Pattern, Sale & BlogHop too!

I have so many things to share that I could just explode.
Breathe, breathe, just breathe, Paul said.

1. Topsy Turvy is now available as a stand alone pattern in my Etsy Store.

Topsy Turvy in Honeycomb Fabrics

I first made Topsy Turvy using the scraps left over from the Island Batik "Make it Modern" Blog Hop and Challenge.  Many refinements later, making it suitable for 2.5" precut strips, writing and rewriting and then correcting the pattern, Topsy Turvy is now available as a standalone pattern.   

Here are a few more pictures.

Basting and Ironing

Topsy Turvy is a Lap/Throw size quilt finishing at 55" by 68".  I made it using the Island Batik's Honeycomb collection, designed by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkle of Canton Village Quiltworks. This collection should be available in your local quilt stores this month.

Labelled

Walking Foot Quilting

The binding matches the background. The blocks may look precarious as they float on the background. But there is one bit of whimsy in the binding  - a pop of color. It makes me smile. Do you see it? The pop, not my smile.

In the wind

I am in love with Topsy Turvy because it is so versatile. You can make it with one collection, a few fabrics or go completely random and scrappy. 

The reflection!!!

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, Nancy, Wendy, Karen, Turid and Yvonne agreed to test drive Topsy Turvy and they will be sharing their versions beginning today. Please visit their blogs  - for they may have giveaways. Here is the line-up.

BlogHop Schedule

September 9, 2022 - Nancy

September 10, 2022 - Karen 

September 11, 2022 - Turid

September 12, 2022 - Wendy

September 13, 2022 - Yvonne

The Topsy Turvy pattern is on sale (25% off) till September 15, 2022.  I am dying to hear your thoughts.

2. Frolicking Fish is published in Make Modern #48. 

Here are some pictures from the Photoshoot. 

Fish at the Dining Table?

How do I look?

Do you see the texture?

These pictures were taken at my friend Manveen's new house. The quality of the light in this house would cause a major battle among quilters. Fortunately I can use the house without having to pay the rent/mortgage :-D

Raj, Manveen's husband, who has a home office wondered aloud - "How would those fish look like in my office? Like a wall-hanging, you know." I was only too happy to gift the wall-hanging/table runner to him. 

With Manveen. Raj is the photographer

And one more picture of these fabulous frolicking fish!

Scrappy & Yummy

So my love affair with Make Modern continues. This is my third pattern in the magazine. If you have not met Make Modern, you are missing out. Published every other month, it is 100+ pages of patterns, tips, techniques, interviews and so much more.

3. Remember when I was feeling disappointed at the rather lukewarm response to the Positivity 2022 QAL, because there were only six link-ups?  Me of little faith...tch tch tch.

Bernie informed me that there were nine quilters/contributors who made 10 quilts. Adding one from Bernie and one mine (Naman) brought the tally up to 12. Just when I was beginning to feel okay, I received an email from Jenn, with three quilt pictures, which she will be delivering directly to the Mercyful Hospital.  I know Paulette is working on completing hers. That is 16!!! 

From Jenn, #1. Puppy wins!!!

From Jenn, #2

From Jenn, #3

I am ashamed and thrilled.  

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But enough about me. What rare combination of feelings are you experiencing today?

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

Don't forget the Topsy Turvy Blog Hop. Here is the schedule, once again!!! You don't wanna miss it.

BlogHop Schedule

September 9, 2022 - Nancy

September 10, 2022 - Karen 

September 11, 2022 - Turid

September 12, 2022 - Wendy

September 13, 2022 - Yvonne

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!!!

Today, the Positivity QAL comes to an end with the announcement of the winners. 

Thanks to the unexpected generosity  of our sponsors - Art Gallery Fabrics, Benartex and Island Batik, we had enough prizes for everyone who completed a Positivity Quilt.

Here are the winners:

Mari, Lisa T, Katie May, Roseanne, Sue Hoover, Danielle, Cynthia, Sylvia, and Wendy F.

