Little Stories – Holiday Happenings

California Redwoods National Park - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

Hi Everyone!!  A very fond welcome to all my new and old visitors.  I have had quite an eventful winter break.  On two occasions, my husband and I first drove down to Southern California and then also to the north.  Apart from being outside and travelling, I have also been busy in my little atelier with sorting out projects, planning, painting, book binding, etc.   I LOVE to bake, so I have been playing with recipes too.  I have one to share with you today along with my other holiday happenings!

 

 

Katsushika Hokusai Fuji woodblock print - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

This year I swapped out my snowshoes and outdoor boots with my city boots.  I was all set to go to the Eastern Sierra to play in the snow.  Then I found out at the last minute that Bowers Museum in Anaheim is hosting an exhibit of an extensive collection of  Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock prints from the British Museum.  As a block printer myself, I could not pass up the chance to see these original prints up close.  Needless to say, it was an incredible visit and it happened to be on my birthday weekend.

 

 

Japanese ink Kakimori and Shikori Miruai - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

Afterwards we visited a few book shops and stationary stores there.   I got several incredibly beautiful Japanese inks for my birthday from my husband.  I love the simple joy of playing with these inks and writing Japanese with a brush.   I am excited about using these inks for both writing with fountain pens and for drawing.

 

 

Juki Sewing Machine - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

I recently got a new sewing machine.  To familiarize myself with the new machine, I started making something that is nothing fancy but very special – blankets for my kitties who love to sleep on them.   I “quilt” them with wavy lines.

 

 

 

Bobcat quilt pattern - inktorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 I made this bobcat pattern for a school mascot as a custom order

 

I used to design paper piecing quilt patterns.  For non quilters, it is a type of pattern that enables me to create almost any picture with fabric, like this bobcat.   The challenge in writing these patterns is that every sewing line (seam) has to be a straight line.  The curves are all made of straight lines.  I start with drawing the picture and then start drawing lines where the seams will go.  Figuring out the way each piece connects to another is like creating a puzzle.

You can see my currently available patterns in my shop.   I took a break from designing patterns, but I am excited to say that during this break I started working on a new one.  I will share as soon as it is ready.

 

 

Compass Mariner's Star quilt pattern - inktorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

During the holidays, Rebecca Magee shared photos with me of this beautiful quilt she made.

 

 

Compass Mariner's Star quilt pattern - inktorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

She used my Compass Needle pattern for the stars in the middle.  Isn’t the quilt gorgeous?!! 

 

 

 

Truman Fruitcake recipe - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

Due to severe food allergies, I can’t have store-bought fruit cakes and I am not really very fond of alcohol-steeped desert.  I recently happened on a recipe from the President Truman household that was posted by the National Park Service.  I made a few modifications to fit our taste and we really love it.

I am sharing both the original and my modified version with my notes.  I posted the recipe on this page all on its own so you can bookmark it directly.   I hope you like it.

 

 

California Redwoods National Park - inktorrents.com photo by Soma Acharya

 

 

I usually make a “official” end to my winter break with a visit to the majestic Redwood forests along the California coast.   It is a very contemplative time for me.  I took this photo from the car one morning.   Not the best photo technically, but I love the atmosphere.

 

 

Redwood cone ink drawing - inktorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Purchase handmade journals

 

At home, I finished a long-awaited drawing of the redwood cones collected from my own backyard in my nature journal which I made.

 

These are just a few things from my winter break.  I have so much more to share with you, from both my atelier and my  travels.  Thank you so much for continuing to visit me.   It is great to see familiar as well as new “faces” here.

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

 

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Dragon painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Little Stories – Fairy Tale Inspired

Dragon painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Hi Everyone!   Recently I pulled out the blocks for one of  my quilts which had been stashed away for a very long time in the hope of finishing them soon.  I finished this little painting using fountain pen inks, looking forward to  sharing my findings with you.   To wrap it all up, I have a pair of little wild flowers.

