Wednesday 1 May 2019

Rain Drop Keeps Fall On My Hed on May 1st

Josephine in Spring


When I first read this quarter’s challenge I groaned, “Are you kidding me?” When I finally settled in to give it a good think, the image that kept popping up was the top part of a head at the bottom of a quilt with rain drops falling and the words: Raindrops keep falling on my head, but that doesn’t mean _____. After watching my little tortoiseshell cat, Josephine, flinch and twitch while getting rained on one day last month, I thought of putting a cat head at the bottom instead of a people head. Then I suddenly remembered a cat quilt I had made twenty years ago and the final idea sprang to mind fully formed in about sixty seconds. I made a little sketch and set to work.

The cat is a variation of a cat from the pattern “There Are Cats on My Quilt” by the late Billie Lauder. There are ninety-nine 2″ blocks plus the border. It measures about 22×19 inches or 56×48 centimeters. I tried and ripped out two attempts at quilting (while uttering a few several choice cuss words) before falling back on my usual wavy cross hatch. I like how crinkly it makes quilts once they are washed and dried. Finally, the words came from the depths of my darling, exasperated and exasperating pussycat’s soul: “Mom-mee! Rain drop keeps fall on my hed but that not meen I not want go owt! Then bak in. Then owt. Then…” And there you have it: Josephine in Spring.


Is MY quilt!


10 comments:

  1. Aw Maureen, this is great - so funny, and so like a cat! How clever to get Josephine's colouring just right too. I like the raindrops and your choice of fabric for the sky and garden and the wavy quilting is the finishing touch.

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  2. I love the expression on the cat in your quilt and your photograph, you have managed to put such personality in to your quilt!

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  3. You've captured your cat's expression so well on the quilt. This is a very clever interpretation of the theme! What fun.

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  4. Looks exactly like her - great eyes! I had to laugh at the ins and outs as the dogs do that to me especially Maggie our young Basset. They don't like the rain either!

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  5. I like the various colors for the rainy sky, and the florals for the garden. And the whiskers! I would hope Josephine is honored by being commemorated in quilt form, but I expect she takes it as her rightful due.

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  6. No doubt about it, this is definitely HER quilt. The expression you got on her is priceless! How did you do the eyes? The outdoors look fits it perfectly. Congratulations!

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  7. This is a fantastic quilt. You really have captured a wonderful portrait of your cat and I love your background with the words. Josephine looks very pleased with it too :)

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  8. I like your interpretation. Your cat’s face, especially the eyes, is wonderful. And those thoughts of Josephine remind me of the independent thinking of cats.

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  9. Oh Josephine, this fantastic! I especially love the cat talk, tee hee! Although my cats love the rain and often go out when it starts raining!
    And you made it so like your own cat!
    I like the wavy line quilting! I have a few quiltlets that need completion and I shall have to see if I can use that idea to finish one or two of them.
    Actually, this is just what I need to make for my little monsters for when they demand to sit on my lap, but I’d need alternative wording!
    Well done, it’s wonderful!
    Barbara xx

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  10. Whoops, sorry Maureen, just realised my mistake! (Trying to write too quickly!)
    I do love that last caption, tee hee, “Is MY quilt”, our cats are just like that with their cushions!
    Barbara xx

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