Tesu

Mom asked me to make a quilt for a young girl. Of course I said yes.

What is her name, I asked. She did not know. 

How old, I enquired. Not sure, she replied.

Orange, Pink and Sparkly

At this point, I gave up. There is only so much eye-rolling I can do. I set about picking fabrics. Since I knew nothing about the recipient, my aim was to please my mother.

I chose a simple block using cream, pink and orange fabrics.

Design Wall

25 blocks

Ruby Star and Alison Glass Fabrics

Paul: Who is this for?
Me: Some little girl in India...
Paul: Do you know her?
Me: All I know is that her father helped mom with some hard to find medications.
Paul: That is it?
Me: Mom wants to express her gratitude.

Paul: So she asked you...

Me: From across the Atlantic Ocean...

Paul: Are you going to mail it to India?

Me: No, just to Pennsylvania.

Paul: Your sister is going to India?

Me: Yes. End of October.

Festive Elephants Backing

I have been hoarding this elephant fabric since 2016, I think. I know Mom will love it. In fact, Paul loves it too and has asked me to make him a pillow (he already has mug rugs and zippered pouches) from the remaining 16". That is a separate project and blogpost.  Insert eye-roll here.

Here is the finished quilt.

Tesu

I have named her Tesu.  Tesu is the Hindi name for the Butea Monosperma flower. Tesu finished at 43" square. The block is made up of 5" squares framed with 2.5" strips. 

Flame of the Forest :-)

Sunny and Warm

Here are some close-up shots.

Hello Birdie!

Pink and Orange? Well, yes!

Labelled

Love the Striped Binding

Tesu was a fun and fast quilt. 

I especially enjoyed working on her after completing the much complicated Radiance.

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

The next Island Batik project is sponsored by Bags by Annie.  I am making Room with a View in three sizes. 

I will be using the Morris Mist collection. I will post on November 9. 

_____________________________________________________________________

Paul: We are hosting our next gaming session. Right?

Me: Yes.

Paul: What are you making?

Me: Chicken Biryani

Paul: Will I be able to eat it?

Me: Yes. I will adjust the ingredients. 

Paul: Do you use a rotisserie chicken?

Me: No, I will use drumsticks.

Paul: Bone-in?

Me: Yes. Very much so. The bone keeps the meat moist. Also, dark meat is more flavorful. I never cook with breasts.

Paul (smiling naughtily): Babe, you always cook with breasts!!!

A Warm Tribute

The Quilted Legacy Blog Hop is an effort to honor the legacy of Paula Budinger, who passed away earlier this year.  Paula blogged at http://paulabquilts.blogspot.com and later at https://paulabquilts.com. Many of us knew her through her blog and quilts. Paula loved colorful, scrappy quilts, and made kid quilts for Project Linus. Paula also studied quilt history, learned dating old quilts, and collected antique and doll quilts. 

To celebrate Paula's life and her love of quilting, some quilter-bloggers decided on a blog hop where each one of us shares a quilt we make for a charity or a cause close to our hearts. The quilts we share are as varied as each one of us. Hope you will take a few minutes to learn about Paula and visit other blogs to see the quilts made in her honor.

Paula Budinger

No blog hop can be complete without a giveaway. So let me get those rules out of the way.

Every comment (on any blogpost in the blog hop) is an entry to win one of the great prizes!  Yes, you can comment on multiple blogs. Janice will aggregate the comments and select the winners with a random number generator. The giveaway ends on May 15, 2020.

Here are the prizes: 

• Lorna, Sew Fresh Quilts, $50 gift certificate for her pattern shop.
• Yvonne Quilting Jetgirl, 2 PDF patterns of choice.
• Bernie Needle and Foot, $25 certificate for her shop.
• A fat quarter bundle from Figo Fabrics
• A set of quilty gift cards from Initial Thought by DMF  Note cards set 1
• A pattern of choice from Karen, Sugar Free Quilts
• A $30 gift certificate from Doris, Cactus Queen Quilt Co
• A PDF pattern of choice from Joanne, www.etsy.com/shop/CanuckQuilterDesigns

And here are the other blog hop participants.  


Wednesday, May 6  
Karen @ KaHolly
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of my Quilting Life
Bernie @ Needle and Foot
Linda @ My Sew-Called Quilts
Cathy @ Crazy By Design
Sue @ From the Magpie’s Nest

Thursday, May 7 
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts
Rose @ Something Rose Made
Nann @ With Strings Attached
Mari @ The Academic Quilter
Louise @ My Quilt Odyssey
Susan @ Desert Sky Quilts

Friday, May 8
Janice @ Color, Creating and Quilting
Kate @ Smiles From Kate
Joy @ The Joyful Quilter
Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
Edi @ Edi’s Crafting Life
Carol @ Quilt Schmilt

Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts - This is me

And this the quilt I made.

