Saturday, October 30

artful thursdays #26....halloween cat tutorial and adopt dolores...


this week we had our art group witches night out halloween party at candice's house. i got home at 2:30am so it is a good thing there wasn't any school the next day! the food was spectacular, my favorite was the spiced sweet potatoes that candice had made with roasted sweet potatoes with melted butter and milk steeped in mulling spices. with a bit of fresh ground black pepper it was divine...
here are a few of the costumes. cheryl in her vintage black dress


em and amanda


lorraine and her winning cats costume


me and candice


can't believe i didn't get a photo of everyone! here are all the girls last year at our witches night out.


our halloween cat project turned out so fun. lorraine sewed together all the cats and stuffed and painted them ahead of time so we had all the fun of decorating them. here is the whole basket of little kitties just waiting for the party to start.

lorraine gave me an extra cat to decorate and give away on my blog so here is dolores, she needs a new home. i have never had a give away before so how fun is that?? i will draw a name from the comments and then send her off to you...
we all finished our cats and lined them up for a photo shoot. so cute, right.


my artful thursday tutorial will start with the sewn cat so see this post for ideas how to draw, sew, and stuff one of your own design.
lorraine bought this darling cat from olive rose at art unravelled a while back and used the basic outline for her inspiration.


the cats are sewn out of muslin and painted with black milk paint.
we started out with a cat looking like this:


the one on the left has the seam up the back. i have always hidden the seam down the side, so this is fun and new for me.
step 1. cut out the felt pieces for the face. i used some cute vintage flower sequins on top of the felt eyes because i couldn't find any black buttons the right size.



step 2. sew on the face. i have this pretty thread set from valdani that i bought at the quilt market. the colors are overdyed and varigated autumn hues.


step 3. make a little bow bundle using a piece of gold tulle, a piece of polka dot black tulle, an orange felt flower, and a bit of tinsel. sew the bundle next to the cats ear.


step 4. tie a crepe paper ruffle around the neck. i used a piece of 1 3/4 inch ruffle wrapped around the neck twice and tied with some striped string. fold the ruffle in half over the string and smunch it and squish it down so it lays down flat like a collar.


step 5. make a wee skirt. i gathered a 17 X 6 rectangle of gold tulle folded in half and a 17 X 3 inch rectangle of brown and aqua cotton for the base of the skirt and tacked each layer to the cat with thread. then tied a bit of ribbon over the skirt. it looked too bland so i added a bit of loopy orange trim and an aqua wool medallion with a tinsel center.


step 6. now for some little mary jane shoes. these are just painted on with some acrylic paint and a fine brush.



i love how some of the gals in my art group painted the clothes and faces on the cat body. with the painted muslin the cat is a great canvas. here are a few more group shots of the cats.



just leave a comment if you would like dolores to come live with you. i'll pick a winner and let you know.
well now, hubby just came home with 14 pounds of trick or treat candy...
spooky halloween wishes, julie

55 comments:

Patti said...

Dolores would enjoy a cozy, loving home at my house. I love your "Witches Night Out" idea. I'll have to remember that when I host a gathering of pals from school and work. Happy Halloween!

Connie said...

Fabulous Halloween post! Love the costumes, and the cats I just adore them! Thanks for the inspiration, and sharing. Happy Halloween!

Renee said...

Those cats are so stinkin' cute I can hardly stand it! Please enter me in your drawing to let darling dolores come live with me! xoxx, Renée

Jamie said...

Oh, my. These are just about the best cats ever! I would love to have Delores live with me! And, I'd love to be part of your witchy get together! Looks like a lot of creative fun! Jamie V in MT
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Lisa said...

You guys have sooo much fun. I love your wig Julie.

Jo in TAS said...

Oh those cats are awesome and what a fun time you must've all had creating them. Do you think Dolores would like a trip to Australia? If so she's welcome to come a spend her Halloweens with me Downunder!!
PS I love the beehive!!

