Soft Stuff...

 

For some reason, I'm always drawn to these cut-and-sew fabric panels. This one is "Marmalade" the cat, one of the Toys From the Attic collection made by Cranston Fabrics. I sometimes find them on our guild "free table" when someone is weeding out a fabric collection. That's where I found this one, and home it came with me. I finally decided to sew, stuff, and complete the cat. She's round and soft and quite huggable. I'm not sure where she will go to live, but I'm sure someone needs Marmalade as an easy-care companion!

A smaller silver tuxedo cat on the same panel is this one- "Licorice". Licorice has a new home already. He's gone to live with a friend who recently lost her lovely gray cat just prior to moving into an assisted living facility. I weighted the bottom of the cat with doll beads so she could use it as a door stop if needed. However, she was delighted with the cat and declared he'd have a place of honor on her bed. I think this cat has a pretty face and a more realistic gaze than the larger Marmalade.

I'm not alone in my fascination with these printed panels. At one of our recent Florida Quilt Study Group meetings, a feedsack vendor was selling this book by Gloria Nixon. It has the history of stitch-and-stuff dolls from the late 1800s and includes many photos and examples of them, many of which were offered as advertising premiums. Kathy Cray, leader of the group, collects these historic doll panels and sometimes includes them in her work. You can see a wonderful example in her "Grocery List Quilt". It was on display at the New England Quilt Museum, and featured on The Rogue Quilter blog here- just scroll down to find the quilt. It features several iconic  figures such as The Jolly Green Giant and Mr. Peanut. It's a fun one and worth a look!

And in other "soft stuff" news- two groups of quilters volunteered to knit or crochet small infant hats to be delivered to a maternity hospital in Tanzania this fall. A friend asked if I could help her meet the goal of having 300 hats for the trip. I don't knit or crochet, but I know many quilters who enjoy both of these crafts in addition to quilting. And they have generous hearts, too. Between the two guilds I asked, members made more than 150 of these little hats- half the goal. Quilters always step up!