custom pet memorial items Archives - Custom Pet Memorial Votives

July 9, 2025

Great Rescues Day Book

In 2011 I published Great Rescues Calendar and Gift Book, a 16-month desk calendar that included a commissioned portrait of a rescued cat or cats for each month, plus more about the portraits, cats and rescuers in the back and information on cat care. But calendars go out of date and I knew these stories had to go on.

Great Rescues Day Book carries on the original idea in a way that’s much more permanent. This book is not dated for one year, but has all the dates in a month for you to fill in the birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and social and personal events in your life.

Great Rescues Day Book is spiral-bound and measures 8″ x 10″ to easily fit on your desk or in a purse, briefcase or backpack. While the original Great Rescues had a die-cut cover with the title stamped in gold foil, this has a solid 12 pt. printed cover for durability.

What’s a Day Book?

I’ve used a day book for over 20 years and have all the arrivals and, sadly, departures of each of my cats along with my friends’ weddings, my nieces’ births and the births of their children, the day I first registered a business name, all that sort of stuff, conveniently included in one place.

On the left is the featured portrait with the kitty’s story, below that the monthly fun quote of something feline. On the right is the month name with enough lines for all possible dates in that month. The holidays that are celebrated on a certain date are marked on that date, but ones that float, especially those Monday holidays, are explained at the bottom just to remind you that they also happen in that month. If animal-themed holidays are celebrated on a certain date, like Spay Day USA, they will also be included, but just the same if they are ones that float like Pet Memorial Sunday they will be explained at the bottom.

Here are the pages individually so you can open them and view them a little larger.

About the portraits

The portraits in this book, collected as a series, won both a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion in the 2011 Cat Writers’ Association Annual Communication Contest, as well as the 22 Cats Notepaper mentioned below.

Although Great Rescues Day Book is a 12-month book I am still featuring from the original calendar 15 of the portraits of rescued cats I was commissioned to paint over 20 years as an animal portrait artist (to that date), plus the portrait of my own which I consider my first, “Waiting for Mom”, below.

“Waiting for Mom”, pastel, 16″ x 23″, 1988 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

That means you get a few pages in the center where you have only portraits and stories to enjoy.

While the portraits are lovely and I’m proud of my body of work, the stories of these cats, and the people who rescued them, is what compels me to share them with you. Each of the stories tells of cats from shelters and cats abandoned and saved, cats found inside car engines and cats reluctantly surrendered by people who could no longer care for them, but each one has a happy ending as a cherished companion in a loving home.

And while each cat has an individual story, each rescuer has a story as well of reaching out to an animal in need to bring it in from the streets. In many cases they helped heal physical and emotional wounds and gave that cat a lifetime of love, in return receiving love and devotion; often those humans received some healing in return they weren’t aware they needed.

The story continues

After the calendar pages I have a section where the stories are continued, either with more details or updates; I remained friends with all my portrait customers and received continuing news. I also have notes on how I created the portraits that weren’t included in the stories.

Resources for cat guardians

Following the calendar section and section of stories of the rescuers and their feline families I’ve included a mini cat-care book illustrated with my drawings. I based this information on the most frequent questions I field from people needing help with cats in any way, from finding strays or orphaned kittens, adopting for the first time or caring for a geriatric cat, a list of household toxins and toxic plants, or helping stray and feral cats and beginning with TNR.

Each book includes 10 sheets of my “22 Cats” decorative notepaper with a collage of all the portraits in black and white so you can make your own notes or write special notes to friends.

Each month on The Creative Cat I post the featured portrait, story and pages from Great Rescues Day Book and then describe the creation of the portrait in detail as well as even more history of the cats and the rescuers. You can browse here to read a few of the stories.

Here are images of the other portraits in the book—perhaps you’ll recognize a kitty you know!

All the portraits on the back of the book.

Purchase Great Rescues Day Book

Price includes shipping, and discounts for wholesale and quantity purchases.

If the book is a gift to someone, or you have a particular cat or cats in mind, I would be glad to add an inscription in the front of your book.