Suz said...

That looks like so much fun. I love the idea of Witches Night Out and think your cats turned out so well and wonderfully unique! I would love one!

Suz

Sandra said...

Here kitty kitty. I would give Dolores a great home. Thanks for the tutorial and greeting from Moab.
Sandra

Effie said...

These are absolutely fabulous........I'm off to get my sewing machine out!

LindaSonia said...

Love Delores!! Would love to have her come to my house and live. My two other kitties are preparing to welcome her as we speak ;)

nwnonna said...

Dolores would be the guest of honor at the crafting tea party my one grandgirl and I are planning. We could make a "mini-me" Dolores for the 3 year old!

cynthiaregan@comcast.net

Carrie Me! said...

How fun!! All the cats are gorgeous! I would love to take care of Delores for you ;)

kate said...

that looks like the best halloween pretty much ever. and dolores looks like she'd like to celebrate all year long...who can blame her!

Janet Ghio said...

I love the cats!! They are adorable. Thanks for sharing how to make them!

kimhubbell said...

What a great idea for a party. I want to think about one for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Thanks for sharing.

Julie said...

What fun! I really enjoy your tutorial projects, this one being a favorite. Want to make a whole collection of kitties....might give them a Christmas theme. :)
Thank you!

Blessed Serendipity said...

Here kitty kitty! Come here cutie kitty! Delores, you will love living with me!

-Danielle

Jessica Rodarte said...

What a charming girls night out! I would love for Dolores to come play at my house. :)
Happy Halloween!

Marley said...

I haven't been into Halloween this year. But Dolores and all the cats strike the right cord between comfort and character.nbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb65 - That last part is a contribution from my real black cat, Nyla.

Tina said...

Dolores is lovely! The perfect thing on this gorgeous Halloween.

Heather Simpson-Bluhm said...

Those are really adorable. My daughter was peeking over my shoulder at them and said how much she liked them and how she liked this kind of doll better than store bought ones. I guess I have taught her well ( she is 7).. so toss her name into the hat!!

Stephanie said...

I would so love for Dolores to come live with me... I am currently cat-less!

The instructions are wonderful, as are the all the finished kitties.

Happy Hallowe'en!

Jayme said...

What a party! I'd love to give Dolores a home. She'd fit right in at my house - I love black kitties.

Anonymous said...

I *LOVE* this post!!! Although it's Halloween today, I know who would love this as a Christmas gift. Thank you so much!! Keep it coming! :)

nicole b said...

I've never owned a cat due to allergies, but Dolores appears to be shed-free and would be loved and cared for amid the Halloween decor at my house. Simply adorable. This post is so inspiring--love how each cat turned out different and unique. What a fun group to be a part of!

Laura Haviland said...

Awesome Halloween Post !!
I just loved your Witches Night Out,so very cool.How very lucky you all are,so special.
Your cats are screaming cute and I just adore them. I am a huge cat lover... Pretty please add me to your amazing draw. Those little cats just make me giggle, so positive !! OH HOW I LOVE THEM Thank you for sharing,I loved visiting you.
P.S. I would give Dolores a loving kitty treasured home.LOL
Hugs, Laura. xoxx

Mary said...

What a great idea for a party! Food and creating... who could ask for a more fun time?

Love Dolores and her friends. Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial.

Terri S said...

Delores is Delightful and Devine!!
I don't have a kitty kat to call my very own, Miz Delores would be most happy living in my home!!

Anonymous said...

how fun...miss you girls!

adele and esther said...

everyday i wait for a new post from you...darling,darling,darling.
thanks for sharing and wish me luck!

Becky J. said...

what a wonderful idea!!! thanks for the hints on how to make a few embellishments too--

and of course we would love dolores to hang out with

{beth} said...

this cat is amazing. Love her!

Valarie said...

Oh I would love to have Delores come and live at my house and I have plenty of real cats at my house to keep her company!

Lucie said...