Emails have been sent to all winners. While I wait for your addresses, I am stuffing goodies in padded envelopes. So excited!!!

Sunday Update - Prizes have been sent to Katie May, Roseanne, Sylvia and Sue. Mari and Lisa have received their prizes. I drove north to meet with Mari and Lisa. Totally worth it!!!

Congratulations to all of you and thank you so much for making this QAL a success.

Thank you, Bernie. You are my partner in crime.

Thank you Mari. You keep me sane.

Ladies that Lunch - Lisa (hand only) and Mari

Hello Lisa. You are my new quilty friend. What else do I call you if you begin with cute fabrics and end with peach tart?  

From Lisa, for me!!!

Peach Tart +Vanilla Ice cream = Taste of Summer

We happily ate with vanilla ice-cream :-) A perfect way to celebrate summer and the end of a successful QAL.

In other news, Angela has announced the color for September and I just might complete my blocks before the end of the month. Here are my fabrics - at least a start.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - September is Bright Blue

Island Batik has announced the Tool Talk Challenge and Blog Hop. Check the IB blog for the complete schedule and fabulous giveaways.  

I have completed the flimsy and will begin quilting soon. I am working with Honeycomb collection, an absolutely yummy collection designed by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quiltworks, coming to a fabric store near you in September.

Gorgeous Fabrics!!!

Work in Progress

I will post on September 14. Will there be a giveaway of my own? Hmmm... only one way to find out :-)

Sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

Hope your long weekend is just as peachy and sweet.  

Catching up

It has been a very busy year for me. According to Paul, all the busy-ness is self-created and self-inflicted. He is mostly correct and even if he was not, I am not going to argue with him. He is the only quilt model I have in these pandemic times.  Cannot afford to irritate him. 

Paul: Really, how busy have you been?
Me: So busy that I have not made a single zippered bag this year.
Paul(in mock horror): NO. 
Me: Even before I finish this thing, I have the next one ready to go, with no time to play in between. 

Therefore the RSC blocks had fallen behind. But I am caught up now. 

Meet my June RSC blocks. 

Dark Blue for June

             

Paul: Neat!
Me: Thanks
Paul: How will you put these together?
Me: If I knew that, it wouldn't be called Improv Piecing. Would it?
Paul: So you don't know?
Me: Totally clueless. Pizza tonight?
Paul: Sure!!!

I really don't wish to dwell upon June. Cause you know that is old news (especially since Angela has already announced the color for August). 

So let me show the purple fabrics and blocks for July.

Starting Point

Chain Piecing

Strip Sets

Finally Blocks!!!

PHEW!!! I am caught up, finally. Sharing with Angela's Linky Party. Surprisingly, Angela too is "Catching up".  Wild coincidence!!!

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My pattern Topsy Turvy was published in the Make Modern magazine, Issue 47.

Published

And get the subscription. It is totally worth it.

It started here - just playing with scraps till something emerged.  The overwhelming response I received from you prompted me to formalize it into a pattern.  Here are a few more pictures. 

Floating!!!

Labelled

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There are a few other projects that I cannot show at this time.  Here is a glimpse of the backings, as they were stuffed into a bag to be mailed. 

Island Batik - Sunset, Bumblebee and Lemongrass

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Positivity 2022 Update

When Bernie and I decided to set up the Positivity QAL last year, we did not know what to expect. I had thought that if we got ten quilts that would be respectable. But we received more than 20. We were giddy with happiness.  Naturally, we decided to do it again this year. We even got more sponsors and more prizes. Similar to 2021, I set up a lazy schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

We had the Finished Flimsy Linky Party last Sunday and there were less than 10 link-ups in total. Thank you so much to all of you who are participating in the QAL. Honestly, I was expecting more and I am a bit saddened by the lack of response. On the upside, almost everyone who linked up with a completed flimsy will be getting a prize!!! Check out Bernie's blog on 7/24/22 for the prize announcement.

