Under the Sea

Naeeda and David are having their first baby....a boy, in a couple of weeks time. I wanted to make a quilt which could be used as a play mat, since one will never really use a quilt in Bangkok!  I have been travelling incessantly and  was wondering how I could get it done. My designer daughter Nafisa helped me design it, and actually did the drawing.....So much detail, I groaned, but decided to go ahead and try and make it.
I love applique work, but like doing it by hand best! Since there were only 4 days to get this done, I decided to use the machine to make most of it! Some of the detailing was done by hand of course!
I am really pleased with the result!

 

The back ground came first, and then the fish and other details!

 





 

 

I used a mix of paper piecing and applique on this quilt. I have quilted around the fish, shells, the ship and mast and made some waves in the sea. I have purposely kept the quilting simple, as I find too much sewing makes the quilt very stiff!

The quilt tells a story.....Palash

A quilt tells a story…….

 

A picture is worth a thousand words - so the saying goes. In definition, this refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. It also aptly characterizes one of the main goals of visualization, namely making it possible to encompass large amounts of data in one single image. For me, the true beauty of it lies in the fact that a picture can contain a thousand memories. Each element can bring to mind a mirage of memories – one instigating another, pushing the mind to spaces one assumed were long forgotten.

In my family, we take pictures perpetually – of holidays, of time spent together, of food, of festivities, of our home/s. We are spread across the world and this is how we keep in touch, we keep each other in close proximity to our lives, we share, and we miss.

After 40 long years of living in Kolkata, my husband and I have finally retired and have moved to the South. While packing up the contents of our photograph cupboard, I came across a picture of the palash tree. It was an instant travel back in time to the day we took the picture – my husband was playing golf at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club one early morning, and I had decided to walk the course with him. In West Bengal, the palash flower is a symbol of spring. And there it was - all a-bloom in its flaming splendor - a tree with its vibrant red splashed amidst all that green. It was like a loud proclamation of the season’s arrival, proudly standing out amongst the rest of its leafy counterparts. I can still recall the feeling of quiet awe, and complete amazement as we stood there, taking it all in.

Palash – Flame of the Forest – will always symbolize Bengal and home for me. It will always be an instant connect to Kolkata, to the auspicious red, the pujos, the smells, the language, the spirit of home.

When confronted with choosing a subject for the Alps Quilting Competition 2014, the first online quilting competition in India, this seemed like the most apt image to capture. These past few weeks while I’ve sat in my new home in Bangalore, working, piecing together this quilt, I have walked the course at RCGC once again, relived spring in Bengal, and remembered my roots – and a city that will always be home.

I used the piecing technique I had learnt in Chaing Mai under Karen Sengel who was a student of Ruth McDowell. It was the first time I had actually practiced the technique since I had made the original Rooster.
Some pictures of the process

 

 

And details of the quilting  I used free motion quilting for the first time and was delighted with the experience!

I made it through the first round, but not the final one. No disappointment though as I had loved every moment of making this quilt.

Quilt for Charity

I am a hand quilter! I really enjoy that....However this was a quilt in a rush, as I am about to miss the deadline to submit for a charity drive. The Desi Quilters are scheduled to make 50 quilts for a charity and hand it over to the charity on Sunday which gave me very little time!

I actually enjoyed the experience. Its fun and quick....and finally used my Bernina to do a little more than just sew straight lines....Fiddled with the machine and got to know her a little better, experimented with some FMQ, which is something I am scared of....so all in all its been a great experience!
Valuable lessons were learnt as well....I find I only want to use Indian hand-loom cotton fabrics or block printed cottons. The challenge here is that most of these fabrics are of different weights, and some quite fine. I find that if the fabric is washed and then starched, ironed and then cut...it works, not easy, as it still shifts around, especially while quilting, but  it still works. Much easier to quilt it by hand, as there is much more control....but will continue the experiment!

Nikhil's quilt WIP continued

Here it is....the top of Nikhil's quilt is finally ready. I am glad I have chosen the printed fabric for the borders....the green leaves go well with the theme of jungle animals. Since the majority of the work has been hand done, I will do the quilting by hand as well I think. Still not totally comfortable with FMQ on the machine, but hopefully will gain confidence as I practice! I posted the picture on my 2 quilting FB pages asking for suggestions on how to quilt, and have got lots of ideas....so the next post about Nikhil's quilt should have a picture of it completed!

An angel for Christmas!

A very Christmas to all of you who check out my blog from time to time and leave comments....I really enjoy the connection!  Have a wonderful 2014!
I was looking for something special to make for Naeeda's in laws who are Portuguese. We are spending Christmas with them in the Algarve and so I wanted something appropriate ! I have been crocheting a lot so was looking for something that could be crocheted. I came across this pattern on the net and it was just right. I loved making it.....the instructions were really clear. I learnt a new technique for stiffening the crochet with sugar syrup!!! Since there won't be a problem with ants in Portugal, it's worked fine. I will have to look at some other method for stiffening at home!!

The Morgados loved it....and it looks really beautiful on their highly polished piano top! 

It's Christmas today, and seems the right day to post this picture! The Morgados are all here, the whole extended family, aunts and uncles, cousins and children. Some have come from as far away as Macau! Naeeda's in laws have a beautiful rambling home in the Algarve and it is open house now....there is a beautiful Christmas tree, and candles every where. The angel fits in very well! A fire burns in the grate all day, and it is warm and welcoming! We are all sitting around the fire place just now after having had the most amazing Christmas lunch, of every kind of meat, much to Viveck's delight! The kids are all playing with their gifts, and we are enjoying this wonderful feeling of being together. Language doesn't seem to be a problem, as we seem to be able to communicate affection with such ease!

It's strange not to be with all my girls together, today and I do miss being with them. The first time since they were born, that we are not all together for Christmas! But there is next year! This was important for David and Naeeda!

Sam the dog for Sarah

What is it about 20 odd year old young women who seem to delight in getting little toys. Sarah is Nafisa's friend from her design school, and a very competent designer herself. She saw Nafisa's little dog and immediately wanted one....so here it is Sarah! The pattern is from the net and thanks needs to go to the creator Michelle Wilcox from www.crochettoday.com!

 

A 'Taggy' for Nikhil

I heard about 'Taggies' for the first time when Sufi was little. Never actually managed to make one for the little girl. Then I saw a friend of Sufi's hanging on to hers, especially at bed time. So I thought of getting one done for Nikhil for Christmas. Actually its quite a clever concept, and so appropriate for a little one trying to put everything into his mouth. I hope Nikhil likes his one and it keeps him comforted! I found patterns on the net, but decided I would make it bigger and withy many more tags!