SOCIAL MEDIA

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Bella Parade 2013 - the rules!


So now you're all geared up for the Bella Parade 2013.
For those who were not there the last two times, and for those who have been so caught up in everything else that you cannot remember what it is, here's what exactly is Bella Parade.


Bella Parade is a month long extravaganza on my blog where we all enjoy a riot of colors and you get an opportunity to win some of the 75 yards of Bella Solids I'm offering here!!!

yes, 75 yards!!!

Now I know I have got your complete attention!


First, enter the Launch Giveaway for a chance to win a FQ Bundle of the New Bella Solids that we're going to feature here in the next month.

Starting September 1st, we will have a "Color of the Day". This color will be one out of the 30 new colors that Moda has released this year.


We will discuss about each color and its use in quilts! I will also have links to "solids only" quilts made by some of the awesome quilters in blogland for some eye candy!

Apart from that you get an opportunity to win 1 yard of fabric each day.

I'm changing the rules this time, though, to make it even more fun.

1. The Color wont be named.
But you will be given 3 hints that will help you guess the color. Guessing the color will be your first and mandatory entry to win. It does not matter if you're wrong. You have to leave a comment with the "Name" of the color. Don't worry, the comments will be moderated during the Parade, so nobody is going to 'copy' your answer!

2. For extra entries, you have to post links to photos clicked by you with the Color of the Day in it.
One entry per photo. You can enter as many as you want. They could be anywhere, your blog, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... Absolutely anywhere on the www. The only condition is that IT MUST BE CLICKED BY YOU. If anyone is found to link to somebody else's photo, they will be banned from the event! To increase your chances to win, enter as many photos as you can. 1 comment per photo link.

You get 24 hours to enter the draw to win 1 yard of the "Color of the Day"
 The post will be live everyday at 6.00 am Indian Time. And only the entries before 6.00 am the next day will be considered valid.

Winners of all 7 days of the week will be announced on every Sunday.

Apart from this, there will be a weekly giveaway every Sunday (i.e. on the 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th September) for a FQ Bundle!
For this you will have to leave a comment on the weekend post. If you buy any Bella Soilds from Fat Quarter Shop during the Parade, you get ONE entry for EVERY YARD of solids you buy! Leave a comment with the #of yard of BELLA SOLIDS only along with your invoice #

And at the end of the Parade, we'll have a HUGE Giveaway. The winner will get a Half Yard Bundle of the New Bella Solids!!! 15 yards in all!!!

So are you ready to have some fun?

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Bella Parade '13 *****Launch Giveaway*****

I know I have been ignoring the blog ever since I shifted into my new studio! Work just became so much more interesting... But I haven't forgotten you altogether!!! I have some action packed months lined up for you all!!! Stay tuned!

Did you know that the new colors of Bella Solids are now available for sale????

So what does that mean?

Yup! You're right. Its that time of the year again!!!

Time for the Bella Parade '13!!!


Feel free to grab the sticker for your blog!

How to do it??
I'll tell you the easiest way. (For Blogger users)
Right click on the image above and click on "Copy link location"
Then go to the "Layout" tab
Click on the part where you want to insert the button.
Choose "Image"
Select the "From the web" option and paste the link.
(Make sure the "shrink to fit" is checked.
Now in the "link" field copy and paste the text below

"http://www.13woodhouseroad.com/search/label/BP2013"

And you're done!!!


Bella Parade '13 is starting on Sunday 1st September 2013!!!

 And today you have a chance to win this lovely stack


New Bella Solids Fat Quarter Bundle
Moda Fabrics

30 Fat Quarters


How to enter the giveway???

1. Leave a comment. Tell me what you loved about the old Bella Parades. Do tell me what you did not like, so that I can make it more fun for you guys!
2. Like 13 Woodhouse Road on Facebook.
3. Like Fat Quarter Shop on Facebook.
4. If you have bought anything from Fat Quarter Shop in the past 3 month, leave a comment with your invoice #. Each invoice gives you 1 entry. Purchases made in June, July & August are valid.
5. Share the news : Blog about it, share it on twitter, share on Facebook, instagram anywhere!!! Leave a comment to say you did. Each share gets one entry!

