Testing my Live Writer

 

 

A lot of you have suggested that I use Live Writer for my blog and I have decided to do just that…

 

So here’s a test post to see how it all works…

 

Happy Republic Day to all my fellow Indians

and Happy Australia Day to all my Aussie friends!!!

 

 

 

Will be back on Monday with loads of info!

 

Cheers!!!

A break...

I'm sorry guys, but I need a break...

Last week was full of sicknesses... First kiddo and then me...

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I have such a sore throat that I cannot speak...

DH and Kiddo are enjoying it all!!!



Plus there are a few things that have kept me worried for the past 24 hours...

I am just hoping that like even worse things, these things will tide over...

But I am absolutely stressed out at the moment...

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Looking at that picture for a few seconds will give you an idea what my head is feeling like at this moment!

I wanted to continue with the ABC posts, but blogger issues and then my own health has made it look like a task, rather than something I enjoy...

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will just take a short break over the weekend and be back, refreshed, with loads of stuff next week!!!

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Have fun!

Cheers!!!

Finish # 4 of 2012 : Large Pinwheel - Quilt in a day!

After making two quilts, writing one tutorial and working on the ABC posts, I had got thinking that this week has been really productive...

But I just surpassed my own expectations!



I finished another quilt! In just one day!

Okay, I admit the design is easy peasy... But still, its a quilt... And I made it in just ONE day!!!

Here's my finish # 4 of 2012 - Large Pinwheel

I have always loved this fabric from Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms! And I feel that this design does justice to the fabric...

I used my lovely Pink gingham for the backing... It is linen, but a soft variety of it...

I also like how the front, baking and the binding (from my Urbanista bundle) go together...

This one's ready and packed now...  

Dont you guys wonder, sometimes, what I do with all these baby quilts I make? No, I'm not having another baby. I know thats what came to your mind first.

I am having an exhibition in Mumbai at Juhu sometime in April. Have not decided on the dates. But the theme for the exhibition is Baby! Thats the reason I'm making all these quilts! Finally will be making some money from what I do!

:)

Finish # 3 of 2012 : Hand quilted Denim Quilt

This is the second post of today! Thats because I finished 2 quilts this week. I'll be posting 4 of the ABC pending posts tomorrow... Here is a link to the other quilt I made this week...

Hand Quilted Denim Quilt...



I have always loved the pairing of denim and red. So when I though of making a whole cloth quilt... Denim and Red were my first choices.

This quilt had me do a lot of "firsts"

It is my FIRST hand quilted quilt.

This is the first time I have tried to make a two sided binding. And I am making it again for sure...

It is also the first time I attached my binding strips on bias. I always did them straight, but I knew the denim would bulk up the edges too much. So HAD TO sew them together on the bias.

Here's my beauty...

The denim side...

Here's a look at both the sides together...

I just love the way these two fabrics work with each other!

Do you like the red side...

Or the Denim side?

Did you see that awesome binding???

Want to know how I made it? 

I'll write a tute someday...

Cheers!!!

Finished Quilt # 2 of 2012 : Echino Scrap Quilt

It has been a whirlwind busy week for me. Worked on two quilts (posting them in two different posts) Here is the link to the other quilt...

This one is made from the scraps left over after making my Echino Pillows...

It all began with this quilt I saw on Rita (Red Pepper Quilts) blog. It was awesome, simple and dramatic.

image from RPQ blog

I wanted to make one too... So I took a few of my Bella Solids and cut the strips...

Now, when I looked at my Echino scraps... I had this idea...

So I combined the two...

And here it is

Echino Scrap Quilt

Here's some pretty fussy cutting...

I have included some selvedges... Here's some Echino...

And some Etsuko Furuya (Reminds me of Funsuk Wangdoo in 3 idiots - a rofl Hindi movie)

I used one of my Kalamkari fabric that went well with these colors for the backing... 

I used a solid lemon yellow binding. It really brought the quilt together...

Do you like it?

Cheers!!!

Cathedral Windows Block for the Desperate Housewife's Quilt...

Herllo to all those who have come over from Jane's blog. I was having blogger issues yesterday and could not publish this post... Sorry for the delay...

I'll be telling you all how to make a Cathedral Window block - the way I do it...

There are numerous methods around the world wide web about how to make cathedral window blocks... I am not accurate with my sewing and so I chose a method I feel I am comfortable with...

Here's how you do it...

To make a 8" square block, you'll need 4 - 4" square blocks.

 I am thinking of making a pillow and so I will be needing 4 - 8" square blocks...

Supplies

For every block you will need a square of neutral fabric of a size 1" + 2 times the side of finished block.

e.g. For my 4" blocks, I'll need (4 x 2) + 1 = 9 inch squares of neutral fabric.

I also made a template from a newspaper of the size of 2 times my finished block. i.e. 8" square.

Make this template from PAPER and NOT plastic.

Step 1

Place your paper template over your fabric square. Center it roughly.

Fold over one corner as shown and press it.



Repeat with all four corners.

Now fold over one edge along the template and press it.

Again repeat with all four sides.

Remove the template. Now turn the block over and fold the block in half and press it.

Now fold it to a quarter and press again. 

Now you have the center of the square marked with the creases.

Take one corner and fold it over such that the corner is aligned with the center as shown. Press.

Repeat with all four corners.

Once again repeat the above drill. Pressing as you go.

Here's how your block will look like.

Make all your blocks in this way.

Now take your blocks, two a time. Pin two of the sides together as shown (using the yellow pin) making sure that the creases are aligned and pin down the others so that they stay safe as shown (using the purple pins).

Sew along the pinned crease.

Repeat with other blocks, sewing them in pairs. Now take two such pairs and sew them together the same way. 

Now sew down the loose corners at the center of each block using a few stitches.

Measure the "window" size. In my case, the blocks are 4" x 4" and the windows are about 2 5/8 " square.

Cut fabric of a size slightly smaller than the measured size. I have used 2.5" squares. Pin fabrics in the center of the windows.

Now carefully pin down one side as shown.

Starting from one corner stitch along the curve using a small stitch length.

There you have your first window!

Repeat with all the sides of all the windows and you will have your 8" x 8"  block!!!

Add more blocks in the same manner...

Here's my 4 - 8" blocks sewn together...

You could make many more such blocks and make them into a quilt (if you have got that kind of patience). Or make it into a pillow!

Whatever you make, please email me a photo of it so that I can write about it on my blog. :)

Cheers!!!