Miracle Fish

Welcome to my stop on the Sunlit Garden Blog Hop. 

I was thrilled when Jennifer Thomas of Curlicue Creations asked whether I would like to join the Sunlit Garden BlogHop.  Of course, I said YES!

Here is my quilt, named Miracle Fish!

Miracle Fish, 60" by 60"

The red and green together is evocative of Christmas, but this collection has vibes of Spring with floral reds and leafy greens. Christmas made me think of Christ and Christ made me think of Fish.

 

EQ8 Mock-Up

Me: What does that Jesus in Fish symbol signify?
Paul: Jesus was the fisher of men.
Me: That sounds painful. No fish wants to be fished or hooked. I thought it is because He multiplied fish to feed people.
Paul: That could be too.
Me: Wasn't He the shepherd? Guiding humanity?
Paul: That He was. Jesus was many things.
Me: That I agree.

This fabric collection can be many things too - bright Spring vibes or Christmas vibes. Many possibilities.

Starting 

Making

The flimsy was just under 60" square. So I used the 60" square Hobbs Silk Blend Batting. 

Silk Blend Batting from Hobbs Tuscany Collection

I quilted in one direction using my walking foot. I used Turquoise Variegated Thread to mimic water.

Quilting Detail

I used 12 out of the 20 fabrics in the collection. The background is Island Batik Solid White, as is the binding. I used Dark Green backing and here are some close-up pictures.

Wavy Stitch Quilting

Labelled

I enjoyed making this quilt.  Why am I calling it Miracle Fish? 

Well, if fish can climb a tree, that is miraculous!

Fish climb a tree

Paul and I went to a children's playground one early morning to take these pictures. The playground furniture provided several fun settings for the photoshoot. The cloudy sky provided the diffused lighting.

Playfully Yours

Matching Tulips!

Cloudy Skies, low temperatures and high winds make for a bitterly cold season. How I wish for a Miracle? Sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

The Sunlit Garden blog Hop continues through March 9, 2025.  Here's the list so you can visit all the blogs this week:

March 3:  Curlicue Creations 

March 4:  Freemotion by the River

March 5:  Sew Preeti Quilts (you are here)

March 6:  Quilting Gail

March 7:  Kathy's Kwilts and More

March 8:  Quilted Delights

March 9:  Sew Cute and Quirky

Also gathered my yellow scraps to play along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) in March. 

Will share with Angela's Linky Party.

Island Batik Yellow Scraps

Nishat and Meteor Shower

Nishat was published in Annie's Bright & Colorful Quilts

Nishat

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Flutter Wings Collection, Nishat embodies the spirit of famous terrace gardens in Kashmir, India.

Flutter Wings Collection is available in quilt stores now.
I used Egg White (Island Batik Neutral) as background.  The binding is Fiery Orange. 

Everything ok here?

Spring has Sprung!

Nishat finished at 64" by 88" and I am very happy with it.

Swirling Spring

Published!!!

She walks in beauty

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Meteor Shower was published in Colorful Quilts for Kids.

Finished & Published

Meteor Shower is a layer cake friendly pattern and finishes at 51" by 59.5".  

Meteor Shower

I used the Island Batik Constellations Stack (10" squares) to make this quilt.  No background fabric required. The backing is Blurple :-D  I used my walking foot to quilt it. The binding is light gray solid.  

Labelled

Meteor Shower was instantly claimed by Joyce and I am happy that the quilt found a new home.

Grey Binding

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As promised I have completed my Purple Blocks for Rainbow Scrap Challenge. All scraps are Island Batik. It is great to be an ambassador :-)

Light Purple

Dark Purple

March blocks are done and I am wondering whether April will be Blue or Orange?

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

Island Batik Log Cabin Challenge and Blog Hop

Me: Have you heard of Door Dash?
Paul: Yes.
Me: Now meet Dashing Doors!

Dashing Doors

Dashing Doors is my response to the Island Batik's Log Cabin Challenge and Blog Hop that begins today.  My pun on Door Dash got a huge eye roll from Paul :-)

I received a half-yard bundle of Breezy Collection.  Purples, Greens, Coral and Pink make this a lovely collection.

Breezy Bundle

An original collection by Kate Colleran Designs, Breezy is a bright collection with a beautiful gradation of values and I wanted to show off that aspect of the collection. 

Light to Dark!

I started playing in EQ8. Several designs were made and most were discarded. Here is what was selected. The Door Block is 16" square. 

