People who inspire me # 2

This is the second edition of people who inspire me. To read the first one, you can go here. This one is the QuiltCon edition!!! I met all 5 of them at QuiltCon. They are brilliant and inspire me in their own ways.

So who are these wonderful 5 more people?

Today I am featuring those whom I have met and they have made a difference in my life!

First up is my Quilting BFF, my sister from another mother - Emily Lang. I met Emily in some Flickr group I think and then we followed each other's blogs. In 2011, she was my partner for the DQSX swap on Flickr. By that time, we were good friends. We chatted almost everyday over messenger. So keeping it a secret from her that she was my partner, was not easy. When she went for QuiltCon 2013, I was green with jealousy! We both decided that we will go to QuiltCon 2015 together and will be roomies! And we did it! It was surreal meeting her for the first time! We took off like we had lived next to each other all years long. And when it was time to say goodbye, we stood in the corridor of the Austin Convention Center, hugging each other - crying! 

This girl has been a phenomenal motivator for me! We have lots of dreams together! And I am sure some day we will make them all come true! We were always meant to be friends! We know so much about each other, even our husbands dont! We're even friends with each other's moms on FB!

Next is a Quilting Diva that I have adored the moment I read the words "Free Motion Quilting". She not only is an amazing quilter, but a terrific entertainer! Her keynote speech at QuiltCon 2017 left everyone with an energy like never before!

Angela Walters - is the icon when it comes to Long Arm Quilting. Her stunning quilts have people drooling (not over the quilt) over the designs! I have never seen a more grounded person. She has not forgotten her roots and she was not ashamed to show her First quilt - a rather sorry pink quilt - in her keynote speech rather than her best work. She is encouraging, motivating and inspiring - the whole bundle! I am blessed to be in touch with her!

Next up is a person who took me completely by surprise. She was someone I had hear of, but not really looked at deeply. I signed up for her workshop at QuiltCon 2015 and was not very enthusiastic about it. I had not gotten into two other workshops that I wanted and was sulking about it. So when I took the class from Sherri Lynn Woods I was totally blown away! 

She helped me ground my mind and her book has been like a manual for me! She unleashed something in my mind in those 3 short hours that I spent with her in her workshop and there has been no looking back ever since!

Next up is the tallest lady I have ever met! She is also one of the best speakers I have known! And the best part of getting to know her was buying her book and learning how to make Double Wedding Ring Quilts!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe is one of the most popular modern quilter worldwide! Her books have been super hits. She has traveled the world teaching and her classes and lectures are always sought after. Another lady who has stayed true to her roots and often talks about them in her books and her lectures. I met her on both my trips and our interaction always gives me a fan-girl moment!

And finally, another fellow abstract portrait maker who actually inspired me to make my Abstract Expressions series. I have been in awe of her work ever since I saw her quilt at Quiltcon 2015. Hers was the workshop I was dying to get into at QuiltCon 2017 and I got into it! 

Playing in her workshop was as much exciting as I had hoped it would be! She taught us to create expressions from bits and pieces of fabric! We connected so well that it was like a total party!

I love how straightforward and authentic Melissa Averinos is. Her posts, her words and her work comes from her heart and I do not think there is a person around whom it has not touched. She won the Best of Show at QuiltCon 2016 for her quilt "My brother's Jeans". It was a really beautiful homage to her brother - who had committed suicide and the jeans were actually pulled out of a dumpster! She is strong, honest and really unapologetic about  being herself! I am totally inspired by this wonderful girl all the time.

I am so thankful for having all these people in my life who are my inspirations! They make me a better quilter today, and a better person. They have made me the way I am and I love them for it!

Who is your inspiration?

Quilting Chronicles... continued

When I told you I will be speaking at QuitCon, I did not know that the topic that I had taken up would consume me with a wanderlust like never before!

So this year, as we headed to Goa for our annual holiday, we decided to take an extra day to visit the humble settlements of the Siddi Community in the Ghats of North West Karnataka.

My journey took me to places I would have never even thought of going to! They were not even on the Google map!!!

After spending a lot of time searching for these settlements, we finally spotted some Siddi kids walking on the street. They gave us the names of the places and then we proceeded to look for them.

The first village we visited was Uginkeri... A small town with little houses. The verandah was usually open and the floor smoothened with a mixture of cowdung, mud and water!

