Thank you!

The Synergy Quilt Pattern Release Blog Hop comes to an end. 

I am tickled pink and oh so grateful to my pattern testers. Each one of them exceeded my expectations and came up with a version of Synergy unique to themselves.

Sharing all versions of Synergy here. Enjoy the parade!

Mari goes bold with hot pink

Alycia stays true to QOV

Wendy goes minimalist with Blue Skies

Bonnie's Bright and Beautiful Version

Roseanne and Sue's Soothing Collaboration

You can read their original posts here

1. Mari of Academic Quilter - Thursday, April 21, 2022

2. Alycia of Alycia Quilts - Friday, April 22, 2022

3. Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts - Saturday, April 23, 2022

4. Bonnie of Institches with Bonnie - Sunday, April 24, 2022

5. Roseanne of Home Sewn By Us - Monday, April 25, 2022

As Mari, Alycia, Wendy, Bonnie and Roseanne choose the winners of the giveaway, I will reach out to them with their prize - a copy of the Synergy PDF pattern.

Today is the last day to get your copy of Synergy Quilt Pattern at a discount of 25%.

Synergy in EQ8 using Island Batik Woodcut Collection

Synergy in EQ8 using Island Batik Lace and Grace collection

Synergy in EQ8 using Island Batik Playful Purples

The 13-page pattern includes detailed instructions with colorful graphics for every step of the block construction and layout. Tips for scraps and precuts are also provided. And a Coloring Page is included the end so that you can make your own color/fabric choices. As you can see, the possibilities are endless!

Thank you once again to Mari, Alycia, Wendy, Bonnie, Roseanne and Sue. 

Love you so much. Your good deeds will not go unpunished. I will be bugging you next time I write a pattern :-D

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

Synergy Quilt Pattern Release!!!

It was about one year ago, when I first doodled the idea that became Synergy. I first made Synergy in Rainbow Fabrics on a Light Gray background, provided by Island Batiks.

The second version was in Tantalizing Teals on a Yellow background. 

Since then, I have been playing in EQ8, with different Island Batik collections.

In Lace & Grace (Fall 2021 Collection)

In Playful Purples (Island Batik Foundations)

In Interurban (Fall 2021)

But I am so looking forward to the different versions that are cooking in the following studios of North America.

1. Mari of Academic Quilter - Thursday, April 21, 2022

2. Alycia of Alycia Quilts - Friday, April 22, 2022

3. Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts - Saturday, April 23, 2022

4. Bonnie of Institches with Bonnie - Sunday, April 24, 2022

5. Roseanne of Home Sewn By Us - Monday, April 25, 2022

Make sure to visit their blogs to see their versions of Synergy. Follow the instructions, and leave a comment to participate in the giveaway.

I have been working and re-working on the pattern and today it is ready!!!

Synergy Quilt Pattern is now available in my Etsy Shop!!!

The 13-page pattern includes detailed instructions with colorful graphics for every step of the block construction and layout. Tips for scraps and precuts are also provided. And a Coloring Page is included the end so that you can make your own color/fabric choices.

Synergy is on sale for 25% off till April 27, 2022. 

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Think Pink

Angela announced that April is Pink.  And nature got the memo :-)

Delicate Pink

Hot Pink

Reddish Pink

Pretty Blooms

It is like the sun and breeze shared a naughty joke and all flora blushed. 

Looks like my fabrics are blushing too. I will be sharing with Angela's linky party.

Starting Point

Plus Background Strips

Cut and Sew

Easter Bunny?

When a pink Easter bunny hopped on to my work, I ate him up :-D 

Voila!!!

I have about a dozen pink blocks. All different sizes. How will I put them together? 

With a lot of mixing and matching, cutting and sewing, adding and subtracting. But I am not going to dwell upon that for now. 

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Because, NOW I am getting ready to publish the Synergy pattern in my Etsy store :-) 

My dear friends, Mari, Bonnie, Wendy, Alycia and Roseanne happily agreed to test drive the revised instructions.  They will be sharing their versions of Synergy next week.

1. Mari of Academic Quilter - Thursday, April 21, 2022

2. Alycia of Alycia Quilts - Friday, April 22, 2022

3. Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts - Saturday, April 23, 2022

4. Bonnie of Institches with Bonnie - Sunday, April 24, 2022

5. Roseanne of Home Sewn By Us - Monday, April 25, 2022

Make sure to visit their blogs to see their versions and leave a comment to participate in the giveaway. 

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In other news, Positivity QAL is coming to 2022.  May 29 - September 4, 2022. 

I will share a free tutorial. No registration is required.  To be eligible for prizes, we need to see your completed flimsy (Level 1 Prizes) on your blog or Instagram. Similarly we need to see your completed quilt before you are entered into a drawing for a Level 2 Prize.  

