Pinktober Plus

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here is my response. 

Pinktober!

This is the largest improv-pieced quilt, I have ever made. I don't think I will ever do it again because I could not see the whole composition at once, until after it was quilted. 

Made entirely of pink (peach, coral and some fuchsia) scraps combined with low volume/white fabrics, I have named her Rosy Pussytoes, after the pretty pink flowers.

Pink & Peach

Happy Halloween!

While the working title was F*** the Blues, which resembled my mood when I started rage sewing the scraps, the finished product is so beautiful that I have revised the monicker :-)

My cup runneth over...

What do you think?

Speaking of names, when I showed the work in progress to my mom, she called it a "pink tarpaulin"

Basting

Jennifer Fulton of Inquiring Quilter sent me the pattern for the "Ribbon of Hope" block, which I incorporated in the back.

Ribbon of Hope

Ready to Applique

Thank you, Jennifer!

I used Tuscany Cotton-Wool Blend batting by Hobbs. The backing is this cute multicolored dogs - a fabric I have been hoarding for a while :-)

Puppy Love

I used my Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines in one direction only. The binding is a turquoise fabric from Moda. 

Work in Progress

Binding Completed

Rosy Pussytoes finished at 82" by 94". Before I asked Paul to model her, I added a temporary sleeve, where a curtain road could be inserted to prevent floppy corners.

Atop a Picnic Table

In my backyard

On my bed

Let's take a few close-ups.

There is a saying in Hindi which translates into - Large scrapings from a large pot. As a proverb, it means that even the small remnants, leftovers, or small acts of charity from a wealthy family or big business are more than enough to sustain a poor person.

Rosy & Mini

Translated into quiltspeak, there were enough scraps leftover from Rosy to make a Mini - a small baby quilt, perfect for a little girl.

Mini Pussytoes

Purple Butterflies Backing

Mini Pussytoes finished at 37" by 43".

Pretty in Pink

I used Polyester Batting (Hobbs) and the same/similar turquoise binding.

In my Backyard

I am going to bed with Rosy Pussytoes, and Mini Pussytoes is going to my mom for when she may need a suitable gift. 

See them both?

The festival of lights is around the corner and I am going to India for a visit. There is a baby boy, my newest nephew, who deserves a quilt all his own.

After some thought, I decided to use a jungle babies fabric panel to whip up a quick quilt in a weekend.

Bear Hugs Revisited

Happy Snake :-)

The border fabric came from Mari's scrap basket. The red, green and blue fabrics came from Paul's mom, that I inherited. The yellow is leftover from Meetu's quilt. Many blessings for the new baby!

Border of Birds

Cute Bubbleguppies Backing

For batting, I used the Tuscany Cotton-Wool leftovers (long strips frankenbatting)  from Rosy Pussytoes. The Binding is dark green, made from the leftover backing of Jeni's Colorado.

Happiness is a Hug

Quilts take up a lot of space. I will travel with two large suitcases that can be nested, outbound with two pieces of checked luggage, and inbound with just one, one neatly inside the other...a bit like this one blogpost that contains three quilts :-D

It is that time of the year - Get your shots (prevention/protection from flu etc.) and don't throw away your shot (make sure you vote).

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

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 :-)