tkhooper

My club is doing a "Pet BOM" I'm doing cats. I'm not a very savvy quilter. I decided to do a cat with a beaded headdress in that lounge-y pose that I call the cleopatra pose. I thought it would be cute to do it on a stuffed chaise lounge on an egyptian garden fabric background. Now to say I'm over my head is an understatement.

1. The chaise has puckers even though I used a stabilizer. Will that work itself out as I add the french knot tufting?

2. I machine appliqued the cat to the chaise and background now I'm wondering do I bead over the stitching? That's going to be tough. Is there another answer? Do I not applique where I'm going to bead? Will the beading alone hold the cat head in place?

3. What is the best way to put on the legs on the chaise lounge. I'm a good embroiderer and I was thinking about doing that since it is close to the edge and small pieces and I'm thinking I'll never manage to needle turn them. Only two of the legs would show.

Thank you for any help you can give me. I'm also looking for an egyptian-like sashing.