Great quilts! Sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pet. I know what you mean about the black background. I am finishing up a quilt right now that is more black than anything else. I have an all white cat (see avatar) and 2 shepherds that shed something terrible. I will be gifting it next Friday. As soon as I get the binding on it and it is washed and dried, it will go into a bag without ever leaving the laundry room and then will go to the garage until we leave Friday morning for Michigan!