Pets on Quilts 2015: The Ollie Memorial Quilt

Getting this post up now while I have a few minutes (even though the link up isn't available yet).

2015 Pets on Quilts show is my second time participating and it's bittersweet.

Last year, I entered under the "cats on quilts" category (see it here) with a mini quilt that was much loved by my two cats, Eugene and Olive.  I was thrilled when I won a batik jelly roll from one of the random drawings.  That was the sweet.  Then came the bitter.  Olive died.  We only had her for one year and a week when FiP, a horrible disease, took her.

After she died, Eugene was just not enjoying life as an only cat so we checked the Humane Society (where we got Gene and Ollie) to find him a new companion.  Enter, Murray.  They were a great fit from moment one and things are very good now, though we still miss Ollie.

And I still had that jelly roll.  Months ago I discovered the jelly roll race "pattern" (in quotes because it's not so much a pattern as an event!) and decided it would be perfect for the Ollie jelly roll.  Hey, I needed to start actually making "real" quilts (not just small wall hangings) and that would be the easiest way to start that process.  So I made the top and it just hung out in my craft room.  Until the announcement for the 2015 Pets on Quilts show rolled around.  It was time to get that top made into a quilt.

But not without some feline supervision!

This was back when I had first finished the top.  I draped it all pretty like over the couch to get a pic and BAM, cat-ttaked.  No blanket in this house shall be without hair (their motto).

Fast forward to about a week ago when I finally got my butt in gear to finish the quilt.

(oh, by the way, I'm entering under the "cat on a quilt" category, or whatever category is close to that. . .any of these pics of my cats HAIRassing the quilt can be my entry since I couldn't get both of them to sit on the finished quilt for anything. . .that shouldn't surprise me, they're cats and they will do as they please and no they don't care what you think about it)

Ever so helpful, Eugene.  Just plop down on the quilt sandwich and have a bath why don't you.

"What?  Were you trying to do something?"

Could you get up so I can flip it over and get the backing fabric layered on?

*sigh*  "If I must. . .but there will be a price to pay for disturbing my beauty rest."

No joke.  You folks with cats can't be surprised by this at all.  I had to flip the top and batting over to get the backing all smoothed out on it and didn't Gene get right up on it and just go insane.  He was rolling around on it, squeaking and even pulling off a very odd backflip.  Then, to make sure there was plenty of hair on it he had a good scratch.  It was hilarious.  And I just couldn't care.  The quilt was for the family (which is me, my hubby and the cats) so why freak if there's hair on it while I'm making it.  It's going to get good and haired up over its life.  And Gene was having such a high old time (really, it was like there was nip in that fabric. . .I think he really likes batiks) I just had to enjoy it.  He was having so much fun with the Ollie quilt it was like she was there in spirit (showing us her bewbies!).

Eventually I did have to chase him off it so I could get to the sewing.  I went with a very easy straight quilting and it went really well.  Got the binding machine stitched on one side and then it was time to hand stitch the binding to the back.  Enter Murray.

"What are these, mom?  Cat toys?"

*crunch*

Murray really likes the binding clips.  He was particularly taken by the ones holding the corners all neat (of course).  I did have to fish one out of his mouth after he pulled it off and did start to crunch on it like it was a treat.  No, we shant be destroying my super cool clips (they are so wonderful for binding).

"Mom, you're no fun.  I just wanted to try and break off a tooth and ruin a clip or two.  Party pooper!"

I say it all the time and I'll say it again.  Good thing they are both so dang cute because they sure aren't well behaved (ok, they're not really "bad" but they do get into everything and Murray in particular sheds like it's his life's goal to coat the entire planet in a thin layer of white hair, and the hair is super soft so it's like trying to wipe off spider webs. . .tons and tons of spider webs).

Don't fret, I'm not going to forget to show off the quilt sans cat.

The front (it's a bit longer than pictured, I had it draped over the edge of the wall a bit to hold it down since my spouse was all "meh" when I asked him to come outside and hold it up. . .ha ha, he was replaced by a brick wall, you know I told him as much, too, and he still didn't care in fact he was pleased to hand the task off to a truly inanimate object).

The back (with its minor flaws. . .I was not going to point them out because to be honest they don't bother me, I really kind of like them because this quilt is about so much more than being "perfect" but I didn't want anyone to think I didn't know there were flaws.  They are there and I love each and every one of them).

