Building the Dolls

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The Chairman's letterhead complete with his photo and pawprint.

So Don't Laugh

Meet one of our new members!

The Chairman poses with a tuxedo style cat doll.

Handsome chap, isn't he!

A closeup of the Chairman and the newest member.

Kreatrix made him out of a man's suit jacket. NOT THE PROF's. Whew! That would have provided major entertainment for us cats.

The Chairman showing us the new cat's spots on his back.

Cool spots!

Detail shot of the spots made out of men's suits.

Kreatrix made the spots so they look furry!

CAUTION: If you're squeamish, look the other way.

Here's his booty. Nifty, huh?

We see the bottom of the new cats booty and he has a flower button where his butt-hole would be.

I want a booty flower under my tail. I figure if Dude is gonna call me one of those I might as well own one.

Now don't laugh...until this handsome chap gets adopted and somebody gives him his forever name, he's decided his name is

Envoy

Yep. Kreatrix told him that he is part of a very special envoy for my community seeing as he's flying cross country for the fancy Zoo auction.

Here is Envoy in training for real-life cat interactions.

Envoy poses with real life cat Rudy.

Clearly Rudy is used to all of us.

And here is Envoy's first selfie -

Envoy takes a selfie.

Here I am chilling with Wally (and no I didn't kill him. He's sleeping).

Real life cat Wally is sleeping on his back while the Chairman lays on his back next to him.

Eve 2.0 and Ginger will introduce you to another member later this week!

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The Chairman's letterhead complete with his photo and pawprint.

Our Community is Expanding!

Lookey here:

Pattern pieces are all cut out for another doll.

Kreatrix is hard at work for a very important reason...(besides my quest for World Domination.)

Here is Eve getting all excited because this newest creation is a close relative of hers.

Eve 2.0 is sitting on the table looking at a doll made out of the same fabric as her body.

This one below looks really different. I actually know how it ends up looking but I am supposed to "tease" you until the big reveal next week. Personally, I don't find it very funny but Kreatrix said to tease you. So HAHA!

Some more doll parts and pieces.

I selected the eyes and nose.

Button eyes and a fabric nose lay on a table.

OK. Listen up.

The Chairman cat doll takes a selfie standing in front of the dolls being made.

The new members of my World Domination Squad are flying (with the Kreatrix) clear across the USA to participate in a huge event raising money for the North Carolina Zoo. They will be auctioned off (along with lots of other cool stuff from artists and such) to help raise money for the Zoo's research and conservation programs!

The North Carolina Zoo To Do poster.Check out C'sar, he's 40 years old!

C'sar the Elephant who lives at the North Carolina Zoo roams free in the fields.

The 2,000 acre North Carolina Zoo was the first American zoo to use the "natural habitat" philosophy – putting animals together with plants in exhibits that resemble exactly how they would be found in the wild! Most animals are kept in large expanses of land, which reduces many of the behavior problems that can be caused by close confinement.

I understand that. If I'm closed up with Dude or Ginger for too long, I'd kinda like to...well, never mind.

Elephants roaming in the African Plains Exhibit.

The 37-acre  African Plains exhibit alone is as large as many entire zoos!

Mostly, though, the Kreatrix loves the work they do throughout the world with such organizations as The World Wildlife Fund. And the fact that the animals aren't in cages but roam in their natural habitat.

There's gonna be 800 people at this shindig! I can't even count that high!

Big kitty cats. Whew!

Lions at the North Carolina Zoo.

This is our first big PR event!

Ginger and I (along with the Kreatrix) are about to perform the ceremony that brings our newest members to life! It's very secret and very special. I even get to wear a ceremonial robe. Shhhhh. You'll get to meet them next week!

 

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The Chairman's letterhead complete with his photo and pawprint.

Fancy letter with lots of paint splatters reads Frankencat has arrived.

That's Right! Frankencat Has Entered the Building!

Remember awhile back when we found all this in the Kreatrix lair and promised to make like Dr. Frankenstein and build a Frankencat?

Whimsical cat dolls gathered around fringe and fabric, trying pieces of it on.

Well, well, well...

Cute, floppy cat dolls Ginger and Eve 2.0 are at the sewing machine working hard.
Eve 2.0 and Ginger sewing away!

Ginger and her selfies!

Ginger, the orange floppy cat doll takes a selfie.

Eve 2.0 became obsessed with Frankencat and wouldn't stop working on it.

Eve 2.0 the paisley floppy cat doll is hand-sewing Frankencat closed.

TA FREAKIN' DA!

Closeup of Frankencat, a very cobbled together creature made from all kinds of scraps and such. Very punk looking cat doll.

Here's a detail shot - Eve insisted on sewing the black flowers on.

Closeup detail of black floral trim and scrawny legs of this funny little punk cat.

I choose the legs - nice and scrawny.

