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Meet Nirali!

Nirali

Here is the story or TWO WEEKS AGO (imagine you are watching a thriller on Netflix).

Co-sponsored by Aurifil Threads, Island Batik's September Challenge is named Threaded Chaos, requiring us to make a crib-size (or larger) Crazy Quilt, using our assigned Spring 2025 Collection and Aurifil Threads.

When I made a Crazy Quilt the last time, we were not assigned a fabric collection. I chose solids so that the decorative stitching was better visible.  This time, the fabric and threads were not up to us.

I received the Everlasting Collection, designed by Jerry Khiev.

Everlasting Collection ...

 Meet Westfield. 

Two (too) handsome guys :-D

This handsome quilt made his appearance in make Modern's Issue 64 in May 2025.

Modeled by Paul, Picture by Preeti, Cover by Make Modern

Designed in EQ8, Westfield is made using the Island Batik collection Poetic Bouquet and is Layer-Cake Friendly. One pack of 10" squares plus 3.5 yards of background and he can be yours.

Westfield is now available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop, available at a discount of 25%, that is just $9 but only till Wednesday, 9/3/25. 

On my bed :-)

The pattern is ...

Stella made the cover!

Published!

Stella is not only published in the We Like Quilting digital/online magazine's September 2025 issue, she made the cover! I am thrilled.

Stella

Star blocks alternate with Irish Chain blocks. A skinny border and a scrappy border complete the quilt top.

Egg White Background

Welcome to my stop on the Island Batik + Accuquilt Irish Chain BlogHop. 

Directive - Create a stunning quilt using the GO! Irish Chain Die from AccuQuilt!

Here is my response!

A Stunning Finish, as requested!

But let's start at the beginning. 

The Challenge

Fusion  by Jerry Khiev for Swan Amity Studios

Inspiration Board

Accuquilt Die to make 10" Finished Irish Chain Block

Dull

Meh

Whatever

I have always used the Irish Chain as an alternate block, not the focus block. Naturally, I was ...

Have you met Niko? 

Niko

He is handsome and stylish. He is friendly to jelly rolls and he can be yours!

Niko was first published in Make Modern Issue 62, published in January 2025.  

Published

Designed in EQ8 and made with the Island Batik collection Shadow Blooms, Niko finished at 60" by 84", making him suitable for TV time and naps on the couch. He is a perfect picnic partner and just as happy to go on car rides.

Finding Happiness

But Niko isn't just fun and games. He is also just right for charity quilts including Quilts of ...

Have you seen the Petal Poetry fabric collection by Island Batik from Lumin Fabrics?

Seriously, drop everything and go find this collection.  If you know me, you also know that I love the bright reds, shiny golds and vibrant oranges. So when a collection that is NOT red/gold/orange/pink but still catches my eye, you know it has to be super special.

How special?

Well, I designed two separate quilts, one traditional and one modern, and they were both published in two separate magazines.

Let's Dance was published in Quilter's World.

Let's Dance

Designed in ...

Island Batik's April Challenge requires us to make a lap-sized (or larger) quilt using the timeless Drunkard's Path Quilt Block, making sure that the technique used is curved piecing and not applique.

Naturally, many ideas were considered and discarded. I am saving them to a very long list of possible future quilts.

In the end, I chose the quilt block - Moon Over the Mountain. I have been fascinated by this quilt block for a long time. I looked for tutorials and found few but none of them appealed to me.

It was time to design it myself.

Thank ...

Welcome to TGIFF – Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday on my blog – we open Thursday evening and close Saturday at midnight to allow bloggers from all over the world to post their finished quilt projects. 

Austin was first published in the Make Modern Magazine Issue 60.

It is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern. 

Designed in EQ8 and made with Island Batik fabrics from the Peppermint Sprinkles collection, Austin finished at 60" by 80". It is a perfect size for charity quilts.

Austin

Austin is a modern take on the Quilt of Valor theme. A longitudinal design ...

March is Ambassador's Choice. 

March brings a free month for you to determine your own project of any size, using any theme and any technique!! This is an opportunity for you to express your creativity without guidelines. Have fun!

Here is my response.

Dreaming of Daylilies

Designed in EQ8, and made with Poetic Bouquet collection, it is a combination of Irish Chain blocks and appliqued Daisy blocks.

This is a lovely collection with beautiful gradations in purples and aquas.  I wanted to show off these value gradations in the design.

EQ8 Mock-up

Value Gradations

The petals are lightest in ...

Welcome to my stop on the Sunlit Garden Blog Hop. 

I was thrilled when Jennifer Thomas of Curlicue Creations asked whether I would like to join the Sunlit Garden BlogHop.  Of course, I said YES!

