Pattern, Sale & BlogHop too!

I have so many things to share that I could just explode.
Breathe, breathe, just breathe, Paul said.

1. Topsy Turvy is now available as a stand alone pattern in my Etsy Store.

Topsy Turvy in Honeycomb Fabrics

I first made Topsy Turvy using the scraps left over from the Island Batik "Make it Modern" Blog Hop and Challenge.  Many refinements later, making it suitable for 2.5" precut strips, writing and rewriting and then correcting the pattern, Topsy Turvy is now available as a standalone pattern.   

Here are a few more pictures.

Basting and Ironing

Topsy Turvy is a Lap/Throw size quilt finishing at 55" by 68".  I made it using the Island Batik's Honeycomb collection, designed by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkle of Canton Village Quiltworks. This collection should be available in your local quilt stores this month.

Labelled

Walking Foot Quilting

The binding matches the background. The blocks may look precarious as they float on the background. But there is one bit of whimsy in the binding  - a pop of color. It makes me smile. Do you see it? The pop, not my smile.

In the wind

I am in love with Topsy Turvy because it is so versatile. You can make it with one collection, a few fabrics or go completely random and scrappy. 

The reflection!!!

I am sure you would like to see this done a few different ways. And that brings me to my awesome pattern testers.

Ahead of the pattern release, Nancy, Wendy, Karen, Turid and Yvonne agreed to test drive Topsy Turvy and they will be sharing their versions beginning today. Please visit their blogs  - for they may have giveaways. Here is the line-up.

BlogHop Schedule

September 9, 2022 - Nancy

September 10, 2022 - Karen 

September 11, 2022 - Turid

September 12, 2022 - Wendy

September 13, 2022 - Yvonne

The Topsy Turvy pattern is on sale (25% off) till September 15, 2022.  I am dying to hear your thoughts.

2. Frolicking Fish is published in Make Modern #48. 

Here are some pictures from the Photoshoot. 

Fish at the Dining Table?

How do I look?

Do you see the texture?

These pictures were taken at my friend Manveen's new house. The quality of the light in this house would cause a major battle among quilters. Fortunately I can use the house without having to pay the rent/mortgage :-D

Raj, Manveen's husband, who has a home office wondered aloud - "How would those fish look like in my office? Like a wall-hanging, you know." I was only too happy to gift the wall-hanging/table runner to him. 

With Manveen. Raj is the photographer

And one more picture of these fabulous frolicking fish!

Scrappy & Yummy

So my love affair with Make Modern continues. This is my third pattern in the magazine. If you have not met Make Modern, you are missing out. Published every other month, it is 100+ pages of patterns, tips, techniques, interviews and so much more.

3. Remember when I was feeling disappointed at the rather lukewarm response to the Positivity 2022 QAL, because there were only six link-ups?  Me of little faith...tch tch tch.

Bernie informed me that there were nine quilters/contributors who made 10 quilts. Adding one from Bernie and one mine (Naman) brought the tally up to 12. Just when I was beginning to feel okay, I received an email from Jenn, with three quilt pictures, which she will be delivering directly to the Mercyful Hospital.  I know Paulette is working on completing hers. That is 16!!! 

From Jenn, #1. Puppy wins!!!

From Jenn, #2

From Jenn, #3

I am ashamed and thrilled.  

____________________________________________________

But enough about me. What rare combination of feelings are you experiencing today?

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

Don't forget the Topsy Turvy Blog Hop. Here is the schedule, once again!!! You don't wanna miss it.

BlogHop Schedule

September 9, 2022 - Nancy

September 10, 2022 - Karen 

September 11, 2022 - Turid

September 12, 2022 - Wendy

September 13, 2022 - Yvonne

Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!!!

Today, the Positivity QAL comes to an end with the announcement of the winners. 

Thanks to the unexpected generosity  of our sponsors - Art Gallery Fabrics, Benartex and Island Batik, we had enough prizes for everyone who completed a Positivity Quilt.

Here are the winners:

Mari, Lisa T, Katie May, Roseanne, Sue Hoover, Danielle, Cynthia, Sylvia, and Wendy F.

Emails have been sent to all winners. While I wait for your addresses, I am stuffing goodies in padded envelopes. So excited!!!

Sunday Update - Prizes have been sent to Katie May, Roseanne, Sylvia and Sue. Mari and Lisa have received their prizes. I drove north to meet with Mari and Lisa. Totally worth it!!!

Congratulations to all of you and thank you so much for making this QAL a success.

Thank you, Bernie. You are my partner in crime.

Thank you Mari. You keep me sane.

Ladies that Lunch - Lisa (hand only) and Mari

Hello Lisa. You are my new quilty friend. What else do I call you if you begin with cute fabrics and end with peach tart?  

From Lisa, for me!!!

Peach Tart +Vanilla Ice cream = Taste of Summer

We happily ate with vanilla ice-cream :-) A perfect way to celebrate summer and the end of a successful QAL.

In other news, Angela has announced the color for September and I just might complete my blocks before the end of the month. Here are my fabrics - at least a start.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - September is Bright Blue

Island Batik has announced the Tool Talk Challenge and Blog Hop. Check the IB blog for the complete schedule and fabulous giveaways.  

I have completed the flimsy and will begin quilting soon. I am working with Honeycomb collection, an absolutely yummy collection designed by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quiltworks, coming to a fabric store near you in September.

Gorgeous Fabrics!!!

