw a hummingbird. The weather was beautiful, so after touring the gardens we had a nice relaxed lunch on the terrace of the Hershey Hotel. We had dinner at What If in the lower level of Howard Johnson Motel, the second night we went to Houlihan's Grill.

Then it was on to Philly. We stayed in Willow Grove north of the the city. It cost us $5 a day for the train and parking. The trolley was a bargain too. We went to the Art Museum, Franklin Institute, and visited Logan square, which is actually a circle. Of course we stopped by to see Rocky. After all these years we were surprised you had to line up to take a photo.

So you are wondering what does this have to do with Tir Na Nog, The Land of Eternal Youth. It is also an Irish Pub near 16th and JFK. It was raining smartly and the gift shop at the Art Museum was kind enough to give me a plastic bag to put my camera, phone and extra battery in and the kindness of a stranger we made it to the pub. We had a nice dinner and drinks, while we waited for the rain to stop. It didn't, fortunately, we weren't far from the train station when we were ready to go back to Willow Grove .

Cathy 6/ 15/ 2010

The Prince of Cwillan?!?

2010-05-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

My friend, Mary Catherine Campbell, is in the final stepsof having her novel edited. It is Celtic Quest, called 'Time Journey".

Her editor suggested that she rethink the name.

Below you will see several of his choices for a new tile.

I am asking for comment on his/her choices!

The Road To Cwillan

Cwillan’s Heir

The Prince of Cwillan

The Sons of Déaglán

Cathy 5 / 29 / 2010

Be Happy Treasury East

2010-05-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

"Be Happy" Favorite Animals! Everyone in the States have a great weekend!

Cathy 5/ 25/ 10

Teasury West On Etsy!

2010-05-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

I love T-West and the Main Treasury on Etsy! I will hate it when they go away. Treasury East takes a way a lot of the fun out of getting a slot in the first place!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to All My Friends!

Born On The Bayou!

2010-05-06T12:59:00.001-07:00

I have family that live in Louisiana. It is a shame what is going on there with the loss of jobs and wildlife habitat if the oil spill comes on shore. I took this photograph down in Venice last February when we took a trip all the way to the end of the road.

The Last Frost For This Season!

2010-04-24T18:04:00.001-07:00

Here in Michigan we hope we have seen the last frost!

New Treasury East April 2010

2010-04-19T13:47:00.001-07:00

Treasury East Screen Shot!

It Is That Time Of Year Again - Art Shows 101

2010-04-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Sign Of The Times:

Here in Michigan we have had are first scamming of Artists. A promoter I have never heard of listed a show for April in Bay City. He gave the names of two known promoters as references. When the artists showed up they found that they had been scammed, there wasn't a show, and the promoter was long gone. Artists need to turn their canceled check into the State Police Fraud Div.

Art Shows 101:

Spring is here and it is time to start thinking about Fine Art and Art and Craft shows. I do both, even though Photography is really a Fine Art. One of the biggest expenses after your art supplies is show fees. I always suggest to beginners is do smaller shows to start, shows that will run from $50 to $85 dollars.

Selling your artwork face to face isn't for everyone. Try it out first. The public can be down right rude when going through your artwork. Every summer I think I have heard it all, only to be surprised at what people can say to you.

For outdoor shows, you need a good waterproof tent, and a way to weigh it down. There are huge weights you can buy, I prefer to use large plastic kitty litter containers with 20 pounds of sand at each corner with tie-downs for street shows. On grass I use dog stakes and tie-downs. Many quality tents come with only a top. I recommend zippered sides. I do not recommend inexpensive tents you can get from Sam's Club or Costco. It took a lot of love and time to create your art work, keep it safe. Here in Michigan it has gotten windier, if a tent fills with air it can elevate and roll.

Carry enough change and bills for the show. If you run out of change the best place to break a $20 is with a food vendor. Have someone come sit with you for at least part of the show. So you can take a break. Two people watching your booth is better than one. Make friends with your neighbors.

The show promoters aim is to get you in their show. Do your own research on a show before you commit. I go around to different shows before I sign a contract for the next year. Keep a record of your sales, sales tax, supplies, show fees, and gas, it makes it easier when you do your taxes in April. Here in Michigan we need to know how many miles we traveled.

Any promoter who is still looking for artists a month from the show date hasn't filled it and there may be a good reason why they can't. From past experience, I never sign up for shows where someone hands me a contract at a show.

