Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Progress on Toran

It's beginning to look so festive!


Like pathways decorated with Toran welcoming the guests.


No matter how I arrange the triangles, they say one word. HAPPY!

 
People everywhere, kids running around screaming with laughter. 

The sun is playing peek-a-boo with the help of those fluffy clouds. 

Train to Mumbai has just arrived at the station. 

That whistle can be heard miles away from the station.

I am not ready to go back.

I am staying in Jodhpur just a bit longer.



  



Friday, February 15, 2013

Thoughts at the traffic light.

This morning I went to drop my daughter, Kavita off to school. It was early enough, Sun was just about to rise..
Kavita, loves to talk. We often have our mother-daughter talks in early hours of the morning.
I usually listen and she talks and there are days, I talk and she listens. Perfect way to continue dialogues with your teenage daughter.

She was describing  how beautiful yesterday morning was when she drove herself to school. There was snow on the ground and fog all around.. Sun was just rising on the horizon and it was that color. She pointed to the florescent yellow/orange of the traffic light ahead of us.

I was quiet for two minutes, or it may seemed that long. Next words came out of my mouth were, "I love History".

Clearly, there was no connection between what she had just said and my response!

So I went on elaborating my thoughts.

Traffic Lights... Florescent lights, I wonder who made them.. I am sure we can find out.. It must have been a desperate need back in the days or some accidental discovery by some scientist. Amazing how everything is documented in history of time.. We can look it up and find answers to most everything.

If it wasn't for history and documentation, we wouldn't know anything beyond one or two generations. We clearly don't talk much with each other since our families are scattered all over the world and communications are not like they used to be.

For example, how else would you know what was the reason behind my current quilt if I hadn't talked about it here?

Yes, all those thoughts and more went through my mind in very short time. Now, you may think that either I have a busy mind or I think way too much. Both might be true. I am a thinker. I love the silence around me and the thoughts that arise from that silence.

We continued talking as I drove her to school. Conversations varied from family matters to what's important in life.
I came home and once again I noticed the colors around me. Only this time, The Sun had risen, those fluffy clouds in the sky were peachy, melon colored. The blue of the sky was just like the colors of my recent quilt. And the Sun was as orange as those turbans and pants I saw in Rajasthan. It reminded me of this evening we spent in the desert.

Sunset in the Desert of Rajasthan

After I came home, I looked it up and found this among many other sites about the traffic lights to satisfy my need to know. Who knew?

Thank goodness for History and documentation.

We all are creating history by writing stories of our lives through stitches. I will always remember the events that are being stitched through this quilt. Some happy and some, not so much. And many more to be added by the time it gets it's final stitch.
And I realize, this is why I like blogging too. It is a journal I keep. Quilting has always been more than the patterns, colors or choosing fabrics. It's the stories behind the quilts I love.

Many of you asked the reason behind the Blues of Jodhpur. I couldn't quite answer that myself.  I went on line and found some sites that may help. Here is the link. 

As far as the progress on theToran quilt goes, I have Jodhpur on my kitchen table!


I arrange few blocks by my side and sew them into strips.


Four blocks sewn together and many strips already sewn waiting on the sideline.

They are as random as people on the streets of Rajasthan or anywhere for that matter!
With life of their own, going in all directions, Crossing each other on their paths, as randomly as my thoughts!

Well, that was a very wordy post!

Thank you for spending your precious time at The Root Connection. I am glad you stopped by!

Thanks for those of you who ask questions. It makes me curious and want to know more.

Monday, February 11, 2013

India: The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan


Colors of the city of Jodhpur are still dancing in my head.

View of the city from the fort

Blue and Orange,Tangerine and Gold.


Blue and scarlet? Rust?


Oh.. that orange again!


Look at his pants!

I just noticed this kid's pants.. and the pots in the courtyard.

This is way too much fun!


This guy poured his soul out as he sung few folk songs for us. His voice still rings in my ears and I am getting goose bumps just thinking about that moment.

After all the inspirations there is only one thing left to do. I have to stitch all of these memories into a quilt.

 
 This antique quilt was too hard to resist and these colors were just right.


Cut a few squares and then into triangles.

On the design wall..


This is going to be fun! Visit here for a tutorial if you would like to make one too.

Two workshops in Eureka, CA - Freeform Blocks Study and Kawandi

  Sujata Shah is coming to Eureka!!   Eureka Woman’s Club   1531 J Street  Eureka CA 95501  July 20-24, 2026, 10-4   The 5-day w...