Yes, I would be happy to provide a nice sweet home for Dolores. Pick me :) Lucie (LAupperlee@sheppardpratt.org)

Little Pink Studio said...

Dolores would love to come live at my house Julie, she really would! :)
I love your art group, such a wonderful thing you all do!
Cerri xoxo

Laurie said...

Looks like you have such a wonderful group of girls to spend time with! I'm a bit jealous :) The cats are wonderful and I am completely in love!! My son would be thrilled to have Dolores come and live with us. He really wants a kitty and his papa is allergic. We would make her a whole family of cats so she would not feel lonely.

Dede Warren said...

Sew darn cute, these little kitties are! Lately I've been drawn to primitive black dolls, so I'll have to try one of these. Thanks for the tutorial!

Jennifer said...

I loved, loved your costume for the party. The cats are also adorable and your art group seems like such fun. I have been busy working on a production of Dracula at the Castle. It was great fun. I am anxious to get back to Artful Thursdays. Thanks for your post and wonderful inspiration. Hope you are well.

p.s. your daughters wedding just looked lovely! Glad it came off so well.

Jennifer

candice Elton said...

Horace, and Morris but mostly Dolores must keep Horace company at my little theatre in Mountain Green. She just has to make her debut on the stage, at our spring Literacy night. with her dashing eyes and long lashes, her twirling dress and matching mary janes, how do I count the ways........ Horace adores her..
xoxox candice

Maminka Girl - Loribeth Robare said...

all the kitties have a lovely vintage folk art quality with wonderful expressions! What a fun giveaway..count me in.

Jen Bowles said...

This is such a wonderful tutorial! Looks like you all had a wonderful time creating your kitties. I would love for Delores to come and live at my house, she's adorable. I especially love her polka dot skirt :-)

bettie said...

These cats turned out so cute! Love this craft and it could be adapted to other figures for other holidays. Fun way to get my friends together for a crafty evening!

Jessica said...

I love Dolores and I hope she finds a happy home in my happy home!! Jessica

joni reinhart said...

Here kitty kitty...Delores would be much loved here! I love the vintage look and have the perfect niche for her to stay cozy all year long!!! Thank you for sharing all your great projects, you are an inspiration to us all!!!

Robin Thomas said...

Please count me in Julie. Thank you!

Rachel Carpentier Rydel said...

Hi Julie, I would love to adopt Dolores, she would have a fabulous time with my bunnies and annies! Love your red dennison-like labels and will be checking your shop daily!

valerie said...

The cats are too cute. I love how they all have so much personality showing through! I would love to give Delores a home here in California with my two daughters and two kitties.Thanks for sharing.

Kari said...

Oooooh my!!!! L.o.v.e her. She would be so wonderful to welcome into my home. Please put my name in the hat!! Thanks for the opportunity, Julie. Hope your Halloween was fabulous!!

Gayle said...

If I am your lucky winner it won't cost you much to mail this kitty to me since I live in Utah too! Sure looks like you guys had a blast!

Nicole Austin said...

what a wonderful project! i would love a chance to give dolores a cozy home. ;)

Babsarella said...

I'd love to have Dolores come and live at my house. She would be right at home, and I promise to keep her away from Miss Beula Belle (my puppy).

Jingle said...

Dolores is absolutely wonderful! I lost a couple of my dolls in our move this past weekend - an incident involving a piece of furniture along with a few boxes flying off the truck and onto the highway...not so fun stuff. Anyway, I am looking forward to see all that was NOT lost and getting my new studio set up with my art surrounding me in a couple of weeks! She would be a great new addition to the crowd!

Jenn said...

Oh, Dolores, won't you come and live in Canada with me....???

*jean* said...

your projects and ideas are just so darn cute! i love the idea of dressing up and making kitty dolls!!! i would love it if delores came to live at my house, my polly would take good care of her

Regina said...

Delores is awesome! She would have a real black kitty friend named sloopy.

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