I am published!

No, this isn't the first time, but I still feel giddy every time I see my name in print, even if it is digital. 

Kashvi was published in Make Modern #55. 

Kashvi, 60" by 80"

It is a jelly-roll pattern made using Island Batik collection Vintage Charm.

It is a lovely floral collection - airy, delicate and bright. Start this quilt now and you will be celebrating Spring in style.

Instead of choosing a white/black or gray background, I chose the Island Batik Solid - Cobalt Blue.  Isn't it refreshing?  

Bright & Beautiful

The backing is Frosting from the Island Batik Neutrals. It has light grey flowers on a white background, supporting my desire for Spring.

Frosting Backing

Labelled

Kashvi is an easy, beginner-friendly pattern. All you need is a jelly roll of your choice and a contrasting background. Detailed instructions and colored graphics will ensure that you have a quilt in no time. 

Get your copy in my Etsy Shop. And if you order by Monday, February 5, 2024, you can get it at a 20% discount.

The promise of Spring

On my bed!

Granny Long Legs and Arabella's Garden are also on sale. In case, you had your eye on these patterns, this is the time to get them. Sale ends on February 5, 2024.

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My Sunshine Garden was published in Annie's Scrap-Happy Quilts.

It is the one on the top left, with yellow and orange suns. Here are some pictures showing the quilt WITH the magazine :-D

I am published!

Scrap Happy!!!

Do you see the shimmer?

Although My Sunshine Garden is a scrap-friendly pattern, I used the Island Batiks Flutter Wings Collection, designed by Kathy Engle. It is coming to stores in February.

This is a bright and cheerful collection, perfect to capture happiness in a quilt.  Here are some more pictures.

Thank you, Paul!

My Sunshine Garden

Inspired by Nature?

In my backyard

Here comes the sun :-)

Love these colors!

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I completed my January RSC blocks. Here they are.

I have a feeling that the contrasting centers in the Hexie flowers will create a lot of interest in the finished quilt. 

I decided to make all the green blocks together. The Avocado, Mint, Grass, Spinach, Pea soup, Pine and even Hunter. Because it is hard to work with Hunter (Pine and Forest don't help) alone. I will be sharing with Angela's Linky party. See full list on the sidebar. 

Angela said that February will be Red.  Let's see if I can find enough red scraps. Hope you found some joy and inspiration here. Won't you let me know? Please, pretty please :-)

Prismatic

I have a new finish to share, but first this news!

Island Batik announced the 2024 slate of ambassadors and I am thrilled that I made the cut. Check out the link above to read about the new and returning ambassadors.

I will be receiving my goodies next week and the Unboxing post (and video) is scheduled for 1/23/24. Won't you come back then?

I do have a new quilt to share. Meet Prismatic.

Island Batik Solids

Made entirely with Island Batik Solids, Prismatic finished at 48" square and can play the dual role of a baby-going-to-be-a-toddler quilt or a small lap quilt. 

All things Bold & Bright

On a cold, soggy and dreary day, we quilters have plenty of bright fabrics to lift our spirits.  I had some solids left over from making the quilt top. I chose to make a pieced backing. 

Playing with Scraps

Paul, the model :-)

The backing is Frosting and it is a beautiful floral neutral.  Let me show you a close-up.

Frosting

The quilting is my favorite squiggly lines using my walking foot. The binding is Solid Light Grey. 

Quilting Detail

If you'd like to make Prismatic, you can get the pattern in my Etsy Store. It includes colored graphics, step by step directions and a coloring sheet too. Prismatic is on sale (20% off) till Tuesday, 1/16/24.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So if you'd like a copy of the Prismatic Quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning the favorite book (and author) you read in 2023.  If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email so that I can reach you. 

I will announce the winners on 1/17/24.

Update - The winners are Sara (#2) and Elizabeth (#21).

Emails have been sent.

I will be participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Angela has announced that January is Green. Let's see if I can find any green in my Island Batik stash/scraps.

Aha Green!

I am also working on my January RSC 2024 blocks. Will show you when I post next time, along with the Unboxing video. Sharing with Angela's and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Hope you stay safe, warm and dry.

A Fishy Story - Pattern Release & Giveaway

It was a heavy lift. The net was bursting with a huge catch. 

It took a lot of effort to haul it out of the river.

Ooh it is heavy...

The fish wriggled and pulled against the net and Paul struggled. 

Paul struggled

I heaved a huge sign of relief when he prevailed.

And finally managed!

Such a proud angler Paul is!!! Now, you may think that catching all these fish on the banks of Potomac is a load of bull. But honestly, it is a fishy story :-D

The one that got away...

Well, here is the true back story of this quilt. I made my first fish blocks for the Island Batik/Studio 180 Design Challenge and Blog Hop in 2021.

