Crafting with cat hair Cute handicrafts to make with your cat

Yes, you read correctly: cat hair is the principal material involved in this craft. And no, no cats were harmed in the making of the book. Tsutaya is a cat fancier who's come up with one of the more inventive techniques for recycling: use those clumps of fur you brush off your cat (or pick off your black clothing before heading to work in the morning). A bonus is it's good for the cat. Tsutaya gives instructions for 10 projects, starting with easy finger puppets and going up to mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves to which cat-hair felt shapes are applied. Instructions for care of the craft items and the source of the material are included, as is a gallery of photos of the donors. Intensely cute; it will be lost on dog lovers. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Japanese cat lover Tsutaya was astonished at the amount of hair her cats shed during their daily brushing, so she decided to make felt out of cat hair, then turn the felt into cute, cat-themed crafts. If hair balls come to mind, think again-most of the projects are quite subtle and feature cat-shaped cat-hair appliques on household items and accessories. The pieces are simple enough that supervised children could make them, and the directions are clear. Tsutaya also includes fun facts about cats and plenty of cute pictures. These crafts aren't for everyone, but cat lovers will have a lot of fun with this book. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface   CAT-HAIR CRAFTS Q & A Can I really make crafts with my own cat's hair?   SUPPLIES: I have a cat. What else do I need to craft with cat hair?   PROJECT 1: Finger Puppets This is the first step! You can make these finger puppets out of the hair you brush off your cat.   BRUSHING It is recommended for your cat's health.   PROJECT 2: Book Covers Apply cute cats to homemade book covers.   CAT HAIR The color and texture of your cat's undercoat is different from its topcoat.   PROJECT 3: Portraits Remember your pet forever.   FELT What is the difference between sheep wool and cat hair?   PROJECT 4: Tote Bags Carry your cat all around town.   ODOR Cats do not naturally produce any bad smells, and neither does their hair.   PROJECT 5: Coin Purses Save your pennies in a cute cat coin purse.   PESTS Take care to prevent pesky bugs from latching onto your cat's hair and your cat-hair crafts.   PROJECT 6: Knickknack Boxes Recycle milk cartons and cat hair to make adorable knickknack containers.   ALLERGIES These crafts are not recommended for people with cat allergies.   PROJECT 7: Pincushions With an old sweater and some cat hair, you can make crafty cat pincushions.   SHEDDING The amount of hair that comes off your cat varies with the seasons.   PROJECT 8: Badges Show the world how much you love kitty crafts.   LONG-TERM BENEFITS Cats are naturally eco-friendly--and so are cat-hair crafts.   PROJECT 9: Mittens and Gloves Tuck your mitts inside cozy cat coverings.   CRAFT CARE Advice on the proper handling of cat-hair crafts.   PROJECT 10: Hats and Scarves Wrap your head and neck with warm kitty-inspired winterwear.   RESOURCES Different cat brushes you can buy.   CONTRIBUTORS Meet the cats who donated their hair for these projects.   AFTERWORD Make something special with your cat.  Excerpted from Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat by Kaori Tsutaya, Amy Hirschman All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.