Starting the journey to making a cat enamel pin!
Going beyond the painting has been something I've been a little obsessed with ever since my show at Big Dreams Gallery back in 2018. I realized I wanted my art to be available to a wider audience, and I immediately began brainstorming ways of translating it into products.
Of course, note cards and notebooks were obvious choices. But I quickly decided it would be so much fun to design things like stickers and enamel pins as well: a way of taking a little bit of happy cat art with you throughout the day. I've always been drawn to small works that get to live their own little lives out in the world: tucked onto jackets, stuck onto water bottles and laptops, clipped to tote bags, or traveling along on backpacks and pencil cases.
Stickers were one thing. Designing and producing an enamel pin was another entirely.
I had no idea about the logistics of designing an enamel pin: what type of enamel to use (I didn't even know there were options!), what metal was best, or how the whole process worked. And since you can't just order a handful of pins to try out, the commitment felt huge. Despite feeling a little intimidated, I really wanted to do it.
Eventually, I found a company here in the U.S. to help me, and suddenly the whole process became a breeze. Josh from The Monterey Company was nothing short of awesome, guiding me through every step. And the rest, as they say, is HISStory.
So how does designing an enamel pin actually start?
As with most things I do, it starts with a painting.
Some paintings just speak to me as having characters that would translate well into pin form. I love thinking about how a drawing will become something small, shiny, and tactile, where color, line, and expression all have to work at a much smaller scale.
Once I've chosen a painting, the first step is scanning it and creating a digital drawing. From there, I have to figure out whether the artwork will actually work as a pin. Enamel pins are essentially outlines with pools of colored enamel between them: if there's no line separating areas, you can't have separate colors. Detail level is also important, along with color choices and any special finishes.
Some of my favorite enamel pins to design have been Disco Ball Cat and Sardines Cat, both of which use glitter enamel, and Madame Meowdium, which has glow-in-the-dark details. I let the experts handle technical considerations like post placement, and then it's time for the hardest part: waiting for the pins to arrive.
While I'm waiting, I work on the backing cards. This is one of my favorite steps, though it can be a little frustrating trying to get everything to fit just so. Writing a little bio for each pin is always fun and gives me the chance to really dive into the purrsonality of each character (and, of course, come up with plenty of cat puns).
Why enamel pins?
I'm often asked why I love enamel pins so much, and the answer is pretty simple: they're joyful, approachable, and collectible without being precious. A pin doesn't demand much commitment. You don't need wall space or special lighting, just a jacket, a bag, or a favorite spot to call its own.
Enamel pins feel like tiny companions. They're art you can carry with you, small objects with purrsonality that quietly say something about who you are and what you love. Turning my cat illustrations into pins felt like a natural extension of my work, a way for these characters to step off the page and into everyday life.
That accessibility also makes pins especially fun to design. They get to be playful. They get to be bold. And they get to have a little sense of humor.
Meet the Lucky Cat
I'm thrilled to have just launched my Lucky Cat enamel pin, and it's quickly become one of my favorites.
Lucky cats have always fascinated me. They're symbols of good fortune, protection, and welcome — quietly optimistic without being loud about it. I wanted my version to feel the same way: cheerful, comforting, and full of personality, without taking itself too seriously.
If you're someone who loves tiny art with big personality, or enjoys collecting pieces that tell small stories, this one might be for you.
Still need more luck? Lucky Cat is also available as a shiny gold vinyl sticker!
As always, thank you for following along, supporting my work, and welcoming these cats into your lives in so many creative ways. It never stops being a joy to see where they end up. 🐾💖
