Garden City

A new year calls for a new pattern!

Meet Garden City. 

Garden City

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Island Batik collection Shadow Blooms, Garden City is a layer-cake friendly quilt finishing at 64" by 88".

We chose a particularly cold and windy day to take pictures.

Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals)

The collection includes Blues, Teals and Purples.  I used Egg White (Neutrals) as Background. The Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals). I used Hobbs Thermore Batting.

Hi Handsome!

Walking Foot Quilting

To make Garden City, you will need just one Layer Cake and 4.5 yards of Background fabric.  The pattern is available in my Etsy Store. It includes colored graphics and step by step directions. Garden City is on sale (25% off) till Wednesday, 1/15/25.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So if you'd like a copy of the Garden City Quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning the favorite book (and author) you read in 2024.  If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email so that I can reach you. 

I will announce two winners next week.

1/19/2025 Update - The two random numbers are #1 and #13. 

#1 - Carolyn, you are a no-reply blogger. Please contact me at sewpreetiquilts at gmail so that I can send you your pattern.

#13 - GranChris - Email sent.

In other news, Island Batik has announced the slate of ambassadors for 2025. Slashing the number from 26 to just 22, the competition was even tougher this year. Many applicants did not make it. I am thrilled (and relieved) that I made the cut.

We have received our first box of supplies. I will share the Unboxing video and blogpost next week. But here is sneak peek.

I will be participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Angela has announced that January is Pink. Here are my selected pinks (Island Batik fabrics).

I am working on my January RSC 2025 blocks. Will show you when I post next time, along with the Unboxing video. Sharing with Angela's and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Hope you stay safe, warm and dry.

Olivia

Let me introduce you to Olivia.

Olivia likes the outdoors!

She is simple, layer-cake friendly, and suitable for beginners and advanced quilters alike. I used the Buds and Blooms Garden collection to make Olivia.

This is such a beautiful collection with a wide range of values from light yellow, through medium red and orange all the way to deep purple. I love these warm colors. Look for Buds and Blooms Layer Cake in your local quilt store.

Here are some more pictures.

Breezy Day

Glowing Fabrics

Gorgeous Fabrics

To make Olivia, you need one layer cake, one focus fabric and background. I am sure you have a layer cake that is (almost) too pretty to cut up.  Olivia makes sure that your fabric shines while you get a fun and fast quilt in the colors of your choice.

Quilting Detail

Backing, Binding & Label

Finishing at 60" by 84", Olivia is a perfect size for Mercyful Quilts as well as Quilt of Valor. 

Here are a couple of mock-ups in Red, White and Blue. 

Olivia in "Porcelain Blue" Collection with Red (Island Batik Blender) 

Olivia in "Red, White & Blooms" Collection with Blue (Island Batik Blender) 

My detailed instructions show how to distribute the fabrics evenly throughout the quilt, with no two blocks the same.  Olivia is now available in my Etsy Shop. Priced at $10, it is a steal but you can get it for just $8 till December 15, 2023.

Thank you, Paul

I will be by the river, enjoying a picnic with Paul and Olivia. But if you want to win a copy of Olivia quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this post, mentioning your favorite colors to make this quilt. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email address. 

I will pick one lucky winner next week. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

UPDATE: The two lucky winners are #18 and #39. Emails have been sent.

A Queen's Necklace

I had not seen my mother in three and a half years.  When I saw her, she was lying in a hospital bed and was almost unrecognizable.  She had lost a lot of weight and looked pale.

The Queen's Necklace

How could I be angry at her, when she looked so weak, so tired and so defeated?
I cried. We hugged.

Intersecting Circles

After the surgery, when she came home, I showed her the quilt.  Her face beamed with happiness.
And then she realized the amount of work that went into it, since she is herself a sewist.

Quilting

"Why did you put so much effort into it?"
"So that, when you look at it, you can forget your pain and feel better"
"It is very beautiful"
"I am calling this one RaaniHaar (Queen's Necklace)"
"Perfect name"

Paisley Backing

Although the surgery was successful and she has started walking a few steps every day, it will take her at least six weeks to regain strength and be fully mobile.  Maybe longer.

Purple Border

I am glad that the quilt will be there to remind her that I love her so very much.
I hope that she gets better soon.

Candy Colored Striped Fabric for Binding

Thank you to all of you, who have shared my journey, shared your stories, provided love and support, and above all sent loving wishes for my mom.  When I let you glimpse into my relationship  with my mom, I had no idea that it would strike such a chord with so many of you.

Eye Candy

I have felt such an amazing connection to all of you who opened your hearts and let me know that I am not alone. That although our stories may be different but our hearts and feelings are the same.

Finished - just in time

Here is the truth that I discovered - even when we are hurt by our loved ones, we cannot wish them anything but happiness. Because we are not connected by that hurt.

Dimpled - after a wash

We are connected by love. And therefore their pain becomes our pain.

Light and Shadow Play

The only way to lessen our pain is to lessen theirs.  I wish my mom heals quickly.
So that I may heal too.

I returned from India last week and brought back some fabric.
"What a shocker," remarked Paul.   But that is a whole new blogpost.
Now that I am back, I will resume my activity in the blogland including visiting, commenting and linking :-)

As usual, I'd LOVE to hear from you.