Friday, May 28, 2010

Playing for fun

Few days back Victoria and I decided to do a little scrap quilt swap. I was already drooling over the quilt she displayed for Blogger's Quilt festival hosted by Amy. We thought of doing something abstract should be fun!

I love houses in the quilts. Who doesn't? To me, they represent family, love and comfort and also communities and friendships among many other things. So I was set on making my block with a house in it!

I have to be honest and say that never having done a swap before I was little nervous at first. It took a while to come up with something! 
I was jumping from one idea to other every minute putting too much thought into it.
Or 
  Wanted to put everything I love in one little block.

Couple of days back, Victoria sent an email with the picture of her block but most importantly the phrase, 'Something to ponder over' in it! 
After reading the email, I went on my long morning walk and pondered over the way I quilt!

I don't know if it is a problem or a blessing but I can not commit to one style of quilting! On one hand, I like abstract but I also admire antique quilts! I love old appliqued album quilts because they tell a story.   
Story telling quilts are so much fun!
Have you seen Mary Lou Weidman's quilts? 
They are full of tales to tell!
I love scrap quilts and making cloth out of strings. I also love making quilts out of used clothing.
If only we could hear those scraps and old cloths talk! There will be so many colorful stories about lives they touched!

I kept pondering and finally came to a conclusion. 
    It does not matter what style my quilts are because each one of them have a story to tell!
And
  don't want to be tied down to just one style of quilting. 
I like change!  


Here are couple of house quilts I have made in the past!

The book, "Quilts of Gee's Bend" had just come out and I was quite fascinated  by the quilts and stories in it!
The streak of orange represents the Sun setting in the Arabian Sea. I was fortunate to be able to enjoy that every evening of my childhood!


This was made almost 12 years ago! I was in a new neighborhood and making new friends!

My scrap quilt swap block! 
Another new neighborhood and making new friends!

I  like houses, color Orange! 
And 
LOVE to PLAY
with old and new friends!

Have a wonderful day!
 

Friday, May 21, 2010

Bloogers Quilt Festival Spring 2010

Flower Power
Machine pieced and hand appliqued

One of my favorite quilts of last year! I was working with designer fabrics for a long time and at some point decided to make a switch for a change. I used some new fabrics and few recycled fabrics from shirts and scrubs from the Goodwill Store. 
 
The Applique Garden is progressing slowly but surely!
I designed this pattern for the block of the month class I taught at Quiltworks Northwest in Washington.



 Mango Salsa

 
After moving across the country, I took a long break in 2007. It was not easy to uproot the kids and move them in their teen years. They somehow made it work for themselves being busy at school and getting close to each other. I found myself with the burning question,"what now?"
The fabrics were still in boxes and it felt like an enormous task to pull them out and set up the sewing machine again. Six months went by and one fine day I decided to be happy again!
 Mango Salsa was the first quilt I made after the big move. 
I am happy that I did!


Leftover Salsa. 

Still needs some spicing up but overall I like the flavor!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Ferris Wheel Part 2

Remember this?
  I decided to make another version of this before I left for India. These blocks have been sitting on the design wall forever! I am done writing the pattern for it. Now, all I have to do is stitch this mammoth of a quilt and finish it for my daughter's bed. She is really into "vintage" looking things now! 
Six month ago it was all about retro... I hope I finish this before it is about something else!


In any case, It is an interesting pattern and I can't get enough of it!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Talk about Patience!

Is quilting really about patience? 
Often times my non-quilting friends and relatives have wondered about my "patience" to create a quilt. All though, I have to admit that at times I have been frustrated in the past over a quilt or two, I am not sure if quilting is about having patience. I believe that any thing we do in life, if done with passion and devotion does not require hurrying the process. In which case no matter how long it takes from the beginning to the end of a project, It is all about enjoying the journey and staying in the moment.

 This is a king size coverlet made out of two pieces of whole cloth. The top layer is finished with reverse Applique on a whole cloth! 
Talk about patience!

King size! really!!!
 The stone panels of these arches were hand carved in short pieces and then put together!
 In rural India, inspirations are every where!
 
 Could  this carved stone window be turned into a quilt by using the clam-shell patches? 

I am certain that the artisans who created these were paid to do so, but I would also like to think that they enjoyed creating such beauties with great passion!


 What do you think?


Thursday, May 6, 2010

I am back!


 Her smile was priceless!


 No one was afraid of colors!

He wore his best suit!


and showed it off quite well!


 Green is still my favorite color.

I finally convinced mom that it was okay to use the quilt I gave her almost eight years ago.


 Thanks to all of you who stopped by while I was away.
I can not wait to get back to my machine!

Have a wonderful day!

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