Whatever Works!!!

Paul: Are you still blogging?
Me: No, I am reading the comments on my blogpost.
Paul: What is the difference?
Me (Ignoring his last remark): Such sweet comments. Did you read my blog?
Paul: Not yet. Come snuggle with me.
Me: I will snuggle with you if you read my blog.
Paul: I will read your blog after you snuggle with me.
Me: Coming...

That was a short conversation. Finished to satisfy both parties.
Whatever Works!!!

Speaking of finishing something - I did not finish anything that I started in January. But I do have a finish to share.

And as a quilter - a finish is a finish and is better than a UFO/WIP.

A quilt is like a conversation - between the fabric and thread, between the quilter and the pattern, between the sewing machine and all other distractions.

Here is the resulting story from my conversations with fabric, thread, and the sewing machine, distractions notwithstanding.  I am calling this one - Whatever Works. What do you think? Does the name suit?

Honestly, there is always a scrap vortex quilt in the works - actively.  Whatever scraps are left over from cutting fabric (for the main quilt) are being sewed in twos, at the same time as the principal quilt is being pieced - much like leaders and enders.

Like the side conversations at the main conference.

One fine day those side conversations, cross talks and whisperings will come together to become something meaningful.

Hey, I am not complaining. Whatever works. Right?

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Remember those JR Twists from January?  They were my DREAMi moments and before I could finish them, I had another DREAMi moment - dreamier than before.

I blame it on Mary Huey. Thanks to her, I got the bird flu or shall I say bird flew :-D
Her blog led me to the tutorial
http://www.blocklotto.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/BirdBlockDirectionsV2.pdf

As soon as I started reading the tutorial, I realized - oh no. There is a (slightly) better way of making these birds. Instead of making one, make two birds - mirror images.

Of course, I did not stop there. There are over 60 birds in the making.

I have not been able to stop. Somebody help me.

One leg. Two legs.

This is Chipotle Chilebird. Yes, naming them is super-fun too. Also something I learned from Mary Huey. If you are wondering where are the rest of them, well they are hatchlings. Will share when they become fully-grown birds...Ha Ha Ha.

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It is only logical to dream about spring and summer when one is the middle of winter.  Look what I found. This is the Summer Solids FQ Bundle from Connecting Threads.

And this is the Spring Solids FQ Bundle. 14 FQs for under $18. You are welcome!

Love these solids - so many possibilities. What would you do? I will probably mix them up - the bright summer colors contrast well with the pastel spring-y ones.

Speaking of supplies, did you hear about the Craftsy sale?

I will be linking with One Monthly Goal, Sandra's Dreami party and all my other usual (but favorite) linky parties.

This blogpost contains affiliated links.

Terrace Garden and more...

Terrace Garden is the last quilt from the Sugarland Fall Festival Series.

Terrace Garden

As soon as I saw the Hello March pattern, I knew I had to make it.  It is layer cake and FQ friendly.

Terrace Garden is definitely "inspired" by Hello March.  I say inspired because in the frenzy of making 14 quilts in the 4-week period, instructions and directions may have been overlooked...AHEM!!!

The actual pattern looks a bit different than my version of it.  However, I am acknowledging the source/inspiration for Terrace Garden. Thank you Allison Harris (Cluck Cluck Sew).

I used the Lili-fied layer cake squares for making Terrace Garden.

Lili-fied Fabric

Just a gorgeous fabric line. Alas it is all gone now.
I used the pink and orange squares from Lili-fied in Candyland and just loved it.

The blocks are not square but rectangles, which gives the elongated look to the layout.  The original pattern is uniform, whereas my version is go-with-the-flow.  Or you can say fly-by-the-seat-of-my pants :-D

The batting my usual Warm & Natural.  For the backing I chose a very rich, dark and deep poinsettia fabric. The flowers are so densely packed that you can hardly see the background.

Poinsettias!!!

What a gorgeous fabric, indeed!!!

The quilting is a C-stitch. Once mirror imaged, it looks like puffy clouds.  I chose a dark purple for the binding, giving it a royal look - in my opinion.

Bound & Labelled

Oh how I love these colors together.

The finished quilt is 40" by 45"  and I am sure it will make a little girl very happy...someday.

For now, I keep it waiting for the right recipient.

You make me happy...

Terrace Garden is my 28th quilt of 2015.  It has been a roller-coaster of a ride!!!

I will be linking with my favorite linky parties.

I love hearing from you because your comments brighten my day!!!

Before I say goodbye to 2015 and wish you a very Happy New Year, I have one last thing to say...

I made three quilts for the Stillborn Bereavement Group.  They were each 32" square.

Making these quilts was a very sobering experience for me.  It definitely helped me get back on track after the supreme disappointment of the Sugarland Fall Festival.

Small quilts were quick and easy to put together.

Labelling them was the hard part.

We have a saying in India.  When you give, make sure that the left hand knows not what the right hand gives. Translation - giving should be anonymous, without any desire for recognition. 

Since all quilts must be labelled, I was definitely torn between the Indian in me and the quilter me.  I turned to the M* Forum for sage advice.  

Here is one of the replies I received.

SewLucky from Alberta said - "I label my charity quilts and sign them. One of the places I make for asks for a label with at least the quilter's first name and city. I say sign it, because it is very likely the recipient will never meet you, but the family will be very grateful to a donor named Preeti."

Thank you so much, SewLucky. 

Following the advice, I ditched my professional labels and made three handwritten labels.

