I love cats and that includes big cats too. In March I got a request for a bobcat quilt pattern for a school mascot and accepted it right away. I wanted to give my block a stylized feel, so instead of using fabrics that would resemble fur, I focused mostly on just the colours.
The pattern is for a 16″ block. It has only a few seam alignment points, which makes the block easy to sew regardless of how complicated it looks.
The pattern also includes alternate sections without the stripes. That eliminates a lot of piecing and, in turn, a lot of sections. It is an intermediate-advanced pattern because of all the details. This large cat quilt pattern is available in my shop.
I really love how it turned out. I am not sure yet if I am going to incorporate the block as part of a quilt or make a wall hanging with it. Since I can easily imagine those markings on a kitty-cat, this block will always represent a cat to me.
I have been playing with the colour green this month. We are always in need of bookmarks. I found a scrap of watercolour paper in the perfect shape of a bookmark on my shelf. After an exhausting Saturday, I painted these trees using Daniel Smith’s beautiful Perylene Green. I have been using the bookmark ever since.
Last weekend was the wildflower expo. Unfortunately, for various reasons we couldn’t make it there on Saturday when they would have had more plants. We went there on the cool and drizzly Sunday morning after breakfast. They still had a wide variety of local plants for sale. Although most of the plants were too young to have blooming flowers, there was a lot of information available and a group of very knowledgeable hosts to help educate us.
These are the plants that came home with us.
One of them is a Douglas Iris. I spotted this flower on one of the plants and that was immediately followed by the plant being in my little cart.
Other than sewing, painting and planning the garden, I have been updating my website a little. I added “Free To Imagine” as a tag line. I also created a new template for my pattern files so they have a better look and feel. It was a busy week, but the stolen moments of art gave me much-needed balance.
Happy Crafting,
-Soma
24 thoughts on “Bobcat In The Woods”
Carolynn April 25, 2016 at 03:49
That bobcat is great! The tufts on the ears and his curving stripes really make him!
Stephanie April 23, 2016 at 18:13
Wow, that bobcat is incredible!
Lorraine April 20, 2016 at 20:58
I love going to local plant sales. I think the plants have so much more of a chance than those that come from big nurseries. And having people on hand to answer questions who grew them is always a plus. Looks like you found some great ones. And I am blown away with your bobcat. Awesome doesn’t seem strong enough a word. I love the fabrics you chose – I think they do give quite a good texture to the cat. Wonderfully done!
Dan Kelly April 20, 2016 at 10:05
The bobcat block is beautiful! Perfect color/fabric choices!
Renee Hoffmah April 20, 2016 at 09:32
Impressive paper piecing! That bobcat looks fantastic!
Lorna McMahon April 20, 2016 at 08:16
Of course, you know I love that Bobcat!!! He’s adorable! And your new bookmark is so pretty, too!
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts April 20, 2016 at 03:01
I love the detail in your bobcat pattern Soma. It would make such a pretty pillow cover. Your garden looks like it will bring such beauty – what a treasure! Iris and lily are favorite flowers of mine; I would have brought home the purple iris too.
Kaja April 19, 2016 at 01:51
My goodness that iris is stunning! I like your bookmark a lot – have you ever thought of painting on fabric instead; I can imagine a lovely quilt with strips of trees like this in it.
Jeannette April 18, 2016 at 16:32
WOW !!! I just love the paper pieced cat you did a fantastic job with the fabrics. I have 3 cats and would love to make one of these.
Just Beautiful
Jeannette/
susan April 18, 2016 at 10:27
What a beautiful cat! No matter what you do with it, it will be wonderful. I love the bookmark, too. Even a little creativity makes things better. I know your plants will bloom gorgeously, and hopefully for years to come.
Cath April 18, 2016 at 01:58
Hi Soma…..I love the bobcat and love the fabric choice! Lovely plants too….that deep purple iris is spectacular! Thanks for linking up with Design Board Monday
Janine April 18, 2016 at 01:33
Your bobcat is amazing – it certainly doesn’t look simple to sew! I love your new tagline and your book mark is beautiful. That is a lovely green and the shading of the one colour is very effective. It looks great displayed against your plant :)
Joanie April 17, 2016 at 06:04
The bobcat is incredible! Great job on the design as well. You are quite talented!
Lara B. April 15, 2016 at 06:57
You do such beautiful designing Soma! You obviously got to know your subject well, because you captured every detail. Even right down to the ear tufts! His face is amazing! (I am assuming he is a boy, after all, his name is Bob, LOL)
What a pretty bookmark too! It’s wonderful how such a small art piece can still pack in an emotional response. The scene is very peaceful and calming.
Wildflowers and native plants are a great way to go with your garden. I used to be so into gardening. A friend and I even designed a wildlife habitat and supervised its installment with more than 100 volunteers. That was a lot of fun.
“Stolen moments of art bring much needed balance” – I love that thought Soma!
Kathleen April 14, 2016 at 19:13
Love the bobcat and your choice of fabrics for it.
Jeneta@PlumJam April 14, 2016 at 18:50
You are so clever Soma! I love the face on your bobcat. One of my favourite flowers is the iris – yours is beautiful! I really like iris’ that grow on a rhizome instead of a bulb (any plant that grows into more plants is a winner in my books!).
Dixie April 14, 2016 at 16:29
What a fabalous bobbing bobcat! You’ve captured his catness so well.
I love the bookmark. DS perylene green has a perfectly mysterious deep darkness that I love, especially beautiful on your trees.
Your plant picks look lovely. The colour of the Douglas Iris wonderful…so plush, deep and rich…
Kim Sharman April 14, 2016 at 15:48
Your stolen moments of art have produced the most glorious works of art, Soma. Oh my your bobcat is a triumph. I just look at it and think to myself “how does she do it”. It it amazing. Your bookmark is lovely. How restful to open your book and see this lovely artwork, continuously. Some lovely plants that went home with you. Love, love Irises and your Douglas Iris is a blooming beauty.
Wendy April 14, 2016 at 15:05
Bobcats and quilts … what’s not to love?! This is a beautiful block and captures the gorgeous bobcat’s calm aloof stare perfectly. You are so talented to have worked out this complicated looking piece (I know you say it isn’t complicated). The Douglas iris is gorgeous! What a rich shade of purple. And I’ll have you know I spied a wild flower here in the woods yesterday. Not sure what it was, but it’s in my computer files now ;)
France Nadeau April 14, 2016 at 10:01
Your big cat is gorgeous! I like how you made his fur coat. And the shape if his ears. And the stripes.
Your bookmark is also beautiful. Just looking at your trees is relaxing.
Block pinned
krislovesfabric April 14, 2016 at 08:35
Perfect fabric choices on this one, fun design! I especially like the ear shapes!! I saw a bobcat on our property a few times when we first moved to this area. It was far enough away that my only clue was the way it moved as it walked was more “fluid” (as opposed to a regular cat) and the shortened tail. Haven’t seen one other than at the zoo for years though.
Lori Smanski April 14, 2016 at 08:34
your bobcat is wonderful. have fun planting.
Mary April 14, 2016 at 07:29
Your bobcat is incredible, Soma. The detail is so realistic – especially those eyes. I also love your watercolor piece. I’m glad you were able to squeeze some creative moments into your busy weekend.
That purple iris is lovely. It will be fun to see the new plants thrive and bloom for years to come.
Susan April 14, 2016 at 07:29
Cute bobcat and pretty bookmark. I have been slowly changing over to more native plants too. That dark purple iris is beautiful. I would have snapped it up too.