Good Luck everyone at your shows and online!

Cathy 4/ 12 / 10

Can You Help Me Name This Photographs

2010-04-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

I would love some suggestions on what to call this photographs!

Cathy 4 / 6 /10

Car Lots vs. Classic Cars

2010-03-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

I am not a new car buff. Even though I come form a Ford Motor family, father, cousins and late-husband were Ford men. Going through a car lot looking at cars is to me cruel and unusual punishment. But when it comes to classic car shows. I love walking among the old cars, taking photographs of what I call car detail. Since I am a Ford person, I have a lot of Ford photographs.

Everyone have a wonderful Easter! Cathy 4/1/10

Thank You 'The Briar Rose Gate'! I Won the Sunshine Award!

2010-03-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

I want to Thank Linda of Artwolf and 'The Briar Rose Gate' for awarding me the Sunshine Award. I am pleased and honored to get this award.

Six thing you don't know about me!

1. I am very shy

2. I used to be a painter

3. I am Irish

4. I am an accountant by trade

5. I have 2 sisters, both older

6. I live with 3 cats and Macman.

The Six great artists I pass this award on to:

This could be a much longer list, but time and my problem with linking
limits me to 6 -

Kenna of ....Beholden To Nature

Julie of ......Julie Mager Soulen Photograpy

Judi of .......Judi FitzPatrick Studio

Anna of ..... Living Glass Art

Rhonda of . Rareimage Photography

Allie of ........Allieart: Photogarphy 4 Children

~And now, Sunshine Award Guidelines http://allieart4children.blogspot.com/

1) Please thank the person who gave the award to you.

2) Copy the logo and place it in your blog.

3) Link the person who nominated you.

4) Name 6 things that no one would really know,about yourself.

5) Nominate 6 bloggers, or a number 1,2,3, etc of your choosing

6) Post links to the blogs you nominate
.
7) Leave a comment on each of those blogs letting them know you have nominated them for the Sunshine award.

Have a Great Weekend - Cathy 3 / 19 / 10

For Those of Us That Our Irish.....

2010-03-15T12:44:00.001-07:00

And Those who are Irish for a Day......have a Happy St. Patrick's Day, and drink responsively!

Cathy 3 / 15 / 10

Do You Know Who I am?

2010-03-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Do you know who I am? Do you know where I live or what I am?

Please let me know what you think about me!

Cathy 3 / 10 / 10

The Winner Is! Drum Roll Please!

2010-03-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Maribeth Corona-Evans won the card! Maribeth's shop is Brief Moments on Etsy and 1MK.

Thank You everyone who left a comment. There wasn't a right or wrong card. I appreciate your feed back!

Cathy 3 / 6 / 10

Photo Card Contest

2010-02-14T10:20:00.003-08:00

It was a slow day in my studio, started out learning more about adding text to an image and ended up with content. I have never understood content and I am not sure if learned anything
about it I can use in the future.

So I made up about a dozen ideas for cards. Kept 6 with my winter image and one for V-Day which I will use next year.

Here is the contest part, rather than add all 6 cards to my blog I posted them on Flickr. Please go to my Flickr Photostream and see which one you like the best. Post the one you like the best here on my blog, everyone who posts will be added to virtual hat and in two weeks the winner will be notified and I will send them one of the cards. I have not seen these cards printed yet so I don't have a favorite yet.

Sorry! My Bad! Pick the letter on one of the top 6 images, that you think would make the best card on my Flickr page.

Cathy 2/ 15 / 10

Snow Snow Go Away!

2010-02-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here in southern Michigan we really can't complain. This is the first big snow fall for the the winter of 2009 & 2010. I just thought I would show my Apple tree on Monday, which was very spring like, more like late March than February. I took another photograph on Tuesday.

It snowed all night Tuesday into Wednesday. I was lucky my neighbor came over and shoveled my drive and sidewalk. So I went out again and took a few more photographs.

Those of you who live further east and have really been clobbered this winter, look at it this way, next winter we will probably get all the snow.

It Is Official!

2010-02-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

Michigan Finn, Whorton Willy and of course Punxsutawney Phil all agree that this morning they saw their shadow and we will have 6 more weeks of winter.

Well we are on the down side of winter and by St. Pat's Day it will be warm again.

Have a great week everyone!

Cathy 2/ 2/ 10

Comfort Food At Its Best!

