Cat bow ties, of course. :)  

 

If your cat will wear a collar he/she will easily wear a bow tie, as it's just attached to a cat collar (made with a breakaway clasp for safety!).

 

If your cat isn't used to a collar it may take a bit to get used to it - usually a couple days. Our cat Hippo would wear a collar and bow tie without any complaints. Lucy, on the other hand, will run and hide as soon as it's put on her. She's actually getting better about it as long as lots of treats are involved, but for these ties you'll just have to imagine they're on a cat. 

I have to say ... cat bow ties are great conversation starters at markets, always good for a fun chat with shoppers.

Bow cat bow ties are here, cat cat bow ties are here.

 

Oh  my gosh, I didn't mean to disappear for months again.

Over the last few months I've been focusing on in-person events and shows, mostly building inventory and getting my 10' by 10' booth "just right". I never, in my wildest imagination, could have grasped how much time and energy and money could go into such a small space! Of course, it's still not exactly right and I'm guessing the reality is that it will never be perfect, but it's getting better. If you follow Because I'm Me on Facebook or Instagram you've probably seen many booth pictures, and also many pictures of products I'm selling face-to-face that aren't available online. I'm working on bringing more of those products to the shop - hopefully more very soon, but if you're interested in something you see just message me. Oh, also follow the Facebook page for locations of upcoming events.

 

So here I am with some new bow ties, just added to the shop.

These fun bow ties are available with the added Easter bunny or chick for both adults and kids. And cats, each bow tie comes with it's own collar with breakaway clasp. And .... our first bow ties in the shop for dogs! The dog bow ties have a velcro closure and they simply attach to your pup's collar ... easy peasy.

 

The gingham and dot bow ties can be happily mixed and matched with these large-scale gingham print bow ties, in pink, green, and soft blue. These fun bow ties are also available for adults, kids, cats, and dogs.

 

Stopping by to let you know that Because I'm Me and Jude Harbor are both having storewide sales this weekend. Save 20% on everything through September 7, 2021!

 

 Two months without a post but with very, very good reason.

 River needed to perform community service for a Boy Scout merit badge he was earning. Given his age (12) and Covid restrictions finding a place to volunteer wasn't easy so he got creative and suggested fostering kittens for one of our local shelters.

 

In no time at all Quebec and Romeo were at our house, two less than four-week old kittens. While they are both black and about the same ago they were not litter-mates, we got Romeo first and Quebec a day later - they do so much better when they're not singletons and the two bonded immediately and were so good for each other.

 

A day after getting our kittens Cassie decided she'd foster as well and she's now temporarily rearing Duck and Goose - who are absolutely adorable. Duck is slow to gain weight, having a metabolism I can only dream of, so she's had hers a little longer.

 

When Q and R first arrived they were syringe fed every 3 hours, moving to every 4 hours after a week or two.  They did not "relieve" themselves on their own and had to be stimulated with a cloth to go. They were given every hand towel in our house and we still had to do their laundry 3-4 times a day between pottying and bathing (because of pottying).

 

As they got older they got so much easier! By the time they left us, at about 8 weeks old, they were eating soft food and kibble, and using a litter box like the big cats that they were.

 

Romeo was always a little bigger than Quebec, but each of them more than tripled their weight while they were with us.

 

Big question ... how did we tell them apart? Quebec has a white stripe on his belly. But to be able to tell them apart without flipping one upside down Quebec wore lipstick on the back of his left ear ... without that we'd have been lost. As they got older it got easier - Romeo has bigger eyes and Quebec's eyes were more blue-green than Romeo's. Quebec was a bit smaller. One of them had a few white furs on his legs, the other on his ears. And their personalities were different. By the time they were about 5 weeks old I could tell them apart, River never mastered that.

 

We loved having them with us and can't wait to foster again after summer. Quebec was adopted by Mia and he and Linc are best of friends. Romeo went back to the shelter and was adopted within three days of being there.

I'm not really sure how many hours River put in in the six weeks we had the kittens. Definitely enough to meet his requirement.

 

A few last things:
* foster if you can ... the need is great
* if you see a kitten in the wild watch from a distance for a few hours, Mom is likely getting something to eat

Toward the end of March as River and I were busy making masks to donate it was suggested that I sell masks - that the demand far exceeded the supply at that time. I thought to myself ... I can do that, a few masks for those who need them sound great. That night I went to the fabric store - only to find out they were already sold out of thread, ribbon, elastic, etc - and headed home to order elastic, ribbon, etc. on Etsy. And so it began.


The next day Etsy sent a message asking anyone who could to start making masks. It felt so good to be doing something good with my "down time" (my daycare dropped down to one child so I had a bit of extra time to work with)!

2 1/2 months later that need for masks has eased and I'm catching my breath!

Huge "thanks" to everyone who purchased a mask from Because I'm Me or Jude Harbor, and for all the positive feedback and heart-warming conversations.

And the biggest thanks to my children for all their help cutting, pinning, flipping, packaging, and shipping ... and for their patience with their Mama who had them surviving on restaurant take out family meals (best idea ever!).



I still have plenty of masks listed at Jude Harbor, including this bunch above focused on restaurants/bars/coffee shops, but have also added a few more things to the mix - like these tiger stripe cat bow ties for all the cool cats and kittens out there. As soon as I watched Tiger King I knew my cats needed new bow ties ... so between masks I made them a few and now finally am getting them listed at Beacause I'm Me .


In the midst of our social distancing Hippo (the gray cat) decided to get sick and has been diagnosed with diabetes. He's doing fine but now is getting insulin shots twice a day. He's a very loved little beast. :)

I hope you're doing well and have stayed healthy the last few months - and stay healthy moving forward.

What a good, happy feeling this tie evokes.

Created with Heather Ross' blue and orange snail print (from her Far Far Away line) this tie is filled to the brim with whimsy and character. Proof positive that bow ties are fun.

Available in very limited quantity for men, boys, and cats.