Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts

Saturday, July 5, 2014

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!


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Fun with friends!

Barb of Fun with Barb came over yesterday for a visit. I invited my bee friends to come and join the fun.


Barb brought one my favorite quilts she made for the show and tell. I must say that pictures never do the justice to the quilts. She has designed this quilt herself and hand quilted it to perfection.
If you haven't already, check out her post about this special quilt here.


The hexagon quilt! Something, I can only dream of making!


Her star quilt in progress! It was really nice to see all those blocks in person. Thanks, Barb for spending the day with us..
Speaking of us, Kelly of Pinkadot Quilting was also here. Check out her diary blocks.


It is going to be quite a quilt. wish you all could see those blocks in person too. Her detailing is amazing!


Another one of Kelly's quilts in progress. We got together last month to work on a string quilt project. 


 Christine also brought her string quilt in progress to share. I like her green background!


Here is another one of her clever use of upholstery and home dec fabric samples in a table runner.
I think it looks better on my table!

'May Apple'  Terry Kramzar
Terry Kramzar came and did a little show and tell too!
I forgot to take the picture but you can visit her here and take a look at all the art quilts.

Jane came a little later and unfortunately I did not take the pictures of her quilts either.

I shared my latest project. It is an unusual and an evolving project. Hopefully next time I will have some better visuals for you.

Pile of fabrics for the new project
Work in progress!
My  friends!


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Winter Warmth

When you make friends through blogland, the joy of it arrives in many ways. Sometimes in the form of comments on your posts, a nice mail, a promise to meet in person someday.
You start participating in bees and make more friends. The friendship also arrives in little envelops in the form of bee blocks and occasionally a whole quilt!
The blogging community is full of surprises. I have come to know some really kind and caring quilters doing most amazing things for others.

I have received a few of these messages of friendship lately and it has really moved me.

This quilt arrived a week ago! 


Em who celebrates life in every possible way sent me this beautiful quilt.  
The bright flowers and the birds that always represent peace, came in time to create a happy spot in my day!
Thank you Em! I will cherish your quilt and your friendship forever!


It is makes me smile every time I walk by.


 

Few more blocks arrived from the 15 minutes bee group. I love how this is growing! 
Thanks Shelly, Helen and LeeAnn!

LeeAnn also sent me the most beautiful scraps in the whole wide world! 
I will have to do a different post for that!

And last but by any means not least, Mary sent me her block for the little quilt exchange we decided to do few months ago! I am not kidding, this lady is amazing! have you checked out her quilts?
When I first saw her quilts on flickr, my jaw just dropped! I had to close my mouth with my hands.. NO Kidding! She is a gifted and talented quilter who designs and makes most amazing quilts. 
Few months ago I invited her to take part in a little quilt exchange.

We decided to start with a tree block and send each other our blocks to finish the quilt.
Just look at this artwork and read about her story behind the block on her blog.. I am almost afraid to ruin it by touching the block!


I have to be honest and admit that I took forever to make my block.I was not in the 'right place' to create that block until last weekend. Mary's block arrived on Friday along with the bee blocks. I had asked her to keep it in the sealed envelop so I would finish mine before I would open hers.

Isn't it gorgeous?

It has been rather gray and dreary winter as you all know! I miss the greens..I decided to make a tree block with green and brown strings.. 

I had been dreaming of  Seattle where the evergreen trees are always there to brighten up your day. The new growth on the fir and Cedar trees is so fresh in winter and spring that even in the midst of a snow storm the surroundings look magical! 
If I could fly, I would fly over the big cedar tree we used to have in our backyard. 

I imagine this would be the view from up top!

And, it makes me feel happy!

Snow Falling On Cedar!

Doesn't it look dreamy?
I love it!

 
 

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...