This is one of the favorite quilts I have ever made. I love paisleys and floral fabrics with big roses and star blocks. I didn't have a pattern; I just started making blocks and designed it as I went.
I started this quilt in 2004. I had the black background large print that was more than 10 years old at that time. I pulled most of the fabrics from the color in that print. I remember the time period that I made this because I had a purple bump on my lip near the corner of my mouth and it was getting bigger. My dentist recommended that I have it removed. I started this quilt while waiting for the day of laser surgery to try to keep my nerves calm. The bump turned out to be a varicose vein. I continued sewing on the blocks while the incision healed and the stitches dissolved since I didn't want to go out in public and I had time on my hands.
I had a lot of the cream background with soft red paisley and I was really happy to finally use it. I also like the one that looks like tree rings for texture.
You can click on these pictures to see a larger view and really see the fabrics. The brown swirly fabric was one of the last ones I added. 
I know I will make more star quilts because I love them so much. A couple friends have commented that this quilt doesn't look like my style. I don't like to be pegged as using only one style of fabric. Since most of you have met me (through my blog) I have been working a lot with batiks and Kaffe fabrics. That is because I owned a lot of batiks but they were always too precious to cut into. I finally made the decision about 4 years ago that I was going to make several all batik quilts and then the Kaffe Fassett fabrics hit the market and I fell in love with them too. I found the 2 types work well together and I have been concentrating on using them. In my 52 years of quilting I have used lots of different types of fabrics from plaids and stripes, to calicoes (1980's), to scraps left over from dressmaking, and even Amish color solids. I guess I would like to be memorialized for being able to take any group of fabrics and make a beautiful quilt out of them.
Sorry I got so wordy.
33 comments:
That is so beautiful. I love how you can take any style of fabric and create something great.
What an interesting posting! I don't think it was too wordy. I love to read about the making and the maker. It is a great quilt, amazing in its combination of traditional and modern fabrics. The look is very traditional and inviting. And why not use the machine if it helps to start using this beautiful piece at last!
If there's anyone who could use any fabric to advantage, I would bet it would be you. That's a great quilt. When I saw the first photo, I thought it didn't look like yours, but the closeups do -- I love how you put different fabrics together!
I have sewn all my quilt bindings by machine. I did sew ONE table runner binding by hand. I think by hand is a touch nicer looking, but so much more work.
What a beautiful quilt and the various fabrics are stunning together. I have a question for you Wanda. Do you have a long arm to do your quilting on these large quilts or do you do them in a regular sewing machine? If you do them in a regular sewing machine do you think you could do a post sometime on how you do your quilting. I once tried a larger quilt and found it quite frustrating due to the size so at this point in time I'm just doing lap size quilts.
Wanda, this is lovely. It just begs to be "slept under". I sew bindings on both ways, but when I want to do it by machine I use a technique a woman in our local quilt shop teaches. It's one she learned from a Ricky Timms workshop. It involves adding piping to the center of your binding strip before you fold it and sew it onto the quilt. When you fold it over to do your 2nd sew, you use the piping foot for your machine to encase the piping, move your needle over and stitch in the ditch between the piping and the binding. The added effect of that very thin piece of color next to the binding is an added pop to your quilt.
Yhis is a beautiful, beautiful quilt! The blog was not too wordy as you said. It was just right. Your daughter should be so thrilled!
Wanda, another truly awesome item from your magic workshop!! ;)!! I love it and all of your other treasures. I always sew the binding on by machine as I feel that it will stay on longer. It also gives you more time to make more quilts!! Gail
Believe it or not, I'm almost speechless. What other beauties do you have in hiding???????
Beautiful quilt! Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
It really is a gorgeous quilt! I, too, love the stars, but the colors are wonderful. I know she will love it.