The Finish

The story follows:

The year was 2005. I was working in Fort Lauderdale as a junior planner, where Steve was a Senior Surveyor. We connected over our love of Indian food.  One day, I brought to work home-made green shrimp curry and uncooked rice. About 11:00 AM, I switched on the rice cooker. I still remember that lunch :-) Steve enjoyed the meal and I was happy to share it with him.

When the company lost the contract, I was let go.  In a few weeks I found another job but I had to move from Florida to Maryland.  When Steve found out, he came to my apartment with 20 packing boxes. Just like that. I did not ask. I wasn't even sure if I needed them, but he knew better.

I used them all.  More than once in my life, I have received exactly what I needed when I needed it.

The universe knows it all.

The concept

On the day I had to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore, Steve offered to drive me to the airport. I was carrying three large suitcases, while the rest of my stuff was on a truck headed north. When we arrived at the airport, Steve helped me with the luggage.  And then as I fumbled with my shoulder bag to check my ticket/boarding pass, an airport worker/porter materialized.

Fabrics 

I have a feeling Steve motioned to him. What happened next happened so quickly that I am still unsure of it. Steve tipped the guy a $20 bill (I think), which he pocketed, nodded to Steve and effortlessly moved my heavy suitcases to a cart.  I looked aghast at Steve and then at the porter and at Steve again. Steve smiled, wished me a safe trip, waved and left.

On the Design Wall

We did not see each other again but have stayed in touch through Christmas/Holiday cards.

We speak over the phone every couple of years or so.

Steve has a son, Eric, who is about my age. Eric is a fire-fighter, is happily married (to Amy) and rescues and fosters dogs.

81st Block - Puppies

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related anxiety, I felt the need to reach out to Steve.  We chatted for over 35 minutes, talking about work, family and the uncertain times. When Steve mentioned that Eric was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, I knew I had to make a quilt.

Completed Flimsy

Twenty strips 6" by WOF in fall colors was the starting point.  Combined with solid jelly roll strips, I would get 80 blocks, 7" by 9" (finished size). I needed 81.  My solution for the 81st block was a puppy fabric - a nod to Eric's love of dogs.

Quilted

I used wool batting, faded chambray wide backing (from Connecting Threads) and orange binding.

Quilted sparingly to maintain softness and loft, using my walking foot.

70" by 90"

Labelled

I had a few fabric scraps left over. Added a few matching batik fabrics and made two zippered pouches.  One for Steve's wife Jeri and one for Amy.  

Scraps - Repurposed

The quilt is in the mail and USPS tells me that it will reach its destination today.

I am not going to ask but if Steve sends me pictures, I will update this post.

A Warm Tribute

This quilt was already in the works when Janice was setting up the blog hop.  The timing of the quilt just magically coincided with the blog hop. And here I am - once again - marveling at the miracles of the universe.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.



Update - May 22, 2020

The quilt reached its destination and Steve sent me this picture.

Eric's Quilt

A few days later I received two cards - one from Eric and Amy and one from Jeri and Steve.

My heart is warm but my cheeks feel wet. Stay safe my friends.

A Queen's Necklace

I had not seen my mother in three and a half years.  When I saw her, she was lying in a hospital bed and was almost unrecognizable.  She had lost a lot of weight and looked pale.

The Queen's Necklace

How could I be angry at her, when she looked so weak, so tired and so defeated?
I cried. We hugged.

Intersecting Circles

After the surgery, when she came home, I showed her the quilt.  Her face beamed with happiness.
And then she realized the amount of work that went into it, since she is herself a sewist.

Quilting

"Why did you put so much effort into it?"
"So that, when you look at it, you can forget your pain and feel better"
"It is very beautiful"
"I am calling this one RaaniHaar (Queen's Necklace)"
"Perfect name"

Paisley Backing

Although the surgery was successful and she has started walking a few steps every day, it will take her at least six weeks to regain strength and be fully mobile.  Maybe longer.

Purple Border

I am glad that the quilt will be there to remind her that I love her so very much.
I hope that she gets better soon.

Candy Colored Striped Fabric for Binding

Thank you to all of you, who have shared my journey, shared your stories, provided love and support, and above all sent loving wishes for my mom.  When I let you glimpse into my relationship  with my mom, I had no idea that it would strike such a chord with so many of you.

Eye Candy

I have felt such an amazing connection to all of you who opened your hearts and let me know that I am not alone. That although our stories may be different but our hearts and feelings are the same.

Finished - just in time

Here is the truth that I discovered - even when we are hurt by our loved ones, we cannot wish them anything but happiness. Because we are not connected by that hurt.

Dimpled - after a wash

We are connected by love. And therefore their pain becomes our pain.

Light and Shadow Play

The only way to lessen our pain is to lessen theirs.  I wish my mom heals quickly.
So that I may heal too.

I returned from India last week and brought back some fabric.
"What a shocker," remarked Paul.   But that is a whole new blogpost.
Now that I am back, I will resume my activity in the blogland including visiting, commenting and linking :-)

As usual, I'd LOVE to hear from you.

