Showing posts with label Pattern testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pattern testing. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Rainbow Parade - New Pattern, Bloghop & Giveaway

Spring is around the corner and I am ready to say goodbye to winter blues. Here is a new colorful quilt to get us in the mood for the new season. Meet Rainbow Parade.

Rainbow Colors



Made using Island Batik Blenders, Rainbow Parade finished at 57" by 70".

Basting


Light and Dark



The quilt uses eight colors (light and dark) for a total of 16 fabrics, plus the background.  
I am thrilled now that the pattern is published. 
The instructions are super simple and the detailed graphics ensure that it is a breeze even if you are a new quilter.


Yours Brightly



Is it Spring yet?


I am sure you would like to see this done a few different ways. And that brings me to my awesome pattern testers.

Ahead of the pattern release, Cathy, Bonnie, Frederique and Diptee agreed to test drive Rainbow Parade and they will be sharing their versions today. Please visit their blogs/social media  - for they have their separate giveaways. 

Love a Rainbow


The Rainbow Pattern is now available in my Etsy Store and it is on sale (20% off) till March 12, 2024.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So, I have two prizes.
1. A PDF download of the Rainbow Parade Quilt Pattern (you can be anywhere in the world)
2. Fabrics to make your own Rainbow Parade Quilt (US readers only)

To be eligible, please leave me a comment on this blogpost. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email, so that I can contact you. I will announce the winners on March 16, 2024.

Update - Astrid (#49) won the Rainbow Parade Quilt Pattern. Pat (#4) won the fabrics. Emails have been sent.



Saturday, June 26, 2021

Purple, Positivity and Pain

The Purple blocks for June RSC 2021 are complete. YIPPEE!!! Here they are:


Reddish Purple



Bluish Purple



True-ish Purple

Since I had purple on  my mind, I saw purple everywhere and lots of it. Here are a few glimpses.

Hydrangeas


Allium something - Ornamental Onion 

Purple and Hairy Leaves!!!


I saw a Purple Wall!!!

In Berlin, MD

Noticed this sign on vacation in Berlin, MD


A purple butterfly!!!

Pansies :-) 

O Beautiful - Don't know thy name

One purple shell on the pathway to The Inn Berlin

Do you like Dark?

Or Light


Here are the secondary blocks, using the triangle leftovers from the snowballed squares in the Sisters Choice Blocks. 

Secondary Blocks


19 done and 11 to go.

I am sure they will make an adorable baby quilt :-) Linking with Angela's Linky Party.

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I chose red, white and blue for my Mercyful Quilt.


The Reds 

The Blues (for the border)

24 Border Blocks

In process - Red Blocks with snowballs

Although I have completed the flimsy, I will share it later in the QAL in the July 18 Linky Party. 

OK, fine. Here is a peek :-)


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And lastly the pain. The pain of rejection.

Curated Quilts had announced the Polygon Mini Challenge using the colors Navy, Rust, Olive Green, Almond, Ash and Cream. Square not to exceed 16" and any technique.

I dived in - utterly and completely. I made not one but four minis. Each distinctly different, using a different technique.  Well, see for yourself.

1. Wedge Issues - So many polygons!!!

Improv Pieced, 15" Square



2. Happy Hour - Post Covid get-together with girl friends!!!

Raw Edge Appliqué, 14" Square


3. Segmented - In our echo chambers, we remain divided.

Quilt as You Go, 14.5" Square

4. Zahra - Imagining a trip to Morocco

Paper Pieced, 14" Square


Each one was rejected. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

I was deeply disappointed... It was impossible not to be when I had poured myself into the challenge.  

I know I must be detached from the outcome. I know that I must focus only on the effort and not fixate upon the rewards, Hindu scriptures tell me. But I am a work in progress and not there yet.

All my darlings - Love you so much!!!

Someone had the soul-crushing task of rejecting these lovelies.  I feel very sorry for them.

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Then Paul and I went on a mini vacation and I could not dwell upon the pain any more. Here are a few glimpses from our weekend. We stayed at The Inn Berlin. I cannot recommend this place enough.  Maya's Eggs Benedict can really make the world seem a better place. 

