Playing catch up and pattern for Organized Chaos

I am not even sure where I had left off. Almost three months after coming back from India, I have started sewing and I can say, that is a clear sign of being settling down. 

Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild asked if I could send them the samples for my upcoming workshops in July. Since I needed the original quilt for couple of presentations and workshops between now and July, I decided to make a new sample.

I pulled first box of fabrics out and it happened to be full of red and orange fabrics and so began the Marigold quilt. Needless to say, I got a bit carried away. There was no way I was going to finish another large quilt in time so I make a smaller sample and sent it it.

While I was working on the sample, I decided to make a smaller version of Rail Fence quilt too.. Just in case, I need another sample!

Yes, that's a shower curtain as a temporary design wall. These days, anything goes as long as I can continue working.

Gwen's baskets are in the making on the side too. I will come back with this post later because it deserves a post by itself.

Meanwhile there is a lot of work, social/family events and just plain old goofing around going on.
I presented at Stitch Modern event back in April, hosted by East Bay Modern Quilt Guild.
I also visited Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild and Baltimore Heritage quilt guild early in May. It was the best time I had on the east coast since I moved out.

I am looking forward to everyone's finished projects from both of those workshops.

Amy showed her finished Hourglass Twist quilt she made at my MAQ 2015workshop in Maryland.

Here are some pictures of wild life my backyard.

 

Oh and back to quilting for a very important news!

You can order Organized Chaos quilt pattern from my etsy shop.  Click on the link below.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rangolidesigns?ref=l2-shopheader-name 

It sure feels like I am back to sewing whenever time permits. I will be at Santa Clara Quilt guild in June and at Sisters, Orgeon and Ann Arbor, MI in July. I hope to see some of you there! 

Have a great week!

Sujata

New Friday Feature and an update

After mom left, I have been busy with all sorts of things. Matters like looking for an apartment in NYC for my daughter and taking care of my poor back suffering from a pinched sciatic nerve for over four months have consumed me.. They say it takes a long time for it to heal. I know they are right. After some failed physical therapy I have resorted to resting and taking breaks during my day and driving as little as possible. I have also started walking instead of my regular high impact workouts.

The good thing about this is with enough breaks I am able to sew just fine. Since we moved our old kitchen table in my studio, sewing at any time when I have few minutes has become possible.. Having an extra space to spread out in the studio has been tremendous help. Not moving and shifting of cutting and sewing space on the same table has sped up the process.

Let me talk about the new feature - Quilt on the Clothesline.

The clothesline my mom used is still up and reminding me of her being here. Our homeowner's association does not allow any kind of laundry hanging outside. Lucky for me, we have enough trees in the back to keep it hidden from pretty much anyone who is walking or driving through the neighborhood.

I keep staring at it from the kitchen window and think of my mom. As pleasant as those memories are, I have stared at it enough to think of something other than mom and equally pleasant!

Why not go down the memory lane, document my own journey of quilting with the help of this clothesline? Starting today, each Friday I will feature one quilt a week from the very beginning of my journey as a quilter. I am not sure how many weeks I will be doing this since I have no clue how many quilts, tops I have made so far. I am not even sure if I have them in chronological order but I am going to try my best to keep it straight.

Although there can be only one first, each quilt in this picture is very important first of my life as a quilter.

The small quilt in the middle is today's quilt of the week on the clothesline.

My First Quilt

I took my first class in 1992 in a shop called Going to Pieces. I was introduced to this quilting shop by a friend Kathy who was a quilter and also made dolls whose son was my son Gautam's very first friend in Livermore, CA. She got me into making dolls when I was mother of two boys.

I made dolls and sold them in local gift shops for next few years until the birth of my very own doll. I still have some of those doll patterns in my collection.I often think about revisiting doll making for fun but haven't quite done it.