Curry Favor

Have you ever dated someone who, you knew in your heart, was completely out of your league? 
I did.

Say hello to Curry Favor... 

When I saw this Fresh Connections quilt pattern, I knew that this would be a very challenging project for a newbie like me. But the design was so attractive, I was TEMPTED!!!

The pattern was FREE. It was DETAILED. And I was ready for the next challenge. ALMOST.

I was also nervous and therefore I proceeded with utmost caution. I agonized over the fabric choices. After mulling over several days, I decided to go with the following colors:

Fabric Strips, numbered!!!

1.    Carrot (CT)

2.    Maroon

3.    Apricot (CT)

4.    Brick (CT)

5.    Orangina (CT)

6.    Red (Kona)

7.    Curry (CT)

8.    Yellow

9.    Crimson (CT)

10.  Rosewood (CT)

Most of these solids, the white and the gorgeous autumn border fabric came from Connecting Threads (CT). 

I organized them (see picture above) and kept them organized like it was a religious thing. After they were cut to the specified sizes, I put them back on the design wall where they belonged. 
As I proceeded with the cutting instructions, I worried - What if I cut all the fabric and then the blocks don't come out correctly. Wait, may be I should make one block, first. Here is the first block.

First Block, untrimmed

Trimmed First Block

Wow! it looked so beautiful, I love this block. Completing this one block gave me the reassurance I was looking for. I cut up all the fabric and proceeded with gusto and caution (a lot of caution). 

Preparing the Corners

I cut several at a time

Assembly Line...

I did a little at a time. When I felt tired or sleepy, I stopped. I followed the instructions to a fault. 
According to the pattern, I pressed to the dark side. When it came to joining the blocks, the seams, pressed to one side was an obstacle. It would mean too much bulk towards the colored fabric and too little towards the white – causing the seam to slip resulting in offset seams.

I LOVE how this is coming together...

I had to fiddle with the seams, turning them this way and that as I tried to make them nest and gently coax the fabric to do my bidding. As a result there are a hundred turned seams in the back (good thing it is hidden). This is something I have accepted. 

Pinned...

Making seams match - By hook or by crook

Look at this picture above. I allowed the white fabric to fold a teensy bit to match the red seams. Yes, it is not an ideal situation. But it will be indistinguishable once it is quilted and washed.

If When I remake this pattern (in a different color way, most probably), I will press the seams open. Yes, I love how this pattern comes together. I am sure I will make it again. 

Piecing in Progress

In the end, it was totally worth it. I believe this experience gave me fresh appreciation for matching seams. I am sure I am now better (marginally at least) at following complex patterns and matching seams. 
Were my fears unfounded? 
No and yes. 
Because I was nervous, I paid attention to every step. And because of that added care things fell in place, almost. A little bit of apprehension is a good thing. 

Autumn Glow from Connecting Threads

 

The border fabric, Autumn Glow from Connecting Threads, is my absolute favorite.

The whole process of piecing the top seemed laborious as I held my breath while sewing and then heaved a sign of relief when I opened and pressed.

Spray Basting

It took a while to baste this beauty...

Quilting in process

Rolled sandwich to manage the bulk

I quilted with my favorite squiggly stitch on my JANOME, following (trying to follow) the lines of the pieced pattern and continuing to the end of the quilt sandwich. The backing is flannel and the quilting makes a zig-zag pattern on the solid brown.

Flannel Backing

I used a very bright orange to bind the quilt.

Bright Border, Eye-Popping Binding

Here are the good things about this pattern

1.    You have to make only one type of block - it is complicated, but it is only one. 

2.     There are only 12 blocks in the whole quilt (not 36, 48 or 92).

3.     Once you organize and cut the fabric (making sure it is organized), it goes together quickly.

4.     The directions are very good, with many helpful pictures.

Binding - Stitched to Back, Squiggly Stitched to the Front

There are two things that I would have added to the instructions.

1.     Press the seams open

2.     The size of each block is about 17”

If it included a way to make it larger, that would be priceless. Unlike most other quilts that are based on a square block, it is not just adding more blocks that would turn this into a queen size quilt. One would have to figure out exactly which four colors, the correct order and the placement to make the next block.

For the level of detailed instructions included, I am VERY surprised that it is a free pattern. Thank you Windham Fabrics and a very big thank you and hugs to you Jean Katherine Smith. Here are a few more pictures.

Border Makes it POP!!!

Interlocking Squares Design - Pure Genius

Love these warm colors!!!

Pattern Detail

This is my 16th finish of 2014. My dear friend Jake helped me pick the name, Curry Favor.

Labelled!!!

Curry Favor - My 16th Quilt of 2014

What started apprehensively and cautiously ended successfully and beautifully. Yes, Curry Favor is my best work so far. 

Is there a quilt pattern that you have been eyeing and wondering - Can I make this? Is it too hard? Please share your thoughts. I love hearing from you!!!