So here's where the story of Frankencat gets interesting. Eve 2.0 finishes him and goes to bed last night. We wake early hearing music in the other room and rush out to see what the heck.

Frankencat is playing a mini cello!

FRANKENCAT PLAYS THE CELLO! WHAT HAVE WE CREATED?

Frankencat continues playing the cello.

Kreatrix says his bow hold is very unconventional but she's not gonna tell him because he's really good!

Kreatrix loves him and gave him some vintage doll furniture to sit on and his own rug! Here's what she tells us:

Maybe he arrived in that UFO and you built him a costume to wear.

I think she's messin' with us but we still can't figure out how he learned to play the cello overnight.

Frankencat poses with his cello as it rests on the cello stand. Very professional musician type photo.
Official agent's photo...

And now a word from the Kreatrix:

What the Chairman and his gang don't know is that Frankencat is made from scraps they chose that are cut up, recycled clothing and vintage materials. The white flowers on the front are older than I am (don't ask). Thank you Grandma for being a fabric horder and for the fact some of it made its way to me.

They also don't know that I posed Frankencat with the mini cello for them to find in the morning. But what I don't understand is how he learned to play it overnight. That's a very difficult instrument! Mysteries are afoot here at Catberry Tails...

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Ginger has her own letterhead now! She is an adorable soft sculptured cat doll. Her letterhead features beautiful handwriting and a beauty shot of Ginger.

Hi Doodle Bugs! It’s me, Ginger, Feline Reporter Extraordinaire!

Take a look at this!

Rich and colorful embroidery on beautiful paisley fabric.

Kreatrix is always trying new things. Usually she says

“How hard can it be?”

And then ends up feeding the curse jar.

Cat piggy bank with bills, credit cards and coins over flowing.

We had high hopes for that very thing to happen. We could use the cash. But this time she’s on a very exciting mission.

Closeup of colorful embroidery and beading.

Do you suppose she’s going to do this on some of our community?

I found this in the Kreatrix lair.

An embroidered cat made out of a vintage Indian shawl.

She told me it was made by a well known artist named Helenn Rumpel, who lives in New Mexico. Kreatrix mother bought it from her friend Helenn and then gave it to our Kreatrix! It comes from WAAAAAY back before the turn of the century, Sweet Peas! It was made in 1991!!!

Closeup of the the embroidered cat dolls face. Very colorful and sparkly.

Legend has it that this doll is made from an old shawl from India and Helenn did some fancy stitching on it.

Closeup of the embroidered dolls body with beautiful flowered beads.

Stay tuned while I snoop around some more! In the meantime, here's some more of Helenn Rumpel's work...all collector's items now!

A colorful assortment of brightly colored embroidered wall hangings created by Helenn Rumpel.

Purrs to all my lovelies!

 

 

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Fancy lettering that reads "sorry Chairman for betraying you by designing products for dogs!

A very well made box/package containing Doggie Waste bags.

This little booger of a box had to be designed and built from the ground up using very sturdy cardboard. Lots of fun when it comes to using an Xacto blade to cut it out, score it and fold it! Wheeeee! But, sweet Chairman, you should be happy because I had to load up the curse jar with lots o' cash!!

I promised a booty shot of Eve. Well hold your horses.

Extreme closeup of a very colorful and cure cat doll.

We spent some quality time together...just the two of us.

A human hand is reaching in and holding Eve's, the cat doll, paw.

Once I explained that a huge part of the fun of her community is being able to pose them, she said

"Like this?" and she struck a dainty pose indeed.

Eve turns and looks into the camera with her paws at her sides and her legs tucked femininely off to one side.

And here is the reason she's soooo easy to pose.

A photo showing the revised bottom for the cats so that the sit better. Colorful lettering states that this is Eve's New Booty!

Booyah! Ta Da! Mission accomplished!

 

 

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Our Newest Cat Doll Model, The Eve 2.0

An adorable cat doll sits on a chair with its legs dangling over the edge of the chair.

Adorable cat doll sits on a white sheet. One leg is bent at the knee and she rests her paw on her knee.

Yowza! Check out the new and improved feet!!

Adorable cat doll sits on a white sheet with both legs bent at the knee. Her arms rest comfortably at her sides.

Closeup of adorable cat dolls paws resting on her thighs.

Hi Everyone! It’s me, The Chairman. Eve is very lovely and M.O.D.E.S.T. Seriously. She wouldn’t let me photo her new, improved, beautiful booty that makes it soooo much easier to sit. Kreatrix will submit photos whenever she manages to STOP WORKING FOR THOSE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED.

Day after day after day.

NONSTOP.

Even though said people pay her money, I would like to tell them to

“Back off buckos, I have a car that needs finishing and a community that needs building and…”

Uh-oh. Here she comes. Gotta go! Toodles.

