Wildflowers

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

During March and April, California is usually ablaze with wild flowers. Even the desert comes alive to put on a spectacular show. I can’t count the number of times we drove out mile after mile to go see the wild flowers in the desert.

I sketched this flower through the window such a long time ago. With wild flowers in my mind, I couldn’t help but finally finish the flower quilt pattern so I could stitch the block. To me, it almost feels like a painting.

I love purple flowers, it’s no surprise that I chose a purple flower for my block.

Coast Purple Larkspur Flower | Whims And Fancies

Purple Larkspur is my most favourite wild flower, I think it looks like a little pixie hat!

Stanage Edge Derbyshire England | Whims And Fancies

The colour made me think of Regency purple. I love Jane Austen. I am currently reading a book that is set in the Regency Era. As I was also in Derbyshire not too long ago, standing on the rocks of Stanage Edge, my mind easily drifted toward the scene of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet standing there in the film version. Hence, the name A Flower For Jane Austen was born.

My Maine Coon Cat In A Box | Whims and Fancies

My kitties need a few more quilts. I am definitely going to use this pattern to make a new quilt for them. I found this old picture of my enormous Maine Coon cat who has now given up his tiny boxes in favour of quilts.

Greek Letter Quilt Patterns | Whims And Fancies

Purchase Greek Alphabet Pattern Set

Before I continue though, I really need to make a couple of pillow covers. A couple of years ago I worked on this Greek Alphabet quilt.

Greek letters alpha beta quilt patterns | Whims And Fancies

After finishing the first two letters, I changed the quilt layout which required me to order more fabric. In the meantime however, the dye lot of the fabric had changed. I had to therefore redo the two initial blocks, which meant I ended up with extra blocks. I finished making the quilt a long time ago, while the extra blocks got stowed away in the cabinet. I don’t like having too many WIPs, so my goal for this month is to turn them into pillows. Now that they are on my sewing table, I am really excited to get started.

I will be linking up with

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal April Linkup

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Once I finish the pillows I am sure to come back to this block again. Lovely Kim was showing off her gorgeous hydrangeas and yellow roses together in a vase. I might have mentioned to her once…twice…many times how much I love them together. When I opened my design file, guess what I found in there – the same colours together!

A Flower For Jane Austen - Pride And Prejudice Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

Before I start on the kitty quilt, I may just have to make myself a mini wall hanging from this pattern. What do you think of circular quilting?

Enjoy some flowers this weekend if you have the time!
-Soma

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

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Spring is definitely in the air. Although I love finding little colourful wild flowers and photographing them, it is also the worst time of the year for me due to severe pollen allergies. I still try to find a little time to be outside to enjoy the bright flowers swaying happily during the windy March days. Last year, in my attempt to learn wild flower photography, I went to a few local parks in search of new flowers.

Napa Northern Califiornia Wildflowers | Whims And Fancies

I took this photo of the wild flowers at our local park. When I posted it here as part of my Wandering Camera monthly photo collage, Janine mentioned it looked like a painting.

Van Gogh - Green Wheat Field with Cypress

Ever since I was a child, I have been drawn to the Impressionist/Post-impressionist paintings. I didn’t know them by that name at the time. I remember loving the small brush-strokes. I specially fell in love with the paintings of Van Gogh. Initially all I knew of him was the very crude introduction as an eccentric artist who cut his ear off. As I got older I learned a lot more about him and how much he was tormented by his own demons. If I don’t keep my emotions in check, his life-story makes me extremely sad.

“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.” – Vincent Van Gogh

This is “Green Wheat Field With Cypress” which he painted while he was at the asylum of St. Paul.

Wildflowers Sennelier oil astel painting inspired by Van Gogh | Whims And Fancies

One rainy Friday, as I was looking at the photos of his paintings, I thought of what Janine said about my photo. I often wanted to paint something of his style without directly copying his work. I recently acquired a set of Sennelier landscape oil pastels. Soon afterwards, I found myself working on this painting using those oil pastels. It has become one of my favourites because of the emotional tie I feel.

Sometimes the state of the world makes me very sad, but if I have learned anything from Van Gogh, it is that even in the midst of torment and sadness, a speck of peace and beauty can be found.

“Sometimes I long so much to do landscape, just as one would go for a long walk to refresh oneself, and in all of nature, in trees for instance, I see expression and a soul.” – Vincent Van Gogh

Happy Spring,
-Soma

A Flower For Jane Austen

A Master And An Apprentice