Stars

It did rain yesterday, again, but eventually it stopped and the sun made an appearance. Just enough to get that parking lot dry enough for a shot of all the stars.
The final was indeed a quick and lazy one and got terribly orange, overwhelmingly orange in the center, so I added a little appliqued flower that I cut out of that really lovely fabric I once was gifted by my friend Karin (hi Karin, still reading? Dein Skype startklar?). As far as I remember she told me it was a Japanese fabric, so with this last block for the first time went against my policy of using only fabrics from different countries in one block. I am really enjoying mixing fabrics from various places and makers and think the result is just more vivid and interesting than using fabric from one company or even part of a single line by one designer. Too homogeneous, (oh, hello Liberty Leaves...!), but this time it just happened to be all Japanese.

Anyway.

So, these are all Japanese fabrics, the dark purple one is actually a tenugui, but I think they do have all a different spirit and don't make this block look boring.

Now that the last star has been stitched I have to think of the design for the top. Initially I started sewing these stars following templates that were monthly blocks in the Oshare Kobo magazine (2005-2006), designed by Washizawa Reiko (鷲沢玲子), but added three more stars to end up with a big enough quilt for my bed. The original design was meant to be a tapestry, but as long not each and every bed in this house isn't covered by a snuggly quilt I don't see much sense in bestowing any of our walls a quilt.

I must think about what to do with these now, but will take my time and work on the Liberty Leaves meanwhile. I seem to cannot make up my mind if the design should stay on the traditional path or take a more modern, surprising direction. But I am doing bold with the leaves already, so I could stay on the traditional track here, having two different natured works in progress and the possibility to switch whenever I get bored...

Have you been reading Kirsten's posting on technically brilliant quilts vs. 'quilts from the heart'?
I have been following the discussion over the last days but found it difficult to articulate an opinion. I love them all. One day these, one day the others more. Both kinds of quilts can be boring as well. And for me quilts do not disqualify themselves by accurate techniques or complex designs. Or by an amazing amount of time one dedicated person must have been spending on making them. I think sometimes we just see too many quilts to be open enough to hear what  every single one has to say. I remember very well my experience from this year's quilt show in Tokyo when I had a hard time finding something that grabbed me.
If you happen to have a striking idea how to finish the star quilt, please tell me. I once thought of a border of Flying Geese, small stars on the crossings between the large blocks, maybe...???

More photos here.

Have a great day!

 

Comments

[Kristin La Flamme]

Have you considered setting the blocks on point without sashing?

I think a sawtooth border -- maybe with some orange -- would look nice too.

[mariarrosa]

Beautiful!!!

[katrin]

sehr schön!
und so viel arbeit! ^-^
ich fände ein knalliges sashing schön, aber das könnte von den blocks zu sehr ablenken. wobei ... käme auf die farbe an...
du findest schon eine perfekte lösung!

[janet clare]

beautiful work as ever!
Have you thought about some narrow sashing with stars where the sashing meets? If you were here I would just sketch it quick on the back of an old envelope, but you are not and i can't describe what i mean!

[Sherah]

Really beautiful. I love all the little pieces of fabric you worked in there.

[Lutine]

Superbe !!!

[Georgia]

This is stunningly beautiful. I love how the stars are like Kaleidoscopes. Really beautiful.

[Amy]

I'm not normally grabbed by quilts in general but this is really, really gorgeous.

[Marit]

Your stars are beautiful. There are so many different ways to complete this top. One of them is to let the stars sit in a traditional sashing and border using solids and let the stars do the sparkling... Not easy to describe in words. It was interesting to read what you said about appretiating technical perfect quilts vs quilts from the hart. I think quilts, like art can speak to you on different levels. Sometimes I am in overload mode and cannot take it in, sometimes it seems like everything is old news, but most of the time there is something there that grabs my attention. And sometimes the quilts really speeks to my hart, on an emotional level. I guess my point is that what I am reseptive for changes over time.

[Melissa]

Your stars are gorgeous! I love all of them. Have you tried setting them on point? I've been working on stars it just set them off. There's my piece of advice - I can't wait to see what you do with them.

[annie]

wow! these are beautiful! what great work.

[MaPetiteFabrique]

J'adore, ces étoiles sont superbe ! Quel travail minutieux !!

[Kay]

You said it exactly right about each quilt having something to say. When somebody follows a Denyse Schmidt quilt pattern very exactly, I have the same reaction as if it were a very traditional pattern done very traditionally--I feel a little sad at the constraint, that I don't see some little addition or comment by the maker. I don't need the lines to be crooked to like it, but just one little touch of the maker's hand or eye.

Love your star quilt. Would not give you a bit of advice on it. xo Kay

[June]

These are great; I love the variations, colors, and the exquisite designs. I agree about the visual impact of textures, so much more depth and interest comes through.

[gill]

I'm in awe!
Totally beautiful and I can't wait to see the finished piece!

[Betty]

Amazing, amazing blocks. Such great handiwork. I am really in awe.

[ceels]

I feel a bit overwhelmed. The colours and the patterns they make are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[tiennie]

Your stars are so beautiful! Can't wait to see what you decide on the quilt top.

[oshun]

You have such an eye for combining colors ! They surely will make a extraordinary quilt

[céline]

These stars are wonderful !! I am looking forward to see the entire quilt

[Tirlittan]

These are beautiful! Really amazin colors and combinations. How long did it take you to do these?

[Miss Boule]

This is just wonderful... Can't wait to see more

[Jennifer]

I was going to suggest an on point setting, too. Almost always looks great with stars, and creates diagonals that make the eye move.

Beautiful stitching, and I agree with what you said about being overwhelmed by all of the quilts at a single show.

[Danielle]

Good morning, I just want to say, this star quilt is beautiful, I can't stop looking at it. You are SO talented! However you chose to finish it I'm certain it will be fantastic. Can't wait to see it. Have a great day.
Danielle

[Facile Cécile]

Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!!
Marvellous!!!!!!!!
And all this colors....I love it!!!!!!!!