The Color of Valor

Island Batik's April Challenge requires us to make a lap-sized (or larger) quilt using the timeless Drunkard's Path Quilt Block, making sure that the technique used is curved piecing and not applique.

Naturally, many ideas were considered and discarded. I am saving them to a very long list of possible future quilts.

In the end, I chose the quilt block - Moon Over the Mountain. I have been fascinated by this quilt block for a long time. I looked for tutorials and found few but none of them appealed to me.

It was time to design it myself.

Thank you EQ8

Next, I auditioned a few different fabric collections, also in EQ8.

Petal Poetry (I have a huge crush on this one)

Botanical Dreams

Shadow Blooms

They all looked lovely. But I wanted more than that. I wanted energy and passion. I decided to go for yellow orbs over rust/orange/red mountains.

Fabric Pull

I ended up using fabrics from Modern Opulence, Celebrate, and Fire & Ice collections.

Block Construction

Design Wall

Basting

And here is my first finish named Rising Suns.

Rising Suns

The background and binding is Island Batik Solid Black. I used Black Heirloom Batting from Hobbs and Schmetz 80/12 Needle for both piecing and quilting. I used Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines. The variegated thread adds to the sizzle.

Walking Foot Quilting

Variegated Thread

The bright orange shades made me think of Saffron, one of the colors in India's national flag. India's national flag is named the Tricolor, so named for the three major colors. Saffron for sacrifice, White for Peace and Green for Prosperity. Saffron is symbolic of renouncement - giving up everything for the one cause, making the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Labelled

Now that I am an American, I associate Red, White and Blue as the colors of valor. Is there a universal color for valor? Or does it mean different things to different people?

As I was mulling over colors, an off-color incident made me seethe. Not that I could do much, but I channeled my thoughts into prayer while I busied my hands to make another quilt.

Pinned

Work in Progress

I chose nine different  yellows and nine different blues. The background and binding is Solid White. I used Hobbs Bleached White 80/20 Batting. I used Schmetz 80/12 Needle for both piecing and quilting. I used Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines. 

Backing is Frosting, Labelled

Here is my second finish. I have named it Doblest, which means Valor. 

“Any fool can fight a winning battle, but it needs character to fight a losing one, and that should inspire us." 
_William Butler Yates

Both quilts finished at about 53" by 51". I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. Should you have any thoughts about color, valor or this block - Moon over the Mountain, I'd love to hear from you.

Frenzy in February

The Island Batik February Challenge and Blog Hop is co-sponsored by Studio 180 Design who provided tools to all the ambassadors to make the table/bed runner. 

So many droolworthy fabric collections and fabulous projects for inspiration! Here is the complete line-up.

WEEK 1

February 4:

• Kim Jamieson-Hirst, Chatterbox Quilts
• Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

February 5:

• Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

February 6:

• Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts
• Carol Stanek, Stitch With Color

November 7:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

February 10:

• Connie Kresin Campbell, Freemotion by the River
• Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

February 11:

• Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

February 12:

• Denise Looney, Quiltery
• Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

February 13:

• Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
• Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

February 14:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

February 17:

• Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
• Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio

February 18:

• Susan Michaels, Dragonfly Fiber Art
• Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

February 19:

• Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
• Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

February 20:

• Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique LLC
• Solomae Stoycoff, Cuddle Cat Quiltworks

February 21:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Final Giveaway

WEEK 4

February 24:

• Kimberly Flannagan, Kimberly’s Quilts

February 25:

• Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs

February 26:

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

Make sure to check the Island Batik blog every week for fabulous giveaways. There will be a contest for the best project.

I will post on 2/19/25. Here is a progress picture.

I completed my Blue Blocks for February's RSC. Sharing with Angela's Linky Party.

Blue Blocks for February

Island Batik Scraps

I am also working on my March project. It is Ambassador's Choice. I may even have a new pattern and a giveaway. Only one way to find out :-)

Work in Progress

In April, we have to make a project using the Drunkard's Path Block. I borrowed the 3.5" Accuquilt Die and tried some practice blocks.

Fugly!

It is not going well :-(

I will practice some more before I come up with Plan B.

