Friday, January 28, 2011

Lessons Learned...

As you all know, I have been making a sincere effort to work with my scraps while cleaning the studio.  It worked out perfect that I am participating in a 15 Minutes Quilt Bee that requires use of scraps.

The theme? Improve blocks with made fabrics.

Each of us decided on the block we would like for our assigned month. I was very influenced by the book, "Accidentally on Purpose" for last couple of weeks.. So I decided to try to make one of the quilts from the book. I also wanted to try to stay with the style of my Confetti Quilt. Only this time, I decided to make long strips sewn into blocks.

This one has taught me some lessons I thought were interesting.

For this quilt I had set up some rules for myself.

I wanted to work strictly with scraps.

Value each piece for it's size. 

No trimming unless it was absolute must.

Since this block required small scraps, I saved the larger ones for a different project. So I thought!

I started sewing up little scraps one piece at a time. As long as the two bits of fabric looked good next to each other, they went into the block.

I made adjustments to the size of the scraps as needed. But mostly tried to match the size of the scraps rather than cutting them to the size. That way I would not loose fabric.
( I was really stressing on maximizing the use of what I had and pretending that every bit was precious.)

Once the strip of a desired size was sewn up I trimmed the sides and made another one.. Made a few and pieced them together to make a block.


Soon I ran out of all the small pieces and was left with little longer and thin strings of fabric strips. That's where plan B came in effect.
Instead of making more smaller pieces to stay with the theme of Confetti Quilt,  I used the longer strings in the bin. I started piecing them in a slightly wider patches. Suddenly the colors were also changing.. Because these scraps were from a specific project. 




The wider strips with lots of skinny strings are enough to make a block for a center medallion OR I might scatter them around the entire quilt. 

Next, I used the patches that were squares or rectangles. I was hoping to make most of their size, use them cleverly and not loose any more than I absolutely had to in seam allowances. So I paired the squares together and made HSTs out of them.

These were also hand cut and without any specific size in mind. Silly as it sounds, I also discovered that I was more likely to use the tiny bits of fabric in quilt if I cut them by hand..


My Inspiration for the quilt.


  I am not sure if I was cutting the yardage, I would have cut them as skinny and as tiny as some of them I ended up with.  The standard quilting and cutting measurements are so easy to work with that it is difficult to cut skinny strips on purpose. 

Besides, if I was in hurry to finish the quilt, the first thought would be the time and patience it would take to make this kind of quilt. Can you imagine how long it would take to actually cut scraps from yardage and refold them and put them back?

Thankfully, I have my bee friends making some blocks. They are fabulous!

Another advantage of being in the bee, each block will come with maker's personality...and from many different projects.   

I started with an inspiration and designed the block based on above quilt. I have a feeling that once all the bee blocks come together this quilt is going to take it's own shape and form.

After all that's was improvisation means.. right?


While I was cleaning the scrap bin, I also found lots and lots of strings.
This is what I have started with all those strings.
A simple idea of using up all I had in the bin is keeping me quite busy.
I am running out of scraps.. Still lots of fabric in my stash... Just no scraps. One of these days, I am going to have to make those quilts that use yardage. It has been a while since I have done that!
 
I urge you to check out the 15 Minutes Play to see more of these blocks and other cool projects that everyone is working on.
It is truly an inspirational place!

My sincere efforts for cleaning has made my sewing room look like this little house from inside. 

 
Hope you are having fun in your sewing room.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Summer Dreams!

I decided to clean up my sewing room over the weekend. Of course, then came the domino effect! While cleaning I found all the left over scraps from my Ferris Wheel quilt.

I had also started a 15 Minutes Play with some of the leftovers. But still had enough left to create whole another quilt.

The cleaning went out the door..  I cleared the sewing table with one swipe and decided to answer the call  of my creative energy.  

 It needed to let loose..
 


I had just enough of those triangle scraps left to make four fans.. Even though I am planning on appliqueing centers on each of these, I have decided that these deserves to be fans.. 
They have a certain kind of movement to them as if they are whirling! 

Besides, It has been too cold.. 
I am dreaming of hot summer day and the red background is pretty hot and keeping me warm.  



I believe that often times a quilt 'happens' because it wants to. 
Do you believe in that? 
What it takes to make the quilt is immaterial. It is almost as if I become the instrument when it wants to come to life..

I still have my red and green on the design wall. Isn't it funny how I am gravitated towards reds right now?  


