Do you believe in serendipity? The human dictionary Merriam-Webster says that serendipity is “luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for.”
My human says that was serendipity that brought her to meet Ms. Darlene Margeta of Dream Pillow and to discover her work.
While she was wandering around the East Village in Manhattan a few weeks before we moved, she saw something that caught her attention in the window of a little herb store called Flower Power. There were artisan-made cat dolls with different faces! She entered the store to ask for information, and was given the name of the company that make them: Dream Pillow. She was also told that part of the profits for the sales of these dolls benefit an animal shelter. My human had to learn more! She contacted the furry nice lady at Dream Pillow to discuss her products and they met at the French Market on Broadway and 36th St.
Dream Pillow at the French Market on Broadway – July 2013
Dream Pillow makes products entirely handcrafted in New York: pillows, sachets, and cat dolls, that are filled with herbs and flowers, and they smell sooo good according to my human. Among other herbs, they contain lavender that comes from France! The pictures on each product are pictures taken by Ms. Margeta or pictures sent from clients for a customized work. Ms. Margeta has been making these products with the help of a herbalist for about 20 years.
They also make catnip sticks that we tried and loved!
What about my favorite product, the shelter cat doll? Here’s the description from the Dream Pillow website:
Our new cat dolls are not for cats, but for people.
They are replicas of actual stray and abandoned cats rescued by City Critters, a local rescue shelter and adoption organization. We donate $3 to City Critters for each doll we sell.
The dolls contain lavender and fiberfill. Fabrics used for the coverings are assorted. Like cats.Dimensions: 15 inches tall, with long tails.
Shelter Cat Dolls
Wouldn’t it make the purrfect gift (hint: Christmas is in 1 month!) for your human or a human’s friend, and for the kitties it may help?
Ms. Margeta, which my human really enjoyed meeting, has loved animals for as long as she can remember. She was raised with lots of animals around. Her grandmother had barn cats that would wait besides her when the cows were being milked.
Of cats, she says they are like “a piece of art” that are very beautiful, have a sense of humor and enable you to relax. As an artist, she obviously connects with us kitties!
The idea of the cat dolls came when she was taking care of several stray cats in the East Village of Manhattan. She was feeding them and caring for them, until the day they were not welcome in the area anymore. City Critters came to the rescue. She herself kept a couple of kitties. With the dolls, she wanted to help City Critters in return.
The faces of the dolls are of shelter cats and dogs and can be customized with a picture of a kitty in your family (or a doggie…).
Of course, she is owned by several kitties: 11 rescue cats live in her studio, 3 in her apartment and she also feeds feral cats outside. A calico kitty is her artist cat too! You can see pictures of the kitties here.
Now in order to help the kitties too, my human has bought two dolls, one of which one of you will be able to win. Another doll has been generously given by Ms. Darlene Margeta. Yes, two shelter cat dolls will find a home among you, my readers.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
What do you have to do to win one?
1. Go visit Dream Pillow’s website here and tell me, in a comment below, which of their products – rescue dolls excepted – you prefer. This cannot be the doll, this must be another product.
2. For an extra chance to win, share this giveaway and post in a separate comment the link(s) to where you shared.
You have until Sunday, November 24, 11.59 pm central time to enter!
The winners will be drawn thanks to random.org and will be announced on November 26! The first person drawn will be able to choose which one of the two this person prefers.
If you cannot wait, or are not one of our lucky winners, you can visit Dream Pillow’s website and order the products you like by emailing them. Their contact information can be found here. If you live in the NY area, you can buy Dream Pillow products at the Broadway French Market (information here).
We really like their products and we are delighted to share and think it would make an original and furry nice idea of gift for humans!
Disclosure: We did not receive a compensation for this post. Opinions are our own. We were offered a sachet, as well as 2 catnip sticks, to test the products. Dream Pillow generously donated one rescue cat doll for the giveaway.
I know my fur-baby would love the Yempi stick. She’s not one to ignore cat-nip like some cats. I love seeing pictures of Texas and Kitshka…they’re such great buddies!