Kreatrix here.  The Chairman’s got a point. He sits patiently watching me, IMPLORING me with his gaze while I work. His presence reminds me I have dreams and goals to pursue! And massive deadlines to meet from THOSE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED. (hint: clients)

The Chairman just hollered from down the hall

“For heaven’s sake! At lease take a photo of Eve’s new booty. Ya worked hard enough on it!”

Point taken.

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The Chairman's letterhead complete with his photo and pawprint.

Confession: I Have Prototypes and Magnificats in My Family Tree

Again. More drama on the home front. Turns out I got some "interesting" family history. Sheesh.

Everything was all neat and tidy and humming along until I found this on the floor:

A cloth body part for a cat doll. Very rough. A prototype.

Melvin the-real-life-cat was carrying it around in his mouth. I asked the Kreatrix what it was and she got all weird.

I said to her:

"Lady, you are giving me a bad case of the howling fantods. Explain yourself!"

That's right. I used a FANCY WORD! Go look it up. Some of us are improving ourselves.

The CEO and Kreatrix got all whispery and gathered us together for an emergency meeting. She got two baskets out of the magic closet in her studio and set it on the floor.

A pile of trial and error body parts for dolls are heaped in a basket.

We rummaged through it, the pieces all looking oddly familiar. Dude whispered what we were all thinking.

"They look like....body parts."

I was about to perform peristaltic pyrotechnics on the rug but the Kreatrix pulled me close and said very quickly:

"I had to practice building all of you, sort of trial and error, and what you see here were the first attempts. These even came before the CEO!"

The Chairman is looking up at the Kreatrix while he touches a doll part.

So. The curtain is pulled back on the wizard, huh? I let out a little growl and exclaimed:

"And you just toss them to the cats like they were cheap little toys! Well... I never!"

The CEO gave me the stink eye and said to the Kreatrix.

"It's time."

The Kreatrix left the room and quietly returned with this spectacular cat thingy and set it on the floor.

A beautiful, tall soft sculptured cat doll made out of an old suit.

Kreatrix looked sad and walked away. The CEO explained:

"When Opie, the real-life magnificat, went to live with the wise ones, the Kreatrix was so upset she closed herself away and built this homage to him."

Wally joined us for the story because he actually knew Opie the Magnificat!

Wally sits next to the CEO and the beautiful Opie doll.

"She was very determined to create something of beauty, just like she was with us. And beauty takes time. So suck it up little man and apologize to the Kreatrix."

I later learned that Melvin kept breaking into the closet and stealing the pieces. Maybe in 2014 I will learn not to jump to all the wrong freaking conclusions!

So here is Opie the Magnificat!

Head shot of beautiful art doll. His features are folded and sculpted from an old wool suit.

Opie the Magnificat full body shot. His patchwork spots are made out of darker men's suit material. He stands about 18 inches tall and his tail wraps around to the front of his body.

Opie the Magnificat's feet and tail.

Ginger didn't seem to have much problem with all of this. Girls! She latched onto this prototype.

A miniature version of the Opie style doll but it has no eyes.

I said

"GinGin, it has NO EYES!" but she didn't care.

So sometimes skeletons in your closet turn out to be beautiful things and throwing howling fantods is a waste of really good energy.

All hail Opie the Magnificat!

A beautiful photo of the real-life Opie.

And for your spiderbots looking for something to eat on this blog and barf up on Google, here ya go: Opie the Magnificat is a soft sculpture cat doll. That's right. A soft sculpture cat doll.

 

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I, the Kreatrix, am stepping in for my little buddy, the Chairman, who will be taking a few days off to attend to pressing family issues. The video below will explain it all. Please join us Friday when we resume our regular schedule.

And for the record, we have no keywords for the spiderbots to latch onto. Oh my. I fear we will go unnoticed for several days. I love my little Chairman but his family needs him at this time.

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The Chairman's letterhead complete with his photo and pawprint.

 ALLEDGED CUTE CAT DOLLS TAKE SHAPE!

She told me they were cute cat dolls but I know better. And while everyone was stuffing the turkey and themselves, I did my own stuffing and kept my eye on the prize. WORLD DOM uh Community Building.

Cute Catberry cat doll helps build more cats.

Look at this! Not quite sure what I got here but the Kreatrix gave me this assignment so I'm on it like kitty litter stuck on -

The Kreatrix told me not to type what I was gonna say. Fine.

But look at the progress!

 

Melvin simply had too much to eat on Thanksgiving Day. So I put him to work.

All together now:

"And one, two, one, two, and reach-for-the-sky and one, two, one, two, work it boyfriend...uh-huh"

Melvin_WorkingOut

After extensive research on the World Wide Web, I've discovered that my score from the other day:

Two Cat dolls carrying an iMac computer. is a vintage iMac. Vintage means old. Old means cool...when it comes to stuff, anyway. Vintage humans don't fair as well on the World Wide Web.  What's up with that?

Got big plans for this.

Soon_iMac_Soon

SOON iMac ... SOON.