2012 Pets on Parade Quilt Show

For you guys who are new to my blog, this is @MaggieTKat speaking. I am an opinionated blue tortie Maine coon cat. I was very excited when my good friends @CokietheCat and @CathyKeisha sent me the link for the online quilt show sponsored by Lily Pad quilting. As you guys know all of us Kruses love to quilt, so Cokie and CK knew this was something we would enjoy.

Earlier this year one of our good twitter buddies, @Seabasscat, lost his home due to fire. He was very fortunate that his human @BoSoxAmy was home and was able to get him and @DottieGP out, but they lost all other possessions in the fire. Quilters come to the aid of friends, and the Kruses are no different. I knew all of our Twitter friends would want to help, and the offers came pouring in!

#AmysQuiltArmy became an Twitter based international project. Mom designed a queen bed sized signature block quilt on EQ. The log fence blocks were sewn by friends in Toronto, Canada, and Seguin, Texas. The blocks were sent to Arizona and London, England for distribution to about 120 addresses for signatures. Internationally the blocks went to Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands. Mainland United States was well represented. The blocks were then sent to the Kruses for assembly. We received about 92% back, which is an amazing feat and a tribute to the love in our community.

There were many cat helpers along the way. We have @AnnieSparkles the black and white beauty in Toronto and @NutmegTorbie, the exceedingly sweet and gorgeous youngster in Texas snoopervising cutting blocks. @LeoPussMan informed us that the blocks had been mailed!

There was a lot of @ParkerSKat help at our house. (I should mention that Parker is my 2.5 year old Maine coon cat brother, weighing in about 21 pounds. He is a trial.) My homey @CathyKeisha put some of her fur on the blocks. Parks sniffed and sniffed. When Mom tried to take it away, his big old paw came out and put a stop to that notion. I don't know what to think about that other than roll my eyes and think, "Boys. Sheesh." Here is our blog about progress.

Mom started laying out the blocks and tried to keep us out of the room, but she gave up. She knew Parker just HAD to have his say on how things were arranged. I on the other hand, observed the blocks. Well, maybe I wasn't THAT innocent.

Lovely heart felt emotions, hand and machine embroidered blocks, drawings, ands even a paw print from @DashKitten in New Zealand! The quilt blocks were just filled with love for @Seabasscat and his family.

As Mom sewed the quilt together, we heard some bad news; @Seabasscat's health was failing and he soon would be OTRB. So each stitch Mom made added more love and healing to the family. Parker added his own twist to the project. He holds down the quilt so it doesn't go anywhere. "Boys. Sheesh."

Dad loves to sew and quilt. He makes dynamite backings, so this one was just as wonderful. The label included all the Twitter names of #AmysQuiltArmy along with all other documentation a quilt should have.

One of our friends volunteered do machine quilting for free. As I said, quilters help folks in need. Thanks to Irene from Balwin, Missouri! The quilt is about 3/4 machine quilted. so I couldn't ask Irene to take it off the machine for a picture, Sorry.

I hope you have enjoyed this tail, er tale, of our international Twitter community joining together to to make a special quilt for a wonderful family. And, here is the finished quilt top!

Thanks,

Maggie

Don't forget this is a Quilt hop; here is the link. Make sure you visit every blog because pets and quilts are our favorite things!