Everything, Everywhere, All in One Month

Paul's mom, Krissy passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2024.  

Picture from Paul's graduation in 2007

We went to Georgia for her memorial service. It was a solemn occasion but I could not be sad for long since I was being enveloped in so many hugs from all the relatives and cousins, some I had never met before and some I think I had met once that Christmas.

Lots of Hugs

Paul kept it together and he looked so handsome. 

Love you so much!

Paul spoke at the service mentioning how his mom was a rebel and rarely followed rules. Krissy was feisty and resourceful. Although she did not finish school, she was smart enough to read a library book on accounting and apply for a job. That she lied on her application was but a small technicality. Taking care of two boys as a single and working mom, she did not have a lot of options.

At the church

We drove home and settled into our routines, making sure that we check on Paul's dad more often than ever before. Paul is doing fine, I think.

I was scheduled to present at the Waterford Quilt Guild on Valentine's Day. In the frenzy of preparation (trying to compress 11 years of quilting journey into one 90-minute presentation), I realized that I did not get a card for Paul. 

Me: Did you get me a card for Valentine's Day?
Paul: I will.
Me: But you don't have it yet?
Paul: Correct.
Me: Is it acceptable if we don't exchange cards this year?
Paul (suspiciously): Why?

I told him the truth. 

Paul: I will accept that you don't have a card.
Me: PHEW!!!
Paul: But you can write me a Haiku.
Me: A Haiku?
Paul: Yes.
Me: I can do that.

Across seventeen Valentines

My cold heart and my cold feet

Warmed by your loving touch

Then it was Quiltcon time. I was (still am) frantically working on two quilts for publication and I considered canceling this trip but I had already paid for hotel accommodations in Raleigh and convinced myself that it would be a welcome break with friends and loads of inspiration. 

Quiltcon 2024 in Raleigh

Mari and I drove together. I met Leah and saw Emily. We got together for dinner on Friday evening. We three Island Batik ambassadors chatted about forthcoming projects, ideas and fabrics.

With Leah and Emily

On Saturday morning, we met Jennifer and posed with our ByAnnie bags. ByAnnie is an industry partner with Island Batik and we love her patterns.

Jennifer and Emily

We love our ByAnnie Bags

I saw Vasudha (forgot to take pictures) and chatted about design and deadlines.  Yes, I took several quilt pictures but you can find most of them on Instagram, winners and rejects and everything in between. I did not have a finished quilt, so there wasn't a photoshoot. But Raleigh offers some picturesque backdrops that would be ideal for quilty pictures.

The Capital in Raleigh

The Acorn

Somewhere in the middle of it all, I managed to complete my RSC blocks for February, thanks to receiving some reds from Connie. Although I have a lot of Island Batik reds, I needed just a few more to make eight blocks.

Island Batik reds

Connie sent some :-)

Making Hexies

I will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party, this Saturday.  We will be in March by then!!!  Holy Cow and Thank Goodness!

Red Blocks for RSC February

And four more

I hope I can catch my breath in March. Two new quilt patterns are coming. Yes, there will be giveaways too, so watch this space.

On March 6, 2024, I will be releasing a new pattern - Rainbow Parade, along with a mini blog hop. My dear quilter friends, Cathy, Bonnie, Frederique and Diptee, generously tested the pattern and will be sharing their versions. 

How do I stay sane
Through deadlines, trips, blocks and more
Miracle truly

I hope you will forgive me my Haiku phase, or blame it on Paul. 

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

Celebrating women

My mom was just 14 when she was married off (nobody asked her). Of course she was not "sent" to her husband's house for another year (she was too young).

My dad encouraged her to continue her education. She completed high school and received a BA in Geography. I was born.
She furthered her education and received an MA in Economics. My sister was born.
My dad encouraged her to get a job.  She refused flatly.
No, she was determined to be a full time mother and a homemaker.
And that was that.

My sister, mom and me

Some 20 years later, when I got married (arranged), my husband expected me to be a homemaker.
No, I said. We (He and I) both went to school for Architecture and got the same degree.
Why should I stay at home, I argued.
He replied that I should be like my mother, who sacrificed her career for the sake of her family.
You miss the point, I retorted.  She had a choice and she chose to be a homemaker.
I should have the same choice.

Of course, he did not see my point. I left.

Mom and me in 2007

Mom approved of Paul (Her looks says it all)

We live in a world where many women have no choices and no voices.
So when I came across this fabric at Joann's, it made me sing and dance with joy. I had to drop everything and make (something with) it.

