Falling Into Winter

Inktense Fall Leaf Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

 

We are surely and steadily heading into winter, but there are still signs of Autumn in my corner of the world.  Fogs enfold the surrounding landscapes during the cold nights, while days are quite often wet.  There are also a lot of golden yellow and ruby-red leaves hanging on to a few trees.  I picked up one of those leaves and it made its way into my sketchbook earlier in the month.

I also got sent photos of a couple of autumnal finishes made from my patterns.  The creators were very kind to give me permission to show them here.

 

 

Fall Leaf Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Fall Leaf by Lea

Purchase Fall Maple Leaf Pattern

 

 
Autumn Harvest Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Autumn Harvest by Janine

 

 

Custom Paper Piecing Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

This was a special order pattern.  Melanie sent me a picture of her husband’s racecar and wished to make a quilted wall hanging as a gift for him.  I used that picture to draw up a paper piecing pattern.  This is the finished wall hanging made by her.

 

 

Teddy Bear Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Storybook Teddy Bear Pattern

 

I also got a request from a customer for a 5.0″ teddy bear paper piecing pattern.  She was going to make little Christmas Tree ornaments with the blocks.  Due to the small size, I made a custom simplified pattern for her.  Then I went on to modify it to make a 10.0″ block.  I am hoping to join in the One Monthly Goal for January and finish making this little one.

 

 

Lego Harry Potter Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

I am a regular visitor of the Fabric Frenzy Friday linky party hosted by Fort Worth Studio and they have been wonderful to feature my patterns before.  This week they featured my last set of Lego Harry Potter patterns.  I was very happy about that.

 

Harry Potter Giveaway

Congratulations to spierssusan, the giveaway winner of the Harry Potter linky party!  Since it’s holiday season, I will email the rest of you who linked up your blocks for a little giveaway of my patterns.

 

I also set up my Lego Village for the holidays.  I usually set it up such that there are many activities involving the minifigs.  A few of my friends asked me to post photos, so here they are –

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The whole village – I cut the photo into three sections so it would fit here

Below are a few close-up snapshots –

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

A child playing with an astronaut and a robot

Christmas trees and refreshments for sale here as well

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Snow play area.  A little one got stuck in the snow (red pants and shoes, on the right)

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Plenty of food and drinks to go around

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Musicians and carollers

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

Having a go at archery, one can even dress up in a medieval armour, if fancy strikes

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

At the centre they are enacting a scene from a story –

Good wizards are fighting the evil Green Wizard and the Green Witch

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The Red Princess is there with her army…

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

…and so is the Blue Princess

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The photographer is there to capture it all.

 

 

Lego Winter Village | Whims And Fancies

 

The little Christmas Tree has plenty of presents

 

That wraps up my Lego Village of 2016.  I like to think the little minifigs are having a wonderful time.

A few years ago, we decided to forgo buying presents for each other and spend the money on charitable donations instead.  We donate food, books and money to various organisations.

 

 

Watercolour lamp painting | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Some months ago, I joined Twitter and found #TwitterArtExhibit.  Artists donate their work which is then sold to raise money for a local charity.  This is my painting for the event that will be held in April 2017.  I am very honoured and excited to be able to join this wonderful organisation.  If you paint, draw or create, there is still plenty of time to register and send them a card.

 

This will by my last post until after the Holidays. I wish you all healthy and happy holidays and a wonderful time!

-Soma

 

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My Lens, SeasonsOur World TuesdayWednesday Around The World, Photo Friday, and Friday Photo Journal along with with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

 

 

 

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One Lovely Blog Award And Friendship

My Pixie | Whims And FanciesMy girl and my best friend – Pixie

I very recently met Lara and it was instant friendship.  It feels like I have known her forever.  Susie is the first friend I made when I started writing here.  So it is specially wonderful to be selected by both a new AND an old friend for the One Lovely Blog Award.  Susie and Lara are friends with each other as well, isn’t that wonderful?

One Lovely Blog Award | Whims And Fancies

I love visiting Lara at Buzzing Bumble and Susie at Susie’s Sunroom.  If you don’t know them already, you must really pay them a visit.  I promise you will not regret it!

For the seven things about me that I need to share for this blog hop,  I decided to pick seven words and pair them up with photos I’ve taken.

 

Ink

Love Of Notebooks And Ink | Whims And FanciesA Very Small Subset Of My Ink And Paper Collection

I grew up on top of my grandfather’s large printing business which printed books, among other items.  I learned about different stocks of paper, various types of ink, book binding techniques, etc. at a very early age.  The sounds and smells of the large printing machines, ink, paper, glue, typesets – it was magical.  I was hooked for life to the world made of ink and paper which turned into a passion for art.

 

Books

Foyles Books London | Whims And Fancies

Advertisement At A London Tube Station

I have always lived mainly within the pages of books, away from the world around me.  I walk around glumly for days when a book disappoints me.  I stay in a haze every time I say goodbye to my ink-and-paper friends at the end of a book.  It all started with my aunt telling me stories when I was too young to read.  Then it continued on with my mother taking me to large annual book fairs and with reading from my grandmother’s book collection.

 

Camera

Valley View, Yosemite National Park | Whims And Fancies

Winter in Yosemite National Park, California

Lenses are an old hobby of mine.  I see the world through the camera lens.  My camera is my security blanket and the source of my confidence.  I wake up at wee hours to catch the first sunlight,  I even hike up the sides of mountains despite my severe acrophobia, all for that one perfect shot!  ( My husband has the yawns and the droopy eyes to prove it! )

To see the world in a grain of sand,
And heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

                                   – William Blake

Rocks

Liberty Cap Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park, California | Whims And Fancies

John Muir Trail, Yosemite National Park, California

I study rocks and I collect them.  So, if I get a bag of coal, that is a very good thing.  Although it feels a bit nightmarish for me to ever settle down in one place, the diversity of California’s geology has kept me here, camping, hiking and exploring. I specially love the Sierra Mountains.

This picture was taken from the John Muir trail.  Towards the end of the hike, instead of checking the map, we decided to follow our instinct.  So, a 6-mile hike turned into …. wait for it… a whopping 7-mile hike!!!

 

Stars

Milky Way | Whims And Fancies

Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California

It’s a love affair.  When it’s dark outside with clear skies and my nose is not stuck in a book, you will most probably find me peering through my telescopes, with a little help from my husband because of their weight.  Currently I am in the process of building a radio telescope at home.

 

Travel

Fjord, Norway | Whims And Fancies

Heading Into Gairangerfjord, Norway

I have to travel, or I fall apart.  Before a trip I read, I do research and I pore over maps.  It’s a ritual for me.  Then I whisk my husband away on an exhausting trip.  I want to soak in everything about the new place without wasting a single moment.

 

Cold

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park | Whims And Fancies

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

I was born in January, and I have a feeling Old Man Winter must have made me using a little piece of himself.  I have been in the icy arctic rain with an ear-to-ear smile on my face.  Winter is when I am outside the most.  Those of you who abhor winter, don’t judge me, I was born this way.

 

Now it’s my turn to pass the torch.  Not only do I love the diverse art these ladies create, I also feel very comfortable nominating them because of their encouraging personalities and their eagerness to share and help.  I know you will love them too.

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts
Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs
Esther @ I Patch And Quilt
Kris @ Kris Loves Fabric
Mary @ Needlemom

 Also please remember to visit Lara at Buzzing Bumble and Susie at Susie’s Sunroom.

 

Weeping Angel Quilt | Whims And Fancies

It is to their credit that I am ready to try Free Motion Quilting on this angel block. Wish me luck!!

And have fun visiting my friends,
-Soma

 

 

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