2010-01-25T13:21:00.001-08:00

Comfort Food can mean many things to different people. It can be Mac & Cheese, or Pizza. On a cold Michigan day my favorite comfort food is a slice of pie. Not just any pie, a slice of pie from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. All their pies are awesome, from Apple to Pumpkin.

Today I ordered a cup of soup ( their soup and sandwiches are great too!), coffee and a slice of blueberry crumble pie, heated just a little. It is wonderful. They now even have a small selection of breakfast items.

If you live in Michigan check out their website for a location near you. Below is the one closest to my house.

Grand Traverse Pie Company

SW Corner of Hall Road & Schoenherr

Sterling Heights, Michigan 48313

586-323-2743 - www.gtpie.com

Cathy 1/ 25/ 10

Irish Proverb

2010-01-24T13:55:00.001-08:00

Something new from Celtic Cat Photos.

My Computer Is Back!

2010-01-19T14:03:00.001-08:00

After 5 and a half days I think my computer is back to stay! Up until Saturday it was spending more time at the Apple store than in my home. Friday afternoon they decided to reinstall Snow-Leopard and I agreed to do the transfer of my files using a firewire. Saturday when I got to the store I was informed that my computer had a problem and I was given a new one to take home.

New, in a sealed box. This one is quiet.

The only problem, I have I never set up a computer from scratch. So it has taken me a while to get all my music over, reinstall Elements 8, Lightroom, iWork, and the driver for my printer. I still have to find my bookmarks and set up the scanner.

The above photograph of Scotland looks a lot bluer on screen than it really is due to the lighting! See photographs just below.

I am happy to be back online, on my computer.

Cathy 1 / 21/ 10

Flea Market or Art Show - Craft Shows 101

2010-01-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

I want to say right off, I am not knocking Flea Markets. Just that at Flea Markets buyers are looking for bargains. As Artists we don't markdown or make bargains with shoppers. So the best place to show off our artwork is at an Art & Craft or Fine Art Show. To keep your booth table from looking like a Flea Market it is best to have a display that shows off your work to its best advantage.

Photographs can be shown in bins, or some kind of racks, or on display boards, fabric sides, or pegboards that can be free standing or attached to the sides of a tent. Jewelry should be displayed on racks with many of the items right on the table. Jewelry is easy to palm so it is best to have it attached to the display in some way. Pottery and ceramics are displayed on shelves.

Tip #1: Buy at a local office supply store a money pen, that will help detect counterfeit money. They cost about $3 and you get 3 pens. I use it on big bills and now and then on the $20 bills

Cathy 1/ 12/ 09

New Year ~ New Thoughts!

2010-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

For the New Year I am going to digitize some of my negatives from my travels.

This is one I listed near the end of 2009. I have many happy memories of Florence. I would love to post a newer one, unfortunately, my new computer is spending more time at the Apple store than in my studio.

In the future I hope to show some from Venice.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Cathy 1 / 5 / 2010

From My House to Your House!

2009-12-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

I would like to share this old New Year's Irish Blessing with you!

Out with misfortune, in with happiness,
From tonight to this night twelve months,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

Amen

Happy New Year's to Everyone!

Cathy 12/ 28/09

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all my friends out there in Blog-land ~ Etsy-land ~ 1MK-land!

Have a Great Holiday Season!

My snowy tree capture was taken a few winters back crossing the northern plains. It was like spring that year as we passed though Denver and in Gillette too. It was so nice we even went up to the Devil's Tower. We arrived in Rapid City in a thick fog and heard that a storm was coming in. It hit the next morning. We were snowed in. After the storm was over we crossed to Sioux Falls on a bitter cold morning. But it was a photographers wonderland too.

Cathy 12/ 18/09

This Is The Hardest Thing To Write About!

2009-12-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

My husband complained that one of the cats is using the litter pan too much. Our youngest cat was due for a visit to the vet. So we had the vet run the tests. The tests were costly, but we needed to find out if one of our cats was having a problem. Thankfully, his results came back negative for kidney problems or Diabetes. This week we took in the oldest cat, Osisin ( Osheen) for his round of tests.

The vet called tonight to give us the bad news. Osisin has diabetes! It wasn't a complete surprise, since I noticed he was drinking a lot of water. His illness will require him to get insulin shots two times a day and go on a special diet. All of which will be very costly and life changing for him and for us. I have never given a shot in my life.

