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Thursday 19 December 2013

Christmas quilts from my stash - 3

The third quilt I usually display in December is called Sub Rosa.

In 2003 I made it for the Kaleidoscope Hoffman Challenge. The theme was Elizabethan Splendour.
One stipulation was that it should measure 1 m square and contain at least 50% of one or more of the seven challenge prints. At that time I had been given lots of fancy remnants from a seamstress who makes evening frocks and wedding gowns. Here was a good opportunity to use some of that red silk with the Hoffman prints.

This is an extract from my entry:
'The theme is ELIZABETHAN SPLENDOUR...' so I decided to make something that reflects Queen Elizabeth I. A traditional quilt, with an organized pattern but many new ideas, rich and overly decorated but tasteful. To bring out the beautiful patterns in the Hoffman prints I used a heavy red silk as the main contrast and added as much gold, pearls and jewels as I found suitable.
The centre of 'Japanese patchwork' blocks, filled with wadding and decorated with metallic embroidery and pearls, is framed with eight borders. The main of these borders consists of a winding Hoffman bias tape where various flowers have sprouted; they are appliqued, folded, ruched and embroidered. There are several flowers in handmade velvet; I even turned one Hoffman print into a velvet flower! This border is then quilted with tiny pearls on the front and gold beads on the back. There are well over 3000 pearls and beads on the entire quilt and it is edged with a frilled gold lace.

As you can see I was into quilting in unusual ways already ten years ago.
Sub Rosa didn't pick up a prize, but it was featured in 'Fabrications' Oct/Nov 2003.



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25 comments:

  1. Pamela19 December 2013 at 10:43

    Absolutely beautiful! With all those beads, it must be quite heavy.

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  2. margaret19 December 2013 at 15:01

    this is a real beauty Queenie and good to read about how you made it, certainly lots of glitz and beads very christmassy

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    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch19 December 2013 at 17:44

      I am glad you like it. It is quite overpowering in looks, especially when there is light on it, with all those glitzy beads.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous19 December 2013 at 19:48

    This quilt is very rich and lush, I love all the embellishments and the design that you chose is beautiful. The material is lovely you were so lucky to get it from your friend!

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    1. Queeniepatch19 December 2013 at 23:19

      Lush is the right word. With those velvet flowers there is a plush feeling, the silk is slippery and the metallic thread sharp! Yes, I was lucky to get that material, and glad I could put it to good use in a quilt.

      Delete
  4. Cynthia@wabisabiquilts19 December 2013 at 20:00

    It's a beautiful piece. I really enjoy reading about your process!

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    1. Queeniepatch19 December 2013 at 23:17

      Thank you! Have you got any Japanese Christmas quilts on display?

      Delete
  5. Julie Fukuda19 December 2013 at 22:32

    I think all those borders are fantastic ... especially all those little pointed pieces.

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  6. Stitching Lady19 December 2013 at 23:27

    A very rich quil and you really hit the Elisabethan style.

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  7. Stitching Lady19 December 2013 at 23:28

    And once more: It could a the cut-out piece of Elisabeth I's evening dress.

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    1. Queeniepatch20 December 2013 at 08:15

      That's exactly what I was thinking while working with my friend's gift of red dressmaking silk!

      Delete
  8. carorose20 December 2013 at 07:20

    It is just beautiful. I think I would display it a lot more than at Xmas.

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    1. Queeniepatch20 December 2013 at 08:14

      It is so heavy and troublesome to wrap up and store hanging in the wardrobe that I actually do have it on display a bit longer. 'Lizzy' is lucky I am so busy with other things than storing quilts at this time of the year!

      Delete
  9. JennyPennyPoppy21 December 2013 at 05:05

    All the work you put into this quilt has made it fabulous. Over 3000 pearls and beads! Amazing and gorgeously done.

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    1. Queeniepatch21 December 2013 at 08:16

      Thank you for your kind words. It DID take a lot of time to make!

      Delete
  10. Annet22 December 2013 at 02:20

    Wow, this is a stunning quilt! First I thought it was a cathedral window, but if I'm right it's made of circles.

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    1. Queeniepatch22 December 2013 at 08:15

      Thank you Annet.
      The Japanese patchwork blocks in the centre are very similar to cathedral windows in look but not construction. There is a clear tutorial here: http://craftycreativefriends.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/japanese-folded-patchwork-block-tutorial/

      Delete
    2. Annet22 December 2013 at 23:32

      Yes, that's the kind of circles I meant. I've used this to make a scissor case many years ago. I forgot it's called Japanese patchwork.

      Delete
  11. https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com24 December 2013 at 01:18

    Wow - I thought it was spotted fabric on first glance, but on closer inspection/reading I see it is beads.

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    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch24 December 2013 at 09:48

      Yes, I liked this way of 'quilting' the three layers together. Unlike the usual running stitch, though, this took time!

      Delete
  12. Bernapatch6 March 2015 at 17:15

    Magnifique: les couleurs, les broderies, tout!

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