The Beginning of Mercyful Quilts Initiative

Thank you from Mercy Hospital

Mercyful Quilts Update

Wrapped with Kindness (may need tissues)

A Note from Mercy Hospital

I hope that you will sew and quilt along, and send the completed quilt to Mercyful Quilts.  If you are not in the US, and wish to participate, you are very welcome. You may donate the quilt to a local charity or to a cause close to your heart.  In the next couple of weeks, I will be working on the block instructions and other logistics for the QAL. Bernie and I are also organizing prizes for the QAL.    

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I had been eagerly waiting for the Kwanza Cherry trees to bloom. Two weeks ago the buds were tight and on their marks.

On your marks

Get set and Bloom

I love to walk here

Majestic

I love spring :-)

I  brought some home

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

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For the next Island Batik challenge (May 2022) and another new quilt, to be published in July 2022,  I needed pictures.

Setting up a Quilty Photoshoot is a small production.  Of course, I try to turn it into a date. I make an appointment with my quilt model including plans for inclement weather.  Some breeze is fine, snow is welcome but rain is an absolute spoiler.

On location

Choosing location is always a challenge. So I pick two or three.  To bribe  compensate my quilt model for his time and effort, I pick a restaurant of his choice.  

Just the back for now

Me: Would you like to eat first?
Paul (groggy): Nah, photos first.

Me: I don't want you to be hungry or grumpy.

Paul (grumpy): I am fine. 

Me: You sure? I don't want you to faint and drop the quilt in the water.

Paul (mildly exasperated): I won't. Do you want leftovers sitting in the car while we take pictures?

Me: Excellent point. Silver Diner ok?

Paul: Yeah.

Me: Shall I drive?

Paul: I can drive.

Thank you Paul!

Is this a better backdrop?

I love this location. The tall/blah buildings serve as the perfect backdrop for bright quilts. On the right, you can see the bridge over the small pond, perfect for quilty reflection pictures. 

After the photoshoot and the meal (pancakes and sausage), Paul was more Ted Lasso than Roy Kent.

Paul: What do you think of the new Bridgerton season?
Me: It got more Indian.
Paul: The cast, you mean? 
Me: Brighter fabrics, better jewelry, not enough steaminess.

Paul: The first season was steamier.

Me: Oh yes. I'll just have to rewatch it.

Paul responded with smiles and eye roll, as expected.  Surprisingly, the first season of Bridgerton also coincided with the pink month of RSC2021. 

Wish you a Happy Easter. Hope your weekend is the right mix of brightness and steam :-) 

Island Batik Step by Step Challenge

 The Island Batik challenge for January 2022 reads as follows: 

Island Batik has developed ten colorways of gradations with 20 steps in each. There are so many quilt projects that make use of gradations in color and value. Your challenge is to create a project that demonstrates this step by step change in color value!

I love this challenge. I absolutely do. I love creating quilts with gradations, where color (or value) gradually changes from one to the other. I made a Gradations quilt in Konark, even though it wasn't a requirement. Cross Currents was based on the same theme. Even the Iberian Lynx Project relies on gradually darkening values to convey the message of strengthening populations.

Tantalizing Teals :-)

I received the letter for the 2022 Ambassador Program in December 2021. I had recently completed my Synergy Quilt for the Make Modern magazine. As I read the requirements of the first challenge, I wondered - how would Synergy look with changing values of blue and green (instead of rainbow colors in the original)? Absolutely snazzy, said EQ8!

I wasted little time in cutting fabric but when I started cutting the grey background fabric, it did not feel right. Neither white nor black were giving me the warm fuzzy feeling I was looking for. Back to EQ8. Yellow it was!!! Although I had plenty of solid neutrals (Black, White and Grey). I had very little yellow solid. Within minutes, I ordered solid yellow. Now I had to sit tight and wait. So many gorgeous teals and I had to wait??? UNACCEPTABLE.

So, while I was waiting for the yellow solid fabric to arrive, I made this other quilt with the step by step gradations theme.  I am calling this one Supernova :-)

Supernova

I know I am crazy. But look at these tantalizing teals. Do you really blame me? I was hungry and Gradations is my favorite food group :-D

Frozen Pond = Poor Reflections :-(

I used Hobbs Thermore batting. This is my favorite batting because it is really light and so easy to work with. I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 needles for both piecing and quilting. I used Aurifil Thread (40 wt) #2600 Dove for quilting.

Here are a few more pictures.

Supernova on Snow

Thank you Paul!