So if you have not yet participated but would like to win one of these awesome prizes (for the completed quilt reaching Mercyful Quilts), you can still join in. Although a free pattern/instructions have been provided, you can use any pattern of your choice. You still have four weeks to complete the quilt. See the detailed schedule.

I will baste my flimsy this weekend. Quilting next week.

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Of course there are other projects in the works. Here is what I can show you.

I will be using all colors of the rainbow to make the August project for Island Batik.  It is a mini quilt!

Fabrics for Island Batik's August Project

In September, we have the Island Batik challenge and bloghop, featuring the Spring 2021 collections and Tools provided by Studio 180 Designs. 

Ready to sew HSTs

Using Tucker Trimmer to square HSTs

If your summer is lazy and relaxed with lots of ice cream, I am happy for you.  If your summer is a rollercoaster of one thing after another, hold my hand tight. I am right there with you :-)

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

Unboxing Positivity

The second shipment of boxes from Island Batik arrived in the last week of June, loaded with gorgeous fabrics and other goodies/supplies from Island Batik's industry partners.

Last weekend, I shot the video. 

The setup below shows off my Island Batik projects from this year - Syzygy, Pobody's Nerfect and Harmony.

Ready to Roll the Camera

Here is the link to the unboxing video.
https://www.facebook.com/preeti.harris/videos/3339563136370078/

I received Batting from Hobbs. Cotton Queen Size, 80/20 Black Queen Size, Cotton Wool Blend Lap Size, Thermore Polyester Queen Size, and fusible batting strips.

Tree of Life Block on Board die from Accuquilt for the Accuquilt Christmas in July Project

Tucker Trimmer Ruler from Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Designs for the September Project

Instructions, Supplies and Hardware from ByAnnie for the "Its in the Bag" October Project. I chose the  Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0. 

To make the bag, I requested fabrics from the Sunset Plains collection. Sunset Plains is designed by Kathy Engle and will be available in stores in September 2022.

Island Batik Fabrics (Sunset Plains Collection) to make the bag

A new industry partner - Prairie Spirit Alpaca sent us a pressing mat. 

If you knit, you must check out their blog.

Here are the rest of the fabrics from Island Batik.

Neutrals - 6 yards of Rice, 4 yards each of black, white and light grey solids.

Top - White, Black and Light Grey. Bottom - Rice

Spring 2022 Collection - Honeycomb, a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quiltworks, expected in stores in September 2022. 

Honeycomb by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkel

This collection came with four yards of matching yardage.

Daffodil Yellow & Imperial Red

Foundations Bundle - 4 solids, 4 blenders and 4 basics, half yard each.

Island Batik Foundations Bundle

Spring Precut - Stack of 10" squares of Cheers, a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Carl and Linda Sullivan of Colorwerx. I also received four yards of matching yardage in Aqua and Blueberry.

Spring Precut and Matching Yardage

The Summer Pre-cut and Aurifil Thread will be coming later and I will happily show you, once I receive them.

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Instead of writing a separate blogpost for the Positivity 2022 QAL, I am going to piggyback my completed flimsy on this post. Hence the title of this post :-) See what I did there :-)

Thank you, Paul

The fabric is Island Batik, including the white solid. Here are a few more pictures because she does look so lovely.

Beautiful Day

Ironed and Ready to Baste

I already pieced the backing (Island Batik Light Grey) and made the binding too. The binding is Turtle (by Island Batik). It will frame the purple and green blocks beautifully :-D

Dark Green Binding

Linking with Bernie on Sunday, 7/17/22 for the Positivity QAL Finished Flimsy Linky Party. You must link-up to be eligible to win the Level 1 Prizes.

Also linking with all my favorite Linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

I know, I know I am behind on my RSC assignments. June took the car and got stuck in traffic, caused by all the fabric rain (it has been pouring). Since there is only car in the household, Julio is stuck at home. Trust me, he is fuming.  Once June gets outta this mess, they both will have to get to their destinations together - Dark Blue for June and Purple for Julio!!! That blogpost is next, I promise.