Since I am a hopeless animal lover, it doesn't surprise anyone that I have fostered bottle-fed baby kittens for almost 10 years. In case you missed it, I would like to share my slideshow of many of the foster kittens I have been a mom to.  They have come to me from my local Humane Society as young as 1 day old, and they grow up to 8 weeks old with me when they are old enough to be adopted .  It is the best volunteer job ever, and it is wonderful to see them grow up healthy and ready to go to their own families.
Hope this brings you a smile and a little happiness for the Holidays.
​Hugs, Ann

My Favorite category is "Cats"

I am drawn to Cat designs when I paint coins. Of course I love all the animals and nature themes, but I have fostered bottle-fed baby kittens for almost a decade. I guess that makes me a little obsessed!

This 2015 coin is part of a Fauna series of coins from Turkey. Each year they come out with 2 new coin designs, each one featuring a different animal. The love of cats in Turkey dates back to the people who settled the city of Istanbul, the Ottomans. The mighty Ottomans worshipped cats based on their cleanliness and their ability to hunt. As a result of their long history with cats, felines have become an essential part of Turkish culture and the city of Istanbul.

Another interesting feature is that the coin is "bi-metal" with the center made of brass WITH a goldtone color, while the outside ring is a silver color. The color change isn't too evident on the painted side of the coin, but the other side it is very obvious and attractive. ​

​A beautiful coin from Belarus

I started the journey into coin jewelry by first discovering the fun of collecting coins from around the world. Often I would find something special, it was a fun treasure hunt.

This coin from Belarus celebrates a tradition of Europe, Candlemas. Some celebrate with a festival of lights (candles) 
It is celebrated on February 2nd, at the darkest time of winter. 
For others it is either a Christian or Jewish tradition. 

Regardless, this coin is a beautiful design and rather rare. Belarus only issued 3,000 of these coins in total, and I have made 3 of them into coin Jewelry. 

7 Interesting Facts about the Hawksbill Sea Turtle:

• Considered most beautiful turtle by many. Color of shell ranges from amber, orange, red, yellow, black and brown. Colors are darker in cooler water.
• They can hold their breath up to 3 hours.  They usually come up every 15-30 minutes, but can go longer if needed in rough seas.
• Existed for over 100 million years, with little change
• They help keep ocean reefs healthy by feeding primarily on sponges.
• They are one of the smaller sea turtles, only 24 to 45 inches long and weighing 100-150 pounds. Live 90 to 100 years.
• They are named after their pointed beak that looks similar to a bird of prey.
• They live in the coastal waters of more than 108 countries, but are critically endangered worldwide.

If you were wondering where the Cook Islands are, it is in the South Pacific, half way between Hawaii and New Zealand.

I always say there is a story to go with every coin.  This one I love.  When I worked at my local Humane Society, I went to a conference for Animal Shelters.  One of the speakers indicated that if we could teach every cat to reach out and touch people, they would all get adopted.  Problem solved!

It turns out that many people melt when a cat reaches out to them, and adopt the cat that "chose them."  When I share the story, I often got confirmation from people that this had happened to them too.  The pose on this coin always makes me remember all this and brings a smile to my day.

If you aren't aware, Stroma is a small unoccupied island off the northern coast of Scotland. No humans have lived there for over 50 years. I have read that this series of cat coins are actually "fantasy" coins sold to help raise money for the feral cat population that still lives there.

This is such a fun design for a coin, and I am so glad I was able to find some of these to paint!  Tuvalu isn't exactly a big source of coins, with less than 12,000 total population and out somewhere in the South Pacific between Hawaii and Australia.  
Just for the fun of it, here are 10 facts per the Smithsonian:

1. The Octopus has been an inspiration for monsters throughout history, but they are whip smart and many experts suggest we get to know these fascinating creatures more.
2. The Octopus is waaay old. The oldest known fossil found of one is from 296 million years ago.
   
3. The Octopus has 3 hearts. Two hearts work to move blood beyond the gills.  The third heart keeps circulation going for the organs.
4. The plural of octopus is octopuses.  The word comes from the Greek "oktopus" meaning "8 foot."
5. Aristotle thought octopuses were dumb. But the big brained octopus can navigate through mazes, solve problems and remember solutions, as well as take things apart for fun.
6. Octopus arms have a mind of their own. Two-thirds of an octopus' neurons reside in its arms, not its head. As a result, the arms can problem solve on their own.
7. Octopus ink doesn't just hide the animal.  The ink also physically harms enemies by blinding their eyes, garbles their sense of smell and taste.
8. Octopuses have blue blood.
9. After mating, its game over for octopuses. Mating and parenthood are brief affairs for octopuses, who die shortly after. 
10. Female Octopuses can lay up to 400,000 eggs, which they obsessively guard and tend to. After the eggs hatch, the female octopus' body fails and she dies.

I love this coin from Cyprus, such a beautiful design and such a delight for me to paint it.  Please watch the video and enjoy!
You can find it to purchase in my Etsy Shop:  Click Here

 

For close to a decade, I have been fostering underage kittens for my local Humane Society.  They can be as young as a day or two old, and then I foster them until they are old enough to be adopted at about 8 weeks old.
This is a slide show of many of my fosters, and I hope you enjoy seeing all these cuties!
​   -Ann