Here is my quilt, named Miracle Fish!

Miracle Fish, 60" by 60"

The red and green together is evocative of Christmas, but this collection has vibes of Spring with floral reds and leafy greens. Christmas made me think of Christ and Christ made me think of Fish.

EQ8 Mock-Up

Island Batik's February Challenge and BlogHop requires the ambassadors to use their assigned Fall 2024 collection (I got Radiant Burst) and the Studio 180 Design Tool (I got Wing Clipper) to make a Table Runner or a Bed Runner.

Sounds simple? Yes. But wait there is more.

1. We must make at least 12 units.

2. Use as many fabrics (from the 20 in the collection) as possible.

NOW, we have a challenge :-)

Well, here is my response.

Glowing Front

And I used leftover blocks from Mirabelle to make the backing, so it is two-sided. 

Moody Back

Double-Sided Runner ...

A new year calls for a new pattern!

Garden City

Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals)

Hi Handsome!

Walking Foot Quilting

Do you remember Lula May?

The scraps leftover from Lula May became Signal Sam.

Signal Sam

Signal Sam is my response to the December Challenge which states "December brings another month to embark on your own project, regardless of its size, theme, or technique! Seize this chance to unleash your creativity without constraints. Enjoy the process!"

Leftover Strip from Lula May

There is something very satisfying about taking the scraps from a completed quilt and making a brand new one. I definitely enjoyed the process.

Bold and Beautiful

Signal Sam uses the Island Batik collection Celebrate, designed by Kathy Engle ...

I have two new quilts to share.

Austin was published in Make Modern #60.

Good Tidings was published in Annie's Christmas Pattern Book.

Good Tidings

Both quilts were made using Island Batik Fabrics collection Peppermint Sprinkles. 

Peppermint Sprinkles is a beautiful collection - perfect for Holiday sewing. I love that it has elements of the season such as reindeer and snowflakes but it isn't so Christmassy that the quilt/decor becomes outdated by January 1.  It has year round appeal.

That was my thought process as I designed Good Tidings in EQ8.  A fellow quilter/blogger once said that ...

Do you remember Diva?

Designed in EQ8, Diva was published in Make Modern Issue 58. Now, she is available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop.

I made Diva using the Vintage Charm collection, combined with Island Batik Solids in Red, Orange, Yellow and Fuchsia. The focus fabric strip sets were scraps leftover from making Kashvi, but there is nothing scrappy about Diva!

Finishing at 51" by 68" she glides in royal splendor. And although you may think that she is set in her ways, she is very adaptable. I encourage you to take a look at the various ...

Have you seen my newest finish? Fireworks was published in Make Modern Issue 59.

Published in MM#59

Fireworks was designed in EQ8 and made using Fire and Ice, an original collection designed by Claudia Pfeil. 

I love this pattern because it is not paper-pieced and requires no special rulers, making it very accessible to quilters of all skill-levels.  

I like big blocks :-)

Made of 12 large blocks, Fireworks finished at 60" by 79". The background and binding is Egg White, an Island Batik Neutral available all year round. The backing is Dove, an Island Batik Basic from the Bodacious ...

Aurelia was published in Make Modern Issue #56.

Blue Skies, Breezy Day

Nishat was published in Annie's Bright & Colorful Quilts

Nishat

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Flutter Wings Collection, Nishat embodies the spirit of famous terrace gardens in Kashmir, India.

Everything ok here?

Spring has Sprung!

Nishat finished at 64" by 88" and I am very happy with it.

Swirling Spring

Published!!!

She walks in beauty

Meteor Shower was published in Colorful Quilts for Kids.

Finished & Published

In the land of Island Batik, March is Ambassador's Choice Month.  Mine is Lula May. 

EQ8 Design

Lula May

Designed in EQ8, and made with Island Batik's Celebrate Collection, Lula May finished at 62" by 82".

Love this collection!!!

I wanted to step away from square blocks. I designed a rectangular block measuring 12" by 16". The triangle in a square made the basis for the elongated star. The strip pieced alternate block combines the colors used in the stars, using the leftovers and tying the pattern together. 

Design Wall

Alternate Blocks

I used Aurifil Thread to piece ...

No, this isn't the first time, but I still feel giddy every time I see my name in print, even if it is digital. 

Kashvi was published in Make Modern #55. 

Kashvi, 60" by 80"

It is a jelly-roll pattern made using Island Batik collection Vintage Charm.

It is a lovely floral collection - airy, delicate and bright. Start this quilt now and you will be celebrating Spring in style.

Instead of choosing a white/black or gray background, I chose the Island Batik Solid - Cobalt Blue.  Isn't it refreshing?  

Bright & Beautiful

The backing is Frosting from the Island ...