Lo and Behold

It started here, when Julie mentioned my name on her blog in the same sentence with Scrap Vortex quilts.  It was official.
Hi, I am Preeti and I am a scrap vortex addict. And here is my latest - meet Lo and Behold.

Lo and Behold

Scrappy

Bright

I wanted to quilt a spiral in true scrap vortex spirit.
I found the center and started to quilt - p a i n f u l l y   s l o w l y.
And then I came to the horror of my horrors conclusion - I cannot quilt a tight circle/spiral with my walking foot.

Painstakingly stitches were removed. But I was not going to give up.
Just because I couldn't do a spiral in the beginning does not mean that I won't do a spiral at all.

Modification Quilting - I started with a triangle and echo quilted it till it was large enough and then started the circular spiral quilting.

Somewhat Spiral

Now, it is possible that the quilting spiral flattened out as it reached the edges. But you are ok with that, right?

Triangle in a Spiral

Let me show the back? Oh my quiltyness, you gotta see the back. I used the scrappy triangles leftover from Fire Pit to make the pieced backing.

Pieced Backing

From Scraps to Scrumptious

Princess Bonniebella's little lamb was missing.  Oh no.

Princess Bonniebella

May be the birds saw him scamper off.
Did you see my little lamb, she asked.

Guiding Birds

The birds chirped and turned their heads left. Bonniebella followed them. But she was so engrossed in looking at the birds that she stepped on a crab.

Crabby Crabs

Bitten by the crab, she cried out in pain. The lazy turtles opened their droopy eyes.
The fox jumped over the bush.

Jumpy Fox

Charlie Brown heard her scream. What happened he asked.
The dancing elves explained.
Charlie rushed to help the princess get rid of the crab claw. Snoopy followed - this was a new adventure.

Charlie Brown & Snoopy

As the pain eased, Bonniebella noticed Snoopy. Oh that is an adorable puppy, she said.
Snoopy smiled a big floppy smile and scampered away.
They ran after him. Over the fields and flowers, past the foxes and the penguins.
Let me chase those pink and purple cats, thought Snoopy, and he switched direction.

Colorful Cats enticed Snoopy

The princess and Charlie followed.
The colorful turtles just nodded with amusement - Why the fuss, they thought?
When Snoopy saw the fierce monsters, he froze.

Fierce Monsters

Finally, Charlie and the princess caught up with him.
Charlie scolded him but the princess held him. And Snoopy was calm.

I am hungry, said Charlie. I am exhausted, said the princess.
Oh look there is a cup cake and candy too.

Cake but it is Fake

But it was just a picture. No real cake.
The elves whispered - you can make your own cake.

Dancing Elves

How?
Here are the ingredients - eggs, butter, milk and flour.

Eggs and Milk

Look, I found a whisk.

See the whisk? Next to the crabs.

But how will we cook it. We have no oven.
May be the fire-breathing dragons can help with that, winked the elves.

Fire breathing dragons

The wafting smell from the baking was an invitation to all the creatures - crabs, cats, birds, turtles, and penguins.

Dancing (on the ice) Penguins

Foxes and owls came too. Lo and Behold there was a party and everyone enjoyed the cake.

Foxes and Owls

And although you can buy and eat readymade cupcake isn't it sweeter when you make your own - be it a quilt or a cupcake?
This is my story. What is yours?

P.S. Charlie asked the princess - why did you leave the safety of your palace?
I lost my little lamb and went looking for him.

Can you find the lamb? Do you see him now?

Do you know why the lights on the Christmas tree shine so bright?  Because they are plugged into the sunflower which draws its energy from the sun. :-D

Plugged in to the Sunflower :-)

Lo and Behold finished at about 57" by 58.5". this is my 18th finish of the year and I am loving it.

Hi, my dear!

You look lovely

and so calm...

Labelled

Finished!!!

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar). What makes you shine today? I'd love to hear from you.

Aurora

Meet Aurora. She is my entry to this year's Bloggers Quilt Festival.

Aurora - Finished at 80" by 96"

The story of this quilt follows below.

We work in the same company but in two different offices. Her bridal shower was at 3:00 PM. 