All images and text © 2022-2025 Bernadette E. Kazmarski • www.custompetmemorialvotives.com

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

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July 3, 2025

Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp

A contemplative kitty sits quietly, looking out the window at the day.

I created the Silhouette at the Window design as another of my feline votive lamps collection but as soon as I added them to my display people bought them for themselves or others as sympathy or remembrance gifts. I can take the hint, and I can see why. So I’ve included them in my non-customized memorial gifts collection.

Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp is a particular shape of upcycled jar, frosted outside with a black cut vinyl design and black glass paint embellishment, and offered in clear white or with blue, green or yellow transparent glass paint interior. All votive lamps come with a string of LED lights with a six-hour timer.

The inspiration and design of the Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp design and product

I created the ink drawing that is the basis of this design way back in 1988, called Puck at the Window from a photo I’d taken in 1984, my roomate’s cat. You may have noticed in other feline art that cats at windows and the feline silhouette are favorite themes of mine, and you can see now it started early.

line art illustration of cat silhouette at window — The line art I created from the photo.

photo of cat silhouette at window — Puck at the window.

Its original intent was as a sympathy card for my veterinarian to use, but that never came to fruition. I’ve considered it in my own collection of sympathy cards, but I’ve also had many another idea for items on which I could use this design, most involving light, and most originating decades ago. One of the first was as a nightlight cover, then a suncatcher, eventually, of course, a votive.

Scroll forward to today, when I’m actually planning my votives, this design was top of mind for three years, from the time I started working them out. I could picture this design on one of the four-sided jars I use for my cat art votives.

But what was the best way to present it? I love the contrast in the black and white, but the labels I print for my glass items don’t quite capture that; the black isn’t dense enough and the edges aren’t completely sharp because the label has a surface texture. No, the labels are purrfect for continuous tone artwork, not line art.

I could hand paint it in the dense black paint I use for glass, but I know I wouldn’t be able to reproduce this design well enough without taking a lot of time to handpaint each one. Trying to stencil or screen print each one would be too cumbersome because of the shape of the surface.

But now…there’s vinyl to cut, with nice clean edges and permanent application, just perfect for an adaptation of line art with the interesting cat silhouette. I frosted the outsides of the jars so the glass exposed inside the vinyl design would have a matte finish while the permanent vinyl is gloss, giving it an extra dimensional interest.

I first introduced this design on a votive just in time for my 2021 Holiday Open House, as I’m so fond of creating a brand new item at the last minute for each open house and other events. That was also when Morty first had his urinary issue and I worked off my worry about him with working out this design while I kept an eye on him. I liked the way the original looked but wanted to make other adjustments and changes, and that’s what I worked out over the next few months. I made two to have at my events and was surprised they immediately sold. I’ve been making them since then, usually six at a time.

Four Silhouette at the Window votive lamps.

One of those refinements was adding color to the clear space. I liked the plain white, and the initial sketch was from a winter photo. But I could also visualize a blue sky out there, or a sunrise yellow, or even green for greenery. I will always make the plain white/clear, but I like the colors too. Up to now I’ve painted them on the inside, but I’m also working to see if the colors I use will be permanent on top of the etched surface.

Purchase a Silhouette at the Window Votive Lamp

Each of them comes with battery-operated string lights with a six-hour timer, and each has the original jar lid to keep the inside clean. You’ll also see that each one is a little different where the “leaves” are concerned in the design; those tiny pieces of vinyl don’t always stay where they’re supposed to.

Visit Non-customized Memorial Gifts to order.

Other Feline-themed Votive Lamps

Like everything else I make I’ve worked on the design and production of my upcycled glass jar votives, and one of the things was changing from small LED votive candles to LED light strings, with timers, so they are brighter and more colorful, and you can use them as lamps that turn on and off automatically.

They are made with frosted vinyl labels and embellished with glass paints and cut vinyl. Some of the jars may even look familiar as they are from spaghetti sauce, pickled things and condiments. I don’t mind buying new materials, but I also like to recycle, upcycle and reuse things when I can.

