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