Friday, December 28, 2007

Our First Blogiversary!

A Thank You from the Human Artists


This is an important week for Artsy Catsy ... Christmas, then December 28 is our First Blogiversary, then Tuesday we begin a New Year. As we look back over this past year, Rocky has given me permission to share some of my reflections with you, and to open our hearts about how and why Artsy Catsy was begun.

Most of our lives, my sister Suzanne and I have worked in advertising and marketing, using our art and writing skills to promote others' businesses. And all our lives we have loved animals, particularly cats, and have opened our homes to hundreds over the years.

The last few years have been difficult for us. We lost our mother, our grandmother, and our aunt, and my daughter lost her father. At the same time, a series of unfortunate circumstances left us floundering financially. All this led to serious consideration about what we wanted, and needed, to do with the rest of our lives. We both came to the conclusion that it was long past time for each of us to "follow your passion."

It was so obvious! Since we were children, our passions have always been writing, art, and cats. So we set out to find a way to combine those passions with two goals in mind: 1) To make a living doing what we love; and 2) To expand our ability to care for cats in need by sharing that living with organizations that help cats. We decided to devote ourselves to creating artistic products for fellow cat lovers and to donate a generous portion of our proceeds to cat rescue organizations.

While doing online research about cat products, I stumbled across the first cat blog I'd ever seen, The Psychokitty Speaks Out, and on Max's blog I discovered links to a whole world of blogging kitties that I never knew existed. It was one of the most exciting days of my life - I'd found a whole world of people out there who were as crazy about cats as my sis and I!

Though I would never have thought it possible, this first year of blogging has made us love our own precious cats even more! And we have made more friends, all across the world, than in any other year of our lives. You, our wonderful friends, have not only made it possible for us to follow our passions and achieve our dream, you are helping us help cats in need by providing funds to Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere, to the Rescue Farm, to animal welfare societies such as Best Friends - and to individual kitties in emergency situations.

Kahlil Gibran, in his book "The Prophet" describes what you've given us much better than I ever could and, for this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

~~ Sharolyn & Suzanne

From "The Prophet":


When you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.
And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,

And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching

... Work is love made visible."


44 comments:

Hot(M)BC said...

Wow, a yeer already! A'course, it also seems like yoo's been furriends furever. Go figger. We's glad to kno yoo and glad yoo's bloggin!
Purrrrrrrrs,
Sanjee and the resta the Hotties (and Mom Robyn too)

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

We are very glad that you started blogging and that you are following your passion! It is so good to you to help others out with your endeavours as well. We love all our Artsy Catsy stuff - the Rules, the Bookmarks, the Ornament. :) We wish you much success with Artsy Catsy!

Chancy, Jake, Babe and Ernies Voice said...

Happy New year to you Artsy Catsy!

Congrat's on your one year blogging!

We wish you a world of success...forever,

Love, Chancy

Angel Simba said...

Your blog post gave my Mom leaky eyes. Happy Bloggiversary to you all!

We have ordered a couple of your kitty bookmarks in the past and loved them. We have many good friends who are not quite so cat-mad as we are. Would you consider expanding your designs to include bookmarks made with other charms, such as doggies, horses, or birdies? (we did like the Vicious Deer ones but they seemed more Christmas -oriented). We would buy some more for our friends. We think you could get quite a lot of additional business that way too!

Simba

Leslie said...

We love reading your blog, and we have got very fond of you all = from Tigger the FBI cat and also Pyewacket and Trixie.

Mom LOVES her new pale purple phone charm! It was one of her best presents.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

*snif* We love yoo guys too! Happy Blogoversary, we'z purraying fur yoo guys to be a big success!

Spooker said...

Concatulations on your Blogiversary!
Not The Mama is doin' that same "follow your dream" thing, so he says he can relate. He also say that The Prophet is his favorite, he just hopes in 2008 there will be some PROFITS from the business, but I of course, have NO idea what he means...

luv,
Auntie Spooker

Cat Blogosphere said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
HRH Yao-Lin said...

What a wonderful post. I do know what you mean about the epiphany that is meeting all of those cat crazy people out there! It's fantastic!!!

xx

Daisy said...

Oh, my eyes got a little leaky! I am so glad we're friends, and congratulations on your upcoming blogiversary.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Concatyoolayshuns on your furrst blogoversary. A happy new Year to you all, and we wish you efurry success wiv your dreams. We's glad we met you and you're our furrends.

MaoMao said...

Wowie, conCATulashuns on yur Blogovershary! We Ballicai are so happy to have met you and yur beans -- and yay fur your beans fur followin their passion! My momma didded the same thing, she quitted a job as a byoorocrat to become a full time writur, and she loves what she does. And the passage frum "The Prophet" is so purrfect.

Thankies fur bein our furriends! And we wish you alla the bestest in the New Year!

Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao.

Dr Tweety of da Fab Five said...

Da momee liked readin' abouts you two sissies & she tinks da world iz a muchee better place becuz we has you. She sez dat da cat bloggo-spear iz lettin' her ex-press some creative tingz dat otherwize would gets lost in da day to day world of clutter, work, grief, joyz & sadness. She too haz lostee many beanz dis year, iz gettin' OLD (likes a squillyon!) and iz facin' un-chartered terror-tory. But, she doez have ME!!!!!