 

 


 

Unfinished Garden Path Quilt

 

 

Garden Path Flower Quilt Pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Let’s start with the Garden Path quilt.  I had the quilt layout design done long ago.  It was inspired by the gardens I had visited in the UK.  Some of those gardens really look like fairies live there.

 

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

 

 

Selenite Clematis,  Olivine Tulip,  Kyanite Iris and Garnet Primrose

 

These are all 12″ flower patterns that I designed with stained glass motifs in mind.

If you are wandering about the names – I love geology and the flowers started looking very much like they were made of crystal. So, I decided to name them after my favourite minerals.

 

 

 

Garden Path Flower Quilt Pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Here is the full stack of finished blocks.   Only five more to make.  I am hoping to finish at least two more blocks within the next two week.

 

 


 

A Little Experiment – Painting With Fountain Pen Ink

 

 

Fountain Pen Quilt Pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Fountain pens and I go a long way back.  In school, from third year onwards, we were to use fountain pens only.  I still remember the anticipation of getting my very first fountain pen.  Since then, I have only ever used fountain pens for writing.  This is a quilt block I designed based on one of my pens.

 

 

 

Painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

For my birthday this year, my husband gave me a fountain pen and couple of bottles of beautiful inks.   I was curious to see how fountain pen ink would behave as paint, so I set out to sketch a quick painting with them. 

 

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures –

 

 

 

The blue ink is Pilot Iroshizuku Moonlit Night, the red is Diamine Dragon Blood Ink.   Love the names.  He really knows me well!

 

I left the ink on my palette for a few days.  I was afraid that once the ink dried, it may not rewet well.  To my surprise, it was as good as fresh ink with a drop or two of water.

 

I tried sploshing a little ink on wet paper in my little book.  It spread out just like watercolour. 

 

Although these two inks are from different companies, they mixed very well and I was able to create different shades of black, grey and purple.

 

The Dragon Blood ink is infused with gold coloured particles which gives it a slight shimmery effect.  That part is only seen in the undiluted ink.

 

 

 

Dragon painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

With watercolour, I can lift and move paint easily as long as it has not dried completely.  These inks, however, would not budge at all.

 

I started with extremely diluted paint, and slowly built up the colour intensity by layering.  The inks did not lift off when I applied the next layer.  It was really easy to work with them, and I needed very little ink for this 6″ x 4″ painting.

 

Even the diluted colours dried with a soft but vibrant effect.  I found that to be very unique to these inks.

 

Fountain pen inks can be quite expensive.  Goulet Pen Co. sells ink samples for a very reasonable price.  Jet Pens also has a very good collection. 

 

 


 

Little Book of Dragons

 

 

Handmade watercolour journal @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

This moss green journal was the very first 3″ x 4″ journal I made.   The early editions of  J. R. R. Tolkien’s Hobbit was bound in light green cover.  As soon as I made this book, I wanted to make it a book of dragons.  I am glad I waited.  Now the first painting is special, made with the inks I got for my birthday and inspired by the weather on my birthday at Yosemite Valley.

 

 


 

Dragon And The Little Boy

 

 

Dragon painting with fountain pen ink @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

This little boy can befriend dragons very easily.   Not to control them mind you, but to talk to them.  Dragons always have such fascinating stories to tell.  While everyone else thinks he has special powers of making dragons listen to him, he would tell you that he is simply being nice to them and listening to them.

 

 


 

Little Wild Flowers

 

 

 

Last Sunday, despite my deadly pollen allergies, I hazarded a little outing on a trail.   Although I paid for it dearly afterwards, I found the most beautiful flowers there.  These are Golden Fairy Lanterns.  I found these two tucked away beside an oak tree.  More on the next Wandering Camera.

 

I always get asked – The quilt patterns and the journals, designed and hand made by me are available in my shop.

 

I think we all can use a little helping of fairy tale inspiration every now and then, don’t you?

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

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