Osisin has been a wonderful cat and I would never think of putting him down. The insulin will give him a longer life, if we do nothing he is sure to die. This is a no brainer. We will talk to the Vet again on Monday and hopefully start Osisin on his treatment at that time.

Cathy 12/ 09/ 09

Black Friday - Cyber Monday

2009-12-01T06:58:00.001-08:00

Good Morning Everyone out there in Cyber-Land! Hope your Thanksgiving was great, and your sales on line were many. It will take me awhile to make changes to my Etsy shop, but I think that
it is always good to advertise and direct traffic to our shops. Also I think the Black Friday & Cyber Monday was worth taking the time.

I have one more show to do and a gallery opening. So for now I am still busy.

Have a great week!

Cathy 12/ 01/ 09

Are You Ready?????????

2009-11-23T07:25:00.000-08:00

For the Running of The Consumers? Also Known as Black Friday!
And let's not forget Cyber Monday!

Shops offering Discounts and Shipping Specials

Celtic Cat Photos - Photographs & Cards

KOBrienPhotography - Photography

LivingGlassArt - Art Glass - See the Holiday Special Section

McGuinness Photography - Aceo, Cards & Photography

Photoamato - Photography, Calendars, & Photo Jewelry

PoSHGallery - Photography

SlothArt - Photography, Aceo, & Jewelry

Thistle And Shamrock - Cards

For Other Shops Go To Etsy -

Go to Etsy - click on Buy, click on Categories, Under Art click on Photography, do a search for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to see who is having a weekend sale.

New Cat - Fionn McCool #2 From LivingGlassArt

2009-11-10T12:52:00.001-08:00

Soon after joining Etsy I discovered LivingGlassArt. I loved her cats. So for my birthday I had my eye on one of her lovely creations. I didn't want a spooky cat. Just a nice black cat like my over- sized Fionn McCool, a black Maine Coon. When I saw the yellow eyed cat I knew that was the one I wanted.

Fionn #2 came in the mail several weeks ago and he was just what I wanted. DH was delighted too.

Above is the real Fionn and below Fionn #2. Thank You Anna!

Notes From The Road

2009-11-02T14:58:00.001-08:00

Adobe and Apple no longer support Tiger - so I can't upgrade to Elements #8- I don't feel my system is that old, but they do. I haven't had any major problems with Tiger OS 10.4.11. I am not planning to buy a new computer anytime soon, since I don't feel I need one. So I am working with Lightroom 1.0 and will upgrade to 2.1 soon.

Here are a few photos I did in Lightroom from a recent road trip!

T-West - Finally!

2009-11-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

Finally Managed To Snag A Treasury West!

Detroit Born and Breed

2009-10-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

Come take a walk down memory lane with me!

I live in the suburbs, but I grew up in Detroit, 25th Street, and later Martindale Street off of Grand River. If you know the inner city these streets mean something to you. The reason I was thinking about growing up in Detroit is because I decided I wanted to get some photographs of the Eastern Market area. I haven't been there in over thirty years. I was hoping to find the building that housed a Halloween party my father took me to years ago. If you can call it a building, since it has no sides.

Detroit has changed! The old train station is falling apart and most likely has a date with a wreaking ball. The last wall of Tiger Stadium was torn down this summer. Once beautiful Scott Fountain is a mess, rusting and falling apart. So I half expected the Eastern Market to
be gone too.

To my surprise it was still there. Bigger then I remembered it. I had to look for the original building, I found it. It is the first black & white photo above. DH took the different sign photos. During the week it is pretty quiet at Eastern Market, but during the weekend it is a bustling area selling in-season fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Cathy 10/23/09

Step Back In Time

2009-09-29T07:55:00.001-07:00

On a day trip between Art shows we drove out to Algonac. It is a trip we have been talking about doing for several years. Ever since we started doing the Algonac Art show. Our first stop was the old Vernier Hotel on Vernier road, once the hang out of the Purple Gang is now a wonderful restaurant. If you live in South Eastern Michigan, drive east along 23 mile, which turns into Mi-29, you will come to Fair Haven. The owner has kept the old time feel of the old hotel and added great service and food.

Decor is Michigan and boat related prints and old period photographs. The bullet holes are still in the bar from a shoot. Fortunately, the old Art Deco stained glass windows were not damaged and look as good as the day they were installed.

It was the quiet time between lunch and dinner, so owner Bill Gilmore was able to give us a tour of the restaurant. His business card reads: Bill Gilmore SaloonKeeper.

