Tesu

Mom asked me to make a quilt for a young girl. Of course I said yes.

What is her name, I asked. She did not know. 

How old, I enquired. Not sure, she replied.

Orange, Pink and Sparkly

At this point, I gave up. There is only so much eye-rolling I can do. I set about picking fabrics. Since I knew nothing about the recipient, my aim was to please my mother.

I chose a simple block using cream, pink and orange fabrics.

Design Wall

25 blocks

Ruby Star and Alison Glass Fabrics

Paul: Who is this for?
Me: Some little girl in India...
Paul: Do you know her?
Me: All I know is that her father helped mom with some hard to find medications.
Paul: That is it?
Me: Mom wants to express her gratitude.

Paul: So she asked you...

Me: From across the Atlantic Ocean...

Paul: Are you going to mail it to India?

Me: No, just to Pennsylvania.

Paul: Your sister is going to India?

Me: Yes. End of October.

Festive Elephants Backing

I have been hoarding this elephant fabric since 2016, I think. I know Mom will love it. In fact, Paul loves it too and has asked me to make him a pillow (he already has mug rugs and zippered pouches) from the remaining 16". That is a separate project and blogpost.  Insert eye-roll here.

Here is the finished quilt.

Tesu

I have named her Tesu.  Tesu is the Hindi name for the Butea Monosperma flower. Tesu finished at 43" square. The block is made up of 5" squares framed with 2.5" strips. 

Flame of the Forest :-)

Sunny and Warm

Here are some close-up shots.

Hello Birdie!

Pink and Orange? Well, yes!

Labelled

Love the Striped Binding

Tesu was a fun and fast quilt. 

I especially enjoyed working on her after completing the much complicated Radiance.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

The next Island Batik project is sponsored by Bags by Annie.  I am making Room with a View in three sizes. 

I will be using the Morris Mist collection. I will post on November 9. 

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Paul: We are hosting our next gaming session. Right?

Me: Yes.

Paul: What are you making?

Me: Chicken Biryani

Paul: Will I be able to eat it?

Me: Yes. I will adjust the ingredients. 

Paul: Do you use a rotisserie chicken?

Me: No, I will use drumsticks.

Paul: Bone-in?

Me: Yes. Very much so. The bone keeps the meat moist. Also, dark meat is more flavorful. I never cook with breasts.

Paul (smiling naughtily): Babe, you always cook with breasts!!!

Mabern

Happy New Year to you! Hope you are staying warm, safe and sane.  Hey, two out of three ain't bad :-D

Looks beautiful, feels horrible

I have a new finish!

First finish of 2022.

Meet my first finish of 2022 - Mabern, a combination of Mari and Bernie :-) 

Paul, the model

Mermaids Backing

Sunny Day

Mabern is so named because all the background fabric came from Mari and several of the focus fabrics came from Bernie.  Mabern finished at 40" by 48".

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

Walking Foot Quilting

Light Grey Binding

Labelled

The block in Mabern is not new. I had seen it a few times but hadn't given it a second thought. 

But on a particularly depressing day I was watching youtube, as I was on hold for a very long time with X&%$ airlines trying to cancel my flight. One video led to another and autoplay brought me to this one.  Just then Expedia called. I disconnected the existing call and took the incoming call, as I paused the video. 

While I talked to the Expedia representative, the shapes on the screen danced and twisted and turned before my eyes. By the time the phone call ended, I had a new idea. I had to try it. I dived into newly acquired scraps from Mari and Bernie.

YIPPEEE!!!

I DISCOVERED something - a new way to make an old block. I have been so excited to share it with you, but decided to wait till I completed the quilt.

This method has its limitations. If all you have are 2.5" strips, then you cannot use this method. If your block is made up of three fabrics (two focus fabrics plus the background), it won't work either.

But if you like it and use it and share it, please do include a link to this page. 

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In other news, I received an email from Island Batik. It was a tough choice, they wrote. They could only pick 25 ambassadors for the year 2022. 

I am one of them :-)

I have already received my first shipment, loaded with gorgeous fabrics. The unboxing blogpost and video will be published on January 21, 2022. The challenge for January is Step by Step - make a lap size (or larger) quilt using the Gradations Fat Quarter Bundle. Mine is Tantalizing Teals :-)

Tantalizing Teals by Island Batik

Sneak Peek

I will be sharing my Step by Step finish next week, I think. Photoshoot is contingent on model availability (trying to bribe Paul to brave the cold) and weather conditions (praying for a non-rainy and non-windy day).

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I will be playing along once again with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. RSC 2022 has been announced and January is red. Here are my blocks. 

