Island Batik - April Challenge

Me: How is it?
Paul (mildly irritated): What?
Me (irritated): Your breakfast...that I just brought you, my lord.
Paul: I am still alive, am I not?
Me (through gritted teeth): In that case, let me get you another serving.
Paul (calmly): It is good to have goals.

Me: If you want me to cook for you then you need to tell me that you LIKE my cooking.

Paul: I will...AFTER I finish eating it.

Let's ignore Paul for now. 

April 2021 is a free month which means that it is all up to me - any project, any size, any theme and any technique. 

First things first - start with a sketch/concept. When you translate a concept/idea into fabric, the end results are rarely what you expect. There have been times when what seemed brilliant as a concept fell flat in fabric :-( 

With the Autumn Sunset collection in mind, I started with a rough sketch.  But picking fabric pairs to achieve the right degree of contrast (within each block) and gradation (from the adjacent block) was a huge challenge.  

The Concept

I took many many pictures and converted each to grayscale to determine value gradation. Changes were made and often. I was happy with some choices and I settled with others.  It was time to start making the blocks.

Starting here

These look fine

But will they work together?

Going from concept/design to flimsy was a gut-wrenching journey. What if this does not turn out according to my vision?  What if something just stands out too much or something just fades into nothingness?

The light blocks

The medium and dark blocks

Setting aside all my anxieties, it was time to piece the top.  No more thinking and no overthinking.

Piecing the Top

Once the flimsy was completed, I placed it on the design wall, turned and walked away about 12 feet. 

When I turned to look at it, I knew that my gamble had worked!!!

Gasp!!!

No more hesitation now. Time to baste and quilt!!!

Basting

In the end it did work out according to my expectations :-) What do you think?

Suns in the Sun

Konark Quilt

I have named this quilt Konark, meaning the "angle of the sun". Konark is also the name of the temple dedicated to the Sun God in India. The town where the temple is located is also called Konark.

Konark Quilt finished at 60" by 84".

Autumn Glow

Burning Hot

Light Suns and Dark Suns

But I have more pictures to show...so please humor me.

Cascade of Suns

Walking Foot Quilting

Hot and Spicy :-)

I used Hobbs Cotton Batting. Thank you Hobbs.

I used Schmetz Microtex Needle 70/12 for piecing and Schmetz Needle 90/14 for quilting and binding. Love Schmetz.

I used Aurifil Thread 50wt for piecing and 40wt for quilting. 

Disclosure: The fabrics, thread, batting and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:

• Island Batik
• Hobbs Batting
• Aurifil Thread
• Schmetz Needles

But wait there is more... The odd cuts leftover from Dawn were fashioned into a zippered pouch.

These colors are so yummy

Love the Autumn Sunset collection

Hugs and Kisses inside :-)

Paul: Thank you for breakfast. It was yummy.
Me: Umm Hmmm.

Whether you like your eggs poached or scrambled, here is hoping your weekend is sunny side up :-) 

One last look - Sun in the Shadows

The next Island Batik Challenge is "Make it Modern" with a Blog Hop. I am working on it right now and I will be posting on May 3, 2021.  Sorry no sneak peeks. 

________________________________________________________________

According to Angela, April is light and bright blue.  Here are my fabric picks. 

I will be sharing with Angela's Rainbow Scrap Challenge linky party and all my favorite linky parties, see full list on the sidebar.

I have a new finish and an exciting announcement - all in the next blogpost!!! 

A Warm Tribute

The Quilted Legacy Blog Hop is an effort to honor the legacy of Paula Budinger, who passed away earlier this year.  Paula blogged at http://paulabquilts.blogspot.com and later at https://paulabquilts.com. Many of us knew her through her blog and quilts. Paula loved colorful, scrappy quilts, and made kid quilts for Project Linus. Paula also studied quilt history, learned dating old quilts, and collected antique and doll quilts. 

To celebrate Paula's life and her love of quilting, some quilter-bloggers decided on a blog hop where each one of us shares a quilt we make for a charity or a cause close to our hearts. The quilts we share are as varied as each one of us. Hope you will take a few minutes to learn about Paula and visit other blogs to see the quilts made in her honor.

Paula Budinger

No blog hop can be complete without a giveaway. So let me get those rules out of the way.

Every comment (on any blogpost in the blog hop) is an entry to win one of the great prizes!  Yes, you can comment on multiple blogs. Janice will aggregate the comments and select the winners with a random number generator. The giveaway ends on May 15, 2020.