Kiss Me Quick

Hug Me Now

Keep Me Close

The quilts were mailed to Sue in New York.  Thank you for all that you do for grieving parents.

Ready to mail

I honestly hope that no parent would ever be in the need of one of these quilts.  But if they do, I also hope that these quilts can bring some comfort to them.  

Few days later, I received this card in the mail.

Note

I was tearful and speechless.

I have chosen to not add these three quilts to my 2015 Quilts page. I am sure you understand. 

Homeful!!!

If you know me you also know that I am a fan of Bollywood music. The poetry-rich meaningful songs don't quite make a splash as much as the peppy foot-tapping numbers.  And while the peppy songs make me smile, it is the poetic songs that will often hit me hard.

There is the title song from the Hindi movie Fiza, which has the following line...
Maine tinke uthaye hue hain paron par, aashiyana nahin hai mera.

Translation - I am carrying twigs on my wings, I do not have a nest.
It is a poetic way of saying, I am wandering. I have no home. It is not that she is homeless. It is symbolic of her yearning and her rootless state.

Fabric Audition

For many years I felt that way too.  And whenever I heard the song, it struck a chord with me, so much so that I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.
When I walked out of my troubled marriage many years ago, I felt uprooted.  I went to school here in the US and changed jobs a few times. Felt independent and free but there was no place to call Home. I did not belong.  I just longed...for home.

A few at a time...

Meeting and marrying Paul was one of the best things that happened to me. Yet, I felt that I was still carrying the twigs on my wings. Only after we bought a house, with our savings, with both our names on the deed, and our stuff/junk in every room, do I feel like I have come home...my home.

Pink and Purple Houses

The messier it is, the greater the sense of ownership. (Yes, that is why I don't clean...but that is another story). Now that I feel grounded (in a good way), I can listen to the song without tearing up.

To celebrate this feeling, I wanted to make a quilt with houses. And I did. A few blocks at a time.
Some purple and pink, some blue and yellow, and the neighborhood seemed to come together.  Then I thought, this neighborhood needs trees. A treeless neighborhood would be sad. So I made some trees.

Fabric Scraps - Transformed

Won't it be nice if someone was waiting for you when you returned home? And that special someone would also keep an eye on your neighborhood. That is when I made this block.

My favorite house

I created these blocks a few at a time, using scraps, fat quarters and bindings leftovers. Bit by bit I built my neighborhood. The blocks added up and they waited, and waited some more.

Lots of Trees

Larger Trees - Assembly Line

Just like your home (and your puppy) waits for you and is there for you when you return, so also these blocks waited for me to come around and make them into a quilt!!!

The quilt is entirely scrappy. The gingham fabrics came from my mother-in-law's stash. The tree fabrics were remnants. Some of them were in fabric basket won at a guild meeting.  And when I wanted a specific color, I bought a few fat quarters.

Finished Top

The making of this quilt has been a journey just like buying our house.  Among other things, I wanted a north-facing entrance to the house, because it is considered auspicious in Indian culture. Paul wanted a house with a yard and without any Home Owners Association (HOA). Fortunately, we found a house that met both our requirements.

We are homeowners

However, unlike the house that belongs to both of us, the quilt is all mine!!!

Puppies and Angels

My favorite house and the tall trees

It is mine for so many reasons. It is wonky. The roofs are made with HSTs, that were all cut on the bias (wonky), squaring was optional (wonkier), and the overall quilt is not square (wonkiest).

Dappled

Some houses had their rooftop points clipped in piecing.  I am sure no one will want that :-D
The backing is an old sheet bought from a Goodwill Store.

Wonky, mismatched fabrics, scrappy, crooked, tucks in quilting, haphazard, very colorful, eye-popping bright = Preeti's Quilt.

There are a total of 71 houses in 10 rows and about 46 trees. The finished quilt is about 70" by 90".

I am in love...

Paul: That house looks a bit crooked.
Preeti: Remember, there is no HOA.
Paul: Looks like there are no regulations.
Preeti: You are not invited to this neighborhood party.

Basting, in process

Used my favorite batting - Warm & Natural. I quilted it using curvy lines, after I used a decorative stitch to secure the rows together.

White Backing (Sheet from Goodwill)

Paul, the model :-)

The binding is leftover from a pillowcase I made for Divik, my nephew.
With the white backing and the very Christmas-y binding, I think I just gave myself a Christmas present.

Striped Binding

Christmas in July - how appropriate. Oh no, did I do something appropriate???
That is so unlike me, tch, tch, tch...

Here are few more pictures of the finished quilt.

Yes, Paul is on a chair!!!

Thank you, Paul

Close-Up

This block is for Jonesie, our cat

See the Angel?

Blue House and Yellow Dog

Here is the label.  I decided to call it "Homeful".  Yes, it is like Hopeful but it is also the opposite of Homeless. I have laid down roots...

Homeful!!!

Floral Door, Doors with Disco Lights - My Neighborhood, No HOA, No Rules!!!

Lots of Trees!

Did you miss me?

Lighting up my backyard

Puppy Love

Merry Christmas (in July) to Me!!!

Homeful is on my bed and this is the one I will be sleeping under every night.  I might even take it with me on car trips. Just like a favorite/familiar song that you want to hum on all trips, I want to make sure that I have my favorite comforting quilt with me at all times.

Right here, wagging for you!!!

Creating this quilt has made me so happy that I might just wag my tail!!!
If you were a puppy, what would make you wag your tail?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.