Tribute To a Kitty

In 2001, I adopted Lily, a fat 4-year-old cat who followed me around the shelter, quickly convincing me of her sweetness. She was always a great craft kitty, never messing with my projects, even when they involved string! All those late nights staying up sewing and painting, Lily was there keeping me company. She became an excellent big sister to my dachshund puppy, even cleaning Frankie’s little face. Suddenly food-loving Lily stopped eating and seemed to have a rattle in her lungs. At the vet I got the worst news, Lily was diagnosed with extensive cancer in her lungs. When Dr. K showed me the x-rays I broke down, the mass was so clear. I brought her home with the plan to make Lily comfortable and hoped that she would pass away peacefully in her sleep. Starting Saturday Lily started hiding out in my closet under the shoe rack, which was not a good sign. She had always been such a social cat and was pulling away, she knew it was the end. I felt crazy, constantly checking on Lily, watching my sweet fat cat waste away. For the next few days I didn’t leave her side, horrified that she would die alone if I went out.

At some point I decided to make a cameo pin with Lily’s picture as a tribute to her beauty and life. I found some gorgeous green velvet from my fabric stash that reminded me of her huge luminous eyes. I spray mounted a photo of Lily on the velvet and then added a loose ruffle of black, as a reference to the classic Victorian cameo. Finally I attached two vintage Bakelite blossoms and crystals beads at the centers. There were a few glue marks on the velvet that I couldn’t remove that bothered me but I tried to ignore them.

Crafting the pin gave me something to keep me busy, which I desperately needed. Both the process and the end tribute helped me work through losing my friend. I wore the brooch for the next few days of work, it helped me feel closer to my kitty while I was away. We all have our own ways of remembering our loved ones, often striving to translate our feelings into physical displays. I think that creating a shrine with a pet’s favorite toys can be a step in the healing process. For me crafting the pin was part of my mourning and a way to remember my sweet cat, who deserved a tribute much bigger than I could ever give.