Studio pets

I have been rescuing large breeds (mostly Great Danes) for more than 30 years, and right now I have three girls. I usually have a strict “no sitting on the furniture” policy, but relax the rule in my studio, especially with Betty. She is my most recent rescue, she was raised in a studio apartment, so she is used to fitting into very small spaces—which is kind of funny, as she is a big girl!

Pamela McKenzie, Bloomingdale, IL

I have two studio mascots and two furry “art students,” Mr. Blue the Chocolate Point Siamese and Buffy the Siamese Slayer. There is not a day or time when I can work without them, except once in while when the little tykes go for their afternoon nap—that’s when I paint the canvases!

Ann Alexander Leggett, Louisville, CO

Khufu is almost 15 years old and is by my side day and night. He has stuck with me through thick and thin, through good times and bad. He always thinks everything I create is wonderful. He is a dear, dear soul and a true friend.

Linda Kramer, Oxford, Ohio

This is Jaxson. I adopted him as an adult cat from a local no-kill animal foundation just a few weeks prior to this photo. He assumed the role of studio assistant within days of coming to his new home.

Laura and Linda Kemshall, U.K.

Toby, a Bengal, is one of our studio cats. He has radar for a pile of quilts. We caught him here fast asleep after making himself a nest in a pile of quilts waiting to be photographed.

Timaree Cheney, Kingman, AZ

I’ve got pets in my studio!  One is my Kitty, Pandora who just can’t stay off my projects.  She gets jealous when I am paying attention to them instead of her.  The other pet (I have more but they don’t get in my way) is Brandy, the dog I got from a shelter who was so afraid they wondered if they’d find a home for her.  I fell in love with her immediately and insisted on taking her home.  It must have been one artist’s spirit finding another as she loves to see what I am doing as I work on my projects too.

Janis Salcfas, Elizabeth Lake, CA

Here is my studio mascot, Yoda.  He likes to sit on my lap when I sew so he can watch the needle go up and down.  He participates in just about every project I make, whether it be testing the fabric, or making sure my stitches are even, to finally laying on the quilt to make sure it passes the softness test.  So far I haven’t made one he didn’t like.  He is the best critic a quilter can have! 

Tristan Robin Blakeman, New Haven, CT

Dusty spends the days in my studio on his special corner of mini-pillows. While I’m making art, it is his mission to let me know, by feverish barking, if a leaf has blown by the window or a squirrel has breathed somewhere on the property. He is especially alert to the sounds of an approaching postman or delivery person intruding on our creative space. When not on high orange alert, he is as infatuated with old black-and-white movies on TV as I am.

Karen Tanner via email

Aggie is our 13-year-old art Basset. She has made pawprint tiles—she embedded her paw print onto clay tiles. We love her! She is always in my studio with me.

Lisa Peters, Closter, NJ

Buddee the domestic shorthair and LuLu the Calico are constantly keeping me company in the studio.

Rita Bellanca via email

Here’s my dog Disco in my “studio” (which is basically my basement). She is my muse and has been for 14 years!  She will be 15 in April and my husband and I have had her since she was 1; we rescued her as she was being taken to the pound. She is my muse because she not only makes my heart happy, but she is so incredibly beautiful and photogenic that when I need a burst of creativity, I just spend time photographing her. She turns into a HAM the minute I whip my camera out…she totally knows how to work it. 

Wendee Deal, Cedar Rapids, IA

This is Dude. My granddaughter and I were going through my beads, picking out ones we wanted to use for earrings we were going to make that afternoon. In this photo you can see that Dude had his own idea about what beads we should use and was pointing out his favorites. 

Tomme Fent, Sioux City, IA

Max has decreed that all quilts must receive her approval before they are allowed to be shown to others or leave the house. She even demanded that she be the subject of my January 2003 Journal Quilt, “Mad Max.”

Bonnie in Durham, NC

My two geriatric cats, Fox (gray and white, 14 years old) and Tony (orange tabby, 15 years old) join me at the dining room table/work space for some mixed-media play. 

Ann Craig, Altadena, CA

My two quilting buddies are two of my Chihuahuas. The mother, Shakita, likes to get up on my work table and lay in the sun. She is very careful not to step on my templates, fabric or scissors! She can sleep for several hours as I work. I just have to reach around her so I don’t bother HER.

Donna Joy, N. Richland Hills, TX

This is Nala. Usually she’ll sit on the couch when i’m in my art room, however, if I leave for a minute, this is usually where I will find her: at my table trying to get something to chew on.

Cathy Johnson, Irving, TX

This is a picture of Zoe after a long day of creating art. Naptime! The inset picture on the bottom right is Zoe with her sister, Libby. They love to help but their favorite thing is “shopping” in the bags of goodies I bring home from the craft stores. 

Christina Wilson, Lakewood, OH

This is Raul, my Resident Red Rodent and Muse. My apartment doesn’t permit live pets so I needle felted my own mascot.  Raul is thoughtful, insightful, loving, unusual and always encouraging.  Though, I admit, he sneaks off in the early evening, makes lattes and stays up into the wee hours playing with our Janome Xpression. No doubt he is trying to make a friend.