What a Year!!!

It has been a rollercoaster of a year for me in so many ways.  Paul and I celebrated our 10th anniversary.

As my surprise gift, we went i-flying.

That was an exhilarating experience which I happily repeated.

Quilting wise, if there was an overall theme running through 2017, it had to be scrap vortex.  I completed four of them, including Happy and Lucky.

Lucky and Happy

The Honey Pot Bee blocks were a mixed bag.  Here are a couple of my favorites - the Stripey Stripe Block.

Stripey Stripe Block 

And this leaf block by Intrepid Thread is so striking, I am sure I will revisit and make a whole quilt out of it. 

Feather Leaf Block

I really enjoyed making some of the blocks. Others failed to excite me. It will be a long time before anything can become of those diverse blocks.

I dipped my toes into paper piecing. I definitely prefer the freezer paper method, which I used to make these mushroom blocks.

So cute

Magic Mushrooms

I met quilty buddies from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Germany!!!

with Sylvia in Pennsylvania

with Mari (at the Lancaster Quilt Show)

With Melanie (visiting from Germany)

And I met Bonnie Hunter.

Here are my top five quilt picks of the year.

The most popular quilt was My Twitter Feed.  If I had to describe it in one word it would be Joyful.

My Twitter Feed 

Joyful Birds

It received such rave reviews at the 2017 Quilt Show, I glow with joy every time I think about it.

My entry to the Moda Bake Shop was very well-received. Esmeralda is the most ambitious quilt, I have made so far.

Esmeralda - A queen-size princess of a quilt

A queen-size, kaleidoscope quilt with a thousand pieces, completed in one month (with the tutorial and pictures) is a major accomplishment.

Esmeralda - Close-up

Being published in the Moda Bake Shop was definitely something to dance about.


The Shadow of Light is a small quilt but it packs a punch. The inspiration came from the Honey Pot Bee - the Blended Scraps block. The process included many love hate moments.

Shadow of Light

In the end, I love it so much that I am sure that I will be revisiting this pattern.


The surprise pick of the year is the Playing Footsie Quilt. The quilt design is simple but it is the story of loving and longing that received such an extraordinary response from you.

Playing Footsie

If I had to describe it in one word it would be Soul-soothing or Comforting.


My Parikrama quilt is the last finish of the year. When I was piecing this quilt, it reminded me of spices, Bollywood dance/song numbers, or the hustle and bustle of a busy open air market.

Parikrama

The process was almost effortless, like I was being guided by an external force, where each step just came to me naturally. When it finished it was evocative of the Temple and the Goddess. It was Mystical.

For a year that had no plans, no goals and absolutely no to-do lists, it is remarkable that it brought me Joy, Accomplishment, Love, Comfort, and Mysticism.

Having no deadline/goals allowed me to make fun blocks like these bikini ladies from Sew Fresh Quilts.

Lorna's Lovely Ladies

Made these house blocks for the victims of the Quebec Mosque shooting, requested by the Montreal Modern Quilt Guild.

House Blocks for the Montreal Modern Quilt Guild

And these Doggone Cute blocks for KaHolly.

Love these puppies

I have plenty of deadlines at work, which I consistently meet or exceed every month. Therefore I am going to keep my creative pursuits free-flowing and spontaneous. It worked for 2017. Why not do the same for 2018?
What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I will be linking with Meadow Mist Designs Best of 2017 and all my favorite linky parties. See sidebar.

Playing Footsie

Celebrate a Finish

Once upon a time in India, very long ago a young wife (newly married) went out on a date with her new husband.
(Of course, they did not call it a date - just going to a restaurant for dinner. )

Basted

Additionally basting with pins

She had a twinkle in her eyes and a spring in her step, because these alone moments with her husband were few and far in between.
(They lived with his parents.)

Binding

Done  - Ready to wash

She was playful.
(He was not.)

Sunny Day

She thought this was so romantic.
(He was nonchalant.)

Ooh the texture!

She wanted to make the most of this occasion.
(Alas!)

51" by 68" - Picnic time

After they placed their order and before the food came, the playful young wife, slipped her right foot out of her sandal, to play footsie with her husband.

Ready to cuddle

Gingerly, she extended her foot, her toe touched his ankle.  She closed her eyes. His head shot up.
As she traced a line on his calf with her toe, he pulled back.

What a Hoot!

She had not expected this. Her eyes fluttered open.

June OMG Finished

Don't do that, he admonished. Don't you know that touching your husband with your feet is disrespectful?

Charm Squares Repurposed

She never attempted to play footsie with him again. The year was 1995 and that young wife was me.
The marriage ended in divorce.

Labelled

Fast forward to 2004. I was now a grad student at FSU and dating an older American man. It was complicated.  He was recently separated, emotionally unavailable and we saw each other just a couple of times in a month, when he did not have his kids.

Binding pops!!!

We would sometimes go to a movie. Sometimes we would go out to eat at a restaurant. And although he never really acknowledged me as his girlfriend, this was definitely a date.

Rolled Finish

The best part - I could play footsie from the beginning to the end of the meal!!!

Navy & Aqua work so well!

He was bemused but never pulled away.  I am sure he must have wondered - what is her obsession with footsie?

Showing off my label

Here is a quilt where the Chinese Coins are playing footsie with the Rail Fence Block.

Selfie :-)

I made this quilt top in November of last year to get out of my funk.

Zig Zag Stitch

I had shared my disappointment about the recent election and my fears for the future with Mari.  She was supportive and understanding as she heard me pour my heart out.

Am I naked behind the quilt?

Mari then told me - Go sew something colorful. I followed her advice, dove into my fabric stash and found several charm squares, languishing in boxes and longing to become something. This quilt is the result of that endeavor - Playing Footsie.

Could be?

This marks the achievement of my June OMG.
Nine quilts in 6 months. What do you think?

With my Quilt Model

You look so happy, Mari commented on my Instagram picture.
It is the weekend, the weather is perfect, Paul is home and most importantly - I can play footsie all day long!!!

How was your weekend? Did you complete your OMG? I'd love to hear from you.