Hi, I’m Shannon.

I’m the person behind Happy Belly Cats, and honestly, if you had told me a few years ago that I would be creating chonky cats in colorful patchwork overalls, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

My inner 8-year-old self, however, would not be surprised at all.

My bedroom walls were covered in cat posters. I had shelves of stuffed cats, every single one with a name, and even a Garfield wall phone. I really wish I still had that phone.

I thought I would become a veterinarian. Instead, I became a teacher, and my favorite parts were always imagination, storytelling, and making things.

A few years ago, I started getting an intuitive nudge that I would do something connected with cats again. Eventually, I bought some art supplies and started playing. I wasn’t trying to turn it into anything. I was just having fun.

Then these round, smiling cats in patchwork overalls kept showing up, and I LOVED them.

I draw and paint every cat by hand using pencil, ink, acrylic paint markers, and watercolors. Some lines are wonky. Things aren’t always even. I love them that way. Little hearts kept appearing too, and they’ve become my little love signature.

Soon the cats had names, personalities, and a home called Clover Patch. I was born the day after St. Patrick’s Day and have always loved clovers, so that felt just right.

Apparently, giving my stuffed cats names wasn’t enough. Now I’m giving cats an entire town and their own mini newspaper.

So of course, I want you to come play too.

The older I get, the more I want room in my life to imagine, create, laugh, and be silly. I love giving other people a chance to do that too, especially adults. We have plenty of things we have to do. I want to give us something we get to do just for fun.

In my Happy Belly Cats playshops, I use storytelling to turn everybody into a cat. Your cat can be a lot like you, or you can create a whole alter ego. Maybe you’re usually shy, but your cat is wearing hot pink overalls, grabbing the microphone, and singing like she owns the place.

Once you know who your cat is, you get to paint them. You choose their patchwork patterns and put something in their hand that makes them happy. Maybe it’s your favorite food. Maybe it’s the microphone because apparently, you’re a singer now. You get to be silly and see who comes out.

Then we get to the names. You’ve created this whole cat, and now you get to introduce them to everybody. I love finding out who shows up.

You don’t have to be an expert at painting. This is about getting to play with an idea, have fun, and create your own unique Happy Belly Cat.

The Happy Belly Cats Mail Club brings some of that fun to your mailbox.

There are people on social media who bring me so much joy. They make me laugh, and I’m always happy when their videos show up.

My first thought was, “I want to turn them into a Happy Belly Cat.”

My next thought was, “What would their cat hold? What would their name be?” Suddenly, I’m imagining what they’d look like as a chonky cat in patchwork overalls.

That’s the direction I’m taking the mail club. I’m inviting creators to join the fun. I’ll draw and paint their Happy Belly Cat and ask them some playful questions for The Clover Patch Post.

You’ll get to meet the person behind the cat, collect their sticker, and follow along as new neighbors arrive in Clover Patch. I get to share people who make me happy, and you might find a new favorite too.

Of course, part of the fun is getting something in the mail. Before I even got the mail club going, I sent my granddaughter an early version with a little mini newspaper and a cat sticker. When I asked her what her favorite part was, she said, “Going to the mailbox and opening it.”

She also told me the mini newspaper was “so cute and legit.” I loved that.

That’s the feeling I want to share. Something you look forward to opening, something that makes you smile, and a little world you get to be part of.

I’ve always wanted to make the world a better place. Creating these cats makes me happy. Maybe someone smiles when they open their mail. Maybe they have fun painting their own cat. If I can make somebody’s day a little happier, I’ve changed the world just a tiny little bit.

Getting to make something I love and having other people join in? That’s pretty much my idea of a good time.

So...what kind of Happy Belly Cat would you be?

Happy Belly Cats

Email: happybellycats@gmail.com