Smudge Memorial Collection

On December 1st 2025, at 6pm, the Smudge Memorial Collection will launch on my website at CraftedByColette.com

On December 1st 2024 my cat Smudge passed away.  She was 14 and a half.  She'd been ailing for a while, and we knew she didn't have long.  But it was still horrible.  I still think of her every day, and it still hurts.  

Even before the end of that day I knew that I wanted to create a memorial collection for her.  Some products in my style, to celebrate her life.  To make sure she was remembered.  And to raise a little money for Cats Protection.

When Smudge was a kitten, Cats Protection helped me out a lot with her and her brother Jasper.  I haven't needed their help in a long time, but a lot of people and a lot of cats still do.  Because she was nearly 15, I'm donating 15% of sales of all products in the Smudge Memorial Collection to Cats Protection.

Smudge was a stroppy little madam.  She was snooty and aloof at times, but she was also soft and cuddly when she wanted to be.  She was a complete droolie-julie - after degloving her jaw in 2013 and ending up with a little bit of a bent lip.

She was easily offended and would let you know that she was mad at you, by sitting right next to you so that you'd know she was ignoring you.

In her later life she had a habit of hijacking pillows and cuddling up next to your head while you slept.

Or on your head.

She was very good at pretending she didn't care about cuddles or attention, or her brother.

But she was a very affectionate cat at heart.

She was a typical box cat.  Loved to sit in boxes.

Big boxes.

And small boxes.

Empty boxes.

Full boxes.

Long boxes.

And broken boxes.

But also bags.

And baskets.

And bowls.

She liked to sleep in some weird places too.  Like sinks.

And on draining boards.

And on top of microwaves.

But despite being a stroppy madam...

...she liked to just be near her people.

Nearly always with that paw stretched out.

And if you were trying to do something, that was just all that much more comfy for her.

She loved her chin scritches.   

And would make the most derpy faces.

But she was such a beautiful little cat.

With the most adorable little tufts on the tips of her ears.

And the smudges she was born with that gave her her name. 

And her fluffy chunky butt.

She was a sun cat.  She loved to sit in the sun.  She'd take two steps onto the garden bath and then just flop sideways and lay there for ages.  Or claim the spot on the windowsill in the sun - even if it meant being next to Fatty, who she didn't like at all.

She did tolerate him though.  Fatty came into our lives as an adult, so they didn't really bond.  She loved Jasper though.  He met her when he was a kitten, and he was the ultimate little brother.

She acted like she couldn't stand him, but there were always signs.  He'd pounce on her and try to play, and she'd just pin him down for bath time.

And, especially nearer the end of her life, it was a frequent thing to find them curled up together.

Including on her last day.

When Tom moved in, she took the longest to warm to him.  Jasper and Fatty adored him right from the very start, but Smudge took her time.  Eventually though she fell for him just as much.

Sitting at his feet and asking for his attention without actually asking.  Occasionally she'd put up a paw, but mostly she'd just sit and stare until he noticed her.

She liked to sleep in his chair when he wasn't around.

And on his head when he was.

Smudge was the longest I'd ever had a pet.  I met her when she was 6 weeks old, and she was with me for her whole life.  She wasn't the first pet I've lost.  I'm still mourning the loss of Fatty.  But Smudge will always be with me.  And my hope is that with this memorial collection...

...she'll be with other people too. 

The collection contains a silhouette print with a rainbow textured background representing the rainbow bridge, and a mandala I drew especially for her silhouette.

There’s also a print with just the mandala.

There are four die cut stickers - the original Smudge sticker I had, a kitten illustration I drew of her (complete with the smudge she was born with that gave her her name), and two mandala silhouettes.

I’ve had my first ever acrylics pins made too.

And there’s a Limited Edition Mini Alien collection too. Shortly after she passed I found a gorgeous purple yarn called Smudge - and a collection was born. Smudge’s Softies are all named after famous kitties.

I miss Smudge every day.  I hope this collection helps you remember any animals you have over the rainbow bridge too.