Sweet Dreams

In summer I dream of a chilly breeze. 
In winter I dream of a fire. 
At land I yearn for the stormy seas. 
Once there it is dry land that I desire.

It is no surprise that I made an Autumn Quilt in Spring :-) Meet Sweet Dreams.

Autumn in Spring

Island Batik's June Challenge Requirements/Guidelines are as follows:

• Project Type: Quilt for Quilts Across America
• Size: between 50” to 60” wide and 75” to 90” long. 
• Fabric: Any, in colors that appeal to children aged 2-17.
• Work with any size unit that you want, you can also use more than one unit size in the project.
• Must use at least 30 units total, made with the Studio 180 Design tool you received.

I received the Corner Beam Ruler.

Corner Beam Units

I used four colors - Orange, Green, Red and Purple - in light, medium, dark and very dark to make the Autumn Leaf Block.

10" Leaf Block

I love the gentle gradation of values going from light in the tip to very dark in the base of the leaf. 

In Orange

The leaf stem is made from Eucalyptus (now discontinued Island Batik Basic).  The background is Egg White. I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for piecing.

I  made a total of 24 Leaf Blocks, arranged four across by six down.  

Design Wall

The sashing is 2" and the border finishes at 3".

Basting

The batting is Hobbs Premium Cotton. I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for Quilting, using my walking foot in a 2" grid with my favorite squiggly stitch.

Quilting Detail

The Binding is a Green Vine fabric left over from the Wild Blooms collection. 

In the picture below, I am standing on a picnic table, with the Potomac in the background, while Paul took the perfect shot. Can you see the river to the right?

Finished Quilt - 52" by 76"

Since the quilt used only 24 Corner Beam units, when we were directed to make at least 30, I considered adding a fancy border.  But that would take away from the simple beauty of the quilt.

I wanted to follow the rules/guidelines but sometimes that is at loggerheads with design considerations. 

What could I do? The shape of the Corner Beam unit is similar to a candle/lamp flame.

So I made a Zippered Pouch. It used four Corner Beam units, bringing the number up to 28. I know it is not the required 30, but that is close enough!

Appliquéd Corner Beam and Semicircle Units

Instead of piecing the units, I appliquéd them using an invisible thread. I used Red, Green and Orange (for the lamps) but not Purple because it would not have a good contrast against the Solid Black background.

Diwali Themed Zippered Pouch

There are design decisions at every stage. Do you approve of mine? Please let me know. 

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

In other news, Angela has announced that June will be Blue. Here are my Island Batik Blues ready to become Hexie Blocks. 

All the Blues - Light, Medium and Dark

We will be receiving our second Ambassador Boxes in July. 

I need to arrange, consolidate and make room for new supplies. Would you be interested in Island Batik fabric scraps? 

No pressure :-D But I'd love to know.

Swirling Fish Block Tutorial

This tutorial will make two identical fish blocks. 

Background Fabric  - Five squares 5"

Assorted Green Fabrics - One square 9", five squares 5"
Contrasting Solid (choose a color different from background fabric) - One square 9"

Make two large half square triangles - Cut size 8.5", Finished size 8"

On the wrong side of the contrasting solid square (9"), draw a line connecting two diagonal corners. Place the large green square (9") right sides together with the contrasting solid square (9").  Stitch 1/4" away from the drawn line, on both sides. Cut on the drawn line. Press and square both HSTs to 8.5". Set aside.

Make ten smaller half square triangles - Cut size 4.5". Finished size 4".
On the wrong side of a background square (5"), draw a line connecting two diagonal corners. Place a 5" green square right sides together with the 5" background square. Stitch 1/4" away from the drawn line, on both sides. Cut on the drawn line. Press and square both HSTs to 4.5". Similarly make the remaining eight HSTs. 

Arrange and stitch as shown.

STEP 1 - Stitch the four smaller HSTs in two pairs as shown by arrows

STEP 2 - Stitch the large HST to the top HST pair.  Stitch the lower HST pair to the fifth smaller HST.

STEP 3 - Stitch the two pieced units together to complete the block

STEP 4 - Press and square to 12.5"

Do a happy dance, much like the swirling fish :-D Complete the second fish block.

Now make more in all the colors of the rainbow. The smaller HSTs are a great way to use up leftover squares from charm packs. 

Here are a few more examples.

Yellow Fish

Red Fish

Orange Fish

Purple Fish

Nine blocks (arranged 3 by 3) will make a 36" square baby quilt. I recommend adding 2" borders (to protect your points) for a 40" finished quilt.