I will be drawing a winner on Sunday 1st September 2013 at 10.00 am.

Good Luck all!!!


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The journey of a maiden - Apsara...

Ever since I made the Portrait quilt, I was dying to make another one which had a figure in it.

But I did not want it to be flat. I wanted it to have a 3rd dimension!

And I did not know how to do that!

But after doing the workshop with Paramjeet earlier this month, I had a vision of how to do it! And it thrilled me!

I finally knew how to make what I was envisioning!!!

And here's my figurine for my next quilt : Apsara aali... (Here comes the angel!)

 



I thought I'd just share the step by step pictures for now... I will share all the details later, when it is complete!

 First is the state my studio was in when I started out with this!!!



Step 01 : The bundle, neck and one hand...


Step 02 : The other hand and the back...


Step 03 : The blouse...


Step 04 : The pallu...


Step 05 onwards : The saree...


Step 06...


Step 07...


And here's the Apsara ready to be stitched on to the quilt top!!!


I did a lot of experimenting with this one!!! And I'm so happy it turned out the way I wanted it to...

I used Aurifil invisible thread to stitch it down onto interfacing at the moment. I have ordered a couple of Aurifil threads for this one and am expecting them to arrive any day...

Currently I'm working on the back of quilt, which will be equally, if not more, stunning!!!

I'm so excited to do this one!!!

Do you like it???


Sunday, August 25, 2013

In my world right now...


What has been happening in my world since I last appeared here???

Honestly, a lot... A few things good, some not so good, some downright depressing...

But first, I want to tell you guys about somebody, who has been a part of our lives back here and was brutally taken away from us!

I was at my parents' place for a family function when on the same morning we got the news of the assassination of a very close family friend.



Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, was Naru-bhau to my family - as long as I remember. The friendship between our families started two generations back - with his mother and my grandmother being neighbors and hence - absolutely wonderful friends...

He was a rationalist, an anti-superstition brigadier, a doer... He was a doctor, a very good one, but he gave up his practice after 12 years and became a full time social worker. There are many places, including his Wikipedia page where you can read about all his work, I'm not going to go into the details of it. I'll just tell you what he was to me & my family!!! To us, he was a friend who had been with us through the worst of times

I remember him as the person, whom I used to meet - ever since I was a child - usually when I visited my Uncle's shop. Always with a smile on his face, meeting him would leave a good feeling in my heart. I might not realize it then, but now I can feel it! We take people so much for granted. and only when we realize, we're never going to see them again, that we really recognize the impact they had on us!

I remember him as the person, who used to come to my home - every single day - to help my dad stand for the length of time the doctors had prescribed him. That was when my dad had broken both his legs in an accident and was healing after multiple operations to heal his broken bones. My mother did not know - or was rather afraid that she'd do something wrong - how to help my dad get back on his feet - even for 2 minutes! That was when Narendra kaka and his wife Shala maushi volunteered to do it! And they did it EVERY DAY! When they could not come it was his nephew Prasanna Kaka and his wife Chitra Maushi who used to come. Between the four of them, they never missed a single day. I remember days when they used to enter the room directly from the rear entrance and not even meet any of the other family members!

Shaila Maushi has always been a pillar of strength to me and mom! During my college days, I shared things even my mom didn't know about me with her. She guided me, helped me make decisions, encouraged me,  and over everything else - loves me like her own!!! She was the one who delivered Aadi. I just feel so safe with her! She has also been with my mom during her menopausal phase. I do not know any other doctor who comes home when the patient does not turn up!!!

The most impressive thing about both of them was that they are so tolerant! They are atheists. But they never insisted that we stopped believing in what we do! Especially Kaka did not like huge wedding ceremonies. But he did not stop  others from doing that! 
He was there for my brother's wedding too. My last living memory of him is when I was walking behind my brother on the way to the final ceremony, he signed to tell me that I was looking good!

What shocked me most, is the brutal and cowardly way in which he was killed. The two assassins, fired shots at him from the back. I am sure, if they had been in front of him, he would have talked them out of doing that! Not just to save his own life, but for their own good as well! He was that kind of a person! He could make you think about your actions!

This incident affected my family, especially my father - for whom Narubhau has been an anchor of support! Even I was blanked out for a moment.