We met Meera here.  She is a school teacher at the local primary school. She did not make quilts hersefl, but promptly took us to her neighbor - Dhumri, who did.

We were greeted by this little chicken tied to a hook in the wall with a string! We were later told that he kept getting in trouble with the street dogs!

The sight and the story of the chicken sure made this guy very happy!

Meet Dhumri - the first Siddi Quilt Maker I met. She was a lovely warm woman who was totally at ease not only showing me her quilts, but also talking about her life. The best part??? I had been dreading going to the place because I had heard that people had difficulty getting to understand their language. I had been looking for someone who spoke Kannada (the state language) to come with me. But these people spoke Marathi (my mother tongue)!!!
That came as a pleasant surprise. And then the conversations started flowing more freely!

Dhumri not only showed me her quilt, Kawandi - as they call it, but also showed me how to make it. This was her reaction when she saw pictures of some of the quilts that I made!

Next up, we visited Clara, Meera's grandmother. She had visitors from the other quilting town of Mainalli. So we chatted with them while Clara brought her quilts to us.

I loved Clara's house as well as her super impressive and rich detailed quilt!

That's the lovely ,albeit shy Clara and her super gorgeous quilt.

After spending some time here, we went off to Mainalli. This town is more popular, because the local church and the missionaries have organized the sales of quilts made by these people. I found the quilts here to be lighter in weight and better finished than Uginkeri.

The people were also more open when it came to showing their quilts (not how to make them) and putting a price on them.

Here is Paskin with her wonderful quilt.

Our next stop was at Marianne's house. Once again, the verandah, made with brick and concrete this time, was our favorite spot.
Her husband was very vocal about the fact that it takes ages to complete a single quilt - about 3 months - and they manage to make only Rs 3000 (about US$ 45) for it.

Marianne showed us a quilt in progress. I once again got a chance to try my hand at making it.

After I came home about a week later, (we went on to Goa for our annual holiday!) I was totally inspired to make a quilt using the same technique.

So here's my first version of a Siddi Quilt - Indian Terrain #1

A small 19" x 23" version, I used the same process that the Siddis use to make theirs, except that I used a sewing machine instead of hand stitching the layers together.

I even added the small corner bits! I used scraps from 7 years of quilting along with some lovely Khann fabric borders! My next attempt is definitely going to be using some lovely Aurifil floss and hand sewing!

Quilt stats :

Name : Indian Terrain # 1
Size : 19" x 23"
Materials used : Cotton fabric scraps, Khann borders, Batting, Aurifil Thread
Experience : Priceless, inspiring!

I am looking forward to explore my local town and the nearby areas in search of some more Godharis. If you're coming for QuiltCon 2017 to Savannah, make sure to attend my lecture (LE03) "Quilting in India : A review of Siddi Quilts of Karnataka, Godharis of Maharashtra and Contemporary Quilt Making"

Will I be seeing you at QuiltCon?

My awesome new studio...

Did I tell you about my brand new studio???

Of course I did. But did I mention how awesome it was?

Pull up a comfortable chair and take along a cup of coffee - on second thoughts - maybe you should stick to something cold! You might drop it on yourself after seeing the studio!!!

Ready for the tour???

Welcome to the brand new studio of 13 Woodhouse Road

 

This is my personal sewing area! I have my stash of designer fabric near the ironing station and the cutting table. I sit on the table with my back to it! The wonderful overhead light is my favorite one and has been with me since 2005. It was first in my office then in my son's room and now in my studio!

 

 Here's what the entire space looks like. Out of that door is my own private toilet block!!! Yippe!!! What more Can I ask for?

The ironing station is actually a kitchen platform. I have retained the sink and its fixtures so that I can use it for soaking fabric as well as for my dyeing experiments!

 

The cutting table is from my days before my marriage! It used to be my office table back home (@2002) and then moved to Sangli with me! I just love it!

The cutting mats are all worn out. But I haven't had the time to replace them, yet.

 Thats my sewing machine set up along with my miscellaneous shelves and my wonderful design wall. On the DW hangs my first finish in the new studio! It needs a separate post of its own though!!!

I keep all my regular sewing supplies in that small orange bowl next to my machine. The shelves under the machine have my threads in boxes sorted by color. Will get a separate picture of them later!
The same shelves also hold my machine accessories and maintenance stuff!

