Tuesday, February 13, 2018

How I Know Cats Built Boston

Have you ever been to Boston? Do you live in Boston? In either case, my prayers are with you.

I went for a Hero Arts event last spring and my brave friend Libby drove us around.

Let that sink in. Libby DROVE. In Boston.

Boston is actually built so that you cannot drive. I don't know why Boston hates cars, but it is a fact that they've thrown everything they've got against any hope of a normal transportation experience.

But I do have a theory on HOW Boston was built so that you cannot drive, and I'll share that below.

But first, a little more fun with that Blue Belle Versafine Clair Ink.

Now before you get mad - I have to confess that I accidentally used a retired set, so to make up for that - I'll give this one away during this post. But I've linked you to a similar Power Poppy set in case you're still mad. :).

This is actually the first thing I did with this ink, and it's how I found out that the blue separated. I was watercoloring this image, and when I flipped it over to glue it down, I noticed a little pink and purple on the back. Not as much as with the alcohol, which is why I tried alcohol for the video yesterday, which worked even better. Lots of people asked how I found out that the ink did that, so now you know!

I paired the ink, which is waterproof - yay - with some new Old Holland Watercolor that I purchased before Christmas. People were raving about these particular pigments (listed below), so I thought they'd try them all at once. No half measures, people! Other than that, I kept it pretty simple. The mat around the watercolor paper is actually another piece of cold press watercolor paper that I just used direct to paper with the Blue Belle ink pad to get that textured look.

Versafine Clair Ink + Old Holland Watercolor card by Understand Blue






Power Poppy OLIVE AND OAK Clear Stamp...
[ SSS ]
Tsukineko VersaFine Clair BLUE BELLE...
[ SSS ]
Old Delft Blue
[ BLIC ]
Old Holland Blue
[ BLIC ]
Manganese Blue
[ BLIC ]
Old Holland Classic Artist Watercolors
[ BLIC ]
Da Vinci Cosmotop Sable Mix F Brushes...
[ BLIC ]
Escoda 1548 Versatil Travel Brush Set...
[ AMZUS ]
Escoda Versatil Brushes
[ BLIC ]
Fabriano Extra White Cold Press...
[ BLIC ]
Whisper White Cardstock - Thick
[ SUP ]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | SSS | ELH | MFT ]


So back to Boston. Here's how I know cats built Boston.

Cats are creatures of habit. My cats do everything the same way every day (with breaks for smashing things by knocking them off surfaces), including the "routes" they take in the house. For example, every morning when I get up and open the door of the bedroom, Maddie runs out, and does a single, counterclockwise circuit around our house, which is sort of set up like a donut.

When we are sitting down or sleeping, they take exactly the same routes to get up on our chairs or beds. They always approach us from the same side - no exceptions. However, the approach is the most complicated, Bostonian route possible. Sometimes it involves stepping in the eye of another, innocent, non-destination human or cat in the process. Again, super Bostonian. Let me illustrate.

So part of the daily routine is both cats sitting on me while I'm trying to work. Maddie's preferred perch is my neck. Splotch likes to get on my desk and plop down between me and my keyboard, tipping over dramatically so that I have to catch him like he's going through a feline Ropes course.

But neither of them just hop up where I am. Please see this diagram of how they arrive at their destination. Splotchy's route takes him behind my monitor. Maddie likes to include an aerial component involving the card catalog.

Cat routing by Understand Blue
Now note that they are approaching from my left side. My theory is that their little lizard brains know that most humans are right-handed, and so if it all goes to hell and I try to catch them and eat them instead of buying them food from California and special blankets for them to sleep on - they have a better chance of getting away if they approach from the left side. I'm ready for my Nobel Prize on this issue.

Next - time to sleep. Again, both cats sleep on me - Splotchy across my neck and Maddie on my legs. Splotchy's route includes a loud meow and some scratching on the cat tower. He requires an invitation to get up on the bed (a light hand pat on the mattress) after his LOUD PRONOUNCEMENT THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE BED, and only then will he hop up. Maddie does her route silently, and dramatically flops down on me like she's been working all day in the coal mines, when what she's really been doing is sleeping on her special bed in my office.
Cat routing by Understand Blue
And finally - the proof to my theory. Cat-built Boston.
Boston traffic by Understand Blue


I'd also like a Nobel Prize for that, thank you very much!

So here's my watercolor video of this card. I hope you enjoy it. To enter my giveaway of the gently used stamp set in this video, leave me a comment on this post with what you are going to do this weekend. All online orders also get extra entries, as usual. You can place your order here, using host code 4SNBQJUA. 

And speaking of winners - here is the winner of the Crafty Friends stamp set - please email me your shipping address!:





Loveyameanitbye.

33 comments:

  1. I'm going to a coloring class at Scrapbook & More in New Braunfels...with you! :)

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  2. Oh Lydia... you continue to make me laugh. I love your maps and of course your kitties. This weekend, I have a crafty date with friends and dinner with another set of friends. It's my favorite weekend of the month - 3rd Saturday weekends rock. What are you up to this weekend?

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  3. As always your card is beautiful Lydia and as always I enjoy your gift for words and description of feline shenanigans! 💗💗💗

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  4. Thud. This is fantastic. Never would I think to paint acorns BLUE! Simply stunning.

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  5. I'm cracking up about your cat story! And I love your beautiful blue watercolored card!