I wanted the back to be all cat fabric.  I've been wanting to make a totally cat quilt but I keep putting it off (what? me procrastinate? well, maybe later) so this was the perfect opportunity to make the back all cats.  I was going to make it a totally pieced back but then I happened upon this cat batik fabric and I just had to have it.  It was SO PERFECT.  Batik to match the batik front but also cat so I could tie in some of the cat fabric I already have in my stash.

From a distance you can't really see the cats but up close they are fabulous!  This pic is washed out a bit, the fabric is a nice dark charcoal color which matched pretty well to the black in the Moda Prisma Cats fabric from my stash.  I love that fabric so much I went and found a shop that still has some so I can hoard a bit more of it (when it comes to cat fabrics, I allow buying just to stash).

The Prisma Cats fabric is super bright colors and so dang cute!  Oh, and even the binding is cat.  I had some light gray fabric with polka dots (and some of the dots were cat faces) and it worked so well for the binding.  It's light colored but still works with the kind of haphazard feel of the entire quilt.  (I forget what line it's from, but it's a fairly recent line that was cat themed)

If I could change only ONE things, I'd have used a darker thread for the quilting.  I used the natural color I tend to use for all my sewing and against the dark backing fabric it looks bright white.  I didn't want it to pop that much but I don't hate it or anything.  It just stands out more than I really wanted (and because of that you can see the flaws in the stitching. . .I was using a basic Singer sewing machine with a walking foot and the weight of the quilt sometimes pulled a bit and you can see it in the stitching--the stitching isn't "bad" but if you're really looking at it you can see it's uneven and I know that's why).

I'm really surprised how much emotion is in this simple quilt.  When it was done I was almost giddy.  I gathered it up and just hugged it.  So silly, but I was just so happy to have it done.  The sense of accomplishment was huge and it's just such a special quilt for me.  It's the first "real" quilt (meaning bigger sized--the only other size I've made was a lap sized but I traded that away) I've ever made JUST for me (well, and the family) and it's so freaking special and I just love it.  But now I'm worried it will just fall apart when I wash it (I know it won't, but I love it so much I have to find something to worry about so that has become the thing I'll worry about).

Thanks for checking out my crazy quilt and even crazier cats.  I can't wait to see what everyone else shares for the Pets on Quilts contest.  It's such a fun and great event!

NOW, go back to the linky party and check out what everyone else has been up to.  CLICK HERE, YOU NOSEY THING YOU!

Fluff Project: July/August DONE

I did a double up on the Fluff Project again.  July and August together.

I made five mermaids and six snails.

Ladies first!

All the single ladies. . .all the single ladies!

(this is a free pattern from Blue Whimsy

Selfie time!

I wish I'd been brave enough to set the pony tail higher on more than just this blue haired gal.  It's a great look.  But maybe it is better that only Blue got it.  It makes her extra special.

Purple was the first mermaid I finished.  She's just so matchy/matchy.  Very prim and proper.

Green hair is bright and fun.  Her tail/body color just reminds me of goldfish.

Brown/red hair is super cute (I have a weakness for the redheads, I won't lie).  It's not just her reddish/brown hair, it's her body/tail fabric.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!  With just a bit of fussy cutting you get a walrus on your tail.  Koo-koo-ka-chu!

NARWHAL Y'all!  See why I really like my redhead girl?  (and what about that wee birdy on the back of her tail, too freaking cute).

Last but not least is the fanciest of the group, Blondie.

Yeah, her fabric is styling!  Look at that octopus peeking out on her tail!

There it is again on her back.  Blondie looks all sweet and innocent, but piss her off and she'll unleash the kracken.  LOOK OUT!

I really like this pattern.  It's fairly simple and makes a nice sized toy, not too big so you can use fat quarters to make it but not so small you get annoyed sewing it by machine.  My only problem (and it's mine, not the pattern) is with the light colored skin fabrics.  I think I need to put some stabilizer on the back at the face to help block out the stitching.  The really light fabrics show the floss tails (even when I keep the tails tiny).  Live and learn on that one.  (I'll have to try using a double layer of fabric or putting a stabilizer, next time)

Next up. . .snails.

Another free pattern.  I've made this pattern before for a swap, so I knew it was easy.  I wanted easy this time around (so I could mass produce).