Here are the prizes: 

• Lorna, Sew Fresh Quilts, $50 gift certificate for her pattern shop.
• Yvonne Quilting Jetgirl, 2 PDF patterns of choice.
• Bernie Needle and Foot, $25 certificate for her shop.
• A fat quarter bundle from Figo Fabrics
• A set of quilty gift cards from Initial Thought by DMF  Note cards set 1
• A pattern of choice from Karen, Sugar Free Quilts
• A $30 gift certificate from Doris, Cactus Queen Quilt Co
• A PDF pattern of choice from Joanne, www.etsy.com/shop/CanuckQuilterDesigns

And here are the other blog hop participants.  


Wednesday, May 6  
Karen @ KaHolly
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of my Quilting Life
Bernie @ Needle and Foot
Linda @ My Sew-Called Quilts
Cathy @ Crazy By Design
Sue @ From the Magpie’s Nest

Thursday, May 7 
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts
Rose @ Something Rose Made
Nann @ With Strings Attached
Mari @ The Academic Quilter
Louise @ My Quilt Odyssey
Susan @ Desert Sky Quilts

Friday, May 8
Janice @ Color, Creating and Quilting
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Joy @ The Joyful Quilter
Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
Edi @ Edi’s Crafting Life
Carol @ Quilt Schmilt

Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts - This is me

And this the quilt I made.

The Finish

The story follows:

The year was 2005. I was working in Fort Lauderdale as a junior planner, where Steve was a Senior Surveyor. We connected over our love of Indian food.  One day, I brought to work home-made green shrimp curry and uncooked rice. About 11:00 AM, I switched on the rice cooker. I still remember that lunch :-) Steve enjoyed the meal and I was happy to share it with him.

When the company lost the contract, I was let go.  In a few weeks I found another job but I had to move from Florida to Maryland.  When Steve found out, he came to my apartment with 20 packing boxes. Just like that. I did not ask. I wasn't even sure if I needed them, but he knew better.

I used them all.  More than once in my life, I have received exactly what I needed when I needed it.

The universe knows it all.

The concept

On the day I had to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore, Steve offered to drive me to the airport. I was carrying three large suitcases, while the rest of my stuff was on a truck headed north. When we arrived at the airport, Steve helped me with the luggage.  And then as I fumbled with my shoulder bag to check my ticket/boarding pass, an airport worker/porter materialized.

Fabrics 

I have a feeling Steve motioned to him. What happened next happened so quickly that I am still unsure of it. Steve tipped the guy a $20 bill (I think), which he pocketed, nodded to Steve and effortlessly moved my heavy suitcases to a cart.  I looked aghast at Steve and then at the porter and at Steve again. Steve smiled, wished me a safe trip, waved and left.

On the Design Wall

We did not see each other again but have stayed in touch through Christmas/Holiday cards.

We speak over the phone every couple of years or so.

Steve has a son, Eric, who is about my age. Eric is a fire-fighter, is happily married (to Amy) and rescues and fosters dogs.

81st Block - Puppies

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related anxiety, I felt the need to reach out to Steve.  We chatted for over 35 minutes, talking about work, family and the uncertain times. When Steve mentioned that Eric was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, I knew I had to make a quilt.

Completed Flimsy

Twenty strips 6" by WOF in fall colors was the starting point.  Combined with solid jelly roll strips, I would get 80 blocks, 7" by 9" (finished size). I needed 81.  My solution for the 81st block was a puppy fabric - a nod to Eric's love of dogs.

Quilted

I used wool batting, faded chambray wide backing (from Connecting Threads) and orange binding.

Quilted sparingly to maintain softness and loft, using my walking foot.

70" by 90"

Labelled

I had a few fabric scraps left over. Added a few matching batik fabrics and made two zippered pouches.  One for Steve's wife Jeri and one for Amy.  

Scraps - Repurposed

The quilt is in the mail and USPS tells me that it will reach its destination today.

I am not going to ask but if Steve sends me pictures, I will update this post.

A Warm Tribute

This quilt was already in the works when Janice was setting up the blog hop.  The timing of the quilt just magically coincided with the blog hop. And here I am - once again - marveling at the miracles of the universe.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.



Update - May 22, 2020

The quilt reached its destination and Steve sent me this picture.

Eric's Quilt

A few days later I received two cards - one from Eric and Amy and one from Jeri and Steve.

My heart is warm but my cheeks feel wet. Stay safe my friends.

Curry Favor

Have you ever dated someone who, you knew in your heart, was completely out of your league? 
I did.

Say hello to Curry Favor... 

When I saw this Fresh Connections quilt pattern, I knew that this would be a very challenging project for a newbie like me. But the design was so attractive, I was TEMPTED!!!