I was busy trying to wrap up work for a meeting on Monday. I got there just after 5:00 PM.

The party was over and people had returned to their cubes.  Some had already left for the weekend. There was still some leftover cake in the office kitchen.

I congratulated the bride-to-be and gave her the little gift I had put together - something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Me: When is the wedding?

Bride to be (BTB): In two weeks.

Me: Wow!!!

BTB: It is all happening so quickly.

Me: I understand.

BTB: We feel so rushed.

Me: You know, Paul and I got married in a hurry. His parents were visiting for his graduation and we decided to save them a trip. We were married by the justice of peace at Paul's friend's house. With just eight guests, it was a very small ceremony.
BTB: Oh so you understand.
Me: Don't worry about the wedding. The marriage is more important. 

BTB: Would you like to come to the wedding?

Me (speechless for a moment): We'd be honored.

BTB: I will send you the invitation. Make sure you get some cake on the way out.

Me: We will be there.
BTB: Make sure you get some cake on the way out.
Me: Oh yes. In fact, I am taking a piece for Paul as well.

10" squares

Back at home, I told Paul about the wedding invitation.
Me: I want to make a quilt.  

Paul: Do you have enough time to make a wedding quilt? 

Me: Not sure.

Paul: You can give one of the many quilts that you already have.

Me: I have only one queen-size quilt - Esmeralda. I cannot part with her. 

Paul: Why not give one of the other quilts?

Me: Fire Pit is twin size. Most everything else is lap size. Cannot give a lap size quilt to newly weds.

Paul (eyes twinkling): So you want to give them a baby-maker? 
Me: Yes.

Paul: What if you start but cannot finish it in time for the wedding?
Me: In that case, I will give it to her when I finish it.

(Paul was making reference to the movie Proposal, wherein Betty White gives the quilt, she calls baby-maker, to the couple played by Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.

Selecting fabrics

Work in Progress

Pinned

I had a Kate Spain Layer Cake - Latitude.  But I did not like all the squares in the layer cake.  So I cut up some fat quarters.

I chose turquoise, blue, green, orange and pink, trying to match the colors in the layer cake but picking out brighter fabrics.

The fact that Monday was a holiday, resulting in a long weekend, was an absolute godsend.

My nose to the machine (cutting mat, ruler, cutter) I ignored everything (and everyone) else.

Numbered Blocks

I numbered every block. I was scared that any mistake would cost me dearly.

Finished Flimsy

The flimsy was finished. I took it out for a few pictures.

Looking good

Big Blocks

I chose Carrie Bloomston's newspaper print for the backing. I used black strips for binding. The black would match the piecing, frame the quilt and would be speedy too. 

Basting the beast

The large blocks ensured a speedy finish.  The quilting of a queen size quilt is a whole another matter. As I quilted long wavy lines using my walking foot, I had began to think of a name. Little did I know that I had started speaking aloud.

Walking foot quilting

Me: I love how the bright batiks glow against the black solids but cannot call it Midnight Garden. Already taken.

Finished!!!

Wide backing by Windham Fabrics

Paul: Call it Afterglow.
Me: What???
Paul: It is a wedding quilt. Afterglow is fitting.
Me: You sound snappy. Are you feeling neglected?
Paul: Maybe. I could use some afterglow myself.

Black Binding

Wisdom

Brightness = Happiness

I had been ignoring him.  I must spend some quality time with Paul.

Labelled

Me: What is that phenomenon called when the night sky lights up?
Paul: Meteor Shower?
Me: No. You have to go to one of those Scandinavian countries to see it.
Paul: Northern Lights?
Me: Yes, I think. Doesn't it have a more scientific name?
Paul: Aurora Borealis.
Me: AURORA. Yes, that it is.

You are my sunshine

The wedding was beautiful. The bride glowed and the groom was handsome and confident. No nervousness, just excitement and smiles.

At the wedding

I am glad that Paul and I could be there for the celebration.  We wish them all the love and happiness.

Love & Happiness to the new couple

I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties, see full list on the sidebar.  Do check out other quilts at the Bloggers Quilt Festival.

I'd love to hear from you, as always.