Winter Song

When Kelly asked me whether I'd like to participate in the Blog Hop to promote her new book - Scrappy Improv Quilting, I had a tough choice to make. 

No, not making the project. That was fun and easy :-) Choosing just one from so many lovely projects in the book - that was a challenge.  Once I picked out the design, I knew I had to make it my own. I had to make it brighter :-)

Birds of a Feather, by Kelly Young

I chose a low volume white/off-white background with bright red birds!!!

Improvisational Piecing

Adding Color

In the original design, while the background is improv pieced, Kelly uses just one solid fabric to  make the birds. I chose to extend the improv piecing theme to the birds as well.  It was more work to piece the birds but I totally love the added depth and richness. What do you think?

Finished!!!

Paul: Cardinals?
Me: Why yes.
Paul: Shouldn't one of them be brown?

Fabric Detail

That would have been a smart choice (in hindsight), but I was not willing to concede the point. 

Me: They are not a couple, just good friends.
Paul: Could be a gay couple.
Me: I can ask them but I don't wish to be reprimanded for my rudeness.

Paul (incredulous): These birds will talk back to you?

Me: They sure asked for more room.

Paul: More room? How?

Me: In the original design their tails are almost touching the edge. They were feeling a bit constrained.

Paul: Really?

Me: They told me so. 

Paul (amused): How did you respond?

Me: While I kept the height the same at 24", I increased the width to 30".

Paul (eyes rolling): You are so kind to the birds.

Me: I did not want them to feel caged :-)

Birds in the Wild

Red birds on white background is more evocative of winter, I thought.  A green binding makes it just perfect for Christmas season.  I have named it Winter Song.

Green Binding

Quilting Detail 

Winter Song, 30" by 24"

See the complete schedule below.

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule

8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes 

9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt

           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm...quilts!

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade

           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts

           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts

           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts

           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine

           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting

           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts  this is me :-)

           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail

            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts

             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms

             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up 

Signed copies of Scrappy Improv Quilting are available in Kelly's Etsy Shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  

The rest of this blogspot may seem disconnected (well, almost) to the Scrappy Improv Quilting Book Blog Hop. So you could stop reading now.  Or you could read to find out why...

A few months ago the following conversation happened.

Paul: Do you have a special wish for your big birthday?
Me: Hot Air Balloon Ride, please.
Paul: Thy wish is my command.

Paul booked us with Blue Ridge Ballooning in Charlottesville. We met our pilot Liana and her ground assistant Nathaniel bright and early at 6:45AM.  Liana contemplated a few different places for the take-off, while evaluating the wind direction/speed and ground conditions. You don't want us to launch from a field where the wet grass is up to my thighs, she explained. As she drove us to the launch location, Liana explained the safe landing rules. When landing, face forward, bend your knees, hold on to the handles and don't try to exit the basket till you are told. Nervously, I went over these rules in my head.

Open Field and morning greeters

Paul and I watched Liana and Nathaniel unload the balloon and the basket, the fan and the burners from the truck. 

Balloon, Basket and Fan

Filling the balloon with air using a large fan was the next step and Paul assisted with that effort, holding the mouth of the balloon open, while I took pictures and shot the video.  The noisy first blast from the burner caught me unawares even when I was a safe distance away. I gasped aloud, while Liana smiled. 

Filling the Balloon

The inside of the balloon

Ready to board (Picture by Nathaniel)

Once the balloon was upright, it was time to board. There is no graceful way to get into the basket, we were warned.  Just hold on, use the square opening as a foot rest and swing your legs in, one at a time. We did, without incident. Time to pose for a picture.

Excited and Nervous (Picture by Nathaniel)

Then we waited for the lift-off. Very gently, we took off and rose smoothly up through the fog.  Liana pressed a button every now and then to push propane to feed the burners resulting in a burst of whooshing noise. But other than that it was quiet and peaceful and so serene.  

Liana is in charge! (Picture by Nathaniel)

Lift-off and the flames (Picture by Nathaniel)

Beautiful Views 

The shadow of our balloon :-)

We floated over farms and country homes, grazing cows, skittish horses and a couple of barking dogs.  The best part of the flight was seeing two other balloons lift out of the fog, a few miles from us.  I took lots of pictures and some video.  

Picturesque

I am so happy!

Watching those two balloons land ahead of us was just perfect.  This is often the case, Liana said, speaking of other balloon flights in the area. They often work in the same area and use the same launching and landing locations.

A fine day for Ballooning (Picture by Nathaniel)

Landing Balloons

Deflating slowly

When it was time for us to land, I braced for the impact. Facing forward, knees bent, holding on to handles with both hands (phone securely back in the pocket), I was ready for a huge thud.  Then we landed as gently as a feather.  Nathaniel was already there with the truck to receive us.  He laughed at my tense expression and said as much. Paul who was behind me and had not seen my face but is familiar with that expression (He has seen it every time we have been in a rollercoaster or a water slide). Everyone laughed at me and I laughed just from the relief. 