I love this quilt, the colors, the design. I'm inspired to create a start quilt now. So pretty. I have to admit that I always sew the binding on by machine. My hands would be screaming 10 minutes into hand stitching. I found a new technique that works well. I use fusible thread in the bobbin for attaching the binding to the quilt. Then when you fold the binding over to the back; light press with your iron and pin to minimize shifting. I use my walking foot to stitch in the ditch from the top side of the quilt and it comes out great!
Thanks for sharing. I loved hearing the story behind the stitching. :)
Gorgeous!! It's not cheating when you make it yourself no matter what method you use.
Very nice. I wish I could get the hang of binding my machine.
It's stunning! I love the stars and the fabrics are fabulous! What an absolutely fantastic quilt.
Very, very beautiful, Wanda! I love stars and I loved every word of your 'wordy' post. You are so versatle and can make any quilt look fantastic, no matter what the colours or patterns. Your daughter is very lucky!
This is a very lovely quilt the way the colors work with a traditional setting. Great Job!
That's a gorgeous quilt, Wanda. Your lucky daughter!! I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am anyway. You CAN take any fabric and make a beautiful quilt out of it - without even having a pattern in front of you. I'm, as usual, very impressed!
Beautiful quilt. Lovely design, colors & fabrics. You did a fantastic job.
Thanks for sharing.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Hi Wanda, What a beautiful one!!Vickie will
love it! Also, LOVE your wordy comments!
jmh
Yes When I first looked at the quilt thought it was very different from your other works but I do love it. Your daughter is very lucky. I do a lot of my bindings on the machine. Especially charity and kids quilts.
Much faster than by hand.
Yes, this one is not like many of the others, but the variety shows your skill as a designer and quilter. Thanks for the words too. I do many bindings by machine. They are not 'show' quilts, and will stand up to many trips through the washing machine.
What first drew me to your blog was your use of bright daring fabric combinations (daring to me) and a modern twist on quilts, but what kept me coming back was your variety of fabrics and block themes in traditional and modern styles. I love just scrolling through your side bar and seeing all your different creations!
That is an absolutely beautiful quilt. Every time I visit your blog and see your beautiful, gorgeous quilts, I want to make each one myself. I cannot get done what I have in my sewing life now. How can I add even more quilts to my never ending list?
Would you like to adopt ME???
An absolutely beautiful quilt! LUCKY daughter!
Your style is wonderful no matter what fabric you use.
What a nice quilt! I machine stitch a lot of my bindings - especially when I know the quilt will be used on a bed.
Wanda said: "I guess I would like to be memorialized for being able to take any group of fabrics and make a beautiful quilt out of them."
And so you shall. Just gorgeous! Yet another beautiful quilt that inspires those of us who aspire to work as spontaneously as you do.
P.S. I just about always bind by machine too. However, I usually do mine back to front using invisible thread and a very narrow and long zigzag stitch.
The quilt is beautiful and I'm sure will be cherished by your daughter. You certainly are adept at combining fabrics in very pleasing pieced/quilted works.
Hi Wanda,
I like your "wordy" post; it helps me learn background info that we can't get from just a photo.
Hey, my name is Vicky, too, and my grandma used to misspell it Vickie. So maybe you could send that quilt to me by mistake!!
Vicky F
Wanda,
I love this quilt- it is a real beauty - your daughter is very lucky but I am sure she knows that already and thinks that too.VBG
You do really beautiful work whatever you tackle - I love it when you get wordy as you call it because you share your process. I find it interesting to read about what someone else is thinking as they create their quilts.
Fabrics change and the ones we love change- I am glad you are using your batiks - I am starting to use mine- sometimes the pieces are so beautiful it is hard to cut them up into smaller pieces.
Lovely post and terrific quilt.
Warmest regards,
Anna
Hi Wanda,
I love the quilt and it really is you. Who else could use all those fabrics and have it come out so beautiful. When I looked at the close up I could see I have some of the same fabrics and they are old but I love them. Not too wordy I love reading your blog and getting to know you better.
Roberta
I always read all the writing. It would seem rude not to, plus I never find your writing anything less than enjoyable.
I love this large quilt, and enjoyed the story to go with it.
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