For good food and a glimpse into Michigan's past, come visit The Vernier Restaurant.

The Vernier, 8822 Vernier Road, Fair Haven, Michigan 48023

Cathy 9/29/09

Project Embrace Treasury!

2009-09-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

Treasury

Woke up to find myself in this very wonderful Treasury, for Project Embrace! As soon as it is on Flickr I will post it here. I forgot that Flickr is only for FP Treasuries. So I did a screen shot! Check out Slinkymalinkicat's shop.

Cathy 9/21/09

Introducing Jim Finfera

2009-09-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Amalfi Coast

Jim is a member of POE, Photographers of Etsy Street Team. He is an accomplished photographer living in Florida, his Etsy shop Finfera has some amazing work in it. Rather than tell you about Jim, I am going to let him speak for himself.

"I am now 66 years old and am in the twilight of my life. I wore many hats in the span of over 40 years. Aside from being a husband, father, and grandfather, photography is my passion. They say that an artist cannot stop being an artist no matter what...even if she or he does not sell anything or hardly anything. Well then by that definition I must be an artist...I cannot and will never stop taking pictures."

"My desire is to do with my photographic art work what Norman Rockwell did with his paintings. These photographs here on Etsy and on my web site (http://www.PGJF.com) are a collection of my favorites, with my thoughts, from over 40 years of professional photography. My desire is to share with you the beauty of God, as shown through all aspects of His magnificent creation. Everything in this life and on this blessed planet reveals some mystery of our beloved Creator. Everyone is welcomed to share in my artwork: Jews, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, those of any beliefs, and those of no beliefs. Our good God is not as interested in what you believe, but what is in you heart."

Take A Ride On The Handmade Hightway!

2009-08-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

You're asking what is the Handmade Highway? It is a wonderful directory of handmade sellers! Giving buyers access to handmade shops, gives them information on the seller, photographs ( Etsy Mini), location of seller and contact information.

As well as information about who wholesales, does custom orders, gives bulk discounts, consignment, who has giveaways, and much more.

You can also add your twitter page.

Check it out.

HandMadeHighway

HandmadeHighway Blog

Come Join Me At Algonac, Michigan Art Fair

2009-08-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

Come join Celtic Cat Photos Labor Day Weekend

Algonac Art Fair September 5th & 6th, 2009

Algonac Riverfront Park, on St. Clair River Drive

Featured Shops: Photography, Ceramics, Prints, Glassware.

Enjoy contemporary music and folk music, plus food.

I Like To Play With Glass

2009-08-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

August 15 will be the 40th anniversary of the opening of Woodstock. To celebrate here is a new creation from Livingglassart . Working with glass for about 6 years her work is stunning. She took classes to learn the basics, found she loved it, now this is her full time job. She might not think that she is an artist, one look at her shop and you know that she is.

With a love of Mother Nature, the simple things in life, her 7 kitties, a butterfly in her garden, young plants poking through the earth, she creates glass art.

Aqua Blue Beveled Hanging Stained Glass

Orange Koi Round stained Glass Suncatcher

Clear Iridescent & Violet Faceted Jewels

Blue Eyed Gray & White Tabby Cat Suncatcher

Give Away Winner Is........

2009-08-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Today is the day to list the winner in the Who Am I giveaway. LivingGlassArt won the free card and to be featured in my next up-date. Thank You everyone who stopped by and those who commented.

This is an Asian Wildcat at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They very seldom come close to the glass, but for some reason this little guy just walked right up to me as if to say, "Trust Me!"

No! I don't think so!

Thanks Everyone! Cathy 8/ 6/ 09

Who Am I?

2009-07-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Cathy at Celtic Cat thinks I am a Cheshire Cat.

She isn't even close. If you know who I am please let Cathy know. Join as a follower, leave a comment who you think I am. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment.

Everyone's name will be thrown into a cyber-hat and one will be picked to receive the card of their choice. And a feature on my blog!

Cathy 7/ 30/ 09

Royal Café and Birthday Cake Ice Cream

2009-07-21T06:01:00.001-07:00

Another great find right in my own backyard!

No, not this lovely iceberg. This photograph was taken on a June trip to Newfoundland.

_________________________________________________________________

Royal Café & Ice Cream, 770 Auburn Road, Downtown Utica, Michigan

You can't beat Hershey's ice cream. It is delicious, creamy and my idea of comfort food. I love the Birthday Cake and Road Runner Raspberry. If you live in the Utica or East Michigan area stop and try some. I think you will make it a regular stop.

