Island Batik Row by Row Challenge

Paul: There is a new restaurant in Ashburn.
Me: Uh huh.
Paul: Take a look. They have alligator.
Me: Cajun?
Paul: Yes. They have andouille sausage, shrimp and grits, jambalaya and also beignets.
Me: They sure look authentic.
Paul: Let's go.
Me: Happily.
Paul: Valentine's Day?
Me: Absolutely NOT.
Paul: Oh come on.
Me: Every place is overpriced, overhyped and overcrowded.
Paul: They cannot be any more overpriced than they already are.
Me: I did not come to America because I was missing crowds. 

I won the argument. We will go another day.  

In my opinion, the perfect Valentine's Day is spent at home with takeout while watching a favorite movie.

An imperfect quilt

A perfect quilt (in my opinion) does not exist. Anything can be made better and that quest for perfection is a recipe for unhappiness. To make this point, I made a quilt - Pobody's Nerfect.

The Island Batik February Challenge (and Blog Hop) requirement was simple. Using the Fall 2021 Fabric Bundle, make a row by row quilt, lap size (or larger), using any technique(s).

I received Lace and Grace. It is a Signature Collection for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs designed by Kathy Engle. It is a beautiful collection and I love it.  Lace and Grace should be shipping to your local quilt stores now.

I used Island Batik Solid White for the background. I believe it best shows off the spring colors of the collection.

I had begun thinking about this challenge in December 2021, while I was still nursing the pain of my failed travel plans. Naturally, the bird block was first.

Designed in EQ8

Bird Blocks

Birds needs trees to nest. So trees were added. I had first designed this twin tree block in 2020 for the quilt tops made for the Australian Bush Fires Relief.

Twin Trees

Of course I would like to live in a place with lots of trees and birds chirping nearby. So houses were added. 

House Block

The flowers are aspirational.  My yard is a mess but there is some green growth, when it is not covered with snow. 

Grassy Border on the Bottom

The grass formed a natural border on the bottom. I wanted to add a similar element on the top. Paul suggested sky or clouds. Too tame, I thought. It needs festoons or buntings, like celebrations.

Festoons Border on the Top

Although I designed the quilt in EQ8, some changes were made in the process, adding what I liked and removing what did not seem to work.

Mock up in EQ8

Every row has a mistake, intentionally added, to justify the slogan - Pobody's Nerfect. 

Find every mistake, smile and then say aloud. "I am not perfect and I don't have to be."

Pobody's Perfect

I used 80/20 Cotton Bleached batting by Hobbs. 

I used Aurifil Thread for both sewing (50 wt) and quilting (40 wt)

I used 80/12 Microtex Schmetz Needle for sewing and 90/14 Schmetz needle for quilting.

Having spent all my passion in patchwork, I quilted simple squiggly lines using my walking foot.  The binding is Island Batik Neutral Cream.

Gorgeous Fabrics

Picnic Ready!

You make me happy...

Pobody's Nerfect finished at about 60" by 70" and I am perfectly happy with all its imperfections :-)

Happily Imperfect :-)

Island Batik is giving away some gorgeous fabrics to celebrate these new releases. You don't want to miss it. And speaking of things you do not want to miss, here is a complete listing of all the Island Batik ambassadors and the links to their blogs. Some are cute, some are beautiful and some are so handsome (I want to sleep with them). 

January 31:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese 

February 1:

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts
Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

February 2:

Megan Best, Bestquilter

February 3:

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

February 7:

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

February 8:

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

February 9:

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

February 10:

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky
Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

February 14:

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde
Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

February 15:

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

February 16:

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum
Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (this is me)

February 17:

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio
Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

February 21:

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

February 22:

Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts
Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. And if you tell me about your battle (or skirmish) with the pursuit of perfection, I will enter you in a giveaway of my own.  

For readers in the US - A scrap pack of assorted fabrics (2 prizes). For international readers - a pattern from my Etsy Shop (2 prizes). The giveaway is open till February 28, 2022. I will announce the winners on March 2, 2022.

Paul: Can we go now?
Me: I thought you'd never ask.
Paul: BRAT!!! You have been so busy...
Me: Well, I have some time before the next challenge...

Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Island Batik   Aurifil Thread   Hobbs Batting & Schmetz Needles !!

I wish I was a bird...

Then I could fly on my own. I won't need a plane or a boarding pass. I could certainly bypass the visa requirements and security checks.

I would not have to deal with unnecessary and cumbersome regulations. Stifling laws and changing policies would not ground me. 

Too chunky?

Alas I am not a bird. And we are in the middle of a pandemic...which is not going away anywhere for a long time. So here I am, in spite of doing all the things I thought I had to do, still grounded.

On Sunday, December 19, 2021, after Paul dropped me at the airport and I had been in the check-your-bags line for an hour, some official checked my passport/visa only to tell me that my visa is no longer valid. I could not fly home to see my mom.

Me: I have a multiple entry visa that is valid till 2026.

Official: All those visas have been suspended.

Me: What can I do?
Official: You have to apply for an e-visa. You could get it in two days if you hurry and fly out on Wednesday. Of course there will be charges.
Me: I understand there will be visa application fees.
Official: Yes, but also flight rescheduling charges.

Fighting tears and suppressing rising sobs, I called Paul to pick me up.  Then I called mom to cancel the taxi she had ordered to pick me up from the New Delhi airport. 

Once home, I called the airline to reschedule the flight for the following Sunday, adding few days to be on the safe side.  While on hold I navigated to the e-visa application site and began filling out the online form. While I heard Covid safety guidelines on the phone in a loop, the e-visa site rejected my application because my passport validity was less than six months.

Forget the visa and the flight, I must apply for Passport renewal first. Of course rapid services are available by telephone appointments only - Monday to Friday, 8:00AM to who the hell cares by now!!!

Even if I got a rapid passport renewal, followed by a rapid e-visa, and a rescheduled flight (with charges of course), will all those things come together magically by Sunday?  Further, I would have to adjust my return date too, which had its own ramifications for work. 

It was still mid-morning and Paul was taking a necessary nap after two unnecessary airport trips. 

In that moment, I felt alone and wept. If only I was a bird...

Too flat?

Adding insult to injury, the airline kept me on hold so long that the call timed out. THRICE!!!  Finally, Expedia called confirming the cancellation and refund minus cancellation charges. It may take 8-12 weeks, she added. But I bought Travel Protection, I insisted. I should not have to pay cancellation charges. The Expedia representative was kind and supportive. She suggested that I reach out to the Travel Protection agency to file a claim against cancellation charges.  

That was Sundaze. Welcome to Mondoom.

On Monday, I tried to make an appointment for an expedited passport renewal. 

Agent: When are you traveling?

Me: As soon as I can after my passport is renewed and I can get a visa.

Agent: I need an itinerary number, confirmation number or ticket number.

Me: But how can I book my flight if I don't have a valid passport or a visa.

Agent: Those are the rules ma'am. Please call us back once you have a booking.

So I make a booking, buy travel protection, cross my fingers (and toes) and call back, all in the next 20 minutes.

Agent: When are you traveling?

Me: December 28, 2021

Agent: I need an itinerary number, confirmation number or ticket number.

I do as asked.

Agent: The next available appointment is January 3, 2021.

DAFUQ!!!

It took me two hours to cancel the just-booked December 28, 2021 flight.  

Eventually I accepted the fact that the universe did not want me to travel to India at this time.  

Why could I not be a bird?

I like this color

Paul: You should unpack, babe.

Me: That is difficult - like taking apart my dreams

Paul: Then just take out the cake and cookies.

Tuesdough!!! 

I eat too many cookies.

Wednesduh :-(

I go to CVS for a new passport picture.  

The first one was horrible - I looked murderous. 

I tried to barely smile in the second one. It was barely acceptable. 

I showed it to Paul. He laughed. 

Paul: You look pissed but trying to hide it.

Me: You know me so well.

Paul: So what is next?

Me: I apply for passport renewal tomorrow.

Paul: Perfect. That's my girl.

Me: I love you.

Paul: I love you too.

Fly home, little birds

And here I am Thursday morning... writing this blogpost.   Thank you to everyone who wished me safe travels and a fun trip. I wish you an "uneventful" holiday season and a happy new year.