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  6. That is a beautiful stamp, and in spite of having more stamps than I can use in one lifetime, I'm leaving you a comment, mainly because I'm pretty sure no one else who reads your blog is doing what I'll be doing this weekend. I live in southern lower Michigan (where the weather is unpleasantly cold right now), but I am driving northwest to central Wisconsin for a kite festival! Yes, outdoors, flying kites, in Wisconsin, in February. NOT my idea of fun! But I will be indoors, looking out at the crazy people I call friends, and it will be fun :)

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  7. My late husband was from Boston, so I spent lots of time there over the years. I am absolutely convinced that somewhere in Boston there is a traffic circle where all the streets are one way coming in.

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  8. Oh Lydia! I love your humor. Your writing always draws me in...especially when it comes to cats. And you are so right! You've nailed it, girl. And, btw, love your card. Going to have to try these inks.

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  9. Lizard brains! Perfect description! I love cats and can't wait until I can replace my Riley. This weekend I hope to redeem what the intestinal flu stole this weekend. I have projects to work on for my stamping club. We all follow and love you!

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  10. Oh my goodness cats are wonderful creatures, if a little Bostonian. Stunning card! The bold blue is just fantastic.

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  11. Great post! I was wondering what is the benefit to using a host code when ordering?

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    Replies
    1. You are entered into all my monthly prize drawings, as well as a drawing for the host benefits on the order! :)

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  12. Whoa...that blue is AMAZING!! It also looks like I'm going to have to see what this new Versafine ink is all about so I can also stamp blue acorns. As for Boston and cats, go figure..

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    1. Whoops, forgot to say that I will be going on a belated Valentine brunch date with my hubby this weekend, while my sweet Mom watches the kiddos...yay!

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  13. I am going to do two awesomely cool things - one is to attend yours and Kathy’s class in New Braunfels, which sounds like a 10000x improvement over Boston. I will also be spending time with my lil sis is San Antonio and her new baby. Hugs and so looking forward to meeting you then! I’m so intrigued by this ink. I have a feeling it will be in my stash soon ... you enabler you😉

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  14. BRAVO! You have discovered the exciting, new, scientifically derived, extraordinary but actually very logical, method for the Bostonian road system. You deserve a Nobel Prize for your thoughtful explanation with detailed artwork for proof! My cats do approach on the left and do run completely wild race laps around the house when they wake up. If you try to catch them before being finished - you will pay with a nasty bite, as they take their hot laps very seriously. I so enjoy your writing and your art. Thanks.

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  15. Love the card and that ink is to die for! This weekend I will be breaking in my new gel plate. Yes, I finally got a small one thanks to an enabler, 'Understand Blue'. So I will be trying my hand at gel printing with a stencil, paint and a stamp. Wish me luck. And you are so right about cats! I've never been to Boston but I can picture the layout based on your description and my own observations of my cats, Baby and T. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for the inspiring!

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  16. I am at my desk at work and my boss wants to know what is so funny. I live in Florida but was born and raised in Massachusetts. When Hurricane Irma hit last year me and one of my sons got the only flight out of FL we could find which was in to Logan and rented a car. Driving in Boston is scary on a good day but doing it in a rental car is nerve-racking especially when you are already on edge from having a category 4 hurricane pass directly over your head. Thanks for my laugh of the day today! Oh, and love the card too btw!

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  17. Well...I certainly won't be going to Boston!!! lol Those funny city engineers! We are going to do a little work around the house. We have a few pictures to hang and a shelf to attach to the wall. Hopefully, we'll have a little crafting time. We'll also straighten up the house and sweep up some cat litter. My wife will probably watch one of her movies while she grades papers. If it's warm enough, we might even work in the garage getting ready for a garage sale.

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  18. Oh! Thank you SO much Lydia! Your card is beautiful, I love those shades of blue. I have a few dishes from my grandmother that are like that. You had me laughing so hard with the cat aerobics.

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  19. OMG! Remind me to NEVER read your posts when I'm at work again! It was all I could do to keep from laughing myself out of my chair at your Nobel Prize winning theory that cats built Boston. If I get fired, it's all your fault! LOL ;)

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  20. The blue card - gorgeous. The other cards - ingenious. A lot of planning went into these designs.

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  21. Gorgeous shades of blue, and the sketches are priceless! We miss having a kitty. This weekend we might have to seek out a marshmallow shop I've been wanting to visit. :) Also stitching another card to send a friend going through chemo.

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  22. First, this card is stunning! Love how much detail there is with one color! Second, i'm still laughing! I have two small dogs that love to do the same thing ( on my desk, on my lap) although they probably don't take as long- unless there is food on my desk!

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  23. LOVE that gorgeous blue card and those sketches of the cat daily journeys made me laugh. We've had up to 5 cats at a time and they have never been known to travel a straight line , EVER!! This weekend will be spent with my granddaughters, and also hoping to sneak in a little craft time!

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  24. Wow! Awesome card!!! Love this post!
    Congrats to Lindar!!!

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  25. I see that the Other does not even make the drawings

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  26. We have 4 cats in the house so I can really appreciate this post! When stout cats want to go outside at 3:30 AM, do they keep running across your bed (with you in it) until you let them out? I’ll be doing whatever the cats want me to😃

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    Replies
    1. Oh no - you can't let cats out here - they'd be dead inside of ten minutes. Coyotes, foxes, snakes, hawks - the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is very short here. My kittiots think outside is TV :)

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