Eggs Benedict by Maya Tomasello, The Inn Berlin


And it is impossible to be sad when the sea breeze is whipping your hair into a frenzy.  

Chincoteague Boat Tour


Pelicans posed for us :-)

We watched the birds and horses up close. We even saw a few dolphins but they were too quick and could not be captured in an image.  The white horse in the picture below was just being lazy. He got up later. 

Horses gathered together for a photo


We went to a Water Park in Ocean City. Initial hesitation turned into glee and laughter as we experienced different rides and myriad ways of landing/splashing/thrashing into the water. 



Splash Mountain in Ocean City

Happy and Exhausted

The day ended with some yummy seafood.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

We visited the Windmill Creek Winery.  The Mariner's House is beautifully maintained and the visitors are free to visit, take a glass of wine and sit anywhere inside or outside under the mulberry trees (which were laden with fruit at this time) and there was a tree swing. Yes, a TREE SWING!!!.

Well-maintained Mariner's House

Stepping back in time


I enjoyed several minutes on the tree-swing which brought back childhood memories and I was happy as can be :-)  

I am a kid...


Goofiness at Windmill Creek Winery

Picture Perfect - I am All Yours


This was out first post Covid vaccination and it was divine!!!

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In other news (and there is plenty of it) I have received the second box of Island Batik goodies. The video is coming on July 22, 2021.  I have completed the July challenge for Island Batik and that post is coming next. Novella, the Table Runner is going to be a pattern. Sarah, JoleeKatrin, Maya, and Yvonne have graciously agreed to test my pattern. Thank you ladies. You are awesome!!!

I am sure I am forgetting something...

Oh yes. Feedburner is going away. To ensure that you don't miss any of my posts, please follow me on Bloglovin.  Sometime later in July I will have a giveaway (Details Coming).  Extra chances if you follow me on Bloglovin and Instagram. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts, be they purple, painful or positivity-laden.  Reading your comments gives me a feeling similar to the sea breeze in my hair :-)  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 


Sunday, April 12, 2020

Our daughter Quarantina!!!

Paul: What is the matter babe?
Me: Cramps
Paul: Oh no!!!
Me: What?
Paul: I was going to name our daughter Quarantina.

New Pattern by Mell Meyer

Ten minutes later, when I stopped laughing, I had to ask...

Me: What if it were a boy?
Paul: I hadn't thought about it.
Me: How does Quarantino sound?
Paul: Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it.

Still laughing...


I was one of the pattern testers for Mell Meyer's new pattern - All the Diagonals.
The pattern is released today.  Her blogpost shows all the pattern testers' finished tops  plus a code for 25% off. A few ambitious testers completed their quilts. Not me. Not yet.

Backing for Quarantina


In honor of the superb conversation (with Paul) and the fact that this paper-pieced (not my favorite technique) quilt was made during the quarantine (a difficult time), I have decided that she will be named Quarantina.


Binding


As soon as Quarantina is quilted, bound and photographed, I will share all the process pictures from fabric selection to the final finish and a pattern giveaway too.


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Rainbow Scrap Challenge's April colors are light and bright blue.

The Blues - Medium and Bright


I purposely stayed away from light blues, because light blue would be a poor contrast with the white background.  Using medium and bright blues instead.


Here are my blocks.

April Blocks


Ombre & Floral

Swirls and Robots

Octopuses that Shimmer

Juice Boxes


Do check out other RSC blocks on Angela's linky party.  I will be sharing with all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.


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Of course I made a mask or two. (It would be unpatriotic not to)
Paul, the model

Of course I am wearing a mask. (It is suicidal not to)

Masked

I am wearing a mask also to hide my now fully-grown bushy mustache.

Me: Paul, can I use your beard trimmer for my facial hair?
Paul: Babe, you need a lawn mower.

Guess I will keep the mask on.

But don't mask your feelings from me - reveal them in your comments. I am dying to connect with you, even if it is online.  Big Hugs from a safe distance.