Happy Thanksgiving - Much To Do!

Above average temperatures for several weeks and then suddenly it was cold and windy. I guess it is an indication to stay indoors and sew :-D

Should you need a new pattern, Fireworks is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern. You can get it at a discount of 25% for one week.

Fireworks

Fireworks is a simple pattern that requires no special rulers/templates and is NOT paper-pieced, making it suitable for all skill levels. 

Brightness

Walking Foot Quilting

Fireworks was first published in Make Modern's Issue 59.

Thank you, Paul

I used Island Batik's Fire and Ice Collection, but you could make it in any colors of your choice. Picture it as a Quilt of Valor. At 60" by 79", it certainly meets the size requirements for QOV.

In Peppermint Sprinkles

In Breezy, Black Background

But there is more. Two lucky readers can win a copy of the Fireworks PDF pattern. Leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning your favorite Thanksgiving Dessert. I will pick the winners next week. Please make sure that I have a way of reaching you.

Update - The two winners are Sara (#2) and Susie (#11). Emails have been sent.

But wait there is even more. 

On account of Thanksgiving, I am offering a 25% off sale on ALL patterns till Sunday, 12/1/2024.

___________________________________________________________________

Earlier this month, I taught a Workshop on Improvisational Piecing.  It included modules on Color Theory, Improv Exercises and Layout & Composition.  The 5-hour workshop went by so quickly.

Using two fabric bundles (Island Batik Collections), the attendees made fabric pairs such that there was enough contrast between each pair.

Wild Blooms Collection

Morris Mist Collection

The workshop included five exercises, but the time limitation only allowed for four. Here are some of the attendees with their work.

Loving it

Your smile says it all

Inspired!

Happiness

I received excellent feedback. The attendees left inspired and energized. Since this was my first time teaching this class, I really appreciate these notes from Brenda and Robyn.

_____________________________________________________________

Every year we travel to see Paul's parents (mom and stepdad) for Thanksgiving. Since Paul's mom passed away earlier this year, some people asked me - "Are you still going to Georgia for Thanksgiving?"

Yes, we are.  In times of turmoil, it is even more important to maintain our rituals and routine. 

Starter Syrup and Candied Fruit

I am baking my 30-day Friendship Fruit Cake plus two kinds of cookies - Chocolate Drops and Cranberry Shortbread. The cookies can change but the Fruit Cake is a holiday tradition and is more than expected at Thanksgiving :-)

Watch this clip from a favorite movie of mine, emphasizing our need to find a semblance of perfection in our random world. 

Life is random. In the middle of that randomness, carve some time to play with fabric, meditate with music and be good to yourself. A semblance of normalcy may go a long way to battle the absurd.

I wish that your Thanksgiving Holiday brings you just what you need. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Lots of Love and Squishy Hugs!

Bye Bye 2023, Hello 2024!

It is January 1, 2024. First day of the new year - one day to reflect and introspect before the onslaught of work and responsibilities.

A review post is always tricky. What do I include? What do I leave out? And how do I say it? Should it be just quilting? But my feelings are so entangled with the threads of my quilts. Can you really keep your work and thoughts in water-tight compartments?

Unable to separate my feelings from my work

I will try to focus on my quilts and if my feelings seep in so be it. Here are my favorite five quilts of 2023. Linking with Meadow Mist Linky Party.

1. Radiance (Island Batik/Accuquilt Challenge) - It was a challenge to use a new Accuquilt Block on Board with 56 pieces. I used EQ8 to design my quilt. A long arduous journey (many discards along the way) resulted in a very satisfying finish. 

Radiance was included in the November 2023 EQ8 Newsletter making it the top contender for yearly favorites list. In blogland, where comments are currency, 42 comments are proof that it was also a reader favorite.

2. Wednesday (Island Batik/Studio 180 Designs Challenge & Blog Hop) - The challenge was to use the Studio 180 Design Ruler and the Winter 2023 collection, Wild Blooms to make a quilt. Once again I used EQ8 to design. Several designs were considered and discarded. 

