New Plans

 To borrow a line from a song from the movie The Greatest Showman, "a million dreams are keeping me awake."

Among the new plans I have for Designs by Eileen:

Turn two stories I have I written into illustrated children's books using Kindle Direct (FKA Create Space).

One of our cats has become a poet. I plan to publish her poems  using Kindle Direct.

Another cat is becoming an advice columnist for other cats. She will have her own Facebook page once I have better photos of her. She is polydactyl, so her page will likely be either Dear Polly Paws or Ask Polly Paws.

I am sure ideas will come to me before long.

In Memoriam

 I had known Ashy for just short of five years. It didn’t take long for the tabby-point Siamese to become my favorite of the three cats my husband had when we got married. His favorite place to sleep was in between us. I sometimes called him Ashy-kins.

There were so many happy memories. He’d climb up in my lap and want kisses and petties, He’d purr and purr. There’s something incredibly comforting about falling asleep to the sound of a cat purring in your ear.

He had a great fondness for pizza. He tried to bat a piece of pizza out of my hand more than once  One time he stole a piece of pepperoni right off a piece of pizza on my plate. It was so funny I couldn’t be mad at him.

Eventually, the day came when could longer jump into my lap. He’d let me know he wanted to be in my lap. I’d say, “Oh, Ashy” and pick him up and cuddle him. He started losing control of his bladder more and more often.

As his condition worsened, I made an appointment with our vet. My husband had to go to work, but he gave me permission to make the hard decision if needed.

Ashy’s condition was to the point that the vet told me honestly the kindest decision would be him to let go. With tears in my eyes, I agreed. I held him to the very end, telling him was the best tabby-point Siamese ever. On July14, 2022, Ashy-kins crossed the rainbow bridge.

I will always love and miss him.

Getting Down To Business

 

Having retired from the position I had had for the last four years, it is now time to focus on Designs by Eileen.

I have been devoting hours each day to working on products to add to my inventory. I currently have two shows coming up this summer. The first is the God, Comics and Gaming Convention on July 30, 2022 in Maplewood MN. The second is the Cat Video Festival on August 4, 2022 in St. Paul MN.

Goals are to sell enough to owe the State of Minnesota sales the next I file and to be able to send a donation to Bitty Kitty Brigade at the end of the year. The donation can only be done if there is a profit at the end of the year.

Of course, work is continuing on the P.U.R.R. (Pussycats United for Rest and Relaxation) comic book. The sketchbook should be ready in time for both the shows I will be at this summer. I have been in contact with a local printer and will be visiting them soon.

Plans are in the works to start Ask Polly Paws or Dear Polly Paws (name yet to be determined), in which our polydactyl tuxedo cat will become an advice columnist for cats. Various merchandise with her image will be available.

A side benefit is that I also get to be a stay-at-home cat mom!