The Dancing Wind

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Like the unpredictable wind, The Dancing Wind mini quilt turned out to be nothing like the quilt I had originally envisioned.  I usually have a very good idea of the direction of my work starting from pattern writing all the way to the binding.  Then, once in a while,  a project comes along where it changes itself every step of the way.  Over the years, I have learned to give in and let it take me for a ride.  I love it when that happens, the unexpected turn is always exciting!

 

 

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

  Kitty Love

 

This is the other quilt I made using the same pattern for my beloved orange kitty.

 

 

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Pinwheel Star combines the pinwheel quilt pattern inset within a star quilt pattern.  I named it that not just because it is a combination of Pinwheels and Stars, but also after the Pinwheel Galaxy.

The Pinwheel Star pattern is a set of two patterns which can be used to create at least four different blocks.

 

 

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

When I thought of this quilt a couple of years ago, I had in mind a more industrial theme.  However, as I was putting the blocks together, I kept thinking about rivers flowing with meltwater at the edge of growing woods.  So I put my unfinished blocks aside, swapped the off-white fabric for a dazzling white fabric and restarted.

 

 

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Once I finished the quilt-top, I started thinking about the quilting design.  I was walking in the park one afternoon and saw the tall grass swaying in the wind.  That gave me the idea for the wavy line quilting in the middle as if the gentle wind is flowing through the woodland.  The wind grew more dynamic playing on the waters.  Once it reached the snow, it swirled and turned with the careless nature of the wild.

These ideas meant that I would have to set my walking foot aside and dive full-on into the world of FMQ, another deviation from the original plan.  I am new to FMQ so it took a lot of work, but in the end I surfaced with a quilt that I love.

 

 

Pinwheel Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Robert Frost is one of my favourite poets and The Dancing Wind reminds me of

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
 
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
 
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
 
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

 

See you next Thursday, May 5th, for Wandering Camera.

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

 

Wandering Camera

-Soma

 

 

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Colour Play

Stone House Painting With Inktense Pencils | Whims And Fancies

 

During one rainy weekend in March, I started painting this old stone building on a meadow.  I may have unintentionally echoed the grey sky outside with my newly-acquired Sennelier paint.  The tiniest little dab of paint flowed effortlessly though the water.  Everything else was painted with Derwent Inktense pencils.  I was trying out those pencils on different kinds of paper.  They seem to work best on smooth surfaces.  So hot press watercolour paper or Gesso-ed paper works really well.  They do not spread very well on cheaper paper or even good cold-press watercolour paper.

 

One Monthly Goal LinkUp 2016 | Whims And Fancies

Since I have been in the mood for playing with colours recently, I am joining the One Monthly Goal link-up this month in an attempt to revisit one of my earlier projects in a different colourway.

 

Purple Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

My original plan was to make a very different version of this Morning Star quilt as a wall hanging.  Since my kitty fell ill before I got to it, I made this purple mini for him back in early 2014.

 

Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

I would like to work on this gradient quilt in April.

 

Fabrics For Gradient Quilt | Whims And Fancies

I don’t even have to purchase any of the fabrics needed for this one.  I just can’t decided which white I want to use, I am tending toward the one on the left.

 

It was dry here last weekend after a long time, and we took care of some much-overdue yard work.  Since we moved into our house two years ago, we have been gradually updating the interior while just maintaining the lawn and a few plants.  This year, finally, I am going to start planning the garden.  I want to focus on mostly local, draught-resistant flowers.  To educate myself, I am planning on attending a wildflower festival in two weeks.  Until then, I am getting my inspiration from nature.  I would like to leave you with a few more wildflower photos.

 

Wildflowers Of Napa | Whims And Fancies

 

Wildflowers Of Napa | Whims And Fancies

 

See you next Thursday, April 7th, for Wandering Camera.

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And FanciesWandering Camera

-Soma

 

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