Most people associate batiks with traditional quilts. I am thrilled that I could create a modern quilt, using Island Batik fabrics and the Square Squared Ruler. 

3. My Checkered Past (Island Batik Ambassador's Choice) - This was the first time we had complete freedom to make a project. Any project, any size and any collection (except the ones reserved for the bloghop). I knew, from the very beginning, what I would make. It had to be improv pieced modern quilt. I could call it scrappy but those fabric bits are precious jewels displayed proudly for all to view and admire. No Accuquilt, no EQ8, just me and my machine :-) 

"My Checkered Past" travelled with me to Atlanta where I took many on-location pictures.  This picture where it looks like Coretta Scott King is admiring my work is my favorite :-)

4. Vrinda (Mercyful Quilts) - Made for Mercyful Quilts, a charity close to my heart, Vrinda is the only quilt in the top favorites list NOT made with Island Batik fabrics.  But I will remake this quilt using Island Batik Foundations in 2024, accompanying a pattern release.

Vrinda was sent to the palliative care unit at the Mercy Hospital where it may bring some solace to the terminally ill and then kept by the family in their memory.

5. Avantika Cool (Island Batik Ambassador's Choice and Rainbow Scrap Challenge) - I first made Avantika (Original) for the Island Batik Spring/Summer 2023 Catalog. But then I used the same block for Rainbow Scrap Challenge throughout the year. Avantika Cool uses only the cool colors. Click the link above to see her warm and sunny little sister (Avantika Baby). 

Avantika Cool uses 96 different Island Batik Fabrics in the top and is truly a celebration of color and joy! It is good to be an ambassador :-)

2023 was an eventful year. My quilts were published eight times. Nihal, Paroma, Mirabelle and Stairway to Heaven in Annie's Publishing; Mardi Gras Magic and Bourbon Street Bash in Golden Peak Media publications; and Window Dressing and Kashvi in Make Modern.

I released five new patterns including A Fishy Story, Avantika, Window Dressing, Nilsa and Olivia.

But the best part of the year is all the hugs I exchanged with quilty friends.

At Quiltcon Atlanta with Nann, Anna and Mell

With Sujata and Vasudha at Quiltcon Atlanta

With Anja at Quiltcon Atlanta

With Emily in Charlotte

With Bonnie in Fredericksburg

Mari and Me in Baltimore

There is one more bit of news. International news, actually! Topsy Turvy appeared on the cover of Norsk Quilteblad, the Norwegian Quilt Magazine. Thank you, Turid. Someday I will get to hug you in person :-)

________________________________________________________

The most significant happening of the year is my new job. After 8+ years working with one firm on one project, I was anxious about making a change.  There were several stressful weeks, some nights of anxious tossing and turning and one very public outburst of tears.  Paul was holding my hand in a restaurant while I wept salty tears into my salad. 

The Model & me

Paul did not steer me one way or another, did not make any suggestions, but insisted that he supported my decision, whatever that may be.  I started my new job in August. I get to work from home which translates into zero commute time and more quilting time :-)  No complaints so far.

Professional Shot

Our house was built in 1970. The fabric storage/computer room worked just fine if I went there as needed. But if I spend eight hours working, it needed new non-drafty windows. This shift to "work from home" expedited the need for upgrades.

New windows installation

And here I am, happy in my new office space, cozily working from home.

Working from Home :-)

Me: Paul, my readers love our witty conversations and your funny comebacks.

Paul: Oh yeah?

Me: Would you like to say anything to my readers?

Paul: Live long and prosper!!!

 

May All Live Long & Prosper

__________________________________________________________________

The time and place of my birth are two immutable facts that were chosen for me. Two things that govern every aspect of my life and I cannot do anything about it. This isn't a problem when I lead such a charmed and privileged life. But if I was born in Ukraine in 1990 or in Gaza in 2010, my life would have been so very different. Would I even have a life? It could have been me maimed by a bomb in Ukraine or buried under rubble in Gaza.

