Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


I hope you all are near your friends and family this holiday season.
I wasn't going to post this week but I could not resist when I saw Mary's post this morning. I have been looking to accessorize my unusually bold styled coat (for me) for a long time and I think I may have found a perfect thing!
Go check out her blog. You are going to love how clever she is and how beautiful her work is..
I am wondering if I need to buy a new coat or feel lucky that in future it will be used to make my home even more stylish like Mary's. LOL..

It has been a busy yet very relaxing and happy past few days. My long lost best friend from 1988 is back in my life. She visited for few days and we shared so much lughter over cups of tea.. Lots and lots of cups of tea! It is amazing that true friendships remain the same even after so many years and you can pick up where it was left off last time. We had not communicated in at least 17 years! It was a blast from the past for sure!

I am just thankful that I have people all around the world that are so near and dear to me!


 Before she arrived, I finished this little wall hanging and practiced my machine quilting.


I love finishing a quilt with bias binding for the curvy edges. The curved piecing becomes even edgier... 


Here are some pebbles!  I had to sneak them in!



Working on that scrap quilt.. Remember  this? I decided to hand quilt with Perle Cotton.. I have always loved heavy hand quilting. This one was particularly inspired by this.

It is a nice little project to finish before the year ends. There is a spot in the house that needs a little sprucing up and this quilt is just the right size for that.

I also did lot of machine quilting last week.
This is the back of my 'Amish Impressions Zigzag' quilt.



And here is the front!



Also build more houses..


Hope your home is filled with love and laughter this week.
Have a wonderful day giving thanks to your family and friends!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

One of my favorites...


Do you have this book? If you like houses, you must look into 'Home Sweet Home' by Deborah Harding and Laura Fisher.
The blocks in this quilt are only 4 inches square. Click on the picture to see the close up. 

    

 My little house is two and a half inches tall.
  Imagine an entire village out of little houses made of sticks and stones!


 Are you inspired?


 How many baskets of scraps will this take?

If you haven't been here, you don't know what you are missing out! 

Friday, November 12, 2010

She loved it!


She said so....


As she looked straight in to the camera!


and right into my eyes....


 Mom too!


She whispered in k' ear..

Meera loved her quilt.. 

And yes,

She loved the back more than the front..


Have a joyful weekend!

 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Wild thing...

You make my heart sing!


Yes, This wild and crazy thing makes me smile..  I have never finished a quilt in a week's time. 
You see, I was working on a deadline.. Don't like to do that a whole lot. 
You can't hurry love and you can certainly not hurry creativity.. unless it wants to hurry itself!
 
Amy is having her forth annual Blogger's quilt festival and this happen to be one of my very latest favorite quilts to share! 

Which is the other quilt you ask?


This one of course! 

Another one of my latest creations! 
The basket blocks were inspired by the quilts from Collaborative Quilting II by Gwen Marston.
I just decided to use crazy patches for the background. 
Since it is a gift for a baby girl, It had to be as cheerful and happy as possible! 
Then I wondered... Why should the fun stop at the quilt top?
So, I pieced the back..  


Now, I was really having fun and did not want it to end.
 I thought a black and whilte stripe would be a perfect binding for this quilt..
But my heart said.. 
NO...

It had to be another scrappy finish to a fun experience!


  I can't decide which is front and which is back.


I guess, I don't have to!
  

Baskets are fun.. 
They can be wild and crazy  and filled with joy!
These ones are loaded with love 
for our niece's first born!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Basket Quilt


I thought I was going to wait for another post until after I finished this quilt. But it seems like I have hit the wall and going no where. 
At first, I was not sure if I was going to use borders for this quilt. This quilt was just a fun experiment and had no ultimate goal.. I kept making my fancy baskets and as I made them the crazy patched up background seemed like a really good idea. I did have a great time making those blocks.

After looking at nifty's quilt, I thought of making it into a baby quilt and gifting it to our niece. 



According to my daughter, the baskets are just right for a little baby..her quilt should be soft and gentle in colors and pattern...
In my book.. soft and gentle does not exist.. Colors have to be bright. Use of dark and light is a must!
  I kept making my baskets..with wonky bases and handles because they are fun to make!




Now the quilt top is finished. I need to choose a backing. 
I think I am going to go with another crazy..

I hope the baby does not stay awake all night with bright and poppy colors..

That would not be good.

But as long as she is warm and cozy..

She will be alright!

What do you think?

Soft and gentle or wild and crazy for the back?

Monday, November 1, 2010

Why not?

 Making baskets out of scraps is very addicting. As you can see They multiply very easily!
All you have to do is sew your scraps together into a piece of fabric and trim that fabric into a triangle with pointy or a flat bottom!  


I made a few and wondered about the background.. As you can see, I tried a couple of them.


My poor husband politely said, "They are cute but you can't really see them. The baskets were getting lost!"

My friend Kelly commented that she liked the medium background because she always chooses light  backgrounds.

The light bulb went on!

I, always choose dark backgrounds !
It is time for a change..
and while I am at it,
Why not go crazy all the way? 

So I did!

I am happy with where this is going.. 
 


 Here is how it will look when all the blocks come together. 

Crazy background for my crazy baskets.

I put a handle on one of them.


First I cut the shape out of the scrap.

Then I machine basted it with long stitch and hand  appliqued the out side edge. 



 Then trimmed the center of the appliqued handle in desired thickness and appliqued inner edge of the handle.


I sewed the handle section and the base to the basket!
Couldn't help sneaking in a printed scrap.

I like this one a lot.. 
Want to see more? 
Want to join the fun?
Visit here
Send me an email. 

This is definitely a great start to my Monday morning.
Hope you are having a good day!

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