In that four week long class, I learned the basics of quilt-making like cutting the straight lines, sewing 1/4'' seam allowance and freezer paper applique. It also included instructions on how to butt the seams for a nine patch to get those perfect matching points, difference between pressing and ironing and a lesson in contrast and values in colors. Our teacher, Linda also taught us how to hand quilt and bind the quilt. It all seemed like magic! In four sessions we learned a lifetime of lessons for traditional quilting. 

Wait a minute...that was the only style of quilting I thought/knew was around then!

I was the only girl from India who had taken a class from that teacher. She loved talking to me about India. I was fascinated that she was so much interested in my home country. 

It took a while to finish the hand stitching my first quilt. I used polyester batting which felt like I was quilting through butter. I had poked my fingers so many times, I remember thinking that it was never going to finish. The quilting hoop I bought then still has the label of the shop on it. Love that hoop! Although I enjoyed applique and hand stitching more than piecing of the quilt, watching all those different components coming together was fun.

Do you still have your first quilt with you? Did you take a class or someone in the family taught you?

I would love to know about it. 

And on the front porch...remember this?

 Here is the basket now...

Yes, my front porch is the saddest looking front porch in the neighborhood but it is filled with joyous sounds of little wren chhikies chirping.. Momma wren is constantly flying in with food and babies open their mouths and stick them out as soon as they hear her. As happy as I am for them, I am also ready to switch that basket with some fresh foliage. Hurry up and fly away please!
 
Have a great weekend. It is supposed to rain here.. I am ready with my bobbins filled!

Stitching memories

of a visit from a friend and hot flashes.

Chris from Hudson News and Muse sent a note few weeks back wondering if I was going to be around on the 3rd of July. In past few years Chris and I have had quite a few email visits with each other involving conversations about family, hobbies, work and quilts. On Thursday, for few short hours I got to meet her in person with her husband, Scott - two of the nicest 'first time in person - friends' I have had opportunity to welcome in my home.

I am generally very shy meeting someone for the first time. Believe me when I say this, I was definitely not 'as cool as a cucumber' as I greeted them. As a matter of fact, within first five minutes of their arrival, I had one of my worst hot flashes! I was so embarrassed, I had to stop talking and get myself a glass of water to cool down.

Although it lasted for only first few minutes, I will never forget that. Over the lunch we talked about our kids, quilts and friendships. After lunch we did a little show and tell. I showed them my studio! She also got to see few of my quilts from my book. Just in case you missed it, YES!!! I wrote a book! Cultural Fusion Quilts is due out this December and available now on Amazon to pre-order.

Scott was nice enough to take a few pictures of us. He did a great job.. What do you think?

After they left, I sat down with my scrap quilt and took a few stitches thinking about the time spent with them. I have met many friends through blogging and continue to appreciate what it has done for me. I had not stitched a single stitch by hand in a while. I am thankful that a visit from Chris and Scott brought me out of that slump.

I spent rest of the day stitching what I call organic quilting. No marking, no tools, no noise of the machine.. just my needle and thread along with my thoughts.

By the way, Chris had pointed it out on her way in that a little bird was making a nest in my fuchsia basket. 
No wonder no matter how well I took care of that basket, lately it was looking rather disturbed!
That afternoon I paid close attention to the activities out there.. A pair of wren were making quite a nest. 

They had dug out a considerable size hole in the basket. I watched them line the hole with grass, twigs and even dried leaves and build a structure with walls and roof! When they were done it looked like an igloo made with grass. Clever, right?

It seems like our front porch has become quite the maternity ward for our backyard - front yard birds. Early this spring robin had made nest on the front porch lamp.. We were only gone for couple of days and before we even realized what was happening, momma robin had made it her home. We kept the front porch light off for the entire time.

Now I am wondering if I can water the basket with the nest.

I would like for it to continue blooming.

It's been blooming since the month of May!

I am going to continue hand quilting today. Here are some more pictures of the quilt in progress.

Have a great weekend!

Here we go again!

Another snow storm is on it's way.

I really wanted to share these pictures on Valentine's day but better do it now before we loose power.

They were here for a long time! I can't tell you how peaceful it was to see them perched right outside my kitchen window.

Happy Valentine's Day!