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.
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!!!
Welcome to Day One of the Island Batiks February 2021 Blog Hop - Create for a Cause.
I used the Autumn Sunset half yard bundle designed by Kathy Engle and it is shipping to stores in February 2021.
Autumn Sunset includes 20 fabrics from the lightest beige, to lemon yellow, through orange, to dark brown.
As soon as I opened the fabric bundle I decided I would recreate Paulitiks in fall colors (with one whimsical design twist) and send it to Bernie for Mercyful Quilts. It was so simple :-)
This was going to be so easy. I felt confident. I went to bed with a smile.
I was mistaken.
At about 2:45AM I got up with a start. I knew my idea was all wrong. And although I was in the middle of making the placemats for January challenge, it was the February challenge that was consuming me.
What my waking brain did not see but my subconscious self knew all along was this - Paulitiks was not the best design to showcase Autumn Sunset.
So back to the drawing board...
Beginning
A couple hours later I had the new design ready. The design was simple but the fabric placement would be the key. Working with limited fabrics can be both a boon and a challenge.
Will this work?
I took many many pictures and converted each to grayscale to determine value gradation. Changes were made and often. In the end, I was happy with some choices and I settled with others. 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?
Design Wall
Light Years away...
The first three rows met my expectation but it was too soon to tell. Once I completed the flimsy, I stuck it on the design wall and walked away about 12 feet. I turned around to look at the completed top.
I gasped. It had worked!!! But the exact moment I realized that I had succeeded was also the moment I knew I had failed. I could not part with it.
Me: How do I "Create for a Cause" and then abandon my cause? Paul: Did you say something?
Me: I am supposed to donate this quilt.
Paul: So?
Me: I cannot.
Paul: Cause you like it so much?
Me: YES. And I feel terrible.
Paul: Make another.
Me: I have used up a lot of the fabric and there is hardly any time either.
Paul: Can you make something smaller?
Me: Mercyful Quilts have to be around 60" by 80"
Paul: And there is no other cause?
Me (realization dawning): Yes. Yes, there is. Thank you. I love you.
Paul: Um Hm. You are welcome.
At this point, one week from the deadline, I abandoned the flimsy and proceeded in a different direction. The next few days whizzed past in a blur. My singular aim - highlight the fabrics!!!
This is the making of Noorie (meaning light).
Pattern
I had been playing with this pattern in an Excel Spreadsheet for a while. Will this pattern highlight the beauty of Autumn Sunset fabrics? Let's try.
Beginning
The Grid
Basting the Flimsy
Quilting
Noorie - Finished at 34" square
And this is Dawn in the making...
Starting with Diamonds
Filling in
Piecing Rows
Basting the Flimsy
Dawn - 28" by 34"
Quilting Detail
Snowy Backdrop - Fiery Colors
Dark Brown Binding
Don't you just love these colors?
Dawn warms my heart
Lovely Dawn
I will send Noorie and Dawn to Sue who works in Orange County Hospital in New York and coordinates the Stillborn Bereavement Group dedicated to providing bereavement quilts as a lasting and tangible memory of a lost pregnancy.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. Make sure to visit all the Island Batiks Ambassadors and their respective dates/stops on the Blog Hop.
The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:
To celebrate the start of Create for a Cause Blog Hop, we are giving away two fabulous Fat Quarter bundles of the complete Island Batik Citrus Sun collection by Kathy Engle! Visit the Island Batik Blog to enter.
This giveaway ends February, 5 at 11:59 pm PST. Two random winners will be notified by email on February, 6 and announced on February, 9. If the winners do not respond within the first two days after being notified, two new random winners will be chosen and notified.
Paul (pointing to the discarded flimsy): What happens to this? Will it become a flying saucer?
Me: A UFO, you mean? An unfinished object.
Paul: Yes, that.
Me: No. A UFO is anathema to a quilter's soul.
Paul: So you will finish it?
Me: Yes. This will become my April project when I can do whatever I want.
Paul: Don't you always?
Me: Only because you let me, My Lord.
Paul: Whatever you say, My Lady.
The Harris household is in the grip of Bridgerton fever, at least my half is :-)
I also have a small giveaway. Two prizes.
1. A pack of 5" squares (20) from the "Blinded by Science" collection
2. Four strips (orange/beige/brown) 5" by WOF to coordinate with the Autumn Sunset Collection.
5" squares - Blinded by Science by Island Batik
5" by WOF Strips - Island Batik Stash Builder
For a chance to win one of the two prizes, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts be they somber such as your favorite cause or light-hearted like your favorite TV show.
I will pick the two winners on February 10, 2021.
Disclosure: The fabrics and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:
Angela has announced that the RSC color for February is yellow!!! Oh my goodness, yes.
YELLOW. YELL-O-WOW!!!
Yellow is the color of new dawn and yellow is the color of Amanda Gorman's coat. Her poem "The Hill We Climb" is so beautiful...it gives me goosebumps every time listen to it. I will be thinking of her as I make the Sister's Choice Quilt Blocks. Here are my bright and whimsical squares.
Smiling Sunflower :-)
Panda Focus
I will be sharing with Angela's RSC Linky Party on Saturday.
