Live from the Katnip Lounge, The Kat Pack!

Starring: The Baby *Tiny Johnson * Felix * Rupert * Scouty * CC * Sweet Pea * Maui * May Ling * Salem

and...*Angels Grayce, KonaKitty, and Sylvester* always loved, never forgotten




Sunday, September 8, 2013

Gratitude

 Friends and Kitties!

What do you do when you receive the Most Spectacular Gift, ever?

Blog about it, of course!

The wild and crazy quilt that Grayce is gracing was made for my by none other than the Mad Fiber Artist  Stacy Hurt!

Now, I'd like to apologize for some of these photos, I had the camera settings wrong and of course by the time I previewed them it was too late...

Way back before I knew that Stacy was a fabulously talented artist (I met her through her cat blog On a more personal note...From Ms. Stella O'Houligan) I naively asked her if she would mind sewing a quilt for me--I had bits and pieces of cat-themed fabric collected over the years that I could never seem to get around to crafting with.  (Before we moved, I was an avid, albeit amateur, quilter.)  She agreed, and I was happy to clear out my stash when she visited me last year.

Now, I knew that Stacy did commission work and had other things going on--like life--so I wasn't worried about how long it would take to complete.  I had, therefore, a few months to discover through her quilting blog that I'd done the equivalent of asking Mozart to compose a quick ditty!  Because this woman is a genius with fiber. 
I was a wee tad embarrassed.
I felt like I had taken advantage of a friend.

I had to do something.  I mean, just look at the label, for pete's sake!  This quilt is an heirloom.

Even the back is special, there are THIRTEEN kitties stitched onto it.

And the beautiful free-hand quilting!  All done on a regular machine--not a long arm!  That takes some doing.

I can't decide whether to use my quilt or hang it up as a piece of Art.  It's totally machine wash and dryable--so while I decide it's been on my bed and I can report that it's nice and warm without adding a lot of weight.
(again, sorry about the blurriness) 

Stacy said some photos of my crew on the quilt would be payment enough for her time and talent...

...so I cracked open the treat jar (the Great Equalizer), larded the bed, belted out the Snack Whistle, and got outta the way!

*nom nom nom* 

Of course, I wanted to do something more for Stacy...so here's my two cents:

This woman does cool stuff!  Besides stunning piecework she also makes award-winning fiber art quilts.  She sews hallucinogenic (for felines) catnip quilts.  She makes beautiful prayer flags, stuffed animals, table runners, you name it...and she is a calligrapher, too!  If you need something truly original made, from a card to quilt (big or small) she is The One.

Stacy, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
You ROCK.


Happy Sunday, and Sweet Dreams all Week!

XX  Sheebie  XX

54 comments:

  1. WOW, it is gorgeous!!! Love the thirteen kitties too :-)

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  2. Wow. Just WoW.

    That quilt is the COOLEST.THING.EVER.

    Did it have a little Ms. Stella scent?

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  3. Whoa...that is freaking AWESOME!!!

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  4. I am such a dork that when I got to see alla kitties on it I smiled till I cried! I'm so glad you like it. I miss all those bright colors!

    Xo
    Stacy

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  5. That is most awesome. Absolutely incredible and a total labour of love. Priceless in so many ways. And made perfect with a variety of cat furs! We'd not know what to do with it either! Probably a wall hanging, but above peemail height of course.

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  6. WOW. My human and I are totally awed by this amazing quilt! Stacy is a master craftsperson and you are SO lucky!

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  7. :thud:

    I also use to quilt. Utilitarian, machine piecing and hand quilted. Nothing so awesome as this! Gorgeous! The back and free-arm quilting is actually my favorite part! :D

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  8. OH.MY.GOODNESS. THAT is a work of art! We love especially the 13 cats at the back. SO SO Pawsome!

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  9. That is FABULOUS! I'd be tempted to hang it on the wall, it's so gorgeous. But on the other hand, it was made to be used...Tough call!

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  10. That quilt is just stunning. Stacy is so talented!

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  11. Golly gosh! Even I am impressed and my great aunty is a major quilt making personage!!! Stacy is very talented :)

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  12. Oh, my goodness!! What a beautiful and special gift. We can see the cats are loving it too. Hugs and nose kisses

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  13. All I can say is Wowser. That really is a fabulous quilt. What a nice person Stacy is to do that for you. And the cats on the back are extra special. Well done Stacy.

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  14. What a spectacular quilt. We especially love the thirteen cats on the back. Such wonderful details! Stacy does amazing work.

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  15. Very impressive. Quite the quilt.

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  16. Mad for this quilt! And I'm not even a quilt person! I'd hang it, certainly. Then when ever I was stressed, upset or whatever, I could let my eyes get lost in the quilt, finding and appreciating the many interesting pieces of cat fabric and faces. It would help me to relax. And make me happy, very happy.

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  17. yoW! the quilt is absolutely beautiful!

    Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie

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  18. Oh my gosh!! A work of art indeed!! That is so beautiful. You can tell so much care, attention and detail have been put into it. A keepsake to be sure. Lovely!
    xo Catherine

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  19. Oh My Cat
    That is beautiful work
    We are running to her site to see what we can see
    Thanks for sharing this

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  20. WOWEE! That was sooo nice! I'm a quilter too, so I know the work that went into that!

    I'd hang it...but be careful to keep it out of sunlight as it will fade the quilt horribly. Either that or fold it on a chair or couch and use it when you are cold.

    I laughed when I saw that you put treats down on the quilt to get the cats on it. All my years of quilting, I've learned that you just have to set it on the floor--quilts just naturally attract the cats! My saying is "It's not a quilt until the cat sits on it".

    :)

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  21. We just love her work and this is so great!! Love the 13 kitties on the back - so fun!!!

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  22. The 13 kittehs is just a stroke of brilliance. You are lucky indeed. But be sure to get those little crumb crunchers off the bed. Let them make their own Work of Art (quilted hairballs, maybe?)
    Enjoy your quilt.

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  23. That is beyond beautiful!
    It is a treasured keepsake.

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  24. What a stunning quilt, what a luck set of kitties! Have a great week. :)

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  25. What a gorgeous quilt! Stacy did a beautiful job and the 13 cats on the back is purrfect! That is certainly an heirloom quilt that will be cherished forever!

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  26. How absolutely gorgeous! We love the 13 beautiful blue kitties on the black side :)

    Pee Ess: I'd NEVER let Stinky Butt or Fuzzy Butt on it!

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  27. OH MY CATS...THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL, FULL OF LOVE QUILT I HAVE SEEN. BEAUTIFUL FABRIC BROUGHT ALIVE BY THE MOST TALENTED STACY!!AND IT HAS FELINE SNIFF OF APPROVAL TOO.
    SIMPLY LOVELY!!
    HUGS MADI AND MOM

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  28. She is clearly very talented. The quilt is amazing! I may be interested in a catnip quilt so I will definitely know where to go. Actually, I would love all those things you mentioned.

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  29. We are lucky enough to have one of the kitty quilts that Miss Stacy makes. It is better than we ever thought it could be. Miss Stacy actually sewed our names in the quilt itself. WE LOVE IT! (And yes, those all caps mean we're shouting.)

    That quilt she made for you is FANTASTIC! It would be hard not to want to hang it on a wall, but you should use it...and love it!!

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  30. That is the most beautiful quilt we ever saw! So colorful and full of kitties!

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  31. We are in AWE of the quilt! And the treat-spread to get so many of you on it at the same time...

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  32. Mommy says this quilt is meowvalous, wonderpurr and catabulous. Stacy is truly an artist. How fortunate for you to have it. It definitely will become an heirloom. Loved the photos with all the kitties on the bed. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  33. Whoa, that is truly beautiful!

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  34. WOW!! We agree that is a pawsome quilt. It is very pretty and we like the cats on the other side too :)
    Lovely!
    Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
    Treasure,Tiger, JJ and Julie

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  35. That truly is a work of art is is totally, totally amazing!

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  36. Dat is so cool. Very purrsonal to you with the 13 kitties on it!

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  37. Wow that is just absolutely gorgeous! How special is that!

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  38. That is such a beautiful quilt. Something to treasure.

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  39. OMC! This is gorgeous! She IS extremely talented. She must be part cat!
    Purrs

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  40. OH Stacy... I have seven cats that would love to look really good on one of your quilts!! ;)

    actually that is quite spectacular! I too would have a very hard time deciding if I should hang it or use it.. Stacy you are really quite talented.

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  41. That is incredibly beautiful! We think our mom actually has tears in her eyes because your quilt is so pretty! Silly mom. Purrs...

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  42. That is absolutely wonderful! meowm has kitty quilts made my her Meowm and she loves them!

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  43. That is BEAUTIFUL! I always wanted one of her quilts but it wasn't in the budget. Then my Homey promised to quilt one for me. Never happened. Finally I won a Colorado Catnip quilt that I simply adore! It was donated, I might add, by Smokey8, my great furrend who just went OTRB.

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  44. That is jaw dropping awesome!
    Absolutely gorgeous!

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  45. Wow! She is a real artist! Having made a (very simple) quilt, I know how much work that was, all those pieces fitting together just so. Its so beautiful, you should hang it before someone has an oops! on it. I think there are quilt frames for hanging. Or maybe Scott could do something cool? He's great at that!

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  46. Oh that is awesome to the highest! Stacy did a beautiful memorial of the Admiral for e that I will love all the rest of my life. I blogged about it at the time. She is simply the very best. xoxo

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  47. screeeee!!! we luvluvluvs quilts here!! Mom doesn't do squat with it, but all her family ladies before here did..and she has some quilts dating back to late 1800's. All family. No, I am not allowed to nest in them...sigh...simply bootiful...

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Oh Boy...this is gonna be GREAT!