Hugs,
JuneK
Can I have you, Kitska and Milou AND the pillow, please…. Pawkiss :)
angelswhisper2011 recently posted…Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge 11
That is great and we think the company and products are well cool.
Needless to say we are across the pond so no worries not entering us in the giveaway.
Have a tremendous Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
Molly The Wally recently posted…Dog House Blog, False Confessional Thursday & Talking Turkey!
I love the Yempi Sticks!! Our new kitty, Emmie, LOVES sticks. Our old boy, Thomas, never learned to play because he was on his own as a little one, but Emmie is teaching him, and he is best with sticks! They would love to win one to share (they learned to like each other when bonding with a stick!).
Great contest, Texas! Thank you!!!
I shared the contest and the link on Facebook!! :)
I live over the pond but I’m in MOL .Just fantastic super stuff, we love it all :) xxooxxxx
Mollie and Alfie
mollie and alfie recently posted…IM’Z SUCH’Z A COMEDIEN. BOL!
Wonderful stuff! The Yempi sticks sound like such a great treat for the kitties. So nice of you to offer a giveaway!
Coccolino recently posted…Mini pig versus world – truce is OFF!
We like the Yempi sticks, of course. Please enter us in your giveaway. Mom thinks these little kitty dolls are so cute, and she is always impressed when part of the profit goes to a really good cause, especially one for animals! Ho to Kitschka and Texas! Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Kitties Blue recently posted…WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: LION IN THE LOUVRE
I think MomKatt would like a “dream pillow” with a picture of us blackies on it (though Bast knows it’d be so hard getting us ALL in one picture, let alone getting all of us LOOKING at her at the same time! MOL) Maybe just ME on the pillow, eh?
Also a sachet for her dresser drawers.
So there’s our entry, Texas!
Good luck to all!
Purrz!
Selina
Selina recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Surveying a Kitten’s Kingdom
PS – We “shared” the contest on MomKatt’s Facebook page & tagged you, Texas, in the comment.
https://www.facebook.com/MorticiaMomKatt
Purrz!
Selina
Selina recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – Surveying a Kitten’s Kingdom
These are so cute! My baby loves cats and I can see her just hugging one of these dolls! I like the dream pillows number 21 and number 5, but everything looks awesome.
Ann Staub recently posted…What Does the Fox Say?
Shared on Pinterest here – http://www.pinterest.com/pin/529173024937690180/
And Twitter – https://twitter.com/mypawsitivepet/status/403527254463881216
Ann Staub recently posted…What Does the Fox Say?
We love these!! Anything with nip would suit us just fine. Please enter us in your giveaway.
The Island Cats recently posted…What’s That Wally Doing?
I love everything at Dream Pillow! Thank you for sharing their wonderful site. Besides the Shelter Cat Dolls, I really like the silk Eye Pillows. I am sure they smell so good – I am thinking about putting an order together.
Please put me in the drawing for a Shelter Cat Doll.
Thanks!
Susan
The Yempi Sticks look really fun!!
Fur Everywhere recently posted…(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
Yempi stick all the way! – Crepes.
Crepes recently posted…Tuesday Haikusday: My Trip To Disney
Good for you!!! A great give-away!!
Yempi sticks!
So generous of you to have this giveaway! ♥
What a great idea that Mageta came up with and for a good cause too! Our Mama loves the little dream pillows…especially the botanical one with the image of tulips which reminds her of angel Tulip :)
We cats love the yempi sticks since we love organic catnip!
So kind of you to do the giveaway. And yes Kitshka , there is room for you next to Queen Mitalee on the radiators…but we know LP would indulge you anything!
the critters in the cottage xo
LP recently posted…No New Tale to Tell.
best fishes two everee one enterin de contest…way awesum oh ewe ta due this texas….N we love milou’s face…him loves de “herbs” two !! :)
Thanks for coming by, Texas.