Sew much to do! I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

 

I like my curves...

Meet Kennedy. She is my second finish of 2016 and it is one WIP less.

Kennedy

Kennedy has been a long time in the making. Let's start from the beginning. Shall we?

I like my Curves. I really do. If I didn't, I would be pretty depressed because I have so many curves. In fact, I am composed entirely of curves - some small curves and some not so small curves!!!
And therefore it was only a matter of time before I embraced (or succumbed to) the magic of curves in quilting.

One day, sometime in 2014, someone at the M* quilting forum asked a question about a pattern involving curves. I answered, based on not my knowledge (I had never made a quilt with curves) but my (inadequate) visualization of the problem. An experienced quilter pointed out the error in my visualization. Darn right, I had no practical idea!!!

Time to set the record straight. How hard can this be? It is not rocket science. What is the worse that I can happen? I might ruin some fabric. I can deal with that :-)

Two fabric squares - about 8" each

Placed one on top of another

Traced Curve

I started with two squares of scrap fabric about 8 inches and started playing. I also used a large mixing bowl.  I placed the inverted mixing bowl on the two squares to draw a large arc.

Cut both along the arc

And I cut along that arc. So far - going according to plan!

Then, I switched the two pieces - the convex (fat) red with the concave (skinny) green and the fat green with the skinny red. Doing well so far!

Going in opposite directions. AARGH!!!

What? How am I suppose to sew these two pieces together if one wants to be in Seattle and the other lives in Miami?

But they do have a common meeting point, in the center of the arc. Aha, that is where I start.
Starting from the middle, I pinned the two together.

Pinned

Very gently and carefully I stitched them together.  The seamy have been a generous 1/4".

Slow Stitching

It is slow but not difficult at all.

Yay, done!!!

Yes, it will need major trimming and squaring.

The experiment was complete!!!

I like these curves. Scratch that - I fell in love with these curves. Time to make few more.  I chose pinks/purples, floral and dots - yes it is girly :-)

Fabric Audition

The blocks came together slowly but surely. It was the piecing of the top that took the longest time.  I could not decide on the layout. When I first started laying out the blocks on my design wall, I had two guiding principles
1. Do not form a complete circle.
2. Match the solids with the prints.

Layout 1

I showed it to Paul and he said  - "Your curves are all over the place. It makes my head hurt."
I replied, yes, it creates more interest this way and then I shooed him away from my design wall. What do you think? Does your head hurt too?

Then I tried another layout.

Layout 2

Although this was interesting, it somehow looked like a very hungry mushroom trying to eat a stand-up mixer.  Once again, I put away the blocks.

Come 2016, I decided that Finished is better than Perfect. Just do it, Preeti. I went with the simplest layout. Circles!!!  I figured the fabric will create the interest and the pattern can be simple. What do you think?

Pieced

Here is the best part of the story. As soon as I started quilting, I also started thinking - What shall I name this one?

Finished

That is when Joyce saw it.

Joyce: Ooh can I have that one?
Me: Sure, you can have anything. But you already have a quilt.
Joyce: Not for me, silly. I have the best quilt in the whole world.
Me: (Blush)
Joyce: It is for Caroline's new baby. She is due soon.
Me: What is the baby's name?
Joyce: Kennedy.

Full Circles

At an angle

Kennedy is Keeley's younger sister. Remember Keeley?
Since the quilt is for Kennedy, may be I should just call it Kennedy. They both took a long time to come together.

Chocolate & Strawberry Dots

Focusing on quilting with curves, I may have neglected my fitness routine. I am going to get a phone call from my Curves (the 30-minute fitness place for women) instructor - Molly. "Preeti, we have missed you. We look forward to seeing you tonight."

Pink Polka Dot Binding

Labelled!

Molly is a sweetheart. I should haul my curves to Curves lest they turn into bulges!!!
Are curves a challenge for you too?  I look forward to your thoughts - both naughty and nice :-)

And I will be linking with my favorite linky parties.  See you in the blogland :-)
Just linked up with Cooking Up Quilts' Main Crush Monday.