Cat's Creations

I grew up in a nomadic military family where we moved every few years. As a shy kid, I never found it easy to leave friends behind and have to start over.  I was a kid who liked fairy tales and fantasy to escape from the lonely realities of being a military kid. 

I loved to write stories and draw pictures from an early age. I still do! I can still escape into my imagination today. Just ask Brian who knows what I’m like. When I’m engrossed in writing a story, they’re lucky if they get their dinner!

I studied graphic design in Montreal back in the 1980s when it was all paste up and mechanicals and computers were in their infancy. Yes, I’m a dinosaur kids, it’s true.

During that time, I joined an Air Reserve Band playing the flute on parade and in concerts. I got to travel to beautiful Victoria, BC every summer and I still can't get over that they paid me for it!

I got chances to travel throughout Canada and see places I would never have seen like Ellesmere Island in Nunavut. I went in July which is the best time to go! I know being in the Reserve was a wonderful growing experience for me and I still think back on it with fondness.

Eventually I moved to Ottawa where I got a job at Crawleys Animation painting cartoon cells. It was a zany place to work and I enjoyed all the colourful coworkers even if I could barely pay my rent on the pittance they paid us. While I was there, I met my husband Brian so I got a wonderful husband out of it and I can’t complain.

In 1992 we lost our first baby Laura in a senseless accident with forceps during her birth. It still saddens me that we will never see her grow up but I’m grateful for our two wonderful boys Rory and Eric who bring me endless joy.

In 1997-98 we lived in Nunavik for four months and then Nunavut for eight months. We were privileged to get to know the Inuit and I especially enjoyed the Inuit children who would come to our house to bake, do crafts and play with the boys. They helped me cope with the cold, darkness and isolation. I ran a small cake decorating business during that time which was well received since the village had loads of kids and it was always someone's birthday.

I’ve done lots of desktop publishing on and off since 1989 but now that I got laid off from the government, I’ve been enjoying the time to write, volunteer at the school and spend quality time with the family.

It's also been such a joy being involved with the Village Voices Women's Choir for the past several years. Here the choir is singing "Aura Lee" and I'm accompanying them on flute.

It’s a special time and I feel grateful to Brian for letting me spread my wings and try new things that don’t necessarily make any money but are creatively fulfilling. Thanks Brian!