Say Hello to the Little One!

I am listening to Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
The dragon is Saphira, the rider is Eragon. Saphira's name for Eragon - Little One.

Finished Flimsy

I have a finish to share. Finishing at just 37.5" square, it is one of the smaller baby quilts I have made.  Hence the name - The Little One.

3" squares of Kaffe Fassett fabric

Made with 3" Kaffe Fassett Squares, some left over from Clay's Quilt and others cut up from 6" Design Strips.

Irish Chain Layout

There is no story in the flimsy. At least, not yet.  The backing on the other hand...

I started this quilt sometime in October last year, after Esmeralda was completed. The flimsy was finished a few months ago but there was no rush to complete the quilt.

The Little One

When Jake mentioned that she was destashing, I agreed to buy some of her fabric. I chose a few solids, some dark prints with vines, and a few polka dot fabrics.  Jake stuffed the box with fabric tighter than a pregnant woman's stretched belly.  When I opened the box, this gorgeous, bright, beautiful fabric just jumped out at me.

Celestial Bodies

The colors are so rich and bright that they shimmer on a black/navy background.
As I noticed the deep red and emerald green, it became clear that these bright colors matched perfectly with the Kaffe Fassett squares in the top. Seems like a miracle for a backing that I did not choose.

Bright Sunny Binding

Now I had to finish it. How could I not? The richness of the fabric beckoned to me. I chose a bright sunny fabric for the binding.

Finished!!!

A small quilt in an infinite universe.

On the banks of Lake Ontario, Canada

The quilt and the lake - shine and shimmer

A backing that depicts the infinite universe for a small baby quilt may seem like a paradox.
But a baby is just that - a universe of possibilities in a little bundle. Say hello to the little one!!!

Niagara by the Lake, Ontario, Canada

Thank you, Sandra (she took the picture)

Who gets that, you may ask.
Well, just as the top and backing found each other, I am sure the quilt will find its home.
The universe is listening.

Labelled

I think it was Albert Einstein who said "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. "

The Little One

It is obvious that I belong to the second category.  Did anything take you by surprise lately?
I'd love to hear from you. I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties; see full list on the sidebar.

Bloggers Quilt Festival (Shadow of Light)

The Bloggers Quilt Festival is here and this is my entry - Shadow of Light.
Shadow of Light measures 47" square and is machine pieced and machine quilted.

Shadow of Light!!!

The inspiration, the process and the story of this quilt follow.

Finished!!!

I hate you (like I love you).  This is a song from a favorite movie of mine - Delhi Belly.  In the beginning of the movie, a young, attractive, self-assured, VJ is being interviewed by a couple of journalists.

VJ - I want to do everything - singing, directing, writing.

Greens

Purples and Yellows

Beige to Brown

Then she shares with them the lyrics of a song that she has just written -
"I hate you, like I love you. Like I love you in brackets."

First Block in process

Cut Up

Blended Scraps Block (for the Honey Pot bee)

This is hilarious. There is absolutely no way this could be the lyrics of a song.
However, at the end of the movie, the credits roll to this song - I hate you, like I love you.

And second (for Me)

This block - Blended Scraps evokes the same feelings in me. A love-hate relationship.
(I had made the first block for the Honey Pot Bee. )

Matching Fitbit :-D

I love this block because it is so striking.

Love the gradual changing of colors

I love this block because it gave me an opportunity to play with color choices, subtle changes in values, near-solids.

Reds can be difficult

I hate it because it makes me want to drop everything and make this (DrEAMi) quilt.
I hate it because I spent hours trying to gather five shades of red in the perfect gradation, questioning and re-examining every choice.

But this works!!!

I hate it because due to this block, I dived into my stash to find one set of five blue fabrics - from lightest to the darkest. I found four sets of five fabrics.   That shows that I have way too many fabrics. (No quilter wants to hear that).

My favorite block

This turquoise block has the best gradation of light to dark, in my opinion. All fabrics were already in my stash (rolling my eyes).

Does this work?

Not enough gradation

Although it was easy to find many fabrics in shades of blue, it was much more difficult to find five shades of yellow - that gradually go from light to dark, without becoming beige at one end and orange at the other.

Design Wall

I decided that I need at least nine blocks to make a quilt - one in each colorway. I chose emerald green, orange, purple, yellow, blue, green, red, turquoise and pink.

Almost Finished Flimsy

Added a black border and I completed the flimsy.  Now, since I have so many other looming deadlines, the quilting of this Dreami was not a priority. Yes, it was a UFO. And I hated that.

Just wow!!!

My guild takes a summer recess but we returned on Tuesday, September 12.  What did I have to show for the three months? Playing Footsie, yes.

(Clay's quilt and Matt's quilt were both completed and gifted, all during the summer).

In shade

I had to finish this one.  

And I hate that because I was (and I am) feverishly working on my September OMG and completing this quilt is not a distraction I want.

In sun

I believe I have sufficiently explained the love and hate part.  Here is the finished quilt.  I am calling this - Shadow of Light.

Walking Foot Quilting

And I am very happy with it :-)

A change of perspective

Inspired by Janine and Sandra, I was looking for a picturesque setting for a photoshoot. So I took it to work, where we have a water fountain.  My co-worker/friend Rekha came to my rescue.

Rekha, caught unawares :-)

Do you see the flower from the tree above trying to kiss the quilt?

Blue & Turquoise Blocks

Orange & Yellow Blocks

Ooh Purple and Green!!!

Yes, there is a back too. I know I almost forgot.  

Backing - Half & Half

When Paul saw the back, he said - a quartered layout would look even better.

Oh GOSH YES!!!! AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH...............

Where were you on Friday when I was piecing this back?

Taking a nap - obviously.

Geometric Setting

Paul looked over my shoulder as I was drafting this post.
Paul: What is a Dreami?
Me: It is kinda like that French book store character from the movie Unfaithful.
Paul (incredulous): The guy that seduces Diane Lane???
Me: Yep, he makes you want to ditch your husband and run away with him.
Paul: You are talking about a quilt?
Me: Actually it could be just a block that leads to such dangerously dark thoughts.
Paul: So do you ever return to your husband?
Me: Oh yes...unless...
Paul: Unless
Me: Unless there is another Dreami.
Paul: Does the husband have to kill this dreamy thing.
Me: Nah, I just finished it.

On a beautiful sunny day

Here are some more pictures...because I am in lust with this Dreami quilt. 

Simple Quilting - Perfect Texture

Black Binding

Labelled

Cannot get enough of it!!!

I  have never said this about any of my previous quilts. But this one makes me drool!!!!

Fiery Red - Evoking passions

Yes, she is absolutely going to the Quilt Show in 2018.

Shadow of Light

I will be connecting with all my favorite linky parties.
Now, I must get back to the task at hand - the September OMG. But I'd love to hear your thoughts.