A bit of my history...

 "A girl, her creative projects and her little helpers"

As you might have noticed I have just launched a second auction  - this time  a batch of handbags. Someone asked; "Did you make all of these bags?" and the answer is yes, I made them all from scratch. What many of you do not know is that I have been creating handbags and accessories for the last 13 years. I've been running my own little company which I thought was a dream come true. And in a sense it was. But there was something missing. Just a few years back I started having some great little successes internationally with features in major newspapers and prominent fashion magazines. My items were handpicked by a known celebrity hotel and a top London florist for her window display - and international online shop owners (who were stocking my items) were keen to have me featured in various places. Things were FINALLY really beginning to take off. And then the strangest thing happened. I started running away from the success! It was almost as if that the more I began to succeed the more empty I felt inside. It's difficult to describe the feeling really. It's not even that I did not want the succes...

Well... as I successfully mananged to sabotage my newly created successes I slowly began to wind up my little company (yes, can you believe it, but I actually did!!). After this I turned to animals - where my heart was really at.  I began writing this blog with no clue as to where it would lead (but just look at this my very first and in hindsight very serendipitous post and image) - back then I had NO clue where I would be today!  I just collected inspiring animal stories and I began spending my days reading about Greek cat rescues (I've had a special affinity with Greece for many years). My heart and soul ached deeply whenever I saw the images of discarded, sick, abandoned and cruelly treated cats (and dogs for that matter) - it left me feeling that I wished I could offer each of these little discarded souls a healing, loving and safe home for life. Fast forward... to cut a long story short of how I came to live here - but I very soon became caught up in rescuing cats. A bit daunting at first because they just kept coming, but I began to adapt to my new role. And I got a meassure of my own level of commitment this past winter when my infant colony got struck down by two deadly virusses. I cleaned, fed, played and cleaned some more - from the first step in the morning to the last one at night. My DH kept saying; I don't know how you do it... but with his unrelenting support and some truly amazing supportive friends from this online community it somehow became possible. I learned and I had my first painful lossses - I cried many tears. But... I cannot describe my hearts joy at seing each little rescued life gaining renwed confidence and blooming - and becoming beautiful and full in their rightful way. It's rich beyond words to sit at a distance and see them play and romp and strike up odd little friendships. It is very satisfying and makes my heart feel so full.

 My watercolor was inspired by this cute image from the peachy book

 "Dottie Angel" - and re-produced/translated with the sweet and kind permission by Tif Fussel

BUT now that my days are filled with my hearts purpose I've no longer got endless hours to spend in my creative den.  Recently I figured that I had to take up a new creative expression - something that could be fairly instant and not require too much fussing over. This is where a recent online class turned out to be just the perfect match... it made me come up with silly little sketching ideas and naturally cats somehow made their way into almost each little creation. Yes... maybe a future set of  fundraising cards might be in store!!

Anyhow... about the handbags - what you see is really the result of a girl on her way to somewhere, but only now the sale of them serve a purpose I can truly stand behind and be very proud of. ALL auction bids goes towards the much needed neutering projects and ongoing vaccinations of the cats I rescue.

I hope you'll enjoy a scroll down through all the images and maybe even want to place a bid. 

A HUGE thanks to everyone who has donated and placed bids in the first auction round to help cover Pestos's dental surgery. This bill has now been fully covered and I was proud to tell my vet about the amazing online support!!

THIS AUCTION CLOSES FRIDAY MAY 18TH AT MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME.

And as always, please feel free to share the news!