30 blocks (5 by 6) will make a Lap/Throw/Mercyful Quilt, measuring 60" by 84". Please make sure that you add borders to protect the points.

Questions? Ask away and I will answer here so that all can see. 

I will share this tutorial with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

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!

Dancing Daylilies

The story of this quilt began in September 2019.

Dancing Daylilies 70" by 90"

It was the long weekend of Labor Day and I was playing with scraps... Moda Scrap Bag scraps, to be precise. The fabric is by Corey Yoder. 

Scraps from Moda Scrap Bag 

Just piecing strips and making large blocks. I ended up with a flimsy of 50" square. Good enough for a large baby quilt. I set it aside and worked on quilts for the Socorro Foundation. 

Almost Flimsy

In October 2019, I traveled to India. I was tasked to convey a care package to Meetu (my sister's classmate). My sister lives in the US and Meetu lives in India. They went to medical school together and we all have been friends for many years. 

Meetu at our wedding in 2008

Meetu is fighting breast cancer, my sister told me as she handed me a large canvas bag with books, a head scarf and other pink items.  

When I went to see Meetu, I wasn't sure what to expect. Mom's trusted driver drove me to her house and asked me when he should return to pick me up. I told him to wait.  I won't be long.

What if she was asleep or resting, I wondered.  What if she felt uncomfortable about seeing me, I thought. 

Her father-in-law opened the door and greeted me warmly.  I was prepared to leave the bag with him. But he asked me to wait. Shortly thereafter Meetu came downstairs to see me. She looked tired and her head was covered with a scarf but her smile was intact. 

We hugged. I handed her the bag of goodies. I am a courier, I commented.

She laughed. We chatted for a few minutes and I left.

When I returned to the US in November 2019, I knew what I had to do. I pulled out that flimsy. At 50" square it was great for a baby/toddler. Not for Meetu. 

Matching Fabrics

Layered Blocks

Most of the Corey Yoder scraps were gone.  So I found matching fabrics from my stash and made additional blocks. I needed another 38 blocks for a finished size of 70" by 90".  

Adding Blocks

Completed Flimsy

I knew I wanted bright yellow for the backing but how should I quilt it?  I wanted the quilting to be special. I marked the quilt top and  quilted it using my walking foot. I love the design. 

Walking Foot Quilting

Yellow and red are not only bright and energizing they are also considered auspicious colors in Hindu culture. Red and gold striped binding completed the quilt.  

Red and Gold Binding

Labelled and Ready

Dancing Daylilies was completed on January 3, 2020 and I sent it to my sister.  She was scheduled to visit India in April 2020 and I knew she would happily take the quilt to Meetu. Yes, we act as couriers for each other all the time.

And then Covid happened and the whole world came to a standstill...for a long time. 

In May 2020, the Mothers' Day card that we sent to my mom in India was returned to us.  There was no way I was risking the quilt to the postal service.

Completed Quilt

Scrappy and Yummy

Coral, Orange, Green, Gray and Yellow

Peek a Boo

Bright and Beautiful

Ready for You

Waiting...

My sister could not go to India in April 2020 or in April 2021. In May 2021, the quilt reached Meetu's daughter, who is a student in New Jersey.  Last month the Dancing Daylilies reached Meetu. Finally.

Meetu with Dancing Daylilies

Meetu has beaten the cancer. She has also decided on a different career path. Giving up her medical profession as an anesthesiologist, Meetu will be running a Yoga Center - practicing and teaching. 

I wish her well in her new endeavors.  

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In other news, subscriber emails have been successfully migrated from Feedburner to Follow.It.  See the new button on top right.  

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Quilters have been working on Positivity Quilts. Rachel's Positivity quilt reached Bernie. 

Rachel's Positivity Quilt

Thank you so much, Rachel. The Positivity Quilt Finished Flimsy Linky Party (and giveaway) is July 18, 2021.  

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Island Batik July Challenge Giveaway Winners - The random number generator chose comments 53 and 47.  Emails have been sent to Donna T and SandyZoo.

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Who says you cannot herd cats?  Look at mine - all 12 of them, well-herded :-D

Novella - Original in Batiks (left) and in Florals

Inspired by Katrin's floral cats, I made the Novella Wall Hanging pattern in florals.  The Novella Wall Hanging (Table Runner) pattern is available at a discount in my Etsy Shop till July 15, 2021.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. As usual, I'd love to hear from you about your journeys - long and short.