EQ8 Mock-up

Here are some process pictures, showing green, coral, purple and pink doors.

Making Doors

My colors!!!

I used Aurifil Thread for piecing (50 wt) and quilting (40 wt). I used a 80/12 Microtex Needle from Schmetz for both piecing and quilting. The batting is Hobbs Tuscany Cotton-Wool Blend. 

I chose a dark purple (Boysenberry) backing from Island Batik Basics and the binding is Light Grey Solid. 

Here are some pictures from the photoshoot.

Dashing Doors in front of Staggered Windows

What door will you pick?

Rock Star Backing and Binding :-)

It is a Sunny Vibe!

Paul suggested this "ART" location. 

Not only the colors match, it is a nod to my creative pursuits. 

I did not argue. After all, he has excellent taste :-D

No arguments from me :-)

Of course you want to see close-ups.  Of course I will.

Juicy

Walking Foot Quilting

Labelled

Once Dashing Doors was completed, I started tidying up the scraps. There were several 3.5" and 2.5" strip segments left over. The work was done. May I play?

I am allowed? Right? So I did. 

Here is the result of playing with scraps left over from Dashing Doors. Meet Aprajita.

Aprajita

The blocks in Aprajita are 7" by 12". The quilt finished at 42" by 48".  I did not design Aprajita in EQ8. But it is not an improv quilt either. It is really a design-build project :-)

Work in Progress

Using the scraps, I designed three types of blocks, each measuring 7" by 12". Then I made a few of them and added to the design wall. To prevent the project from getting out of control, I decided that I would limit myself to the scraps leftover from Dashing Doors, but it was acceptable to add neutral (Almond) and coordinating solids. 

Design Wall

Aprajita uses the following Island Batik Solids - Dark Grey, Red, Fuchsia, Pink, Lime Green, Amethyst, and Orange. Each solid is used once.

A second finish!!!

Walking Foot Quilting

If I love Dashing Doors, I am completely besotted with Aprajita.  She is fun and modern and so cheerful. She has this intimate, minimalist wedding in a botanical garden vibe about her. How do I capture all that in a name? 

You are my sunshine!

I chose Aprajita because it is the name of a flower that is usually purple but also comes in pink and coral colors. Aprajita flowers not only embody the spirit of Spring but are also considered auspicious and used as offerings in prayers. 

I used Aurifil Thread for piecing (50 wt) and quilting (40 wt). I used a 80/12 Microtex Needle from Schmetz for both piecing and quilting. The batting is Thermore by Hobbs. 

I chose Platinum (Island Batik Neutral) for backing and the binding is Fuchsia Solid.  

Cheerful!

Ah Spring!

Labelled

I am so happy with my quilts. I love them both.

Purple with Grey, Grey with Purple :-)

Paul: I thought you were too busy to even make one quilt.
Me: I was. I am.
Paul: But you made two...
Me: I did
Paul: How?
Me: Let's see. When you are too tired from working you go play...
Paul: Yes
Me: But you work and play at the computer...
Paul: Two different computers, but yes. 
Me: In this case both work and play happened at the sewing machine and resulted in two quilts.
Paul: I see. 
Me: Thank you for the photo shoot!

Paul: Oh you are very welcome.
Me: Silver Diner?
Paul: Sounds good.

What sounds good to me is a comment from you. And if you tell me which of the following Island Batik collections you like the most, I will enter your name for a chance at a giveaway (Island Batik fabric packs).  I will pick two winners on February 13, 2024. 

UPDATE - The two winners are Heather (#1) and Nancy (#26). Emails have been sent.

The Blog Hop continues. The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:

February 6:

• Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here) 
• Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique LLC
• Megan Best, Best Quilter

February 7:

• Pamela Boatright, Pamelaquilts
• Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
• Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

February 8:

• Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
• Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

February 9:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

February 12:

• Carol Stanek, Stitch with Color
• Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

February 13:

• Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany
• Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

February 14:

• Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
• Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting for You

February 15:

• Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio
• Connie Kresin Campbell, Freemotion by the River

February 16:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

February 19:

• Lana Russel, LanaQuilts
• Julia Schweri, Inflorescence Designs

February 20:

• Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
• Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

February 21:

• Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
• Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

February 22:

• Denise Looney, A Quiltery
• Kim Jamieson-Hirst, Chatterbox Quilts

February 23:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Giveaway

February 26:

• Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts
• Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

In other news, Angela has announced that February is Red. Here are my red fabrics for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and I am ready to paint the blogland red :-) Will be linking with Angela's Linky Party. 

February is Red!