We catch so much fish on the banks of the Potomac :-p

I loved these fish so much that I started making them as my RSC blocks in 2022. Initially I had used the Corner Pop 3 Ruler to make these fish blocks.  But not everyone has specialty rulers and this was such a fun pattern that I wanted it to be accessible to all. So I wrote the pattern such that it needs no special rulers.  

RSC 2022 Blocks

In September 2022, Make Modern published Frolicking Fish (Table Runner) in Issue #48.  That runner now lives in Manveen's house, in her husband's study/office.  But I digress.

Frolicking Fish, at Manveen's House

This year, I completed all the RSC blocks from 2022, with the exception of yellow. 

This is what happened to yellow?  Sorry, too many tangents. 

Finally, the quilt was completed.  I revised the pattern, including detailed step by step instructions for on-point setting, complete with coloring sheets for two sizes. 

In process

Paul was kind enough to give in to my antics by the river.

Paul, the model

Cathy was kind enough to test drive the pattern and Reed (fellow Island Batik ambassador) provided the technical review. 

The pattern is listed in my Etsy store for $10, but on 20% discount till Thursday, 4/27/23. That is $8 for 12 pages of detailed/color instructions.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? Leave me a comment on this blogpost, making sure that if you are Anonymous/No-Reply Blogger, I can reach you by email.  One lucky winner will receive a PDF copy of the pattern - A Fishy Story.

For a second chance to win, head over to Cathy's blog.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (See full list on the sidebar), including Angela's.

Sunny Day, Happy Fishes

Did you see pigs fly? No, but I saw fish climbing the tree :-D

A Fishy Story continues... I will announce the winner next week.  

Update on Friday, 4/28/23 - The winner is #12 Kathy Quilts. Email has been sent!

Mardi Gras Magic

Mardi Gras Magic was published in McCall’s Quilting March/April 2023.   

Mardi Gras Magic

I used the Island Batik Fabric Line, Wild Blooms. Designed by Kathy Engle, it should be available in stores in May 2023. 

I used Hobbs Black Batting, quilted using my walking foot and used a medium purple binding. 

Mardi Gras Magic finished at about 60" by 80".

My favorite picture

Island Batik Fabrics - Inspired by Nature

These colors are so wild and vibrant and they really pop on a black (Island Batik Solid) background.   

Bright Yellows, Shimmering Greens

The backing is Chameleon, available all year round from Island Batiks Basics.

Purple Binding

Quilting Detail

Thank you, Paul!

Thanks to Island Batik for the gorgeous fabrics, thanks to Golden Peak Media for publishing the quilt/pattern and thanks to Paul who is always ready to party with me - rain or shine :-)

According to Angela, the RSC color for March is Green. Absolutely fitting for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.  No green beer for me, just bright green blocks in Island Batik fabrics :-)

Sharing with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar), including Angela's.

Wishing you all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day.  Do let me know how you are celebrating - fabrics, food or family?  

May and June

May's car is parked in June's driveway.

It is May's mess that has led to June's stress. I am not thrilled about it but the sad truth is this - unless we move May's car out of June's driveway, June cannot go anywhere or do anything. 

Angela said that May RSC colors were Sage and Forest Green. With all that was happening in May (international travel, recovering from international travel, catching up with work due to travel, Covid, recovering from Covid, nursing Paul as he recovered from Covid, the Positivity QAL set up and launch, not to mention the devastating news), there was absolutely NO way May could look at Forest Green. 

You know how she feels about Forest Green. 

But we must. Choosing to add light/bright (happy) greens to sage/forest (bitter) greens was the only way to move ahead. 

All the greens - springy and stinky

And here we are. Nine Improv blocks completed!

May's RSC blocks completed!

All the greens are done. May's car is out of June's driveway. Logjam cleared. 

Phew!!! Done

May is taking a rest and June is heaving a sigh of relief. Although June's work list is very long, we can at least begin now.

Paul: So what is happening in June?
Me: I am so glad you asked.

The Island Batik Challenge and Blog Hop featuring the New York Beauty begins June 6.  Check the link for a gorgeous giveaway.

I will be sharing my completed quilt on June 21, 2022. I got the collection Winter Sky, designed by Kathy Engle, coming soon to a store near you.

I must make some progress on my Positivity 2022 Quilt. So far I have picked out the fabrics. Not started cutting yet. 

Whimsical Wings - an older collection from Island Batik

Green and Purple

I will be using a white background. 

Angela has announced that June is dark blue for RSC. I have picked out my fabrics. Hope we can prevent another spillover.

Dark Blue Scraps for June RSC

I have completed a quilt. That post is next.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, including Angela's. See full list on the sidebar. 

Did May misbehave with you too? Do tell. If not, what do you expect from June? She will be hot (unless you live in Australia, where she is supercool), but no seriously, what does your June look like?