What's In A Quilt - 13

I recently completed my crazy quilt project Crazy for Crazy, and now want to write its history.

The thirteenth block is in the second row from the top, the orange (salmon) with green details.

The block is made up of five pieces of fabric. There is some salmon batik, quilting cotton with metallic print, and in the middle, a remnant from a ballgown sewn by Mrs I. This I have also used for the hearth (middle piece) of the Log Cabin Challenge quilt.

The other two pieces are the pink at the top, and the orange with a pattern in lime green. 

Let's start with the pink first. Once upon a time I bought a pair of trousers from Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto. He was famous for his large and colourful designs, real energy boosts. However, he also made some very plain and simple garments that made the dramatic patterns look even more outstanding when these clothes were worn together. 

(You can read more about this fashion designer, and the stage costumes he made for David Bowie and the Super Show he had in Moscow's Red Square by clicking on this link.)

My trousers were of a soft silky fabric that were warm in winter and cool in spring and autumn. They were so well made they lasted for ages, I am sure I used them at least once a week (autumn, winter and spring) for about 12 years. The piece I have used here is that little swatch you get together with a spare button in a small plastic bag when you buy quality garments.

The other piece, in orange and lime green, is dress fabric from the 1960s. I found it among my mother's things when I cleared out her sewing room. I know I have seen it, but am not sure where or in what form. Mum would never wear orange, so she can't have made it into a dress for herself. Nor did she make anything for me with this fabric. Did she use it for grandmother or an aunt? I have racked my brain all week, but can simply not remember... it is so frustrating. Still I have this vision of a sleeveless dress, nipped in waist and full skirt, a zipper in the side seam... Am I just dreaming?

The octagon block is decorated with a lace ornament and a length of lace, both given from a good friend and hand dyed. I added seed pearls and stitches on top.

I stitched a paisley shape with Alternating Magic Split Stitch, filled in a grid, edged it with Fly Stitch and French Knots.

The curved seam is edged with  Indian Edging Stitch.

I joined two spring rings (the ones used for keys) and covered them with Buttonhole Stitch before attaching them to the block with a thin ribbon (ribbon embroidery). Next to them is a row of Buttonholed Lazy Daisy Stitch.

The block also has a cluster of small buttons and a row of floral sequins.

I started this block in March 2020, almost seven month after I had completed block 12. Why did I take such a long time between the blocks? Was it the pandemic that put a damper on my energy? Any way, this block only took five weeks to finish.

Thank you to: Mother, Auntie, Kansai Yamamoto, Maureen, Mrs I, Kathleen, Sylvia and all my readers.