These little buggers are small enough you can use scraps on them.  In fact, most of the fabrics here were from my scrap bucket.

Blue shell and love snail were from scraps.  The middle snail's shell was from the same fabric I used for the orange tail mermaid.  It was a large scale print that looked hand dyed (might have been) and had a lot of large patches of different colors.  I got it in a remnant/scrap box and it turned out to be perfect for a lot of projects.

Orange shell was from scraps (and the body was from the same fabric as green shell snail and orange tail mermaid).  Guitar snail (aka Slow Hand) was from scraps (body) and some gifted fabric from Kristy (who runs the Fluff Project).  Flower snail's body is scrap (yes, same as Slow Hand) and so is the shell.

It's actually two different floral prints.  I didn't have enough of either of them to make a full shell but they work very well together.  I was worried Flower snail would look too "old lady" but once I slapped the google eyes on that feeling was long gone.  Google eyes make everything fun and kiddie centric.  The original pattern has the face all on the body (with the nubs as horns) but forget that noise.  Snails need eyes on stalks.  End of discussion.  So, these snails are NOT baby safe but screw the babies.  They get everything.  Lets make toys for kids who know better than to gnaw on everything, right?  Right!  But if you're all about the babies (poo on them!) you could make this without any face at all and it would still be cute (but not as cute as google eyes, so take THAT, you spoiled "gonna choke on that!" babies).

Ok, enough baby bashing (for now).  What else am I up to?  I'm finishing up my quilt for the Pets on Quilts contest (my cats are "helping" a lot which means I have a very hairy quilt, not that I'm worried about it, it's going to get hairy no matter what if it's in my house).  Then I need to focus on some swap items (which includes an art doll where I just might paint on fabric--reading up on that process now) and then make some medical belts for my pops.  That's a super boring project (what? it is!) so I'm not super interested in it.  I know once I get into it I'll be interested but it's just not interesting in the beginning (and I have time sensitive items to get done first).  Then I need to start thinking about the next round of Fluff items.  I'm thinking candy corn and. . .crap, I forgot the other idea I had (good thing I wrote it down on my chalkboard at home).  And I promise I will get that bacon and egg tutorial up someday (maybe after the quilt and a few swaps. .. so maybe this month).

For swap: Two stuffies

Two stuffie swaps out the door!

First up was a swap for an animal stuffie in a wild color.

Watermelon guinea pig!

It's a Dolls and Daydreams pattern I've used before for the Fluff Project

Happy coincidence, the ears ended up having green on the backs and pink inside.

Ice cream tummy!

Next up was a swap for a mythical creature stuffie.

Alien mermaid, y'all!

I couldn't decide if I wanted to make a mermaid (since I was already using this Blue Whimsy pattern to make mermaids for the Fluff Project) or something different.  So I just made an alien.

Just free-hand cut out some eyes and put a pair of french knots for nostrils and one stitch for a mouth and you got yourself an alien.

What else am I up to?  Well, I'm finishing up the last of my Fluff Project contributions for August (I think it's for July and August, I have to check on that) and then I'm going to get my quilt done for the Pets on Quilts show.  And I have a few more swaps to do and then start on the next Fluff Project contribution (have my idea all picked out, it should be good!).

Patches for a swap

Got a few more patches made for some swaps.

First up, the singleton for the Patch with a Pocket swap

Hee hee, it's the Lorax coming up out of a tree stump!

The stump is just a free hand drawing cut out from felt with a bit o' embroidered bark.

The grass is crinkled paper (upcycling, yo!).

The Lorax himself is just hand embroidery around the image (against a batting scrap).  Nothing fancy at all.

Next up is a set of three itty bitty patches:

Hmm, that picture is a bit blurry.  No problem, I always show off set individually, too.

Little fishy with some embroidery and beading.

Funky flowers with a bit of embroidery and beading.  (that fabric just doesn't read well on the photo, making it blurry)

Toadstool house with a bit of embroidery (no beading).  Beading and embroidery were on my mind when I did these.  The biggest of the set (the funky flowers) is about 2.5 inches.  The others are smaller.  So embroidery and beading were about all that could be put on them without them being overwhelmed.