Cathy 7 / 22/ 09

_________________________________________________________________

Edelweiss, 34 East Ramona Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado

From the name you might have guessed that this is a German restaurant. The Triple Chocolate Tort will keep a chocoholic satisfied for a week. The food is good here too!

_________________________________________________________________

Piesano's Pacchia, 3618 Canyon Lake Drive, Rapid City, South Dakota

Why go to a chain pizzaria, when you can go to Piesano's. As their card say, 'Good Friends, Good Food, Good Drink'! Not only are their pizzas awesome, even better you can also have a choice of several Baltika beers from Russia. They also serve local beers, wine and soft drinks.

_____________________________________________

The 12 Days of Christmas

2009-07-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

12 Day of Christmas at Art Fire: July 15th. to 26th.

Go to Artfire , at the top is the 12 Days of Christmas and an
arrow to access it. Or go directly to Celtic Cat Photos at Artfire.

or go to~ Christmas In July

Etsy and enter CIJ or Christmas In July and see all the wonderful things on sale.

Celtic Cat Has:

10% off all Cards

15% off all Photographs

Celtic Cat Photos Etsy starts 8th, and ArtFire starts the 12 Days of Christmas on 15th .

Christmas In July Sale Start On July 8th & 15th

2009-07-06T12:55:00.001-07:00

The 2nd. Annual Christmas In July starts this week, take a look.

Just Go to Etsy and enter CIJ or Christmas In July and see all the wonderful things on sale.

Celtic Cat Has:

10% off all Cards

15% off all Photographs

Celtic Cat Photos Etsy starts 8th, and ArtFire starts the 12 Days of Christmas on 15th to 26th of July.

500 Hearts - Thank You Everyone!

2009-07-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

I made 500 Hearts today! I am very pleased and happy! Hope everyone out there is having a good
Canada Day and looking forward to the 4th!

Cathy 7 / 1/ 09

Premio Meme Award

2009-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

Julie of Julie Magers Soulen has awarded me the Premio Meme Award. I am blushing with this honor! Thanks so much!

The rules of this award is that I am to give 7 facts about myself and pass it to 7 people. Here we go!

1. I live with three cats, all black.
2. I am Irish and Spanish.
3. I have been married only 15 years to DH, this is a second marriage for both of us.
4. I love books, and usually come home from a trip with a load of book, both fiction and
reference books and photo books of the area I visited.
5. I could sit all day and photoshop images.
6. I am having trouble with the Google Base upload! Big Trouble! It never loads!
7. I love all animals, cats, dogs, chippies, squirrels and horses just to name a few.

Now to pass this award along to 7 deserving blog owners (in no particular order):

Allieart4chikdren

Elephant Dreams

Urban Junkies

RHRadcliffedesigns

Beholden To Nature

Julie Magers Soulen and GypsyMoonDesigns were already awarded a Premio, but they do deserve 2!

Cathy 6 / 28 / 09

Hamlet Thanks You!

2009-06-27T13:35:00.001-07:00

Thank You for voting for Hamlet my Birthday Cat. He took 5th place out of so many lovely cards.

Thank You!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men, Or Is It Mice & Cats?

2009-06-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Road coming out of Spearfish Canyon, near Deadwood Gulch

I have been sick and had a lot of time when I wasn't trying to keep ahead of the rain on I-90, to think about vacation mess-ups.

What is the worst thing that can mess a trip up, here are several.

#1 - Car accident! Fortunately, I have had car trouble, but never an accident.

#2 - Inclement weather! This trip was the strangest! It rained in Topeka, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and La Crosse. Not to mention the hail storm leaving Spearfish Canyon. It was so thick it looked like snow on the roadway. See photo above.

#3 - Kenny Rogers! Now you are wondering why he could mess up a trip. Well, he was going to be somewhere near Pleasant Prairie, WS. So we couldn't get a room, so we moved on to Michigan City, IN. Which took us through Chicago, and a terrible grid lock due to an accident at I-94 & I-57. A normal trip of an hour and a half turned into a long drawn out evening. We got into Michigan City after 8 PM, we had started out at 4:30.

#4 - Sickness! Sickness isn't a stranger to DH and I. But this is first time we were both sick at the same time. DH was so sick he couldn't drive, but wanted to get home and see his own doctor. So I drove some long days crossing South Dakota and Minnesota.