The pattern was FREE. It was DETAILED. And I was ready for the next challenge. ALMOST.

I was also nervous and therefore I proceeded with utmost caution. I agonized over the fabric choices. After mulling over several days, I decided to go with the following colors:

Fabric Strips, numbered!!!

1.    Carrot (CT)

2.    Maroon

3.    Apricot (CT)

4.    Brick (CT)

5.    Orangina (CT)

6.    Red (Kona)

7.    Curry (CT)

8.    Yellow

9.    Crimson (CT)

10.  Rosewood (CT)

Most of these solids, the white and the gorgeous autumn border fabric came from Connecting Threads (CT). 

I organized them (see picture above) and kept them organized like it was a religious thing. After they were cut to the specified sizes, I put them back on the design wall where they belonged. 
As I proceeded with the cutting instructions, I worried - What if I cut all the fabric and then the blocks don't come out correctly. Wait, may be I should make one block, first. Here is the first block.

First Block, untrimmed

Trimmed First Block

Wow! it looked so beautiful, I love this block. Completing this one block gave me the reassurance I was looking for. I cut up all the fabric and proceeded with gusto and caution (a lot of caution). 

Preparing the Corners

I cut several at a time

Assembly Line...

I did a little at a time. When I felt tired or sleepy, I stopped. I followed the instructions to a fault. 
According to the pattern, I pressed to the dark side. When it came to joining the blocks, the seams, pressed to one side was an obstacle. It would mean too much bulk towards the colored fabric and too little towards the white – causing the seam to slip resulting in offset seams.

I LOVE how this is coming together...

I had to fiddle with the seams, turning them this way and that as I tried to make them nest and gently coax the fabric to do my bidding. As a result there are a hundred turned seams in the back (good thing it is hidden). This is something I have accepted. 

Pinned...

Making seams match - By hook or by crook

Look at this picture above. I allowed the white fabric to fold a teensy bit to match the red seams. Yes, it is not an ideal situation. But it will be indistinguishable once it is quilted and washed.

If When I remake this pattern (in a different color way, most probably), I will press the seams open. Yes, I love how this pattern comes together. I am sure I will make it again. 

Piecing in Progress

In the end, it was totally worth it. I believe this experience gave me fresh appreciation for matching seams. I am sure I am now better (marginally at least) at following complex patterns and matching seams. 
Were my fears unfounded? 
No and yes. 
Because I was nervous, I paid attention to every step. And because of that added care things fell in place, almost. A little bit of apprehension is a good thing. 

Autumn Glow from Connecting Threads

 

The border fabric, Autumn Glow from Connecting Threads, is my absolute favorite.

The whole process of piecing the top seemed laborious as I held my breath while sewing and then heaved a sign of relief when I opened and pressed.

Spray Basting

It took a while to baste this beauty...

Quilting in process

Rolled sandwich to manage the bulk

I quilted with my favorite squiggly stitch on my JANOME, following (trying to follow) the lines of the pieced pattern and continuing to the end of the quilt sandwich. The backing is flannel and the quilting makes a zig-zag pattern on the solid brown.

Flannel Backing

I used a very bright orange to bind the quilt.

Bright Border, Eye-Popping Binding

Here are the good things about this pattern

1.    You have to make only one type of block - it is complicated, but it is only one. 

2.     There are only 12 blocks in the whole quilt (not 36, 48 or 92).

3.     Once you organize and cut the fabric (making sure it is organized), it goes together quickly.

4.     The directions are very good, with many helpful pictures.

Binding - Stitched to Back, Squiggly Stitched to the Front

There are two things that I would have added to the instructions.

1.     Press the seams open

2.     The size of each block is about 17”

If it included a way to make it larger, that would be priceless. Unlike most other quilts that are based on a square block, it is not just adding more blocks that would turn this into a queen size quilt. One would have to figure out exactly which four colors, the correct order and the placement to make the next block.

For the level of detailed instructions included, I am VERY surprised that it is a free pattern. Thank you Windham Fabrics and a very big thank you and hugs to you Jean Katherine Smith. Here are a few more pictures.

Border Makes it POP!!!

Interlocking Squares Design - Pure Genius

Love these warm colors!!!

Pattern Detail

This is my 16th finish of 2014. My dear friend Jake helped me pick the name, Curry Favor.

Labelled!!!

Curry Favor - My 16th Quilt of 2014

What started apprehensively and cautiously ended successfully and beautifully. Yes, Curry Favor is my best work so far. 

Is there a quilt pattern that you have been eyeing and wondering - Can I make this? Is it too hard? Please share your thoughts. I love hearing from you!!!