Homeful!!!

If you know me you also know that I am a fan of Bollywood music. The poetry-rich meaningful songs don't quite make a splash as much as the peppy foot-tapping numbers.  And while the peppy songs make me smile, it is the poetic songs that will often hit me hard.

There is the title song from the Hindi movie Fiza, which has the following line...
Maine tinke uthaye hue hain paron par, aashiyana nahin hai mera.

Translation - I am carrying twigs on my wings, I do not have a nest.
It is a poetic way of saying, I am wandering. I have no home. It is not that she is homeless. It is symbolic of her yearning and her rootless state.

Fabric Audition

For many years I felt that way too.  And whenever I heard the song, it struck a chord with me, so much so that I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.
When I walked out of my troubled marriage many years ago, I felt uprooted.  I went to school here in the US and changed jobs a few times. Felt independent and free but there was no place to call Home. I did not belong.  I just longed...for home.

A few at a time...

Meeting and marrying Paul was one of the best things that happened to me. Yet, I felt that I was still carrying the twigs on my wings. Only after we bought a house, with our savings, with both our names on the deed, and our stuff/junk in every room, do I feel like I have come home...my home.

Pink and Purple Houses

The messier it is, the greater the sense of ownership. (Yes, that is why I don't clean...but that is another story). Now that I feel grounded (in a good way), I can listen to the song without tearing up.

To celebrate this feeling, I wanted to make a quilt with houses. And I did. A few blocks at a time.
Some purple and pink, some blue and yellow, and the neighborhood seemed to come together.  Then I thought, this neighborhood needs trees. A treeless neighborhood would be sad. So I made some trees.

Fabric Scraps - Transformed

Won't it be nice if someone was waiting for you when you returned home? And that special someone would also keep an eye on your neighborhood. That is when I made this block.

My favorite house

I created these blocks a few at a time, using scraps, fat quarters and bindings leftovers. Bit by bit I built my neighborhood. The blocks added up and they waited, and waited some more.

Lots of Trees

Larger Trees - Assembly Line

Just like your home (and your puppy) waits for you and is there for you when you return, so also these blocks waited for me to come around and make them into a quilt!!!

The quilt is entirely scrappy. The gingham fabrics came from my mother-in-law's stash. The tree fabrics were remnants. Some of them were in fabric basket won at a guild meeting.  And when I wanted a specific color, I bought a few fat quarters.

Finished Top

The making of this quilt has been a journey just like buying our house.  Among other things, I wanted a north-facing entrance to the house, because it is considered auspicious in Indian culture. Paul wanted a house with a yard and without any Home Owners Association (HOA). Fortunately, we found a house that met both our requirements.

We are homeowners

However, unlike the house that belongs to both of us, the quilt is all mine!!!

Puppies and Angels

My favorite house and the tall trees

It is mine for so many reasons. It is wonky. The roofs are made with HSTs, that were all cut on the bias (wonky), squaring was optional (wonkier), and the overall quilt is not square (wonkiest).

Dappled

Some houses had their rooftop points clipped in piecing.  I am sure no one will want that :-D
The backing is an old sheet bought from a Goodwill Store.

Wonky, mismatched fabrics, scrappy, crooked, tucks in quilting, haphazard, very colorful, eye-popping bright = Preeti's Quilt.

There are a total of 71 houses in 10 rows and about 46 trees. The finished quilt is about 70" by 90".

I am in love...

Paul: That house looks a bit crooked.
Preeti: Remember, there is no HOA.
Paul: Looks like there are no regulations.
Preeti: You are not invited to this neighborhood party.

Basting, in process

Used my favorite batting - Warm & Natural. I quilted it using curvy lines, after I used a decorative stitch to secure the rows together.

White Backing (Sheet from Goodwill)

Paul, the model :-)

The binding is leftover from a pillowcase I made for Divik, my nephew.
With the white backing and the very Christmas-y binding, I think I just gave myself a Christmas present.

Striped Binding

Christmas in July - how appropriate. Oh no, did I do something appropriate???
That is so unlike me, tch, tch, tch...

Here are few more pictures of the finished quilt.

Yes, Paul is on a chair!!!

Thank you, Paul

Close-Up

This block is for Jonesie, our cat

See the Angel?