This quilt was inspired by all the red and green quilts that were floating in blogland over the month of December. I decided to do my own version of it. Slowly and steadily, it will grow.
 There are lots of new details to put in this and 'Summer Dreams'.

As they say, "If you are dreaming, why not dream big?"

So, Dream away.. Big or Small,
We know it will be warm and cozy when that dream comes true!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Confused!

I did a post yesterday about some of the blogs that have inspired me in past year. 

Unfortunately, I am not sure what I have done wrong but the latest post does not appear on my subscriber's sidebar.  

Have any one of you experienced this before? 

I know this post may not show up on your sidebars either but it is a worth trying it!

I am going to be working on a Tonya's Challenge today. No picture yet..

Hope you all are having a good day!
Sujata

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Few Words of Appreciation

Few weeks back Rachael over at Blue Mountain Daisy tagged me with the Cherry on top award.
and I said, " Me? Really? " I can not even figure out how to put that award here on my post! I hope I am not misguiding people because I have had plenty difficulty trying to figure this blogging thing out!
It takes me forever to post. I am always worried about the right things to say!

And just yesterday, Mary at Fiberliscious tagged me with an award.. Thank you Mary for your kindness too.

I am so honored that you think my blog is worthy of these awards.
As part of the Cherry on the top award, I am supposed to show three things I like and name three other blogs that have inspired me.

The three things I love at any given day are,
Watching sunrise and sunsets,  long and peaceful walks and gardening.

 Sunrise at Haleakala

View of the sunset from our home.
I like Sunrise because it starts my day with possibilities
and the night fall after sunset gives me the quiet time to ponder upon the day that has just passed.

Going on long walks and listening to bird-songs bring a sense of oneness with nature. I also get inspired by the surroundings while I am walking. It gives me opportunity to look and observe without the noises and disturbance of other daily activities.


It is a difficult task to name only three blogs that inspire me..
 I know that most of my readers also read some of my favorite blogs.. 
I am going to try to name some blogs that have inspired me every time I visit and some I have discovered  quite recently.

Deb Rowden's Quilt blog
She captures the true essence of quilting. Scraps and thread tails turn into a stunning work of art.
No piece is too small. Her quilts are original and amazing.

LeeAnn's blog
LeeAnn has been blogging for only little over six month's period and quilting for about six years. I love her wild sense of color and playfulness that transforms her quilts from a simple idea to a unique master piece.

Em's blog is an inspiration on regular bases. Her blog has a positive and happy energy that is unmatched. 
Her kind and good nature always shines through her words and quilts. 

Please check out these blogs and I have a feeling you will not be disappointed.

I am asked to award the blogs which have under 300 hundred followers. Unfortunately, that leaves out many other blogs that I read on weekly bases.
  
And now here are the names for the tag by Mary

Attic 24 is my very favorite recently discovered blog! If you like colors and textures, there is a constant supply of inspiration on her blog.

Barb  has inspired me with her quilts for quite some time. But just recently she did a post on her 'Mother's Garden' quilt which has left me thinking, planning and plotting for my next quilt. I love the stories behind all her quilts.

Story Cloth is another blog I discovered in past few weeks. I am really loving the slow process of stitching and creating that she represents on her blog. Take time and go through her pages. Lovely little stories are stitched with cloth and threads.

 I would love for you to visit Joe's blog. He is as good with his words as he is with his art.

Don't forget to check out this blog by jmbmommy. For all of you who are fans of Tonya's Word-Play, this is going to be a treat! Make sure you scroll down all the way to the bottom of the page.

There are so many blogging friends that inspire me with their individuality. Thanks, Rachael and Mary for giving me this opportunity to sit back and think about what inspires me.


  Last but not least.. Buffy.. I can not tell you how much I appreciate her and get inspired by her.
If it wasn't for her, I would not have been in the blogland.

Ooops.. they have started the music.. got to wrap it up!
Have a great day!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy 2011!

May this new year is full of hopes, possibilities and joy for all of you.


Hope it is filled with sunshine and warmth every day, even for my friends and family who live in Seattle!


Hope your friends are always nearby to comfort you!


 Your loved ones are healthy and safe..
 

 Hope you get to fly of to the new adventures and explore the world full of possibilities.


I certainly hope you get to spend some lone time doing exactly what you like to do!


And be as 'colorful' as you can be!

 
 This work of art was my gift from my children.


I have a lot to look forward to this year!
 
My coffee table is full of new inspirations!


Happy New year!

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