STEM Gals

Me: Look. look, Paul. I love this fabric.
Paul: It is nifty.
Me: It is more than nifty. It is both aspirational and a reflection of our times. It not only shows women in science. It shows diverse women in science.
Paul: Is that so?
Me: See there are five of them and each one has a different hair color.
Paul: What are you going to make with it?
Me: Everything.
Paul: Everything?
Me: Yes. Sheets, bed-covers, pillow-covers, curtains, may be a dress and...
Paul: Start with a pencil case.

Gotta love this man. He knows how to push my buttons and rein me in - all at the same time.
So I started with a pencil case. But made two.

Zippered Pouch

Two Pouches

Loving it :-)

The sliver leftover became part of a mug rug.  I purposely offset the scientist gal to the the side so that even when you place a coffee mug and a cookie on the rug, you can still see her.

Mug Rug

And then inspiration struck...

Fussy cut girls, each in her own place doing what she loves.

Celebrating Women

Small Finish - Big Smile

Love this fabric

Is it still a Dreami if it is a fabric that sparks the process?
I am sure Sandra will agree.

Is it a coincidence that I came across this fabric this month - Women's History Month?
Possibly. But I do believe that the Universe works in magical ways.

I have named each one of these wonder women.

This is Sveta, named after Svitlana Mayoboroda, a mathematician from Ukraine.

Sveta

I am calling her Taywa, after Taiwo Olayemi Elufioye who is a Nigerian pharmacologist and researcher.

Taywa

Her name is Eve, after Eva Maria Neher who is a German scientist doing research in biochemistry and microbiology.

Eve

And she is named Myla, after Mayly Sanchez who is a Venezuela-born particle physicist.

Myla

The names of my quilty gals are inspired by these women in science today.  I have included links to their wikipedia pages because I can use a shot of positivity to conquer whatever obstacle lies in my path today.

So I may not have made everything from key-fob to curtains from this fabric but I can definitely be inspired from here to far and beyond. What will you conquer today?

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

Goals & Winners

Somebody shoots a goal and is declared a winner!!!
Let's reverse that order. Shall we?

Becca Bags (Sterling Fest on 10/8/16)

Winners first.  I conducted the first true giveaway (orphan adoption event excluded) in celebration of 101 blogposts.

Here are the winners.

70 # 70– Allison CB won the Craftsy Class

11 #11– duelingthreads (no-reply comment blogger) won the FQ Bundle 1 

37 #37– Mary@ Fleur de Lis Quilts won the FQ Bundle 2

33 #33– Kate won Charm Pack 1

59 #59– Sylvia H won Charm Pack 2

52 #52– Tish Stemple won Charm Pack 3

Congratulations to you all.  Hey duelingthreads, please contact me with your email address.
If I do not hear from you by Monday September 12, 2016, I will pick someone else.

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Speaking of goals, I have a problem...
What is that?

Well, I do not want to show my work until it is complete.  Then, once it is finished, I can make a very big deal out of it!!!

Woven 

But what is a blogpost without pictures?
Exactly.

What a Treat!

Ooh Wow!!!

So this blogpost includes pictures from my trip to Philly over the Labor Day weekend.

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, there was an exhibit on African fabrics called Threads of Tradition.   And they also provided building blocks to play. Of course, I played :-)

Plenty of inspiration and tons of eye candy here.
 

Cat's Eyes?

Falling Leaves

Yellow and Purple

Stunted Mushrooms?

Sterling Fest is on October 8, 2016.  My September will most likely be dedicated to making items for sale at the fest.  In addition to that, I have the following projects in the pipeline

Love love love the droplets

1. Finish a UFO - Aquaculture Baby Quilt
2. Angel's Quilt - Design is finalized, Fabric is cut, and first test blocks completed
3. New Pattern Quilt - Finish the Quilt, Finalize the pattern, Publish it (more like October)

Let's see what I can get accomplished.

Light & Shade

Trendy Block

Playful!

Girls will be Girls!!!

Fine, something for the boys

Spools - Someone likes to sew!

Of course a sewing machine!!!

I had no idea that I would find this exhibit. Just lucky.  Speaking of lucky, I saw this chair in the museum workshop area.  Just because it is a chair, does not mean it cannot be a work of art.

Just a Chair!!!

So much gorgeous fabric and I could not touch??? That is why, I bought this.
I love these super cute jellyfish and puffer fish.

So, what are you trying to finish in September?

As always, I love to hear from you. I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties as well as
Red Letter Quilts for the One Monthly Goal.