Hampton Tiles

I saw this photo in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens magazine last summer...

...and I have been making my own version ever since.  

I will hand quilt this around each tile ( 263 in all) and revisit every single fabric once more.  Some of these fabrics came from faraway places, so I can take an imaginary trip around the world now.  Thanks again to my friends in London, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the USA for all your contributions!

Challenge Update

Yay!!!  Naomi was the first to meet the challenge.  I love the decorative topstitching she added!  She plans to make another now.  The next one should be a breeze, now that she knows the technique.  "Keep calm and quilt on...."

Challenge

I can never resist a challenge, so I took on this project--a sewing caddy by my Japanese friend Eri.  She is a master origami maker and sewer, by the way.  

You start with 4 strips of 2 different prints, each measuring 3 3/4" x 10 3/4"  Add batting to strips.  Sew bottom together like a pinwheel. 

Then sew up the sides in some mysterious fashion leaving a few inches for turning.  I wish I could give you the exact sewing sequence, but that is the challenge.  I figured it out in an afternoon...can you?

Philadelphia

Just got a new memory card especially for quilt shows.  I took dozens of photos at the quilt show in Philadelphia yesterday.  Seeing  a real trend in Photorealism as in the quilt above...

and while I admire the skills and technology needed to make realistic images, I still am drawn to works like this one.  The Korean quiltmaker used silk organza from an old garment, which appeals to my love of recycling fabric.   I am so wanting to cut up my wedding dress now!

Unexpected

"Expect the the Unexpected!" is how Roderick Kiracofe signed my copy of his new book.  The quilts are all so fun and quirky, and very 'modern art-ish'  I really cannot say enough about this remarkable collection, so please go to Victoria's blog for the whole story...and be sure to catch her conversation with this great guy!

Who's Counting...

More hexing this week...  I watched the Open and lost track of Monday somehow.  Made some mini hexies for my little traycloth and some more Indigo hexies, too.  Jessica has her Monday Morning count over at lifeunderquilts.blogspot.com and I am happy to report I have altogether 31!  Blackjack!!

Sunflower Friend

Wanted to try EPPing a blossom for my friend's sunflower quilt.  The triangles were no problem, but the other shapes did not fit so easily.  But I know she will quilt out the wrinkles for me!  Good friends are like that...