Interview with Lucy Francis Maloney – Designer of Cat Miniatures

Thank you to Lucy Francis Maloney for letting me interview her about her cat miniatures.

You can see more of Lucy’s work on her website – Lucy Francis Maloney.  You can also place orders there.

Let me start by saying I have always be passionate about animals.. Dogs Cats and Horses top the group. My first pet was a cat. She was not any special breed. Her name was “Tootsie” my mother named her and I can’t offer any reason why. I remember that Tootsie liked sleeping in my older sisters bed more than with me and I found that pretty upsetting. She once climbed very high on a telephone pole only to jump down and land on my head causing some scratches to my face.. So not sure how to sum up my relationship with Tootie.. however I had a cat that I named Morris not real original since there was a Morris on commercials. He was a wonderful black and white Tabby much like the photos of Miou I recreated for a dear friend. Morris would get up on the couch and put both his paws over my eyes.  I started making the animals simply because I loved them and knew somehow I had to be involved with them much more than just owning one. Soon I learned that there was a need for my little creations. People were suffering loss and some just wanted to have their own cat in the dollhouse.

How did you get interested in cats?  How old were you when you had your first kitty?
My interest was as simple as they are fun to have.. I think I was about 6 when I had my Tootsie

Please describe your creative process.
My animals all start with wire armature and yarn. I use Alpaca most but cashmere or silk whatever works best for the one I am working on. German glass eyes complete the look.

Do you sell your products in a local store in your area?
I do not sell in stores.. I have done the Chicago International Miniature Show for 10 years running. My website is where most of my orders come from .. word of mouth too of course.

Are you a one wo/man show?
I am indeed a one woman show..

Do you have a blog?
I do have a blog but don’t tend it as I should.

Do you do custom ordering?  Can someone return it if they don’t care for it?
Much of my work is custom. I guess I make sure before the product goes that it is liked. I send many pictures. I never have had a animal returned but I would I suppose take it back.

Can you share a story with us behind any of your products that you especially enjoyed working on?  Maybe because of the story behind the kitty?
A dear friend of mine in Germany has one of those cats that just have a expression that says so much. I truly enjoyed making him learning all his little antics in real life.. that is darling Miou! Miou is living in a wonderful dollhouse in Cologne Germany. The real cats often find the miniatures very interesting as some one of the photos shows as the owner shows them their representations.. they would not mind chewing them up either so always beware..