My feline votive lamps have a big variety of felines so you might be able to choose one that resembles the feline in question. Some of them are silhouettes or more abstract cat shapes, and some are collages of cats.

Visit the Votives Page in my Handmade Gift Gallery on Portraits of Animals to see the rest of the votives.

You can also read about Other Memorial Gifts, Animal Sympathy Cards and Commissioned Pet Portraits.

All images and text © 2022-2025 Bernadette E. Kazmarski • www.custompetmemorialvotives.com

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

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June 24, 2025July 3, 2025

Love Never Ends: A Non-Customized Pet Memorial Votive

I make several non-customized memorial gifts, some intended for sympathy and remembrance, and some simply as gifts for animal lovers that can be used as remembrances.

Every day I design, make and sell many different gift items featuring my artwork and photography—that’s how the votives came to be. People have purchased the non-customized gifts when ordering a votive or other customized remembrance isn’t possible or when they want a gift to give right away..

Love Never Ends Votive

I have the “Love Never Ends” votive at nearly every vendor event I attend, and nearly always someone will see the soft rainbows of the “Watercolors” artwork and the text and stop to buy one, tell me about a friend’s loss, or even their own. I’m happy to see the votive and design speaks to them because I designed it for just this purpose.

The Love Never Ends Votive which includes the soft rainbow shades of the “Watercolors” artwork and simple, sincere, phrase, can be a complement to other remembrance gifts such as the Love Never Ends Garden Flag which uses the same art and text.

And it can also be for any loss, humans included, or as an affirmation in difficult times.

Scroll down to read about ordering a single votive or a quantity, how I created the artwork for a pet loss CD after my own losses, and designed this votive.

I make this votive in quantity, like six at a time, so they can be ordered in quantity, higher quantities too.
A single votive is $25.00 including shipping.
I can ship a single votive to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.

If you have an animal-related practice or business and want to order in quantity:

I price quantities of these votives based on shipping, but typically they are $10 or $15 each at a half dozen or more.
When ordering at least a half dozen I can customize this votive with your logo or other text at a one-time extra charge of $10.00 to set up the changes.

About the “Watercolors” background

In 2009 I joined a licensed counselor’s loving and sincere effort when, after the loss of a beloved dog, she had prepared a recording and book of inspirational readings with information and affirmations for those who have also lost a pet. As a freelance commercial artist and promotional professional I had the opportunity to illustrate this wonderful recording, and to assist the author in publicizing and promoting it.

Two years prior I had lost five cats in a little over a year, and just after she and I began working together I lost my Namir after four years of working with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and congestive heart failure (CHF). I put my heart into the illustrations.

In the human-animal bond when a human loses an animal companion the rainbow bridge story and imagery are strong. Neither of us wanted to use literal bridge imagery but wanted the soothing colors and idea of a journey through grief.

I began with the cover art in a loose interpretation of a rainbow/waterfall with mist and a path in two variations that held the prints of all the animals who had walked there. The soothing feeling of the blue-purple was intentional in the first version, but felt too somber and dark. I lightened and brightened the idea for the final version.

You can probably see where in this art the Watercolors background was born. I then picked up the pattern and application of colors I had used in areas of those illustrations and developed that into “Watercolors.”

As we finished the work on the CD I also designed my first set of Animal Sympathy Cards dedicated to Namir, and we agreed I could use the Watercolors background for my own purposes since it wasn’t a principal image in the CD design.

After 10 years and many CDs, Karen discontinued them and I’ve been using the artwork for a few of my own creations and I plan to use the cover art for my own pet remembrance endeavors. I’ve used the darker version as part of a Custom Pet Memorial Votive in remembrance of three dogs. I’ve used Watercolors as the sympathy note card that accompanies a votive and as a votive itself and a garden flag, and I’ll continue with the cover art versions, starting with small sympathy note cards, then other votive designs and suncatchers.

Order a “Love Never Ends” Votive

Order up to three premade votives at the link below.

Ordering a quantity?

Because shipping heavy things can vary a lot by distance, please contact me so I can work up a shipping estimate.

Visit Non-customized Memorial Gifts to order.

