Pets on Quilts Show 2015-Cats on Quilts category

I am so thrilled to be participating this year, I've been really looking forward to it!

Jacque at Lily Pad Quilting hosts this great quilt event where we all share photos of our pets on our quilts, or of an animal-themed quilt.  And I can make this happen this year since we adopted Thomas and Belle at Christmas!  You can see the other participants by following the link above, it will take you directly to the linky party.

 

This year I finished a quilt for my cousin Kendra as requested by my grandmother, she had started it and knew she would not finish.  I had a bit of help along the way, by some inspectors-in-training.

 

Thomas making sure the quilt doesn't move around too much on me.





Belle trying to decide if she likes the flower pattern I'm using, she can be very intense about her inspections.  And I appreciate it, since I was making this pattern up as I went along.  I have been practicing my free-motion quilting with inspiration from Lori at The Inbox Jaunt.  Her tutorials are really helpful, as well as the doodling lessons she's had going on lately.

I added a little bumble bee in the pattern, just one, to keep Kendra looking :)

Pacing it off for one final close-up, want to make sure it's going to be cozy enough.

This is an example of Cat-on-Quilter-on-Quilt *giggle*

Here it is displayed on the gazebo my grandpa built at my grandma's request.  When I next saw my cousin she gave me a huge hug and told me how much she loves this quilt!  I told her that she will always be wrapped in hugs from grandma (and me) for as long as it lasts.

I want to say thank you again to Jacque at Lily Pad Quilting for organizing this event, and thank you so much to all the sponsors who are offering giveaways, how incredibly generous!  You can click on the icon above to be taken back to the party.
Also, I want to thank YOU very much for visiting, I hope you have a great time hopping around to all the blogs and be sure to leave some comment love!

~Brandy

Elephant Parade table topper

*UPDATE* I am entering this as my 2nd entry in the Animals on Quilts for the Pets on Quilts Show 2015.  People in India have elephants as pets, right?  LOL

I'm so happy to tell you, I completed my elephant table topper today!
You can find the instructions for the blocks on Lorna's site at
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/elephant-parade.html

 

I had assistance while quilting last night, Thomas made sure to sleep while I stayed awake, so I leeched energy off him.

Trusty Bernina is working like a charm!  I used my Clover Wonder Clips to help keep the fabric rolled up as I quilted, it worked just fine and didn't leave any lasting marks.

You can see the quilting from the front pretty well in this photo.

Here is Belle, helping me sew the binding on by chewing on the clips.  Thanks little one!

 

This is the first time she's experienced hand sewing, and the first time I've tried to do so with a cat on my lap.  I'll get it figured to where it won't feel all twisted like a pretzel.

 

 

Thomas is wondering why I'm outside in my pajamas...

 

 

I quilted around the heart with red thread on top and bottom after I took this photo

 

This little guy finished at 22" x 12.5"

 

Things I learned:

-use 2 layers of batting if you're going to FMQ, it will make it poof out in a nicer way.  I did not do so in this, and I remember saying the same thing when I worked on my dresden flower

-I left the ears with no quilting on them, and I love how they feel when I run my hand over the top, very soft and silky

-I need to not quilt after 8pm, I tend to get into "hurry up" mode and my quilting does not look as nice

-I should probably add a sleeve or hanging corners to ALL my pieces, whether I think they'll hang or not (I'm planning on entering this at our quilt festival later this year, pretty sure I'll need a sleeve)

-this would make a really cute wall hanging for a nursery, I see some more in my future for baby shower gifts

 

Also, from now on, when someone compliments my work, I will say "thank you" and not point out all the flaws I know exist.  And I will work on not running through the flaws in my head either.  I noticed myself doing this on Saturday, and it's a bad habit I do not want around, so I'm taking steps to make it better.  Do any of you find yourself doing this too?  How do you help keep yourself from going down that path?

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you'll be inspired to make one of your own, and please feel free to leave some comment love!

 

~Brandy