SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

52 prompts to blog every week: Week 26

And we're officially halfway there!!! Its week 26!!!

Today's topic is Fabric - Material!!!



I have used a lot of non-quilting fabric in my quilts. And I'm always amazed to see the results!

First up there was a quilt that I made from denims! It was a HUGE one and a pain to lug around.


Recently I used a lot of different kind of material when I made the Portrait quilt of Dada Ajoba. It has voile, linen and even silk in it! I was just looking for the right shade!!!



I also used silk in this quilt of mine. Its an all time favorite!!!


The best one so far and the one that makes me happiest is this quilt made for my Art quilts around the world challenge.

The theme was the Road less Travelled and I made this 3D quilt for the challenge! I think it is one of my best entries into the group so far!!!


My latest entry for the same challenge - for the Kitsch theme - also features some non quilting stuff! I have used my husband's old shirt for her shirt, an old scarf, some wool for her hair and fake eyelashes - the makeup kind!!!  This was a fun quilt to make!!!


Have you used any 'weird' material to make a quilt? Do tell, I'd love to know!
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Friday, June 24, 2016

Cross Connections

Sometimes you are walking down a street and turn a corner and suddenly you realize - this wasn't where you want to go!!!

You then continue walking and find your way to your destination!!! You might have to make a few more turns, ask for directions or maybe just look up your destination on google maps and 'reroute'.

Life is also like that, full of surprises. Sometimes you might realize you are not on the path that you started out on. You see others who were with you going on straight and achieving their goals, whatever they were, while you feel drifting into a new direction!
All of a sudden things are not familiar anymore. You do not know anyone around you. You do not know what to do. Hell, you do not even know what you are doing!
But keep going. Look around. Experience. Learn. Adapt. and

REROUTE!

You will reach your destination! You might be a little late, but your journey will be much more interesting and filled with fantastic experiences!

Here's my quilt, "Cross Connections".

This quilt came right from my heart. It depicts my personal journey in life. A lot of things in my life, even though they were my own decisions, brought along a lot of surprises for me! Be it the decision to marry the person I did or a forced sabbatical. Suddenly I was in unfamiliar territory. Not knowing what to do, or like I said, even what I was doing.
But I did find a way!!!

My husband might not be the person I dreamt of, but he is the best thing that could have happened to me! Don't tell him I said it, but the guy is always right!

And my sabbatical introduced me to the land of quilting! I don't know what I would have done without it. Gone insane, maybe!

When I started thinking of this quilt, it just started out as lines intersecting each other. but then I realized that lives of some of my friends (from where I can see) have gone pretty much simple and straight like the parallel straight lines above and below the circle!

But there are weirdos like me, all intersecting and crossing each other's paths. Reaching out and touching lives! Helping each other along their ways. And all of them reaching their desired destination!!!



The quilt in itself came along in a matter of hours! The thoughts lingered in the mind for hours! I love making quilts that speak to me!

So here's Cross Connections!!!



Quilt Stats

Name : Cross Connections
Size : 35" x 44"

Material used : Unbleached cotton from local market and Moda Bella Solid for the binding.
Thread : Aurifil Shade 2324 (50 wt) both in the bobbin and top.
Cotton batting
Quilted on Ross - my Bernina 710

Technique : Straight line Quilting!
Experience : Amazing!!!




www.fatquartershop.com





Wednesday, June 22, 2016

52 prompts to blog every week: Week 25


Today in the 52 blog prompts, we will be talking about our favorite fabric designers!!!



I was introduced to designer fabric in the second year of my quilting through a Fat Quarter Swap on Sew Mama Sew. There were groups of 5 people and everyone had to send one Fat Quarter to each of those person. It was so designed that everyone could buy one yard of fabric and send 4 Fat Quarters to their partners.

I loved the feel of the fabric right away!!!

When Fat Quarter Shop started sponsoring my blog, I regularly started buying designer fabric from them. Do you know they have the largest collection of Precuts online?

The first fabric line that I fell in love with was Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms. I used it to make my Garden's of India Quilt. 

Here are some of my favorite designers:

Ann Kelly : I love the fun prints that she does!!!

Her Urban Zoologie line is my favorite.



My second favorite is Bari J

Her latest collection is Joie De Vivre and it is spectacular!!!



My next favorite designer is Heather Ross!!!

I love her sketches and her storytelling style!!!



I also LOVE Jennifer Sampou, Lotta Jansdotter, Melody Miller, Rashida Coleman Hale and Tula Pink

Who is your favorite fabric designer?

www.fatquartershop.com





Wednesday, June 15, 2016

52 prompts to blog every week: Week 24

Continuing on the 'fabric express' in the 52 prompts series, we will be talking about the favorite backing today!!!





I normally do not do pieced backings. I try to find one single big fabric to back all my quilts. And there is no go-to for backing fabrics for me. I usually think about the design of the quilt and then use something that goes with the front.



The fabric in the Vroom Quilt I made for my nephew, actually does not match with the front, but kind of 'goes with it'.



The Lone star quilt is backed with a fabric that has the same 'direction' of the front! The eye travels outwards from the center of the lone star block and away from the center of the ombre polka dots.



In my Butt-On quilt, I used a bright polka dot fabric to go with the quilted buttons on the front.

What backing is your go-to for your quilts? Or do you have an idea that you keep repeating? Do you piece your quilt backs?
Do write a comment!!!
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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

52 prompts to blog every week: Week 23

In the 52 prompts series, we will be talking about our favorite neutral or solid today.



I'm not a normal block and sashing kind of quilter! So 'neutral' from me is not what neutral for a traditional quilt is.


Solids would definitely take the cake here. I claim to be a Modern Quilter and believe that one the main aspects of a Modern quilt is how you use your space and fabric. I have made several in solids and believe it to be my go to fabric when I think of a new project.


I also love using near solids in shades of grey.



Grey makes the colours of the quilt pop! And I love the effect.


Also, my studio always has a heavy load of solids in various colours. That saves me time when I think of a new project.  All put together, its solids all the way.


www.fatquartershop.com





Wednesday, June 1, 2016

52 prompts to blog every week: Week 22

In the 52 prompts series we are talking about favorite fabric today.



My favorite fabric line for  a long time has been the Echino, designed by Etsuko Furuya of Japan. I have bought several prints in the past, including a full set from Quiltcon last year.




I have also made some amazing items from it . Love its feel and weave...which is very different from other designer fabric that you get in the international market.





However, recently hand dyed fabrics have become a clear favourite. I have tried my hand at making them and love them absolutely! Made a couple of projects and feel like it has a life and form of it own which is renders to the final project.



My recent classes on portrait quilt have used hand dyed fabric and the colour gradation of the face is beautiful.



Let me know whats your favourite.



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