Thinking about making a quilt

He was a man of few words.
And he didn't know the meaning of either of them.
Terry Pratchett.

Thank you all for your replies and suggestions regarding yesterday's post about eclectic fabric use in Japanese quilts. I found some amazing fabrics through some of the suggested links. I went particularly crazy over the Japanese fabrics at the International Fabric collection. Just look at these incredible cottons:

They make me so happy!

I saw some fabrics of the type I was asking about, but not many.

I've just remembered it was bemused that commented about this trend for eclectic fabrics in Japanese quilts in one of her galleries. I love that quilt!

I'm thinking of beginning a hand-pieced quilt of my own. I'm thinking of undertaking something over a few years. I've never considered such a long project before but I really want a beautiful large quilt for our bed. And I like to hand-sew.

I'm considering different patterns at the moment. I love snowball and I like polka-dots and stars. I have a book published in 1990, called The Passionate Quilter, which I cherish!

I think it is a well conceived and constructed book. I have always loved the quilts in it by a woman named Setsuko Obi.

This one is called Flowerings I and is all hand-pieced and quilted.

This is a closer picture of some of her piecing and quilting in Flowerings II, made in 1989 from vintage Japanese fabrics. I can't find anything more about her. Does anyone know anything?

I will be musing more on starting a quilt over the next few posts, so let me know if you have any suggestions for places to visit, things to see.

Today's Inspiration: Well inspiration is still strictly forbidden but I have to mention Setsuko Obi, don't I?

Likes: Board and card games. Best thing about this time of year is the endless rounds of games. Apples to Apples, Carcassonne (with my exciting new extension pack) and Canasta are my favourites at the moment.

Dislikes: Working when I've got creative ideas I'm dying to play with!

Comments

[joanne S]

Now this is VERY interesting. I have felt compelled-- literally-- to hunt down fabric with text, words, letters or numbers on them lately. And it's very difficult to find.

I have resorted to finding and using fabric that looks like it might be text but is actually a print. Last week I bought a yard of blackboard type fabric with upper and lower case alphabets. I can't wait to start using it.

[Elizabeth]

happy New Year, Juju!
This year is the year of the quilt for me, too.

[Martha Marshall]

Happy New Year JuJu! Quilts make me want to paint in grids. I never tire of quilts!!

[Lindsay]

Happy New Year! I love the fabrics and photos. I have a quilt I started in the fall of 2004 and it's only 1/3 finished. The work is satisfying. All my grandmother's quilts were handmade too. It makes me feel connected to a greater sphere. Anyway, take a look at http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com. Maybe you could find a swap partner from Japan?

[Robin]

Yummy fabrics, yummy pictures from the book... Quilting, especially all-hand-sewn, is calling me too. I machine sewed a king-sized Boston Commons quilt (http://beadlust.blogspot.com/2006/10/progress-on-boston-commonsif-youve.html) for our bed a couple of months ago. Although it was great fun selecting fabrics and planning their placement, the quilt making itself was rather lame. I think it's because I need more medative work for my hands. I'm looking forward to seeing where you go with this!

[Sista Jill]

I have a CLOSET full of fabric I have purchased to make quilts that have never materialized....I think I need an intervention...
Love your fabrics....it is all so addictive!

[jen]

Your pink quotes are the best!

[mathea]

Happy New Year, Juju!
I love "Talking Fabrics" too - that's what they call them at my local quilt shop. They mainly stock the script type ones and can't get enough to satisfy the demand. I'd love to find some with bigger lettering and advertising looks like those Japanese ones, though.
Can't wait to see what kind of quilt you decide to make. The one by Setsuko Obi is lovely!

[Lesa]

thanks for the "heads up" on this book. I loved the pictures and ordered myself a copy.

[LisaJay]

I am not a quilter but have bought two quilting books because the patterns are visually spectacular. The first is "Kaleidoscopes & Quilts" by Paula Nadelstern. The second is "Spectacular Scraps" by Judy Hooworth and Margaret Rolfe. They both focus on design. The latter talks about hand piecing specifically. I think you might enjoy them.

Have fun!