We are both still recuperating, so we had to cancel our first show of the summer.

Cathy 6 25, 2009

Sorry This is So Late

2009-06-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

Julie Magers Soulen

Gypsy M s oon Design

I want to thank Gypsy Moon Designs and Julie Magers Soulen Photography for nominating me for the "One Lovely Blog" award. Unfortunately, at the time I was sick. More on this on my next blog post. I couldn't let their kindness go by without thanking them.

It is really a lovely award! Thank You friends!

Cathy 6/21/09

Please Vote For Hamlet aka Birthday Cat

2009-06-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Just lick below or on photo!

Birthday Cat Card

Thank You!

Ice Tea or Coffee

2009-06-07T19:59:00.001-07:00

Come on in, this is our 2nd meeting of the Artists Coffee Club. This week we are featuring Linda from California, LDPhotography.

Linda is not only an accomplished photographer, she also makes wonderful jewelry and art pendants. Check out her shops on Etsy and 1MK.

It Rained Today!

2009-06-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

Actually, it poured today. For over 3 hours. I hate driving in the rain, but DH and I are on the road and it was my turn to drive. It was a real gully washer. If I could have found a place to pull off the road, I would have. So I toughed it out, slowed when needed, only panicked a little when I saw an emergency vehicle with lights flashing coming up behind me. I managed to get over. I hope he made it to the hospital in time.

Earlier the weather was fine, we stopped to photograph an old farm house covered in ivy. We even made a stop at a winery. Hopefully it will rain itself out tonight and tomorrow it will be bright and sunny.

Come Tweet With Me!

2009-05-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Modern Hand Carved Carousel Horse

Join me at my Twitter Page

Celtic Cat Twitter Page

Tuesday Morning Artist's Coffee Club

2009-05-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first Tuesday Morning Artist's Coffee Club. This is a spotlight for outstanding and very talented Etsy and 1 MK members. We will be spotlighting team members, friends, artists who understand their craft, in body the spirit of friendship, and help we share with each other here online.

San Diego Skiline

Come on in and take a seat, if you don't drink coffee we have tea too. Oh, just push the cat off the chair!

My first spotlight is on Rhonda in San Diego - Rareimage and Julie in Loveland - Julie Mager Soulen Photography, two very talented Photographers.

Please after seeing this sample of their work, check out each artist's shop.

Rareimage: Starfish In Color

Julie Magers Soulen Photography

Rawah Columbine

Evening Fog

Arts and Crafts Show in Michigan

2009-05-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

I will be doing three shows with Keepsake Collections this year. Anyone in this area check
out their shows

I decided to try two new shows, even though the economy isn't the best in Michigan

June 19 to 21 2009 - Frankenmuth: June 19 - 21
Frankenmuth, Michigan

October 17 & 18 2009 - Clarkston High Scool,
Clarkston, Michigan

November 21 & 22 2009 - Waterford-Mott H.S.
Waterford, Michigan

Keep Sake Collection Shows

2009-05-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Friend's Award

I was surprised to find that Julie Magers Soulen Photography honored me with this lovely award. Thanks Julie!

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Thank you so much! Here are my eight awardees:

Joannas Photography
Judi Fitz Patrick
Living Glass Art
Amy Longsberry Photography
Rareimage Photography/
RHRadcliffeDesigns
Buttons And Pears
Ian Parry Photography

To Brand Or Not To Brand

2009-04-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

At one time if you wanted to set up a website to sell your photography, jewelry or pottery online you would go to a webmaster and tell them what you wanted it to look like. Hopefully, he or she would listen to you and soon they would upload a website to sell your artwork on. But it can be a nightmare too, as I found out. Besides being very expensive.

Venues like Etsy, 1000 Markets and other selling sites were a blip on the horizon at that time. Wonderful places that would make our lives so much easier. In some cases you still had to have someone do the banner and avatar. But after working with Photoshop or other editing software for a while most artists caught on how to do them.

It is so much fun making an avatar. In fact many artists change their avatar every few months. I know I fell into that practice. I had a leopard, jaguar, pronghorn and baby, black cat and a black kitten. Every one of my sites, from my website to my Flickr page had a different animal on it. Everyone of them a wonderful creation. Not one of them had brand recognition.

I never gave brand recognition a minute of thought until on day while watching the Martha Stewart show. Everything changed. I can't remember the woman's name, but I won't forget what she said about brand recognition. You want your brand logo, avatar, stationary, and banner to be uniform.