See that small hole in the flooring next to the table? That is an old tool used in Indian kitchens instead of the modern Mortar & Pestles. It was carved out of a stone and used in the flooring! A wooden stump would be used as a pestle.






I sit facing my small "Office" space. The black top table is where I have put up my computer. It also has an inspiration board next to it and a wall shelf for keeping my books and notebooks.

I am so in love with my new space.

There's more on the other side too.

The large table is waiting for something - HUGE! I'm waiting for it with my heart in my mouth! Not one but 2 arrivals at 13 Woodhouse Road scheduled in the next few days!!!

More on them when they arrive!

I finally found the PERFECT place to hang my Apsara Quilt. It can be seen right when you enter! And looks awesome!

The table against the wall holds my Bernette and my HV E10. 

 

This is my "Shop" corner. It has all my for sale stuff! iQuilt is here on a visit before he flies off across the oceans to participate in various quilt shows.

And I found him the perfect place too!!!
my God and my brother's iGod sit side by side looking over my Grandmother's machine!

I'm so happy with my new space!!!

And do you know the best part? I did not buy anything new except the paint and the 2 chairs!!!

I am a firm believer in recycling! And so decided to make EVERYTHING from the material that I already had in the studio!

My partitions became the shelves along the wall. The top part went under the two flush doors to become tables!!!

EVERYTHING is recycled!!!

Now you know why I have been MIA for the past few weeks. But there are things that happened in these past few days that are worth mentioning!

So await my next post!!!

P.S. Want a sneak peek?

More Peace!!!

So why does my post title say "More Peace"?

Do I want a more peaceful life?

Ha-ha!

Well In Marathi More = Peacock & Peace = Feather
(at least they're pronounced that way)
So More Peace = Peacock Feather

It is the latest quilt I finished!

I all began on the morning of  12th June. I had just completed the Hawaii Quilt and was looking for something else to do. 

The inspiration came when I saw the cover of this issue of Quilting Arts (April/May 2010).

I was stunned by the quilt on the cover.

It is "Vanity" by Susan Brubaker Knapp

I went through her blog and found out that she has used dyes on white fabric to do it.

I will never be able to do that, I thought and just pushed the thought away.

But the image kept coming back to my mind...

The I came across this video by Nancy Zieman &  Natalie Sewell where they show we can use Oil Pastels in Landscape Quilting.

Now I got excited. This is something I can totally do!!! I thought. It all started at about 4 pm on 12th June.
And I was ready...

I needed to buy oil pastels though. DS has them, but I could not find the shades I wanted.

By 4.30 all the pieces were cut and fused down.

By 5.00 pm the quilt top was ready - shaded and all. Basted.

I was so excited about the quilt. But was scared that I'd ruin it somehow!

I quilted it patiently. Using my regular foot # 1 on my Emily (Bernina 330). I used black 40 wt Aurifil Cotton thread both on the machine as well as in the bobbin.

As the quilting completed, I was more and more confident!!!

And then at 11 am on 13th June (less than 20 hours since I drew my first sketch) the quilting was done!!!

It took another hour to bind it and it was ready.

But I knew it needed something more...

Wasn't sure what.

The I saw something that Rohit had brought for Aadi.

 

Some fun glitter gel pens!!! I tried just roughly scribbling over a piece of fabric (just wanted to make sure it did not ruin it) and it seemed to work.

So I got started.

I used the yellow (lemony one) over the brown and light green, Blue over the blue and the darker blues, green over the dark green and black over the black and also for the stems and on the stitch lines too.

I'm just so happy with the result!!!

I stepped so much out of my comfort zone to make this one.

I managed to 'completely finish it by 9 pm on the 13th June. But considering that I did everything - including helping my MIL prepare Mango Jam - it actually took less than 10 hours!I will be teaching my technique in workshops very soon!!!

I love the shiny effect of the glitter pens...

Have you experimented with craft supplies on your quilt?

If not, I urge you to do that. Maybe on a small piece. But do experiment!
Trust me, it is worth it!

I used a solid lime green for the back!!!

It looks more like a dandelion on the back!

I even added a label - if thats what you call scribbling details on the back with a permanent fabric pen!

Details of the Quilt :

More Peace
Size : 28" x 20". 
Materials used : Cotton Fabric, Poly-Cotton Batting (very thin & light), 
Aurifil Black thread 40 wt, Oil Pastels and Glitter Gel Pens!!!

Experience - awesome!!!



Cheers!!!