Braced for Landing (Picture by Nathaniel)

Landed safely

We stayed in the basket just a bit longer till it was safe to step out.  Then we helped Liana and Nathaniel pack the balloon, stuff it in a bag, and haul the basket back in to the truck. THAT was some hard work. We were just helping but both Paul and I were breathless. The picture below tells it all

Liana is in charge, Paul is helping and I'm a mess (Picture by Nathaniel)

Balloon Stuffing (Picture by Nathaniel)

Our flight was about 1 hour and 15 minutes and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It was both exhilarating and peaceful. I highly recommend Blue Ridge Ballooning. Do mention my name when you are booking so that Liana knows I sent you. I promised her as much.

Thank you Liana and Nathaniel!!!

Did you do anything exciting lately? Let me know. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Paul: So any balloon inspired quilts coming up.

Me: Not at this time. I have loads to finish first.

Paul: So later?

Me: May be.

Up, Up and Away, by Kelly Young

The Scrappy Improv Quilting Book has a perfect project that I just might attempt someday :-)

Whether you prefer the excitement of a balloon flight or the calm of watching birds fly in your backyard, Kelly's book has a perfect little mini quilt for you.

New Pattern Published!!!

So so excited...

1. Island Batik's Fall/Winter 2021catalog is out!!!  AND I am in it, not only as an Ambassador but also as a Pattern Designer. My new pattern Masala Box is featured in the catalog. 

2. Masala Box is now listed in my Etsy Shop :-) It looks like a happy dance of colorful fabrics.

Listed!!!

When I made the quilt "Beg, Borrow and Barter" in March 2021 as a part of the Island Batik Scrapbuster Challenge, little did I know what was to come next.  Some of you asked - what pattern did you use, do you have a pattern...

Paul, the model!

I am so grateful to all my pattern testers who made the pattern and shared their completed tops and their generous feedback with me, so I could fine-tune the pattern. 

Thank you to Elizabeth and Shirley, who made the baby size.  

By Elizabeth Moore

By Shirley Fox

Thank you to Jennifer and Charity for making the lap size version. 

By Charity Feit

By Jennifer Odell

And kudos to Kathy and Stevie for making the queen size version. You ladies rock!!!

By Stevie Will

By Kathy Paul

While my sweet and kind pattern testers were busy, I made a baby quilt using a black background.

Baby Size

It looks lovely in all sizes and I am very happy with it. 

The pattern is ideal to use as a signature block, perfect for a wedding or a graduation quilt. 

If you like it, please head to my Etsy Shop, or just click on the image on the top right of the blog. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, see full list on the sidebar.

Workshop with Gloria Loughman

More often than not, quilt guild workshops are on weekdays and are not conducive to those of us not yet retired from our day jobs. But when the guild arranged a two-part workshop with Gloria Loughman on two weekends (9/11 and 9/18), I wasted no time and signed up for it.  

I bought the recommended pattern and downloaded the instructions. I watched the videos and read the downloaded pattern sheets. That was in July. 

Come September, I am buried deep in Island Batik October Challenge.  It has been rather all-consuming.

Improvisational Piecing

Iberian Lynx Silhouette

So when the Gloria Loughman workshop started at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon, I joined on Zoom but continued working on the Iberian Lynx project (Island Batik October Challenge). 

The workshop was terrific. Gloria is an excellent teacher with lots of examples from her work. She would explain a few things and then give 30 minutes for sewing, while she was available to answer questions, give feedback and make suggestions.  

Me: I am so torn.
Paul: What's up?
Me: I really want to work on this "Light up your Landscape" project.
Paul: So why don't you?
Me: I am in the middle of something else.
Paul (looking at the class materials): With all those light and dark colors, it is neat. 
Me: That is exactly why I want to dive in. 
Paul: There are so many guns held at your head but the only hand holding them is yours.

He has a point. 

I focused the next few days (Sunday - Wednesday) on completing the top for the Iberian Lynx project (Island Batik October Challenge). Then I dropped it to make the Landscape quilt.  My hope was to have something done before the second part of the workshop on following Saturday, 9/18.

Tiles Cut

Arranging Tiles

Brick by Brick

Completed Sky

From Thursday through Saturday afternoon, I focused on the workshop project.  When it was time for Workshop - Part 2, I was fully focused. No distractions. 

Choosing foreground

I showed my progress to Gloria. She approved. I worked on the different elements of the landscape during the 30 minute sewing sessions.

Completed Sky Sewn!!!

Island Batik for foliage

By the end of the workshop, I was so far along that I had to finish it. 

I have named it Gul Mohar, because the yellow/orange blooms are like those of the Gul Mohar tree, common in India. 

Gul Mohar

Of course, some of you may want to get up close and personal. Here you go :-)

But truly, the effect of light appears best when viewed from a distance. 

I am loving it and I am so glad that I took the plunge. I highly recommend Gloria Loughman's workshop. She is an accomplished artist and a terrific teacher. 

Gul Mohar finished at 13" by 19", and became my Dreami (Drop everything and make it) for September. Sharing with Sandra's Linky Party and all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.