:-)
Ragdoll Mommy recently posted…Mom called me a name!!
Dad likes the eye sachet so he can sleep when we are buggin
Timmy Tomcat recently posted…Thankful Awards Day
We Tweeted about the giveaway! Hope we win
https://twitter.com/Timmy_Tomcat/status/403605537717121024
Timmy Tomcat recently posted…Thankful Awards Day
What a nice idea!! I cannot participate for I live in France, but It was very pleasant to visit the website, very beautiful! There are so many attractive products, it’s really difficult to choose. I like the eye pillows in violet silk. I even shared them on Pinterest with a link to FB for my American Friends, Cat lovers! Congratulations to Ms. Darlene Margeta, and big hugs to you, Kitshka and Milou, and of course your Human :-)
Janina recently posted…la pomme s’unit au fenouil dans un verre / Apple meets fennel in a glass
LOVED this idea and tagged you on FB.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) recently posted…Vet 101: Vets Are Pet Parents Too
Love the pillow with the black cat. Would love a custom pillow with one of my cats. And yes we believe in SERENDIPITY!
Riverfront Cats recently posted…Blackie Wants a Third Chance, the Charm
The Yempi sticks sound wonderful to us!
We shared on FB and Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/96616354479850333/
and Tweeted https://twitter.com/FriendsFurEver/status/403675324442894336
The Florida Furkids
The Florida Furkids recently posted…Thankful Thursday with Allie
I know my kitties would love the Yempi sticks! I like all of their products, actually, and the shelter cat dolls are such a great idea.
Julia Williams recently posted…Auction for Annabelle
What cute products! We especially like the yempi sticks with the ribbons on the end. So nice of you to have this giveaway.
Laila and Minchie recently posted…Thankful Thursday
Oh, hai! I love the dolls and I love the idea and now I’m thinking I will make some dolls to support our no kill shelters here. This is the time of the year when people move or go home for holiday and so many kittehs suddenly find themselves homeless, left on the side of the road to fend for themselves.
Thanks for visiting Pattyskypants & Bhu! We are following you now! xxoo
If you have read my post, you know that the nice woman behind the dolls is not unfamiliar with caring for forgotten kitties. That is also why I wanted to feature her talent and creativity on my bloggie.
These are so pretty!!!
We love the dream pillows…We’d really love to have a photo of ME on one of them!
xo,
Katie
Glogirly recently posted…Something Smells Funny
We would like the Yempi Sticks
Scylla, Socks, Tuiren & Fenris recently posted…Thursday in the Garden
We shared on Twitter and Facebook.
https://twitter.com/AlasandraATCAD/status/403714222837620736
Scylla, Socks, Tuiren & Fenris recently posted…Thursday in the Garden
We love the yempi sticks and hope we win them
But Donna, the giveaway is not for Yempi sticks :-/
The sticks, are they for naughty children?
Not for cats, I suppose!
Frimousse recently posted…Pas demain
I think they are lovely and the concept of them is just beautiful. Sadly I am across the pond and can’t enter. Good luck to everyone . Hugs Carol x
Angel Ginger Jasper recently posted…Happy Birthday at the bridge Angel xxxxx
These are SO cute!! Is the contest open to people outside the USA? We’d like to enter if it is, and we like the custom order pillow cases – they’re really cute and such a smart idea!
d’Artagnan Rumblepurr recently posted…Secret hidden cat
They are lovely and such a generous lady to give part of the proceeds to the shelter.
Flynn recently posted…Eric’s Day Flashback.
They’re cute. By the way, the best things in life are all about serendipity. At least in my case.
Traveling Cats recently posted…Cat from Zurich {Switzerland}
Those are just the cutest things!!!
Brian recently posted…T.G.I.F. Try Gazing
The dogs and cats are wonderful. What a super idea to support shelters. I wish we had such a market here too, I would spend hours there. Or days.
easy rider recently posted…easyblog THE SOLUTION
Those are so wonderful and the best part is that some of the money goes to shelters. That is totally great. Great pictures. Take care.