What else am I up to?  Well, I have more patches to make (that Disney series is still going on) and I'm finishing up July/August Fluff toys along with a pair of other stuffies for swaps.  I think I'll have a closing ceremonies party tonight and close up all the stuffies (so. . .much. . .ladderstitch!).  AND, I want to get my quilt done for the Pets on Quilts show (coming up in a few weeks).  I have it all figured out so I just need to do some cutting and sewing and then I can assemble the quilt (which means cleaning off the junk on my dining room table. . boo!).  OH, and I haven't forgotten about the bacon and eggs stuffie tutorial.  I just want to get some other things done first.

For Swaps: Patches, patches, patches

It's a patch post, y'all.

Two different swaps, four patches total.

First up is a singleton (for the standing monthly swap)

Hee hee, it's a bee on a bicycle pedaling through the stars.

How's THAT for random, huh?

Yeah, don't ask.  I was just shuffling through my little drawers of supplies and I spied a few leftover bikes (from the Fat Bottom Girls patch I made many moons ago--hee hee, I said moon about a patch referencing butts. . .butts!)

That bee is getting his bike ON!

That's the back.  All boring n'at.

Next up are the first in a series of patch swaps.  It's Disney theme by the alphabet.  This first round was A, B, and C.

The whole set.

Now we'll go in reverse for the close ups.

C is for Cruella Deville.

I just had to use this super plush white faux fur for the backing.  HAD TO.  Mostly because it's fabulous but more because I didn't have any white with black spot fabric (I only had black with white spots, which is not how dalmatian spots work).  In case it's not obvious, that's a cigarette holder with smoke curling out to make the initials.

B = Banzai

The photo doesn't do the crayon tinting justice on this one, though the coloring is very monochrome with him (all differing shades of gray).  I deliberately went easy on the embroidery on this one because I did crayon tinted embroidery for two of the three in this set (and did a lot of embroidery on the other one).  (I'm in love with crayon tinting right now--love it!)

A = Am (of Si and Am, the racially insensitive Siamese cats from Lady and the Tramp).

I love Si and Am.  Their song is so great and they're just so devious (even if they are characterized in a very racially insensitive way)

To be honest, I'm not sure which is which, so I just picked one from the photo I googled.

Close up because I really, really like how this one turned out.  The picture doesn't show it very well, but the cream color of the body is actually on there (it's not just the muslin untouched).

I managed to do all villains for this round, which just happened.  So for the next round I'm trying to avoid any villains.

I can see I'm going to be doing more color tinting for patches for this series.  It's so easy and it turns out so nice.  I plan to do it for at least one of the patches in the next set (D, E, and F).  I have my choices all made for each letter and don't plan to change any of them.  I even have the designs picked.  One of them will be more abstract (like my Cruella patch) and the other two will probably be character images (with at least one of those being crayon tinted).

For a Swap: Creepy Doll

Finished up my creepy doll swap the other day.  It's all packed up and ready to ship, so now it's time to show it off.

Here she is, a creepy cat like creature and her three equally creepy children.

Yeah, that mouth is creepy.  I got that mouth fabric (and the packet of plastic dog noses) at the sally army fabric sale.  The front fabric is a batik and the back is a felted wool sweater.

Watch out for her stinger.

The tail is just a roll of faux fabric with a jaggy, tooth-like bead at the top.  I got those beads to make a lantern fish (using socks, from the sock toy book I've shown off before) but never got around to it.  So I used a few for this project.

Creepy children.

The girl is already sporting a nice stinger of her own.

The boy doesn't have a stinger (or maybe he had one and it got bit off in a fight?  he is sporting a kind of eye patch so we're not sure what the story is there)

And the baby.  No tail or stinger just yet.  But s/he does have a little lure/toy.  Does s/he lure prey in so the family can sting it?  Hmm, maybe.

All the babies are made from cotton fabrics.  I received the creepy baby faces as an extra from some swap eons ago and wondered just what the hell I was ever going to do with them (besides cringe and ponder tossing them in the goodwill bag).  HAH, I found the perfect use for them.

The baby faces are hot glued on, which turned out really well.  I was worried it wouldn't work out.

Bye, creepy family.  Have fun doing whatever creepy things you do.

What's up next?  Disney themed patches.  It's a series where we work through the alphabet.  I have A,B, and C in progress (C is almost done) and have ideas all picked for D, E, and F.  I also have to work on some Fluff stuff and I want to get a quilt made this month.  Oh and that tutorial for the bacon and eggs plushies.  Got to get busy!