I am so blessed and I am so disgusted. This sentence sums up my feelings for the year 2023. As cliched that may be, all I wish from 2024 is World Peace. 

My Checkered Past

If I could be doing anything quilty, it would be improv piecing.  It is like taking a journey. "Come hither ye fabric scraps; together we will travel and see where we end up." 

Here is the Island Batik Challenge for March. It reads 

"March brings a free month for you to determine your own project of any size, using any theme and any technique!! This is an opportunity for you to express your creativity without guidelines. Have fun!"

And I did have fun. See how the bits and pieces grew.

Starting Point

And then there were two

Growing

Coming Together

Getting Closer - Are we there yet?

May be we'll go just a bit farther

It is fun to juggle the varied sizes and watch the quilt top come together.  Usually we end up bigger than we envisioned - unexpected twists and turns and scenic routes, you know. A few tweaks, some trimming and some inserts later, we were done. 

Two more seams to a Completed Top

I used Aurifil Thread for piecing (50 wt)  and quilting (40 wt.) I used 80/12 Microtex Schmetz Needle for both piecing and quilting. All the Island Batik fabric scraps work beautifully with the Island Batik Solid White background. A black border was added and I chose black binding. I chose Hobbs Cotton Wool Blend batting. Quilted using my walking foot. 

Hobbs Batting

I completed the quilt shortly before my trip to Atlanta for Quiltcon. Naturally I packed the quilt with me. Remember we journey together - my fabric and I.  Here is my quilt - My Checkered Past enjoying the beautiful city of Atlanta.

Poolside at the Hotel in downtown Atlanta

Just Peachy :-)

Making Ends Meet

Of Course, I remembered the label!

Pieced Backing (using discarded blocks from another quilt)

The Geometrics!

Enough of the hotel. Let's go sightseeing. 

At the Martin Luther King Center

At the Yolanda King Center for Performing Arts

Just love this picture - looking ahead together

Meditating at the Oakland Cemetery. We come and go but life goes on forever

So tired after a long day!

Tomorrow is another day!

I spent one day at Quiltcon and although I took many quilt pictures, the best part is meeting and reconnecting with people.  You can find all the quilt pictures on Instagram at #Quiltcon2023.  Here are the hugs I exchanged :-)

With Nann (With Strings Attached), Anna and Mell

On our way to Quiltcon

With Anja (Anja Quilts)

It was a high point of my visit when a reader of mine recognized me.  Here I am beaming with happiness with Barbara from Philadelphia. Hope you will read/see this.

With Barbara

Quilters of Indian origin - Sujata Shah and Vasudha Govindan

I didn't plan this picture. I was meeting Vasudha and then we saw Sujata and we had to take a picture.  I think I need a jacket before I go to Quiltcon next time. It was the uniform, apparently.

With Stephanie from Hobbs

It was so nice to meet with Stephanie. Stephanie also manages the Hobbs IG account and we already know each other from Island Batik ambassador program, where Hobbs Batting is the industry partner.

Atlanta is beautiful - art and inspiration are everywhere. We were also lucky - absolutely gorgeous weather.  Here are a few more picture s from my trip.

Near the King Street MARTA Station

Such a great image!!!

Rock Paper Scissors - Street Art near Midtown MARTA Station

In full bloom :-)

Piedmont Park Lake

The Dogwood Sculpture in Piedmont Park

Wall Art

Cats Rule, I think.

Don't miss the reflection in the puddle

I am not sure what the artist is trying to say but I am sure it is a struggle between love and money. 

So long Atlanta. Home sweet home!

Angela has announced the color for March. It is certainly a nod to the St. Patricks Day :-)

Here is my fabric pull. 

Island Batik Greens for RSC

I will be sharing with Angela's and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.  As usual, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I will close my eyes and pretend that we met at a Quilt Show and you said sweet (or savory) things about My Checkered Past :-)