WIP Wednesday - Working Title - "Of Quiet Stars"

I don't know what this quilt will be called when it's done, but the whole time I was working on it tonight, the song "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" was on loop in my head. It's a beautiful song, so if it develops into an ear worm, at least it will be an enjoyable one!

These are two of the four blocks for my first bed quilt of 2011.

( silk shantung, silk charmeuse strips, linen border)

I've had a set of six teals in different kinds of silk and a linen for the backing and borders almost since I started quliting; but since these fabrics cost more than $500 (that's just the fabric alone *ahem*); I have been a-skeered to cut into them and possibly "ruin" the fabric.

Well no more! I don't make resolutions per se; but I do try to live my life by a central tenent each year and choose one thing to improve about myself. In 2011, it's all about trust - and that includes trusting myself. So last week over lunch I designed the quilt in my new sketchbook (purpose bought) and tonight I cut the fabric. No turning back now!

(this one is the reverse of the other - i.e. the charmeuse is the background in this one)

While making these blocks (and some friends) tonight I discovered an ironic fact. As you become a better quilter, you use the stitch ripper more. (That Universe. So funny! S/he must have her little jokes...)

This quilt's gonna be a beaut! The next set of blocks are going to be a deeper version of the silk charmeuse and an irridescent silk taffetta in the mirror blocks. Only 36 more blocks to go!

On Friday, I'll show you the first of my journal quilts.

So, what are you working on?

8 comments:

Kit Lang5.1.11
OOO the silk is going to make a beautiful quilt! I'm currently working on samples for classes I'm planning to teach over the next few months!
Kit Lang5.1.11
Yes, I'm really excited about this one!

What classes are you going to be teaching? And where? Tout yourself! :)
Kit Lang5.1.11
Those are amazing Kit! Are the stripes pieced or applied? I am working on quilting a string quilt- and using the seam ripper alot!
Kit Lang5.1.11
They're appliqued. Now that I think about it - they might be less fussy to piece (it never occured to me - lol). Hmmm. I'll have to give a couple of those a whirl. Thanks for the idea.

A string quilt? Oooohhhh. :)
Kit Lang5.1.11
These blocks are stunning! Teal silk, I die!

How did you ever come up with this idea for the block? Will they all have the same double-x pattern?
Kit Lang5.1.11
When I was posting this, I thought to myself "If Crystal sees this post, she's gonna like it." (I remembered that teal is one of your favourite colours).

Yes, all of the blocks will have the same double-x pattern, and I was inspired by some fancy-pants designer's wall paper. I have a couple of sheets like that that I've torn out of interior design magazines where I see a pattern and think "that would make a great quilt design!" (It's why I was playing with these blocks, for instance http://www.divaquilts.com/2010/11/wednesday-wip.html - those were based on, Versace wallpaper I think it was). Still working on those blocks - I'm not getting the repeating of the pattern right. *pout*
Kit Lang5.1.11
I was just about to ask if this was the expensive silk and then I read the post properly!

Ohmygosh! I'm so glad you decided to take the plunge and cut into this material. It is GORGEOUS!

Are you at least going to keep it for yourself?

Kat x
Kit Lang5.1.11
Thanks Kat - I'm going to be brave in 2011! :)

And no - I'm quite sure it'll be for sale when I'm all done.