The Dreamcatcher in the Morning Sun

As I flung this Dreamcatcher at Dusk on my bed today morning, the sun streamed in from the windows, creating its own patterns and textures on the quilt…and I fell in love with it again!

When the sunlight creates its own patterns on my Dreamcatcher!
Southward Bound?
The Sun-Moon Dreamcatcher from which this quilt, made in the colours of dusk, got its name.
Was my least favorite block when being sewed! Everything that could go wrong…did!
Love the texture on this one…
The Diamond displaying its fire
The tiny hearts quilted into the wedding ring…love is everywhere!
The gloriously fiery oranges and reds of the sun set off the cool blues of the evening
…and the geese return to the pond to roost.
One las look at the sun as it sets…

Wouldn’t you agree it is lovely in the morning sun too?

The Dreamcatcher at Dusk: Block Roll Call

Block 1 Dahlia

Block One Dahlia

Block 2 Evening at the Pond

Block Two Evening at the Pond

Block 3 Card Trick

Block Three Card Trick

Block 4 Sapphire Fire

Block Four Sapphire Fire

Block 5 Venus

Block Five Venus

Block 6 Lollipop Candy

Block Six Lollipop Candy

Block 7 Southward Bound

Block Seven Southward Bound

Block 8 Spiked Dresden

Block Eight Spiked Dresden

Block 9 Wedding Ring

Block Nine Wedding Ring

Block 10 Chakra

Block Nine Wedding Ring

Block 11 Blue Aster

Block Ten Blue Aster

Block 12 Dozens Squared

Block Twelve Dozens Squared

Block 13 Feathered Star

Block Thirteen Feathered Star

Block 14 The (Almost) Fractal Mandala

Block Fourteen The (Almost) Fractal Mandala

Block 15 Winding Ways Wheel

Block Fifteen Winding Ways Wheel

Block 16 Mariner 24

Block Sixteen Mariner 24

 

 

Dreamcatcher at Dusk -Round the Year Quilt -Some More Pics

Grrr…I pressed the publish button by mistake on my previous blogpost! So here are some more pics:


Now, a few pictures of the back of the quilt…


Step(Well) into the Past – Chand Baori

A couple of months ago,  I visited a stunning architectural wonder, Chand Baori, an ancient step well from the 9th century. This is situated in Abhaneri village in Alwar District of Rajasthan, India, about 100 kilometers from Jaipur.

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it –

Chand Baori is one of the oldest and most attractive landmarks in Rajasthan. It was built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty between 800 and 900 AD and was dedicated to Hashat Mata, Goddess of Joy and Happiness upon completion.

The state of Rajasthan is extremely arid, and the design and final structure of Chand Baori was intended to conserve as much water as possible. At the bottom of the well, the air remains 5-6 degrees cooler than at the surface, and Chand Baori was used as a community gathering place for locals during periods of intense heat. One side of the well has a pavilion and resting room for the royals.

 

Glowing in the evening sun…


The royal pavillions

 

The water collected during the monsoons became accessible, however low the level, because of the steps.

 

There are 13 storeys of steps. the gallery on the top ( ground) level is being developed into a museum to store all the sculptures from the nearby Harshat Mata temple, which is falling into ruins.

 

 

Such construction projects were usually taken up as drought relief measures, to provide employment to the farmer subjects when the crops failed.

 

I took a lot of pictures of the gorgeous sculptures in the nearby Harshat Mata temple too. Watch out for the post!

Just takes 2 quilt – progress

The progress on my just takes 2 mystery quilt has been painfully slow 🙁 The mystery quilt by Gay Bomers of http://www.sentimentalstitches.net and Brenda of Dear Jane ran through 2012, and the last set of the 100 blocks that make up this quilt, and suggestions for the border were revealed this month ! I am still stuck in April, May sometime! 🙁 🙁 🙁 But finally, I am planning to go full steam on it from tomorrow, so am making a record of blocks finished

Here are three hand -sewed blocks I finished since I last blogged about this quilt, months ago!

The first applique( Hawaiian look) block uses the back basting technique. I traced the pattern to the wrong side of the background and basted the applique piece over it, turning it in as I went along. It also has reverse appliqued diamonds in the centre.

Just takes 2 quilt block
Hand appliqued quilt block – back basting method used

The second block, Grandma’s Favourite Compass is paper pieced by the EPP method . The circle was hand sewed to the background.

Just takes 2 quilt block
Grandma’s Favourite Compass quilt block -English paper piecing and hand sewing

For the third block, I appliqued after tacking the leaves on to paper,like you would for EPP). I then slit the background fabric to remove the paper.

just takes 2 hand appliqued quilt block
Hand appliqued Quilt block

Here are the first 28 blocks put together, to make up Section A of the quilt 🙂

 

Section A of justtakes2 quilt - first quarter of the quilt finished!
Section A of justtakes2 quilt – first quarter of the quilt finished!

Pictures of many of these blocks are here and also here as well as here.

And here are some more completed blocks. The bottom left Cathedral windows block needs some more work, I just discovered!

Blocks from Section B of justtakes2 quilt
Blocks from Section B of justtakes2 quilt

So this is where we stand today! I do have a few 4-patch strips that I have not photographed, but which count as blocks, anyways!

I have finished tracing out two more applique blocks – which will probably take me ages to finish! I shall sew them in the evenings, sitting in front of the TV. During the day, shall do the machined blocks!

Target – at least 2 blocks per day; 15 by Sunday!  Also I am determined to finish all blocks of Section B during 2012…

At the end of each day,  I shall post pics of the day’s progress! Do look in to have dekko and drop a line of encouragement!

The determination to win is the better part of winning.  Daisaku Ikeda