Cat – Page 4 – InkTorrents Graphics

My 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 Fancies A 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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Cat Halloween Quilt Pattern

This is Charlie. Contrary to everyone’s belief, he has a sweet tooth that would rival anyone. He would do anything to get a lick of ice-cream, watermelon, sweetened cream, or anything else sweet you can think of.

One day he learned that on All Hallows Eve, if he puts on a wizard’s hat and a bow tie and sits very very quietly amongst the Jack-O-Lanterns, magic leaves will come and carry him to the land of the Seven Sisters who would give him lots and lots of sweets to eat. So he came to me and asked if I would make a hat and a bow tie for him. I was happy to oblige.

Pumpkins Halloween Quilt Pattern

As the evening approached, he wore his starry hat and bow tie, smartly walked outside, sat down in the pumpkin patch and waited very patiently.

Cat Eyes Halloween Quilt Pattern

Charlie has a very bossy sister and two very clueless brothers. Although they keep a respectable distance from each other, they all love to play with Charlie. His sister specially loves Charlie and keeps a wary eye on him at all times. Charlie excitedly told her all about his plan. She didn’t really believe him, but she was not about to let him sit outside all alone either. Who knows what peril would befall her brother! She was also not going to leave the other two out of sight, because then she would have to spend the rest of the night looking for all of them if they got lost. So the bossy sister pushed the disgruntled brothers out the door and all of them surreptitiously waited a little distance away from little Charlie as the sun sank below the horizon.

Fall Maple Leaf Quilt Pattern

They waited and waited and waited some more. Then, when everything had gone quiet, when all the kids had gone home after their Treat-Or-Trick runs and the Jack-O-Lanterns were about to go out, they heard a rustle and a swoosh. Suddenly off they went, all four of them, carried away on gigantic leaves! These were no ordinary leaves, of course! On each one of them, a different adventure waited for the little kitties. They stayed together, hopped around and rolled from leaf to leaf, played and had amazing fun.

Stars Quilt Pattern

All this time, while they were busy playing, the leaves carried them onward and upward to the Seven Sisters. By the time the little kitties got there, they were exhausted. They sat in the midst of stars and each had their favourite food to eat while watching the Jack-O-Lantern-lit Earth turning down below. Charlie had his most favourite sweets to eat that day and nobody was going to stop him. Slowly as the night got deeper, they fell asleep on top of each other and they were carried gently and silently back down to earth, down to their soft, warm beds.

Black Cat Crossing Halloween Quilt Top

My first-ever visit to a Pumpkin Patch

Black Cat Crossing Halloween Quilt Top

I had wonderful time drawing, creating the layout, and designing the patterns for Charlie’s Adventure. I definitely had just as much fun as my little kitties. Charlie was all right with sharing the story with all of you as long as he and his beloved Papa could have the quilt.

Black Cat Crossing Fall Halloween Pillow

At the last minute I also decided to make this little quilted pillow from the scraps. I specially fell in love with the orange scene fabric and I really wanted to showcase it. I will share more detail about the pillow next week along with its measurements so you can make one too.

My Kitty Charlie

Charlie sat here and supervised as I was writing the story. Actually, he was trying to convince me to give him some sweet treats. He was very disappointed when that didn’t work, “Nobody at home ever gives me anything!” So he went off to bed to dream about his special All Hallows Eve adventure while snoozing with his pumpkin. Supposedly the pumpkin gives him sweet dreams. He wanted me to wish all of you a Very Happy Halloween!

I am off to enjoy a little more October magic!
-Soma

One Lovely Blog Award And Friendship

Ink