I am not sure if I should just leave them as such now and then set them on point in the flimsy. Or add corners to each block. Hmmm... what do you think?

On-point setting

Added Corners

Sharing with Angela's Linky Party. Love to hear your thoughts.

Sonika

Meet Sonika.
Mom's name + baby daughter's name = Sonika.

Sonika

It started with sparkly white squares and some jelly roll strips.

half log cabin block

setting triangles

But the magic comes from the on-point setting.

On-point

I chose a bright turquoise and purple butterfly backing.
Warm front and cool backing :-) I had a good feeling about this one.

Butterfly Backing

Quilted it simply with my walking foot and a zig-zag stitch, following the piecing.

Zig Zag quilting

For binding I used a dark purple fabric. It is not solid but reads like one.

Purple Binding

And I did not forget the label. Also important because it includes care instructions for the quilt.

Finished!!!

Here are some more pictures of Sonika. She finished at 46" square - perfect for the baby and should be good for at least a couple of years.

46" square

Warm and Cool

Brightly yours

Sending hugs

No, I have not seen the baby yet. And I am not sure when we will be able to make the trip.
But that does not mean that the baby should be deprived of quilty hugs.

Sonika has reached her destination and was very well-received. The mom even promised to send me some pictures with the baby on the quilt. But you know how that works - new moms are super busy and promises are like babies - easy to make and difficult to deliver :-D

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. As usual, I'd love to hear from you.

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One of my favorite quilt designers is Maryline Collioud-Roberts. I follow her blog, her Etsy shop and her Instagram feed.  Love her work and her daily photograph inspirations.  If I could I would take her class. Alas, she lives in Switzerland :-(
So I did the next best thing.
I bought two of her patterns - Blue Ducks and Carnavale - from her Etsy shop.
To make the Blue Ducks pattern, I would need 40 solid fabrics in warm colors and 30 solid fabrics in cool colors.

Then I saw that Bluprint had 40% off sale on all supplies and this box of Boundless Fat Quarters could be mine. Well, Happy Birthday to me.  It has 90 FQs and I should be able to pick out 40 warm and 30 cool fabrics, after I discard the ones that are too dark or too light.

Boundless Collage Fat Quarter Box

Full Disclosure - Although I am an affiliate, I am not a fan of Bluprint's subscription service because I believe if I had the choice to watch any class at any time, it would be a huge distraction. So I stick to the old model wherein I buy the class I need and have it forever.  However I still like their Boundless and Lily and Loom fabrics.

So some time later this year, after I have petted these beauties to my heart's content, I will cut them up for the Blue Ducks pattern :-)

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Thank you for the love you have shown to the International Sister Quilt Block.
Here is a shout out to all my quilty sisters who have made this block.
KaHolly
Cathy
KiwiKid
Little Penguin Quilts

You make me happy :-)

Unnamed but Not Unloved

I made a quilt with no name...

Yes, it is unlike me.

The focus fabric - pink and brown floral - was in random pieces, left abandoned at the free table on the guild meeting.
I knew it had potential.

I picked them up and brought them home.

Trying to make the best of the random pieces, I cut them into 6.5" squares.  Some squares had to be pieced.

Found some pinks, yellows and browns to match.

Decided on  large Disappearing Nine Patch.

Felt unsure about the green border but admonished myself - Do not overthink. Finish it.

But I did not have to think too hard about the backing.  This lovely pink fabric just jumped out at me.

Quilted simply with a decorative stitch, using my walking foot, this was a quick and a gratifying finish.

This will go to charity.  I won't put my formal label on it.  I will put a simple handmade label.

I hope that the recipient will choose a name.

At this time, I am busy working on a quilt for my Mom.  Cannot share it with you. Not yet.

But I can share with you this fabulous sale from Craftsy.

Craftsy is continuing its birthday festivities with 50% off member-favorite classes. Grab a class before the deal expires on Saturday!

There are over one hundred classes on sale right now.  It is difficult to pick one.

Here are my recommendations

Debbie Caffrey's class is a must for all quilters.  Learn her efficient techniques for using a rotary cutter and streamlining your cutting process.  And it is half off right now!!!

There are two reasons that I recommend this class.

1. Jacquie is an excellent teacher.  2. There are very few good classes that teach you Modern Quilting. That it is one sale is just an added benefit.

Elizabeth Hartmann is a an accomplished quilter and designer.  I like her because she is very methodical.  Her techniques are precise. That is very valuable to me because it simplifies Modern Quilt Making.  

If you are unsure of this class, I HIGHLY recommend you try her free class - Creative Quilt Backs.

What is your favorite class on Craftsy? And why?  As usual, your comments brighten my day.

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties.

This blogpost contains affiliate links.