In 2003 I made it for the Kaleidoscope Hoffman Challenge. The theme was Elizabethan Splendour.
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.
25 comments:
Absolutely beautiful! With all those beads, it must be quite heavy.
this is a real beauty Queenie and good to read about how you made it, certainly lots of glitz and beads very christmassy
Thank you. Yes, it is very heavy!
I am glad you like it. It is quite overpowering in looks, especially when there is light on it, with all those glitzy beads.
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!
It's a beautiful piece. I really enjoy reading about your process!
I think all those borders are fantastic ... especially all those little pointed pieces.
Paper piecing by machine! The lazy quilter!
Thank you! Have you got any Japanese Christmas quilts on display?
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.
A very rich quil and you really hit the Elisabethan style.
And once more: It could a the cut-out piece of Elisabeth I's evening dress.
It is just beautiful. I think I would display it a lot more than at Xmas.
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!
That's exactly what I was thinking while working with my friend's gift of red dressmaking silk!
Thank you, Anneliese.
All the work you put into this quilt has made it fabulous. Over 3000 pearls and beads! Amazing and gorgeously done.
Thank you for your kind words. It DID take a lot of time to make!
Wow, this is a stunning quilt! First I thought it was a cathedral window, but if I'm right it's made of circles.
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/
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.
Wow - I thought it was spotted fabric on first glance, but on closer inspection/reading I see it is beads.
Yes, I liked this way of 'quilting' the three layers together. Unlike the usual running stitch, though, this took time!
Magnifique: les couleurs, les broderies, tout!
Merci beaucoup, thank you very much!
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