Growing up in India my earliest memory of skull and crossbones was Danger.
It can be seen on poisonous substances, high voltage equipments, near railway crossings and anything deemed hazardous. In my mind the skull was evil, indicative of death and danger.
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| On location |
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| Fancy meeting you here |
Coming to America was a culture shock in so many ways.
The whole concept of Halloween was bizarre and mind-boggling. How can scary be fun?
Gouged out eyes, blood and scars are disgusting. Why would anyone purposely want to be hideous?
It was completely revolting to see skulls on fabric. But when I saw skulls with flowers in the eye-sockets (sugar skulls), it was the ultimate nausea.
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| Flimsy Finished |
Over a period of time, I came to accept these bizarre symbols even when I did not understand them.
Fast forward a few years. I watched the movie
Coco. The movie has been described as "a loving tribute to Mexican culture".
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| Solid scraps |
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| Sewn and Cut |
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| Backing fabrics |
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| Backing Design |
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| Finished Back |
If you have not seen this movie, you are missing out. It is on Netflix and I highly recommend it watching it a few times before it is gone.
The basic premise of the movie is this - after we die, we continue to live in the memories of our loved ones. When we are forgotten, when no one living remembers us, that is when we truly disappear. Once a year, those who have passed (but are still remembered) get to visit their loved ones in the living world. The skeletal forms are used to depict those who have left their bodily forms.
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| Poco Loco |
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| Love this!!! |
This quilt - Poco Loco is a celebration of the movie Coco, which changed my perceptions.
Poco Loco is one of the several fantastic songs from the movie.
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| Walking Foot Quilting |
Multicolored striped fabric was inserted between solid rectangles. Slivers of solids leftover were then sewn together and inserted between black and white prints to make the pieced back.
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| Composite Solids Strip |
Walking foot quilting is my refuge. I wanted a black binding just to frame all the bright colors but a black thread (to secure the binding to the front) on black fabric is pure torture on my eyes.
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| Faux piped binding
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I used a faux piped binding with a sliver of white. White thread on white fabric worked just fine and overall frame is still black. Love it :-)
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| Labelled |
And a few more pictures on location.
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| Color is energy |
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| Lots of energy |
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties.
What changed your perceptions? As usual, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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This week I have an upcoming appointment with six of the
International Sisters. They all want pink gowns with matching headdresses. I am ready. Here are the six complete outfits I have chosen.
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| July is Pink - RSC 2019 |
These International Sisters have been visiting several studios in the blogland including
Cathy,
Kaholly and
KiwiKid. Have you heard from them? I'd love to know.
I have linked with
Angela's linky party where you can see other rosy and pink blocks.
bright happy quilts - love how you display over the sculpture - it makes the color of the quilts stand out even more!
ReplyDeleteThat's a bright happy quilt, on both sides! I like it, and the photos are great!
ReplyDeleteBlack and white and bright is always a winning combination. The front and back of your quilt are beautiful. I love how you have a nice story for every quilt.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is bright and cheery on both sides. I love it when the backing is so nice it could also be the front. Great work - as ususal!
ReplyDeleteI share your initial reaction to skulls and scary images - and I truly did not understand Dia de los Muertos until I watched Coco - I'm still not a huge fan of sugar skulls etc. but I do have greater respect for their meaning now. Poco Loco, especially that black and white backing, is terrific.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the cultural lesson. I'm not much of a movie watcher so I doubt I would ever see Coco but thankful for your information. I love your quilt design. It really sings to me so much that I think I need to look at a piece of stripe fabric I have to see if I can do something similar. It will be a while before I can try something but someday I might try it. (Oh good grief -- I've just mentally added another quilt to the someday list!)
ReplyDeleteWe loved Coco and your quilt is a great tribute to it! I love the color and the contrast with black and white. Looks like you will have fun with those pink sisters this week, too!
ReplyDeleteThe back is almost more fabulous than the front. Both are beautiful and bright.
ReplyDeleteThat guy really seems to like your quilt. Fabulous combination of fabrics. The back is as much fun as the front. Thanks for the recommendation, I've never watched CoCo, but will give it a try.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! I just love striped fabrics and using them in small ways. The backing is a perky choice to balance out all the colors.
ReplyDeletePreeti, I am IN LOVE with your beautiful, oh so colorful, quilt! Those brights pop so perfectly off of the black and white. Wonderful job, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt name - again :) And interesting background story. The lady with the fishes reminds me of one of the past ones. I was going to say husband and wife - ups, sisters of course :) I also think that the one on the top right has a very lovely dress! xo
ReplyDeletePretti, I enjoy all your blogs but this one has to be one of my favorites. What a great idea to use "Bob" as a quilt display. And you mixing of color and line are wonderful. Guess i will have to watch Coco.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
I love the quilt both the front and backing. Your display pics are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI have not watched COCO for personal reasons, but now I will because you convinced me. I am not a big fan of Halloween either.
Congrats on a wonderful quilt!