You can also read about Other Memorial Gifts, Animal Sympathy Cards and Commissioned Pet Portraits.

All images and text © 2022-2025 Bernadette E. Kazmarski • www.custompetmemorialvotives.com

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

HOME

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June 10, 2025June 25, 2025

New Square and Rectangular Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers

New rectangular and square custom suncatchers.

I began my design ideas for suncatchers the same way I did with many of my handmade gifts, wanting to see my art on gift items I saw in stores. In the early 90s I bought a 3.25″ x 3.25″ square bevel-edge clear suncatcher with a kitten etched in the center, which I not only liked but found inspiring. I had lots of pencil and ink sketches that would work on things like this. I held that idea all these years knowing I’d want my artwork on that beveled glass somehow, someday.

That etched kitten suncatcher from the early 90s is pretty battered by now.

And like most of my memorial gift items, my suncatchers began as personal gifts for friends who’d lost their animal companions. Using the standards I’d set up to create the images on my Custom Pet Memorial Votives I was ready to make good on that suncatcher idea.

Scroll down to read about how I developed the Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers and information about the use of each shape with photos, and about ordering a suncatcher for yourself, a friend, or a customer of your practice or business.

All suncatchers range between $25.00 and $30.00 including shipping.
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition.
Further customization by adding a name or brief text is included in the price.
I can ship a suncatcher to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.
Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.

The original round Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher

I wanted a piece of glass with a generous beveled edge that would cast rainbows when the sun shone through it the same as my little one did. Clear beveled glass pieces, preferably predrilled, were surprisingly not easy to find as many were too small for a nice-sized image and few were beveled, but I finally found a 5″ circle with 3/16″ thick glass and a deep beveled edge at least a 3/8″ wide. This glass feels substantial in your hand and the bevel is generous, the image is a good size.

I made a few for friends, then made a quantity of them for my longtime customer who owns the pet cremation business where I’ve taken my cats for the past 20 years, and I manage her website, photograph urns and events and provide design and promotional services.

We host a Pet Memorial Sunday celebration each September and I make a custom gift for each person who has RSVP’d. The suncatcher idea proved to be popular right away.

Planning the square Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher

I still wanted the square shape, though, partly to see my original idea, and to offer an alternative shape, and because not all images fit well in a circle.

The company I buy from has 4″ squares which would seem to have less presentation space than the 5″ circle so I debated, then bought some to work with. The outside dimension is smaller but the corners allow the image to be almost as large as the circle. Below is the square, modeled by Buckwheat, whose portrait I painted years ago and whose person encouraged me to use his image.

4" square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher. — 4″ square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher.

And working out the rectangular Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher

I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but found they wouldn’t be carrying it after current inventory ran out.

I had been looking at their 3″ x 5″ rectangle and also debated because it’s a difficult shape to fit, but when the company suggested that shape as an alternative—all their customer service people use all their products so you get the best real advice—I decided to go with it.

The first time I offered one at the Blessing of the Animals many people found that vertical rectangle very attractive and I had several orders.

The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend in rescue who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.

Pixie, a 3″ x 5" beveled rectangle glass suncatcher. — Pixie, a 3″ x 5″ beveled rectangle glass suncatcher.

The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle.

What recipients have said:

“I have her suncatcher hanging in my kitchen window. I stand there and look at her every morning while I drink my coffee.”

Anonymous recipient, in person

I want to thank you for the very special, beautiful glass ornament suncatcher …It brought a tear to my eye that day and the day I hung it up in the sunlight. You really have a very special talent.

Anonymous recipient, in a letter

And they don’t have to be memorials

Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss. One of the suncatchers ordered at the Blessing of the Animals was a Fathers Day gift for a friend’s husband for a kitty who is very much alive.

A suncatcher can hang on any window, mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion.

Standard with each suncatcher

I use my skills as an artist in traditional media and on computer to remove backgrounds, touch up lighting and composition, and add a background color or pattern that complements the subject (see Choosing a Photo…).