Marg recently posted…Feral Cat Friday.
The shelter cat dolls are delightful and how nice of you to donate some of the money to shelters.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Hannah and Lucy recently posted…I’m Not Fat
WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE!!! Well, not personally but TW has their Peace Cats sachet and one year bought all her Christmas gifts from them. She couldn’t decide which to get. She liked the Obama pillows and the Beatles pillows, in addition to the cat pillows. They have a stand at Grand Central during the holidays. Now she’s anxiousl to go back there and talk to the woman. TW would love to get a pillow to match the Peace Cats sachet. What a wonderful idea the shelter dolls are. Their lavender is intoxicating and TW uses the sachet to help her when she can’t sleep. I’d love to enter the giveaway.
Cathy Keisha recently posted…Are You A Ghetto Cat?
I pinned on Pinterest board Human Things I love and the pin also appears on my FB page.
Cathy Keisha recently posted…Are You A Ghetto Cat?
You couldn’t wait for the yempi stick to be unwrapped!
I will go and browse the website.
Clowie recently posted…Indecision
Pingback: Kitshka Friday: We Want the Sun Back! | Texas, a cat in... Austin
I am a HUGE believer in serendipity and in fact have blogged about it a couple of times. There are no coincidences! Love those dolls!
I visited the site and the John Lennon sachet pillow is my absolute FAVE!! LOVE IT! I am a Sachet and John Lennon freak!
I am not sharing because I don’t want more people to enter! lol!!!
xoxoxo
cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com
Caren Gittleman recently posted…A Cat Chat With Caren and Cody holiday give-away! Enter to win Kitty Kick Stix!!
Oh, Yempi Sticks, for sure! :)
meowmeowmans recently posted…Photobomb Friday :)
We just tweeted about your giveaway! :)
meowmeowmans recently posted…Photobomb Friday :)
Gosh the Yempi sticks sound rather intriguing – I’d like to sink my teefies into one of those!! The doll is too cute……very huggable (like me).
Kitty Hugs, Sammy
Since I live on the other side of the pond , I don´t enter the give-away.
But I have looked on Dream Pillows website and I can tell you there was moore than one pillow my mom-person LOVED :)
XOXO
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal recently posted…Vet ni vad ?!
Those are pretty cool! We love that a donation is given to help homeless animals too! We love the Yempi sticks but our mommy liked the eye pillows and satchet. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
BeadedTail recently posted…Smile, it’s Sadieday!
We like the yempi sticks, but our mom thinks the sachets are cute too!
Maxwell, Faraday & Allie recently posted…Saturday Photohunt: Over
Texas, sorry I got here late but at least now I know about the products. The catnip sticks sound yummy! Thank your human for letting us little kitties know.
Foxie
I’d love to have one of the “pulp” dream pillows!
http://www.dream-pillow.net/products/eyepillows.php
These, Mum likes these. She would LOVE a Cat Doll Pillow but as you request another thing. The eye pillows it is. If we win, may we donate our prize to Lillian who is @spookyshorty Mum.
Harvey Button recently posted…Middle Earth Monday Home Made Remedies
Pingback: And the Winners of the Shelter Cat Dolls Are… | Texas, a cat in... Austin
LL=large like & HH=huge hugs… :-) amitiés toulousaines ensoleillées, mais frisquettes… bonne journée et have a great week-end! Mélanie NB, catlover & dilettante générale assumée… :-)
Mélanie recently posted…“Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right…”(the Beatles)
I saw these at the Grand Central Holiday Market in 2011 and bought a cat doll and a cat dream pillow to give to a friend for Christmas. Would love to see these again, but their website does not list any December holiday markets and they are not listed on the Grand Central holiday market list.
I bought one of these cat dolls and “Cats for Peace” pillow (made by same person) at the Grand Central holiday market in 2011 and gave to a friend for Christmas. Wish I had bought for myself as well, because I don’t think they make them any more. The website is gone.