I am sure that though he is no more, his work will speak for itself in the coming days and the thousands of people whom he helped will take it forward!

He will be missed as an activist, but even more then that, he'll be missed as a friend and family!!!
 There will be many more leaders to lead the various movements that he was involved in, but Hamid & Mukta can have just that one father! There can be no replacement in the family & friends and there will always be a void in his place!!!



Thursday, August 8, 2013

Calender & a sneak peek...

Did you see that new tab on top?
That says "Calender"

What is it?
It is the dates of the workshops I'll be taking!
Right now all of them will be at my studio in Sangli, but very soon, I'll be expanding!!!
So if there is one that you'd like to attend, shoot me an email to register.



Have been busy yesterday...

I bought an obscenely huge amount of Chiffon on my Mumbai trip. Why did I think I needed it? Well, first it was gorgeous! Irresistibly gorgeous! And it was super cheap!!!

Score!!!

So what do I make of it? Not a single piece was larger than 72"! Most were somewhere between 24" to 36" wide!

Then I realized I could make Infinity scarves out of them!!!

Will be listing them all in my Etsy shop soon. I need to do a photo shoot for that! Have roped in a wonderful friend to do that tomorrow! I dont want my double chin peeking in all photos on my Etsy shop!!!




I had bought these ribbons to go into seams of all my products - for some discreet branding. I really wasn't very euphoric about having a label made. Found the perfect color ribbons!!!


Whats in that glass???

Well, another 'charm' that I'll be adding to my products! I found my logo as a charm!!! Had to buy the lot!!!


Isn't he simple gorgeous? And he'll be the perfect little companion to everything I make!

The ribbons are in place...


I made 15 of these scarves in 2 days!!! Now time to add the small charm while I watch the TV!!!


Cannot wait to list them... Are you ready to see them???

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Excitement, unlimited....

There are some things in life that are wonderful, some fabulous and some others that you cannot find words to describe in any language!

I just had one such experience!!!

Bernina India had organized a quilting workshop by the very talented INDIAN quilter, Paramjeet Bawa... I signed up even before I gave it a thought...

But what I did not expect was that I would be totally blown off by what I see and experience!!!


On the first day, we learnt how to make Confetti Quilts & Metal Works!!!
What awesome and versatile techniques!!!

Here are a few pictures from the first day!!!

First - Confetti Quilt!!!


We had a great time chopping away fabric!!!


It would be a great thing to do when you're angry with someone!



These are the beauties that we all created - Can you guess which one's mine???


Its the top right one!


Here it is hanging in my living room!!!

Next was Metal Works


It was a bit complex and scary at first, but gradually we got the hang of it!


I dont know how far I'll be using it on actual quilts, but who knows!!!


Paramjeet is an excellent teacher! She not only taught us the techniques, but also helped us work out what works for us the best!!!

Here's my metal works sample!


On the second day, we learnt the technique she has used to make her award winning quilt : The Dust Storm
Stress Free Curves


This was a new to me technique that uses Freezer Paper for (sort of) needle turned appli-piecing!



It took a while for us to get the hang of it, but when we did it, there was just no looking back!


Paramjeet was patient while we asked her all our stupid doubts and took us through the complex and the simple steps with an ease!!!


In the end everything worked out fine!!!

Here's the piece I made at the workshop!!!


I can see a lot of possibilities for this technique... My head has been buzzing non-stop since Saturday and I have a whole list of projects lined up in my head!!!


The happy class after the workshop!!!

Bernina India did an awesoem job of organizing the event... Not only did they provide us with all the material we needed - sewing machines, thread, cutting mats, rulers etc, but also with some delicious home made food!!! I can still feel the taste of the Moong Halwa made my the lovely Mrs Gupta (wife of Mr Ajay Gupta of Bernina India). It was a fantastic experience!!!

This was the first quilting class that I took, and now I know why it is important that you learn from an expert. It does make a difference. Looking at Paramjeet's work made me realize I have to take mine up a few notches to make that quality of work! I need to work harder, I need to finish my projects better and most of all - add labels and sleeves to everything I make!!!

Thank you Paramjeet, for being my mentor. I will try my best to make you proud!!!