Blue House and Yellow Dog

Here is the label.  I decided to call it "Homeful".  Yes, it is like Hopeful but it is also the opposite of Homeless. I have laid down roots...

Homeful!!!

Floral Door, Doors with Disco Lights - My Neighborhood, No HOA, No Rules!!!

Lots of Trees!

Did you miss me?

Lighting up my backyard

Puppy Love

Merry Christmas (in July) to Me!!!

Homeful is on my bed and this is the one I will be sleeping under every night.  I might even take it with me on car trips. Just like a favorite/familiar song that you want to hum on all trips, I want to make sure that I have my favorite comforting quilt with me at all times.

Right here, wagging for you!!!

Creating this quilt has made me so happy that I might just wag my tail!!!
If you were a puppy, what would make you wag your tail?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

To Greener Pastures...

I love it when Paul calls me a brat. When Joyce calls me "you little shit" it makes me smile and giggle. My online quilter buddy Carrie explained that a similar term of endearment is "you rotten heifer" used among very close friends in Texas.
It is that ultimate validation, reserved for very few. It is proof of a special bond.

Kelly (from Connecting Threads)

Peridot (from Connecting Threads)

I am going to call her Elle.  Elle is my colleague but she quickly became my friend as we commiserated over our challenges at work, ate lunches, and shared stories about our families - Elle's grand babies and my conversations with Paul.

High Contrast

Low Contrast

Elle had decided to move back to the west coast and would be leaving by the end of June, she said.  She wanted to be close to her family.  Bummer!!!

Elle had been at this job for over a decade and I had just started.  I could not get enough advice, suggestions, recommendations about how to write a certain section of the document, how to deal with a certain difficult person, how to best make use of office resources, what to say, how to say and when to say it.  There was so much to learn and I was nervous.

First Blocks

Me: You cannot dump this all on me and leave.
Elle: You'll do just fine. And I will be available by email.
Me: And phone?
Elle: Yes that too.

Matching Seams

Piecing

There were times when Elle hesitated to give me advice.  Should she tell me the Elle way of doing things? Or she should let me make my own decisions and figure out what is best for me? I sensed her hesitation and decided to clarify things.

Green, Blue & Beige

One day we were eating lunch at an Indian restaurant.
Me: I know you feel torn between telling me what to do and letting me figure it out myself.
Elle: Yes. Because you will be in-charge once I leave, and it doesn't have to be my way.
Me: Yes. But for now, please do not hold back. Give me everything. Please.
Elle agreed.

Finished Top

So, how do you say "THANK YOU" to someone who is giving you 10 years of wisdom in 10 weeks? No words/cards can do justice.  But a queen-size quilt can come close.

1. Find out her favorite colors
2. Choose a simple pattern that can be made quickly
3. Fabric
4. Make it fast

Finished Quilt

One day, Elle was wearing a light green jacket.
Me: Oh, that is a pretty color.  Is it avocado?
Elle: It is pea soup.
Me: What is your favorite color?
Elle: Green.

Completed Step One.
I decided to make a rail fence. I decided to use a pattern similar to Alex's quilt, but larger blocks.
Checked my stash.  Two batik prints stood out - a beige neutral and a blue (flecked with green). I needed to add two green solids - to match/contrast the batiks and bring out the green. I chose Kelly and Peridot from Connecting Threads.
Mulled over the pattern for a bit. Should I use the beige + peridot and blue/green + kelly OR beige + kelly and blue/green + peridot. When in doubt, I know I can always trust my friends at the M* forum. Based on the advice received, I went with higher contrast arrangement.

Oh, I chose the backing fabric also from Connecting Threads. Amazingly enough, this feathers wide backing fabric was the perfect match.

Backing Fabric (from Connecting Threads)

I quilted it using my walking foot with gently curving lines, spaced close together.  The quilt was completed on June 9th. I still could not decide what to name it.

• Rainforest
• Walk in the Woods
• Into the Woods
• Greener Pastures
• Hammock in the Woods
• Forest Trails
• Bittersweet
• Naturewalk

Close-Up

I did get some wonderful, helpful suggestions from my buddies at the M* forum. I chose "To Greener Pastures" hoping that Elle's move to the west coast brings her new opportunities and lots of happiness.

