As with anything, it had a beginning, and then evolved to what it is today. And it will probably continue to evolve, growing with more handmade products using what others discard, or even into something different. It’s all about an idea, that became a reality. And then grew from more new ideas, and continues to grow into the future. Wow, I sound profound, even deep.
As Canadians, we all know the Bay. It started with fur trappers. Their business grew and they expanded into housewares and clothing items. It became the Hudson’s Bay Company, and this grew into the chain of Bay department stores. Another good example is Lululemon. This small yoga clothing shop, is now an international chain of exercise clothing for the whole family. What a surprise last Spring – I saw a Lululemon shop in Bangkok!
It’s the same with the Happy Cat. First it was purses made from recycling cat food bags, then the addition of the lining of quilted discarded bubble wrap and fabric. Then laptop and e-reader cases was added. Shortly after that I included a very small bag that I call the Walking bag.
With all the used clothing in landfills I started to use unwanted t-shirts to make pet toys. The strongest dogs were used in testing and I learned a lot. The most important lesson was even though ‘they’ say to use a tennis ball in a pet toy, they are wrong. It took no time, like 2 minutes, for it to be ripped out of the toy.
Now I make them with only t-shirt yarn, that I make from discarded t-shirts and fleece blankets/tops. I make 2 sizes so pets of all ages can enjoy play time with their forever family. My toys are interactive, help pet owners bond, build, and grow relationships with their pets. They are full of knots that pets can hang in to for tug-of wars, and heavy enough to tossed far away or close-by. Put that cell phone in your pocket when you are out with your pet, and enjoy your time together.
And now, this summer, I’ve included a jewelry collection. I have so many cat earrings and I’m always buying more. But finding the colour or style I want can be a challenge. So I made my own. I have lots of embroidery thread left over from something I made decades ago. Of course I modified a sitting cat style that I had designed for coasters a few years ago. I adjusted the sizing and designed a curly tail, that looks great, if I may say so.
Then I thought, why not make them a spec bigger as a pendant for a necklace. Now I could offer sets of matching earrings and necklaces.
Christmas season is fast approaching and I’m scheduled to do a few Christmas Craft Markets in the Ottawa (Canada) area. Someone suggested I do something unisex, like a keyring. I loved the idea and came up with a design that is perfect for a keyring or to hang on a bag. Of course they are in the shape of a sitting cat with a curly tail. They have a front and back, with a bit of padding to give the shape support.
What’s next you ask, as you know my imagination never stops. I have considered a cat face, or the rear axel. I do love watching cats wiggle away. Or maybe I’ll improve the curl of the tail or put a heart on the front. Maybe sparkle eyes or whiskers. Time will tell.
I’m busy now getting pieces ready for the Christmas markets, being creative with colours for the festive season. This part is as much fun as dreaming up new pieces. I get to play with the stitches and try different combinations. I watch tons of videos, and have joined every craft, embroidery, creative group I can find on social media. I’ve even started a TikTok account, so I can connect with creatives of all ages.
Shipping in Canada is reasonable, but not to anywhere else. I’ve only configured the Etsy Shop for shipping in Canada. Please email/message me if you want something and you are not in Canada. I can tell you the options and the cost.
Last month I built a shop on Etsy for my jewelry collection. While I do have a shop on my website for my upcycled cat food bag products, the shipping is outrageous. It’s almost reasonable shipping when I’m in Thailand, but from here in Canada, it’s insane except for destinations within Canada. I’m so embarrassed at the shipping costs, I rarely promote this shop as I only ship to Canada.
You can check out my shop here. Please let me know anything that doesn’t work. And remember, some of the screens for the newer items may still in beta development and appear rather rough. But no worries, you can message/email me your order.
And here I am making all this fun stuff and not really caring of the business side. I read on some craft site, that pricing is arbitrary and basically up to the artist. I could price stuff high, and try to promote it as ‘exclusive’ and all that crap. But I’d rather sell a lot, as I love making it all. So I sell it based on the time it takes at minimum wage, plus cost of materials. The materials are mostly recycled yarn, with the hooks, chains and fasteners new to ensure they work. This strategy keeps my pieces affordable.
And all this gave way to the Memories group, as I’m always thinking about those wonderful cats not with me. My darling white Phi, passed a few years ago, and I always keep this cat in my thoughts. Now I wear is memories and literally keep him close to my heart. The same with my ginger Pu, who disappeared at the start of Covid. And there are my two cats in Thailand that I miss terribly when I’m in Canada for the summer/fall. This led me to customizing a memory for others. I invite custom orders. Send me a photo and a few words about your cherished feline, and let me design something specifically for you.
Oh my, as I’ve been writing this I’ve had a grand idea. A cat pin!
My Etsy shop is called HappyCatRecycleShop and here is the full link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/happycatrecycleshop/?etsrc=sdt
I ship to Canada on Etsy. If you aren’t in Canada and want to order something, let me know what you want and where it is going, and I’ll let you know the cost.
It’s all good!