Sisters without Borders

My purple blocks for August were completed at the very last minute. Tch Tch Tch.
September is Red.

September Completed

And my red blocks are all done. Happily sharing at Angela's Linky Party.

Floral Red

Fluorescent Red

Dark & Light

Sparkling Red

Poppies & Daisies

Celestial & Wine

Yes, I am overcompensating for a tardy August.

Happiness is Red

Red is Joyful

I also have red on my mind - for another reason.

Canadian Quilter Magazine - Autumn 2020

I am thinking of Canada and the Canadian Quilter magazine. I was featured in the Autumn 2020 issue. Specifically the International Sister Block was featured (you don't have to be Canadian or in Canada to subscribe). Quilters are making and sharing the International Sister Quilt Block to turn it into quilts for shelters and charities. To know that I am a small part of this noble endeavor warms my heart and moistens my eyes.

Featured

I brought home a Strawberry Shortcake to celebrate...

Also White & Red :-)

Paul: What are we celebrating?

I showed him the article.

Paul: You are in a magazine!!!

Me: Yes, I am.

Paul: Does that mean you are famous?

Me: The International Sister Quilt Block is very popular. I am just lucky.

Paul: They all have different outfits, don't they?
Me (beaming with pride): Yes, no repeats.
Paul (mocking): Two women wearing the same thing? Never.
Me: Well, American films definitely enforce that stereotype.
Paul: How many different fabrics?
Me: Fifty in the big quilt. 32 in the smaller one.
Paul: That is a lot. What if someone wanted to make this quilt but they don't have as much variety?
Me: Quilters do block swaps all the time.
Paul: How would you arrange that?
Me: Quilt guild meetings have block swaps.
Paul: All your meetings are suspended.
Me: Like-minded quilters can coordinate and mail blocks to each other.


Paul's phone buzzed and the discussion ended.
But it got me thinking - could I use a layer cake square (10" square) to make the block?

International Sister Quilt Block from a 10" Square

10" Square - Cut Up

The Complete Outfit

Me: I believe I have addressed your concern about someone not having 50 different fabrics.
Paul: How so?
Me: The outfits can be made from a 10" square and one can buy a packet of 40 squares, instead of 40 different fabrics purchased individually.
Paul: That is cool. 

The thought process continued. Can I use 5" squares? How?
Here is a how you can use two 5" squares to make a modified block (7.5" finished).
One square makes the skirt and the other square provides the sleeves and the headdress.  

Petite International Sister Quilt Block from a 5" Square

5" Square Cut up

The Total Outfit for Petite Sister

Paul: Preeti, when are we leaving?
Me: In five minutes. I'll be ready shortly.
Paul (teasing): You do everything shortly.

I am 5'3" which is petite by American standards.  An average Indian woman is 5'1".
Paul is 5'11" which isn't exactly tall but he won't let that come in the way of a good-natured teasing. 

He can tease me all he wants but no one will tease my petite sisters.

Here are the fabric measurements to make a Petite Sister Block.

Background
Two rectangles - 2.75" by 5"
Two rectangles 1.25" by 3"

Skin
One square 2.25"  (face)
Two squares 1.25" (Palms)

Focus Fabric/Outfit
One Square 5" (Skirt - Use one charm square)
One Rectangle 2.25" by 1.75" (Headdress - see diagram above)
One Rectangle 3.5" by 1.75" (Headdress - see diagram above)
Two Rectangles 1.25" by 2.5" (Sleeves - see diagram above)

One Tall Sister + Three Newly Made Petite Sisters :-)

Please use the International Sister Quilt Block tutorial for detailed instructions.

The Petite Sister Block is 8" square (7.5" finished) compared to the 10.5" square (10" finished) for the International Sister Block.


I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
Please tell me how you feel about the petite sisters (or the tall one). I am dying to know.

Bruised August

August is almost over and I am relieved.  It has been difficult and yet I feel guilty dwelling upon my insignificant issues when the country is aflame, while some of us look away and others fan the flames of unrest.

Fabric Selection

I feel beaten and bruised even when I have no visible scars.
The color for Rainbow Scrap Challenge August 2020 is reminiscent of just that - a bruise.

In progress

Here are my completed Picket Star Quilt Blocks for August 2020.

Java Plum

Paul: Purple?
Me: I call it Plum. Java Plum to be exact.

Eggplant

Paul: This has to be purple?
Me: No it is Eggplant.