Green Binding (Hope there is enough green here)

I invited Elle to my house for dinner.  She graciously accepted. But when I gave her the quilt, she was incredulous.

Elle: I can't believe you made me a quilt.  Oh, I love these colors. These are my favorite colors. 
Me: Green, like you said.
Elle: I love those curved lines. I still can't believe you made me a quilt.
Me: Please use it. Do not put it in a closet.
Elle: Oh no, I am going to use it.  
Me: And when it is worn out, I'll make you another one.
Elle: You are a crazy woman!!!

We had achieved that special bond.  Mission Accomplished!!!

Quilting Detail (Variegated Thread)

What is that special term of endearment for you? How did you earn it? Do you have a special name for your dear friend?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. 



Elle with her quilt

Linking with Throwback Thursday. 

Principal & Interest

My dad was a banker. One of the many things he taught me was the power of compound interest. Of course, there can be no interest if there is no principal. Therefore, saving is a big part of our culture.

Rainbow

In 1988, dad was posted in Bareilly, a mid-size town in northern India. He was the bank manager and living accommodations came as a perk. I was in12th grade and my sister was in the 10th. At this time, a bank officer from another town got transferred to Bareilly and reported to dad's branch. He came with his wife and two daughters. Being new in town, dad and mom took it upon themselves to make them comfortable. Fortunately, they rented a place a short walk from our house. We saw them often and became friends. The elder girl's name was Pallavi and the younger Priyanka. Since they were both younger than us, they called me (and my sister) Didi, a term of respect for elder sister. However, they did not just call me Didi, they gave me all the love, respect and admiration that an elder sister can dream of, specially Pallavi.

Vibrant Colors

One day, Pallavi asked her mom if she could get them a big sister. The mom laughed and said that if they had asked for a younger sibling, she may have considered it. To this day, that story warms my heart.

Warm Ones

Cool Ones

Time passed. The girls grew up went to college, and we drifted apart in pre-email days. And then we reconnected a few years ago with the magic of Facebook and LinkedIn. In 2012, when Paul and I visited India, we stopped in London to see Pallavi and her husband. Unfortunately, her husband was busy at work and we could not meet. But Pallavi, my sweet little sister, was there. She looked the same to me, but prettier, all grown-up and so chic. It is as if the years just melted away.

With Pallavi, in London

I love Pallavi but she idolizes me. I don't know what I did to have that effect on Pallavi. I believe it was just her age when we met. She was so impressionable at that age that if I showed her how to make noodles, it seemed completely awesome!!!

Cool Pattern

Bright Colors

Back to today - When I learned that Pallavi was pregnant, I was so happy for her. In fact, there was a whole range of emotions. There was joy, of course. I was also feeling sadness - I wish we were closer. There was a bit of elder sister concern - hope she is taking her folate regularly.

Paul, the model!

Thank you, Paul

And encompassing all these feelings I chose to make a rainbow quilt for her new baby. The pattern is Strip and Flip. I used 27 colors in the top. The batting is Warm & Natural, as usual. I chose this fabric for the backing. When I saw this fabric, it looked like giraffe heads, first. Isn't that cute?

Backing Fabric

But look again, and it may appear like a dancing man atop the Eiffel Tower. I don't know what you think but it is very chic and modern to me, very Pallavi-like. The binding is a pale green to match one of the colors in the backing. The finished quilt is 40" by 60".

Green Binding

Pallavi's boy was born on April 22. His name is Anay, which is one of the many names of Lord Vishnu.

Labelled with Love

When Paul saw me with the new quilt, he asked.

Paul: Who gets this one?
Me: There is a new baby boy in London. I love him very much.
Paul: Love him? Have you met him?
Me: No.
Paul: How can you love someone you have never met?
Me: I love his mom. She is the Principal. Her boy is the Interest.
I love the Principal. And, the interest is even dearer than the Principal.

Of course, Paul was confused. It is not easy being married to an "exotic" wife from another culture!!!

Love & Blessings for Anay

When grandparents dote on their grand babies, it is often said (in Indian culture) that the interest is dearer than the principal, meaning we love our kids but we adore our grandkids!!!
Now, Anay is not my grandchild but you get the feeling.

I also included in the package two baby blankets. Off to London!!!

Completed this in April but could not blog about it until the quilt reached its destination in London. As always, I look forward to your thoughts.