Work in Progress

I will post on September 14. Will there be a giveaway of my own? Hmmm... only one way to find out :-)

Sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

Hope your long weekend is just as peachy and sweet.  

Naman

I have completed my Positivity 2.0 Quilt. I have named him Naman. It is a Sanskrit word meaning salutations.

On the banks of Potomac

Walking Foot Quilting

Labelled

The end of life is generally marked with grief, a sense of loss and even confusion. Although Naman is intended as a comfort quilt for the terminally ill and their family, it is my hope that it will be a salutation to the life lived and memories made.

Good use of the Picnic Table :-)

I used an Island Batik Layer Cake (Whimsical Wings) and Island Batik White Solid for the top and Island Batik Solid Light Gray for the Backing. 

Whimsical Wings by Island Batik

The batting is Hobbs Thermore. I used a purple variegated thread for quilting, from Connecting Threads. Speaking of Connecting Threads, did you know that wide backing is 25% off :-O

Purple Variegated Thread

As we come to the end of the Positivity QAL, I appreciate all of you who participated in this worthy cause. I am overjoyed by the sponsors' generous contributions. And special thanks to Bernie - there is no Mercyful Quilts initiative without you.

Remember the Completed Quilt Linky Party is on Sunday, August 21, 2022 on Bernie's Blog.

Early next week, I will be mailing Naman to Patty, after I hug him one last time.  He is a handsome finish!

A backdrop of Black-Eyed Susans

Speaking of Finishes, I have a not-so-new-to-me finish which I can finally share with you. I completed Stars and Swirls in March and shared a sneak peek here. I decided to take a few quick outdoor shots before mailing it to Annie's Publishing. Gosh, was it windy?

Hairy Me, Almost Horizontal Quilt

Naughty Wind, Patient Paul

Getting better

Stars & Swirls is my first in-print pattern published in Annie's Catalog. It uses the Sunset Plains collection by Kathy Engle, expected in stores in September. But you can get the Merry Quilted Christmas magazine with 11 Festive projects right now. 

My copy :-)

Picture from Merry Quilted Christmas Magazine by Annie's Quilting

This is the best we got

And one more picture showing mostly Paul and some quilt :-D

Love you, so much!

Speaking of Paul, I am sharing the transcript of an actual conversation. But first take a look at the picture, for context.

Mouthwatering Picture!!!

Paul (eyes sparkling): Ooh what comfort food are you making?

Me: Well, it is a big heavy book...

Paul (still excited): Yes, glossy paper and lots of recipes.

Blocks for the Island Batik September Project

Me: That is why I was using it to press my blocks flat.
Paul (crestfallen): You are a horrible tease.

Me: I am so sorry. May I take you out on a date, my love?

Paul agreed :-) And here we are at our favorite Mexican restaurant. 

Date Night :-)

Paul got Carne Asada and I ordered Chicken Quesadillas with a side of refried beans. Since Paul was driving, I allowed myself to celebrate with a margarita. 

Celebrate what, you wonder.  Well, I managed to completed my orange blocks for August's RSC, in time... possible because Orange is my favorite color :-) 

August is Orange

Start

Middle

Finish!!!

Wonder what color is September? Medium Blue or Bright Green. 

Paul: Positivity Quilt ready to mail, RSC blocks completed and your first in-print publication. Sounds like there may be a bit of a lull...

Me: Ha, not even close. After I finish two quilts for two separate magazines, I will be tackling the Island Batik September Challenge and Blog Hop Quilt, featuring the Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design Tools.

Work in Progress

Fabrics for a new Quilt!

What are you working on?

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties including Angela's So Scrappy Party. See full list on the sidebar.  

Island Batik Marvelous Mini Challenge

Island Batik's August Challenge is Marvelous Minis.

The guidelines are simple. 

Any technique, any pattern and size between 12" square and 24" square.

With such broad and open ended requirements, my mind went in many different directions... 

Improv Piecing because that is my favorite technique

Playing with Scraps

Rainbow theme because I could not pick just one color

Island Batik Rainbow

A Landscape Mini using gradations because they are just so beautiful

Gradations

International Sisters because it made me slightly famous(scroll down)

But I kept coming back to the recent Supreme Court decision leaving us 

with fewer freedoms now than 49 years ago. 

That while the world moves ahead, America slips into the middle ages, 

is indeed a marvel.

What color am I?

Petite Sisters

What can we do? 

We fight for our rights, just like before, just like similar fights in other parts of the world. 

We persist. We persevere. We shall prevail.

Staying under 24"

"Nevertheless she persisted" is the slogan of choice, for obvious reasons. 

But I wanted to make sure it was more inclusive than just women. 

To include the queer community, I chose "Nevertheless, we persist".

I firmly believe that we are together in this fight for bodily autonomy.

Persist, we must

Coming together

Here is the finish!!!

The mini quilt with three sisters, all wearing green.

Finished 21" by 19"

Applique Letter Detail

For the slogan, I used Arial Bold Font in 225 point size. 

Yellow letters seemed to pale on a white background. 

So I used a permanent fabric ink marker to outline the yellow letters. It helps.

What do you think?

I used Island Batik White Solid for background and binding.

Aurifil Thread 50wt was used for piecing and 40 wt for quilting.

Quilting Thread

The batting is Hobbs Cotton.

I used Schmetz Needle 70/12 for piecing and 80/12 for quilting, using a walking foot.

Quilting Detail

These three sisters are a reminder that our battles for bodily autonomy unite us 

even if we have different complexions or come from different backgrounds.  

Together we will persist.

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