Love,
Dr Tweety

Anonymous said...

Oh, *happy sigh*... I just love the excerpt from "The Prophet" -- such true and wise words. The best work is that which is done with love! Big congratulations to you and your lovely humans on your First Blogoversary -- the Cat Blogosphere is a truly remarkable place, one which is lit with true love and friendship and caring for everyone. Thank you for being my friends!

Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn.

Mickey's Musings said...

WOW!! What a year it has been for you!I,too have been blogging for a short time and the Blogosphere cats are the best!
It is so good that you were able to "Follow Your Bliss" as Joseph Campbell once said. More people need to have the faith to do that.There would be happier people.
I'm glad you liked Rocky in my T13 :)
Purrs Mickey

Just Ducky said...

It has been wonderful to get to know all of you this past year!

Max said...

The Woman often muses...Crazy about cats, or just crazy...?

Heh.

;)

Happy Blogiversary!

Tiger Lily said...

Wow! A year already! That made me go back and check my blog and we missed my first blogoversary. I started on December 1, 2006, so we we are growing up together!

Tara said...

Sharolyn and Suzanne,

My mom and Dad have been doing similar soul searching this year, and I expect to see many changes in 2008. Hopefully which will mean mom and dad get to stay home more with us! Good for you for following your dream, and all the best in 2008!

Tara and Kavan

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Congrats on your blogiversary. I am glad you have found such a wonderful way to have all those things that you really want. We look forward to much more artwork from Artsy Catsy!

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Happy Blogoversary!!! I am so glad I met your furry family headed by Rocky. It has been wonderful getting to know you over the short time that I have been in this happy, supportive community and we wish you all the best in the coming years.

KC and the Giggleman Kitties said...

Happy First Blogoversary.
We are so glad to have met you and all our wonderful friends at Artsy Catsy. Cannot imagine the Cat Blogosphere without you and your lovely staff.
What I will always remember about you is the lovely tribute to Bear you made.
ML (Mary Lynn)
PS: Love the quote by Kahlil Gibran, one of my all time favorite authors.

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

Con-cat-ulations on your first blogoversary!

Karen Jo said...

Congratulations on your first Blogoversary. I have really enjoyed getting to know you over the last year. I am so happy that you were able to follow your dream and I wish you every success.

Christine and FAZ said...

This is fantastic - happy anniversary. We have loved your blog and miss you when you're not posting. We also love all your art and use one of your bookmarks everyday in our diary. Purrs FAZ and Christine

Parker said...

Have a happy, happy blogoversary! We love your blog!

LZ said...

Congrats on the blogoversary and following your dreams!!! The LL loves Kahil Gibran.

Kaze

The Meezers or Billy said...

Happy Blogaersary!!

The Crew said...

Gosh, has it been a year already?! Congratz!! Good old Max has been the inspiration for most of us to start blogging.

How wonderful to be able to follow your hearts and work with what makes you happiest. Most folks don't get that chance in life.

I agree that since becoming a cat blogger, it has brought me closer to our 4 cats. I couldn't possibly love them more, but in order to write, I do pay more attention to them as individuals and feel I understand them better.

Charlotte
Crew's Mom

Captain Jack and Sir Dante said...

Congratualations on one year blogging!

Forty Paws said...

Happy 1 year Blogoversary! This is a wonderful post!

Luf, Us

Mr. Hendrix said...

A year already?? Wow. It is hard to believe there was a time we didn't know each other!

This is such a wonderful post and I'm sure all us blogging kitties (woofies bunnies etc) agree with it.

You have all given us a wonderful gift too. Friendship.

Enjoy this great day!

Unknown said...

Happy Blogaversay. We've enjoyed getting to know Rocky and his staff.

Aloysius said...

Happy Blogaversary! I like to hear about your cats' adventures and I wish you much success and happiness in the new year. Did I mention that my female human is also from Indiana?

Purrs!

muffinmidi said...

Happy Blogoversary.It was good learnng more about the humans behind the cats.
Purrs,Muffy & Tracy

Jan Price said...

How nice you followed your dream. We love kitties too. And doggies. We're a blended family. We hope 2008 will be a good year for you both.

jan's funny farm

Marilynn said...

Yes, indeed - a very happy blog-versary to you all!

Grace & Company

Samantha & Mom said...

Happy Blogoversary Artsy Catsy! We are so glad we have gotten to know you and it is so cool to follow your dreams! We love your blog! We wish you a Prosperous 2008!
Your FL furiends,

Jimmy Joe said...

Congratulations, buddies! Boy, you sure work hard.
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe

The Furry Fighter said...

thanks for coming to my blog! and congrats on your blogoversary too! what a week indeed! it's great to read your story, thanks for sharing and good luck with everything xxx

Mr. Chen and Ollie said...

We're sorry to be chiming in so late but we've been off-line for a week now! Happy 1st Blogiversary to you!! What a wonderful message from your human artists and a great inspiration for us all!
Purrs,
Mr. Chen & Ollie

Anonymous said...

One year, that's a big Blogiversary! Looking forward to 2008!

Pet Monologues

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