A sympathy note card is also included. The one shown below is available with every suncatcher. You can visit my page of Animal Sympathy Cards to see a selection of others. If I am to ship directly to the recipient you can give me a note which I will write inside the card, otherwise I send you a blank card for your personal use.

The price includes shipping, whether to you, your practice or business, or drop-shipped to the recipient, within the continental US. I have rates for international shipping.

I include a care and use card with each suncatcher. This card has a link to this website.

Little extras

Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition. Adding a name or other brief text is optional and is included.

Suncatchers are kept in confidence

I photograph each Suncatcher I make for my records and to keep the details of what it looked like for my reference. I never use a votive in any public venue, whether for display or self-promotion, without permission of both the giver and the recipient.

Order a Custom Suncatcher

Visit Suncatchers to read about all the shapes and order yours. As I mention above with the notecard, if your suncatcher is a gift for someone else I can ship it to them with a note from you.

You can also read about Other Memorial Gifts, Animal Sympathy Cards and Commissioned Pet Portraits.

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

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June 8, 2025

Blessing of the Animals Display and Video

My display and tent at the Blessing of the Animals, 2025.

I made a quick video of my display at the end of the Blessing of the Animals yesterday, 30 seconds so it could easily fit most social media formats. Ran out of space on my phone to make a longer one! So here we are:

“We’re getting ready to pack up at the Blessing of the Animals today. The weather turned out beautifully and I got to see old friends I haven’t seen for a while, and talk to a lot of people about my Custom Pet Memorial gifts and non custom remembrance gifts, including the fact that they can just be nice gifts for people who like their animal companion’s image on things.

“So there are a variety of suncatchers, samples of my Custom Pet Memorial votives, some non-custom votives and a keepsake that people buy in remembrance, a sample feline portrait, and a sample canine portrait, then Custom Pet Memorial Garden flags and non-custom flags, all designed and handmade by me!

“Hope everyone’s having a great day out there!

I’ve linked above to each of the custom pet memorial and non-custom pet memorial items and gifts you see here. Soon enough I’ll have a better video to present these items. For now, here’s the one I shared on social media yesterday.

If I didn’t see you this weekend, maybe I’ll see you at one of my other local events. Check my schedule for where I’ll be this spring and summer.

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

HOME

order a VOTIVE ♥ QUICK INTRODUCTION TO VOTIVES ♥ OTHER MEMORIAL GIFTS ♥ ANIMAL SYMPATHY CARDS ♥ PET PORTRAITS ♥ TESTIMONIALS ♥ ABOUT BERNADETTE ♥ CONTACT ♥ NEWS ♥ NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

June 5, 2025June 5, 2025

Saturday, June 7, 2025, Blessing of the Animals, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 7, 2025: Blessing of the Animals

I’ll feature all my Custom Pet Memorial and non-custom pet remembrance gifts, and animal portraits.
Hosted by The Creatures of the Creator
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Rd., Green Tree

I’m a member of this pet loss support group at a local church. I’m so happy to be a part of this event to celebrate our animals.

I’ve been busy creating some new Custom Pet Memorial items that I’ll share after this event is over…because I’m still working on them today!

I’ll have my Custom Pet Memorial items:

Custom Pet Memorial Votives
Several styles of Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers
Custom Pet Memorial Garden flags

Love Never Ends garden flag

Non-custom pet memorial remembrances:

Non-custom votives
Non-custom pet remembrance garden flags
Non-custom remembrance keepsakes

Love Never Ends votive

Star of Wonder Votive

Love Never Ends garden flag

A selection of Animal Sympathy Cards.

Custom Commissioned Portraits samples and Gift Certificates.

If I don’t see you this weekend, maybe I’ll see you at one of my other local events. Check my schedule for where I’ll be this spring and summer.

All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.

HOME

order a VOTIVE ♥ QUICK INTRODUCTION TO VOTIVES ♥ OTHER MEMORIAL GIFTS ♥ ANIMAL SYMPATHY CARDS ♥ PET PORTRAITS ♥ TESTIMONIALS ♥ ABOUT BERNADETTE ♥ CONTACT ♥ NEWS ♥ NEWSLETTER SIGNUP