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to see the movie after that endorsement!
So colorful! What a great idea to put those striped bits in there.
ReplyDeleteI love the stripy inserts, front and back!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love Poco Loco! You are a master of color, my friend! I’m going to go watch Coco, but I have to say I already love the Mexican culture. Sugar skulls and Day of the Dead celebrations were part of my youth growing up in SoCal - and in my dotage now (hehe) with extended family living in Southern AZ.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bright and cheery quilt. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI like the back of this quilt as well as the front. Both sides are so cheery and bright. Your choices in fabrics really makes it sing. Great job!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Oh, Preeti, I think you’ve captured the celebration perfectly. I never really knew much about the Day of the Dead and was perplexed by it for a long time (and yes, also repelled by the skulls). I have slowly been learning about it and have come to see it as joyful instead morbid. I still have a lot to learn. Sounds like Coco should be on my list.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the story! And your quilt is very Mexican in color and design. Being in an occupied territory (pilgrimage) changed my perceptions of what I thought I understood about the middle east - and it was a very small sampling. I must look this movie up!
ReplyDeleteI love the back as much as the front! I may just have to watch Coco now.
ReplyDeleteHi Preeti! I love reading your blog. You always teach me something and it's usually something to make me a better person. I will definitely have to check out that movie. What a wonderful premise. I guess my mom will never fade away or disappear. I love those photos of you holding your lovely quilt. Your coworker was a gem but you're even a better front person for your skills. I'm not usually a fan of pieced backings - for me anyway - but I just love yours, It is very fitting and makes the quilt definitely reversible. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteI love how your quilts almost always have a story. You think a lot. Compared to you, I'm pretty shallow, lol. This is a story I did not know. You've constructed a beautiful little quilt, front and back! I continue t make my sisters blocks. I have more than I need, but I just can't stop!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and bright quilt. But where is the conversation with your hubby????
ReplyDeleteOh I love this story and this quilt! I was told to watch Coco by another friend - since you recommend it - I am on it!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Preeti, this is so you, so bright and happy. I still dislike skulls, even sugar skulls, but I did love the movie Coco. I'm certainly inspired to dig out my ancestor's pictures! Love the pictures with the statue! He really does seem to need a lap quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis quilt really caught my eye, and I want to try a version myself. I have watched the movie and I enjoyed hearing your story about your aversion to skulls, which I share, even after watching the movie. Thanks so much for such interesting posts!
ReplyDeleteI don't know which I like more: your quilts or your blog. Both are alive with color (fabric and commentary). I've been seeing your international sisters popping up in several other blogs. All have been wonderful to the point where I wonder if it is even possible to make bad fabric choices. It's so irresistible that there's a sisters quilt in my future. Thank you for sharing this wonderful pattern.
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie and really enjoyed it too. I love the concept of ancestors being remembered, and my interest in genealogy was based on remembering ancestors. Your bright quilt is a wonderful tribute to your ancestors!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the movie, but love your story and the quilt. Black and white fabrics are seldom seen in my work! Your ladies will look gorgeous in their chosen outfits.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy reading your blog and story of how a quilt comes to being with you. The quilt is beautiful. Your next lots of Sisters look amazing, they will be very pretty in Pink.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt story! I'm sure you thought you'd landed in a land of lunatics when you first experienced Hallowe'en. In a way, you had. I was totally amazed when I landed in China and found they were having a holiday to wash the bones of the elders in their tombs. Not what I would have thought constituted an excuse for a family get together, but it's worked for centuries... Love the life in the Poco Loco quilt, and the pink girls.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting learning about how different cultures remember and honor their ancestors. I often put flowers on my parents' and grandparents' graves and a sister has researched our genealogy. We'll watch the movie now out of curiosity. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is fabulous. Your ability to combine colors always amazes me. Say hello to the pink International Sisters.
My patients continue to challenge my perception (and preconceptions) daily! I work in a community health centre as a GP, and meet a lot of people who have had it a lot harder than me in life. Through their stories I have come to redefine success and courage. There are many people I know that in our society are considered "losers" (such a horrible word), but that I can only admire for their strength and perseverance. Also, being in close contact with illness, suffering and death almost daily, gives me an outlook on "success" and "the good life" that is different from many people I know. I also lived in another culture as a child, and learned at a young age that "normal", "correct", "valuable" or "desired" can mean very different things, according to your cultural perspective.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I finished the baby quilt! You can see the pictures on the Liefde uit de Lappenmand blog!
Love Poco Loco - so full of color!
ReplyDeletePoco Loco is a beauty. Love the bright colors with the black and white. Your ladies are going to be very well dressed. Happy stitching.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely way with words. And you are always so open work your "faults" and negative thoughts. Every one of us has felt and thoughts and can completely relate. But few of us have your eloquence and humility to express it so well. I always enjoy your posts and I find myself wishing I was in your inner circle. You are an amazing human being and a gift to the world. Thank you for being so uniquely you and for sharing yourself so freely.
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