Yummy Fabrics - Step by Step

Once yellow solid arrived (thanks to a rapid response from Maryellen), I made Synergy in Tantalizing Teals with a Solid Yellow background.  I used Hobbs Premium 80/20 Cotton batting and quilted with Aurifil thread (40 wt) using the Schmetz Microtex 80/12 needle.

The Yellow sings and the Teals dance on the hot surface. And I am thrilled with this song and dance quilt!!!

Jubilant Quilt - Dull Reflection

I wanted a reflection of this simmering yellow in a cool pool, but alas all ponds are frozen resulting in blah reflections. May be in a couple of months, I will try again.

Against a red brick wall will do nicely

Winter is cold, Quilt is Hot

Snow does make a great setting

Dreary Urban Backdrop = Perfect for a Bright Quilt

Supernova finished at 52" square and Synergy (in Tantalizing Teals) finished at 56" by 70". Quilted using my walking foot. Used background fabrics for both bindings. Overall, I am very happy with my January, except the frozen bit. But enough about me. I'd love to hear from you. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

The Island Batik February Challenge and Blog Hop begins on January 31. I will be posting on February 16. You don't want to miss it. 

The other Island Batik Ambassadors are busy posting their “Step by Step” challenge quilts.
Do check them out. 

• Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
• Megan Best ~ Bestquilter
• Pamela Boatright ~ Pamelaquilts
• Elizabeth DeCroos ~ Epida Studio
• Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter
• Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
• Jane Hauprich ~ Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting
• Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
• Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
• Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
• Denise Looney ~ For The Love Of Geese
• Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
• Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
• Anorina Morris – sameliasmum.com
• Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
• Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
• Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads
• Brianna Roberts ~ Sew Cute And Quirky
• Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde
• Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
• Andi Stanfield ~ True Blue Quilts
• Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
• Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
• Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Island Batik   Aurifil Thread   Hobbs Batting & Schmetz Needles !!

Synergy in Make Modern #44

I have news!!!

My pattern Synergy is in the Make Modern Magazine, Issue 44.

Synergy in Make Modern #44

Meet Synergy. Measuring 56" by 70", Synergy is made entirely with Island Batik Solids, provided to me free of charge by Island Batik. It is good to be an ambassador :-)

Orange Foliage, Rainbow Quilt

My favorite :-)

Breeze was a Brat

More Fall Foliage

Oh my beauty!

The quilt was completed in November 2021. The  pictures were taken on November 14, 2021. All instructions and pictures were sent on November 20, 2021. And then I had to sit tight till NOW.  

Sitting Tight?

Sunny Side Up

You have no idea how hard these last few months have been for me. This is a very big deal to keep bottled for this long a time. Therefore I am relieved (thrilled and giddy with happiness too) that I can now share this news with you.

Forgive me if I got a little trigger-happy :-)

Cloudy

Breezy

Sunny

I highly recommend the Make Modern magazine. Whereas a single pattern may cost about $12, you can get the entire issue (with 10 terrific patterns) for just $12. The 105 pages are chock full of quilty goodness with detailed patterns, features and articles!!!

But there is more. Isn't there always?

I wanted to see Synergy pattern in different colorways. Using EQ8, I modeled Synergy in Tantalizing Teals. But got stuck on the choice of background color. White was too plain, Black was too dark and Grey was too dull. But Yellow was perfect.

There was just one problem. I had about 12" of Island Batik Solid Yellow.  I needed 2.5 yards. I reached out to Maryellen, a fellow IB ambassador who owns the Etsy store MaryMackMadeMine. Maryellen rushed the fabric to me. I recommend her Etsy store for all your Island Batik needs.

Synergy in Island Batik Tantalizing Teals

Thanks to Maryellen, I was able to complete the quilt and shoot pictures to time this blogpost with the publication of the Make Modern, Issue 44. 

Frozen Pond = Poor Reflection

Hello Yellow!!!

Synergy Goes Wild!

Lighting up the Urban Landscape

Fire on Ice!!!

Paul: Is this your January challenge quilt for Island Batik?
Me: It can be.

Paul: But?

Me: But I made another quilt as my response to the challenge.

Paul: You could've killed two birds with one stone.

Me: But I have so many stones...

Paul: And you like throwing stones?

Me: I like playing with fabric, especially such gorgeous fabric.

Paul: Why stop at one when you can make two?

Me: Exactly!!! You totally get me :-)

Cold Weather, Hot Quilt!!!

Although Synergy (in Island Batik Tantalizing Teals with Yellow background) fulfills all requirements of the January IB challenge (Step by Step), I am sharing it here as a Synergy pattern.  All fabrics were provided by Island Batiks.

Upcoming Posts 
January 21, 2022 - Unboxing Video and Post
January 28, 2022 - Step by Step Challenge 

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. But I'd like to hear from you. Which Synergy do you prefer - Rainbow Synergy or Teals Synergy?