Out went all the animals and I settled on one avatar. One of my most popular card photographs, my Birthday Cat Hamlet. My banner was standardized as well. Now no matter which of my online sites someone comes to they know they are in a Celtic Cat Photos shop.

We Come Here To Remember

2009-04-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma City Memorial 4/19/95

We Come Here To Remember

Those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence.
May this Memorial offer Comfort, Strength, Peace, Hope and Serenity.

Cathy 4/ 19/ 09

Lemonade Award!

2009-03-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

I was nominated for a "Lemonade Award"!!!!! Awarded for great attitude, I guess it goes along with that whole "given lemons, make lemonade" saying. :) And Beholden to Nature graciously bestowed upon me a "Lemonade Award"!

Thank You!

The rules are quite simple...

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 - 10 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude.
3. Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.
4. Tell them they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to your post.

Here are my lovely nominees:

365byjoanna

Gypsy Moon Designs

Amy Long Berry Photography

Judi FitzPatrick Studio

Rare Image Photos

Cathy @ Celtic Cat Photos

Woke Up This Morning!

2009-03-07T07:01:00.001-08:00

Well, I woke to a wonderful surprise this morning, I have been awarded the Kreativ Blogger Award! Thanks to my friend Julie, from Gypsy Moon Designs for the wonderful award. I am honored you would think of me!

Here are the rules:List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

1 - DH, I love DH!

2- My two older sister! Both my parents are dead, so my oldest sister has become our mother.

3- Cats, especially my cats Osisin, Oscar, and Finn Mc Cool!

4-Reading, I love to read! There is nothing better than going to a book sale! I always have a
a dozen or more books hanging around.

5-Online shops, I love online shops and shopping! Etsy, Artfire, Redbubble, 1000Markets, I love
them all.

6-Sunsets and Sunrises, I love to see a beautiful ones. Even better I love to photograph them.

7-Photoshop, I could sit and work on photographs all day! Unfortunately, DH and duty calls!

I tag:

Julie Magers Soulen

Rare Image Photos

Amy Long Berry Photography

Allie Art 4 Children

Beholden-To-Nature

Judis Jems

Urban Junkies Artist Lounge

The Big Easy!

2009-03-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Born on the Buyou

Night Parade

At my age you would think I would have had enough of night parades! But it is Mardi Gra and the invitation was too good to pass up. DH's relative has a shop on the main street that we could park behind and use the bathroom. So off we went, we were the last car into the lot. We stayed in the shop until it was time for the parade to start.

It is getting dark, and feels like rain. A helicopter keeps flying over head with a spotlight on the crowd. It is beginning to drizzle. You wonder if it starts to rain, will they cancel the parade and reschedule it for a day we won't be in town. No, here come the police cars to make sure the street is clear. They are followed by tow trucks to collect anyone who disobeyed the law.

Here comes the first float!

It is raining now, who cares, this is fun. "Come on Mister, throw me something!"

Causeway across Lake Ponchartrain

Tagged

2009-02-21T06:56:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged. Cool! So here goes!

1 - I 'm an accountant by profession, a bean counter. About as far as you can get from Photography. I found being an accountant for a big chain department store very interesting.
I love working with figures. I love all the stats and analytics, views, hearts to sales ratio, if there is one related to online shops.

2 - I became a widow at a young age. And was single until I met Ken about 15 years ago. We found we had a lot of the same interests, photography, travel and having a good time. Looking forward to the adventure of a trip. He also had 3 cats!

3 - Music, I love music. I would rather have music on than the TV. As soon as I received my Apple G5 I enrolled in iTunes and downloaded a lot of songs, and have ripped many others too! Whenever I am working in my studio I have music on, either through my computer or my 3 disk changer.

4 - I love chocolate, but chocolate doesn't love me. So I have to be careful how much I eat. I think all the vitamins should have been put into chocolate.

5 - I am the youngest of three girls. My father's brother had 3 boys. I love my sisters and enjoy when we can get together.

6 - I grew up in Detroit, on 25th street. Moved to Martindale street, then out to Dearborn Heights, then to Livonia where I owned my first house. Now I live in Shelby Township with Ken and our three cats.

7 - Given a choice, I always pick blue. Next would be green.

I am on the road so I can't post any photographs.

Cathy 2 /22/ 09