Geranium

Paul: Is this purple?
Me: Geranium is a better description.
Paul: I didn't know Geranium was a color.
Me: That is Kona for you.
Paul: What is Kona?
Me: Kona is a manufacturer of solid fabrics.

I showed him the shade card booklet.

Paul: So all these names are coming from the shade card?
Me: No, they don't have all the colors.
Paul: Are you claiming that you know more than them?
Me: I grew up eating Java plums (jamuns).  They didn't.

Periwinkle

Paul: What about this?
Me: Periwinkle.
Paul (mildly shocked): That is not even in the shade card!
Me (mildly amused): I know. It is exasperating. I have to do their work for them.

Mauve

Paul: What are you calling this one?
Me: I am calling it Mauve.
Paul: According to the shade card it is half dahlia and half magenta.
Me: Um Hm. Should I call it Dagenta or Maglia?

Overlapping

RSC Blocks for August 2020

Paul: What do you have against purple?
Me: It is the color of a bruise. And I feel bruised and sad.

Old Picture of Jonesie and Paul = Perfect Harmony

Paul hugged me. He understood.
We are mourning the passing of our cat Jonesie and his absence hurts like a bruise.

Here are the blocks for Project 2 of the RSC 2020.

For RSC 2020 Project #2

Such fun blocks

Cute Owl

Do you see the Geranium now?

Thank you for all of your kind comments on the Sisterhood quilt.  The random number generator chose #45. Roseanne of Home Sewn With Us is the winner. An email is on its way.  I am sure that the six sisters will be welcomed in her studio.

Sharing with Angela's So Scrappy Linky and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Sisterhood

I used the International Sister Quilt Block to make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in 2019.

Ladies in Red

It was a year of ups and downs.

Feeling (Dark) Blue

You sent me hugs when I was feeling blue. 

Light Blue

Women of Color

You celebrated with Women of Color. 

It is Easy being Green

And you were with me when the sisters went to the dark side.

To the Dark Side

I shared new blocks month after month.

Shining Sisters

The Sisters were received with so much joy, it warmed my heart.

Passionately Purple

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge of 2019 resulted in enough blocks to make two quilts.
The first I made for Eva.

32 Sister for Eva

The second one was made for the Quilt Show.  All quilts bound for the show must be labelled, with a prescribed sleeve including the name, address, phone number and guild chapter name. After an online registration process, each quilt (accompanied with the print-out of the registration form) must be brought to the photo session for a professional photoshoot before they make it to the show.  Yes it is big to-do and I did all that.

Piecing in Progress

Piecing Diagonal Rows

Enjoying the Process

The corner blocks

In my mind, I had pictured myself at the quilt show, standing next to my quilt, with 50 gorgeous sisters. I would use that picture in the blogpost that I would write about the quilt - Sisterhood.

Finished Flimsy

Of course the quilt show was cancelled. The picture did not happen and the blogpost seemed too tedious to write.


On Monday I received an email from EJI. It was the receipt for the donation.

A few distracted clicks later I was reading about Julia Tutwiler Women's Prison in Alabama.  EJI investigated and exposed the widespread sexual abuse of women in this prison leading to a federal investigation. Although the Department of Justice found evidence of abuse there has been no meaningful reform.

Pieced Backing

On February 2, 2016, Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley announced in his State of the State speech that Tutwiler prison would be closed as a part of a "complete transformation of the prison system," which would include the construction of new facilities. "The process" was due to start within the 2016 calendar year but, as of 2020, the prison remains open.

Sisterhood

Finished at 71" by 85"

Sexual abuse is disgusting and dehumanizing. It is particularly heinous when it is perpetrated by those who are meant to protect. Discussing sexual abuse is uncomfortable and unpleasant. I have struggled to write this post. Some of you may say "just stick to quilting"

Celebrating Sisterhood

I wish I could. I cannot unread. I cannot unsee.  Our ignorance bolsters the perpetrators and our silence further hurts the victims.

You are beautiful

Even if I could keep quiet, these fifty sisters will not be silenced.  How can I celebrate these gorgeous sisters while ignoring those who languish in prison - abused and unheard.
It was time to write this blogpost.

Walking Foot Quilting

Bright

Orange Binding

To those who want me to stick to "just quilting" I say - just look at the quilt pictures.
To those who ask - how can I help/what can I do, I say - check this link.

Sisters Forever

Six sisters remain with me. Please let me know if you want them to come to your home/studio.
I will pick a winner on August 29, 2020.

Ready to Travel

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar) and with Angela's So Scrappy Linky Party.