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Sunday, August 5, 2012

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!

52 comments:

  1. Lovely quilt and beautiful cats all.

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  2. This story brings a lump to my throat. I am so proud Dash put his print in but so proud everyone helped. Just imagine Amy having such an heirloom treasure! I am so proud of you all.

    Thank you from Marjorie and Dash

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  3. Big HUGS n Purrs fur all dis hard werk. It doz look wunnerful.

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  4. Every time I see the quilt, I just think it's more pawsome than the last time I saw it. I was furry proud to see our blocks in the picture!

    Thanks to you and everyone else for all the hard work organizing and assembling all the blocks. What an amazing amount of work (and love!). You guys are so pawsome. *hugs*

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  5. So much love in one quilt. It's really incredible and so beautiful!

    Love
    Cokies

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  6. Wow, what a beautiful quilt...made with lots of love!!

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  7. What a wonderful story. The quilt is beautiful and the quilt helpers amazing!

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  8. Gorgeous! Amy and Lee will treasure this forever! Thanx for leading the charge and coordinating everything with Leo. I'm happy to have helped in a teeny tiny way. xoxo

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  9. I think Parker had the most difficult task of keeping the blocks from blowing away. Way to go Parker. Annie Sparkles sends you many hug hug hugs for a job well done. Maggie, I think you did a excellent job snoopervising the whole process.Hug hug hug.
    Boomie

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  10. This is such an awesome project - quilting cats and their humans rule!

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  11. It's a beautiful story with some great pictures too.

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  12. Chazz & I were curious as to the status of the quilt. This is right on time. Thank you for da update and for all your hard work on this project. Concatulations!
    AdoptedMOm

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  13. Purr purr from Rusken (my cat) to yours :) A cat can never have to many quilts to sleep on.

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  14. What a wonderful quilt! We did something similar in Blogville when friends lost five dogs due to a house fire- the Fearless Five quilt- blocks of fabric came from all over and a king sized quilt with a babay quilt two prayer shalws and a couple of pillows resulted. Now we are working on two quilts for a family that lost 14 rescue dachshunds in a fire in Idaho! Keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks! Wish you luck on your project. Always count me in for a block for your projects!

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    2. email me for our address! Looking for 8 x 8 inch blocks of fabric or anything else you choose to donate!

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  15. The signature quilt is lovely and lovingly made. Im sure the recipient will cherish it.

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  16. Wow, what a labour of love! Love the cat shape in the middle. Thanks Maggie cat :)

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  17. That is an awesome amount of love in a project. We're so happy you thought of it and did so much to make it real. *ducky hugs* and purrrrrrr George and Sanjee

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  18. What a wonderful quilt story- you had many terrific helpers both people and pet wise. You have some handsome cats. I am sure this quilt is going to be treasured by its owner.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

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  19. What a wonderful, but sad post. Your doing something amazing here, everyone pulling together from all over. The quilt is beautiful, the cats are beautiful and everyone working on the quilt are beautiful, thanks for telling us the story.

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  20. What an amazing story of the quilt.

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  21. Wow! You did a great job! All of you :)

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  22. An inspiring post and beautiful cats too.

    Oh and many thanks for your comment on Django!

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  23. What a wonderful story. The quilt and kitties are wonderful!

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  24. Really funny blogpost and gorgeous pictures.
    Beautiful quilt and a very cute cat ☺

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  25. The quilt and the kitties are great! Thank you for sharing them and the story with us :o)

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  26. Such a wonderful story! Great pics of the quilt and kittys too!

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  27. I have leaky eyes reading this. The love of our Twitter & Blogger pals is just overwhelming. Thank you Wanda for thinking of the idea, designing the quit, and getting the Amy's Army lined up, and sewing the pieces together. It was a pleasure to be a small part of this great, loving effort.

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  28. My husband really wants a Maine Coon cat.

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  29. Dis is soooo pawsome! Da quilt is BOOTIFUL! Thanks Parker, Mom & Dad for doing such a wonderfur job... xxx, Leo

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  30. Wonderful story of a lovely community of quilters...the quilt will be treasured, I'm sure. I'm so glad that you joined in at the Pets Party!

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  31. I'm sorry for their loss but so glad it brought such a wonderful community of felines and humans together!

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  32. Such beautiful quilts and cats! Thank you for visiting our blog today. Our mom doesn't quilt, but she just received a new quilt from her mom and we love it!

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  33. You are a gorgeous cat both inside and out. I love your story and your quilt. Thanks so much for sharing this story and quilt.

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  34. Just wonderful. We voted for your cat on quilt 99!!!

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  35. What a lovely story and an equally lovely quilt.

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  36. You are truly good people xx yay

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  37. Lovely quilt and beautiful cat applique.

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  38. Such a beautiful quilt and such a wonderful story! I vote for #99!
    Lola K.

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