Friday, October 29, 2010

Mystic Star for the Bloggers Quilt Festival

WELCOME TO POPPYPRINT!

Mystic Star by Poppyprint

For all the online chitchat about batiks not cutting the mustard for modern quilts, I present Mystic Star. There are some projects for which batiks provide the necessary depth and colour saturation required for a design to really shine. I believe Annette Ornelas' Mexican Star pattern is one of them. This quilt was completed four years ago just in time for my guild's bi-annual quilt show. It is my one and only award-winning quilt!

Mystic Star detail oblique

Several members of the guild took this course from local teacher Brenda Brayfield. It was my first introduction to folding back bias edges to simulate curved piecing. I have seen this pattern made up in several different colourways, and varying techniques for holding the curves back. Lots of quilters choose to sew a line 1/8" inside the curve on their machine, but I really didn't trust my skills to create a smooth line. Instead, I knew I wanted to stitch the curves down by hand. By complete fluke, I came across the perfect vial of glass seed beads to embellish each curve. The beading was done prior to sandwiching the quilt.

Mystic Star detail

The trick with pre-sandwich embellishing is then trying to quilt around it! I figured out my quilting plan for each design area of the quilt using a large sheet of clear vinyl laid on top of the quilt. Using a wipe-away fine tip marker, I doodled various quilting ideas onto the vinyl until finding one I liked enough to commit to thread.

Mystic Star beading

Not happy with the yellow quilting lines that crossed in the intersections, I simply covered them up with a little pile of beads! In addition to free motion quilting in the large background areas, I added random seed stitches and blanket stitched the binding on for a little extra somethin'-somethin' since the binding was done in the same fabric as the background.

For a show quilt, I think it's nice to create a special label.

Mystic Star label

This is the only quilt that permanently hangs on display in our home (outside of my sewing room, that is) and I never tire of looking at it. It's a beautiful pattern and I don't think it would be nearly as effective in any fabric other than batiks, really.

If you are stopping in via Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival, thanks for taking a peek! Have fun touring all of the beautiful quilts, head back to Amy's for a complete list of participants.

51 comments:

paulette said...

OMGosh!! This quilt is STUNNING!! No wonder you won an award!! Just lovely!!
Take care!
Paulette

Elena said...

IT'S WONDERFUL!!!!!

Ariane said...

Wow!!! Love, love, love this quilt! You did such an amazing job with it! No wonder you won an award for it. It is stunning!!!!

Kathy Schwartz said...

Krista this is a beautiful quilt. Glad to here it has a special place in your home! I think I need to put this quilt pattern on my 'to do' list as I love to sew with batiks! Thanks for sharing:)

dutchcomfort said...

Oh My Gosh... I love this quilt! Great entry! I’m with you on the batiks! Unfortunately many quilters say they are outdated, but this is the proof batiks can add to the beauty of a quilt!

Robin said...

Gorgeous! All of the embellishments really do add that extra pop of happy goodness. And I'm a sucker for batiks. I love how you did the label too. Thanks so much for sharing!

Lonci said...

Wonderful:))))

Tracey Jacobsen said...

this design is so beautiful. I love the shapes and colors and beading and... :)

badlandsquilts said...

Absolutely stunning on so many facets!

Christine M said...

I agree. Your quilt is certainly stunning. The beading is so effective.

Barbara B said...

Hi Krista, great quilt, great pictures and I love your views on not putting musch of anything in a fixed box!

felicity said...

I'm at a loss for words, Krista. This quilt is absolutely stunning - everything about it.

trudys_person said...

I remember this quilt - it's beautiful!

I guess I missed the memo on batiks - I love them, and sometimes they are just the right fabric/colour/texture!

Kristen said...

I love it! It is so neat to have curved edges this way! I can see why it won an award!

beth said...

Love all those special touches on this quilt!

carol said...

OMG...it's outstanding, Krista! You should be proud of it....it's fantastic!

♥Duff said...

I've never seen this one--it's magnificent! I love the embellishments.
So glad you put it on display for the quilt festival ☼

Mary-Kay said...

I love it. I have that pattern and maybe one day I'll make it but I know it won't be a beautiful as yours.

Rachel said...

Oh...Wow! I don't even know what else to say. It's simply stunning!

Barb said...

Krista, what a beautiful quilt! I agree...batiks are perfect for this one!

Unknown said...

That is a glorious piece of quilting art, Krista. I can definitely see why this would be an award winning quilt. The colour play, the use of beading and embroidery stitches, the machine work, the curved edges versus the right angles, the workmanship, ... It all works so beautifully. Wow!

Amy Friend said...

It's really beautiful Krista. It just keeps my eyes wandering which I think is wonderful. All the quilting and beading details are amazing. I agree that the material selections worked perfectly for this quilt.

Emma said...

That's a beautiful quilt. I really like the way you used the seed beads on the curves.

Lesly said...

Just gorgeous. I love every aspect of this beautiful quilt!

pinksuedeshoe said...

Oh. My. Word. This is truly one of the most amazing quilts I've ever seen. It is FANTASTIC! Love it, I love everything about it, Love the batiks (never thought I'd say that!) love the curves, the beads, the quilting. Wow, Amazing. I could go on, but I kind of feel like I'm just stumbling over myself with your incredible level of awesomeness. Seriously, you are amazing.

What Comes Next? said...

Krista it is beautiful! I love the beads used to hold back the curves. This is a pattern that I have had for sometime, I just need to pull it out and go! Gorgeous!

Always Sewing said...

WOW,That is just beautiful!

Janet said...

This is so beautiful! I can see why you got an award.

CaLynn said...

Hey there:) I have been a long time reader and just had to comment - this is BEAUTIFUL. I am jealous.

BJ said...

Very impressive!

AnnieO said...

I would never tire of it either! I love the addition of the hand beading and stitching. It really makes the quilt stunning. Thanks for sharing your quilt's story :)

Deonn said...

I love the Mexican Star - definitely a prize-winner, especially with your lovely beading and stitchery!! I have a few of these, and have taught this class several times. (you can see a slideshow here: http://www.quiltscapesquilting.com/slideshows.php
It always amazes me how simple it is to make, yet is so stunning!

Sandra said...

What a great way to finish and accent the curves, it really bring this pattern up another notch. Kudos.
Thanks for sharing.

Vivian said...

Wow, another beauty! Love the embellishing on this one. The beading really makes it sing!

O'Quilts said...

You have done an absolutely wonderful job on this quilt with great coloring and blending! It is perfect.

Canadian Kristin said...

Hello N. Vancouver! I'm only about 40 minutes east of you on Hwy 1! Nice to meet a west coast Canadian quilt blogger!
I love your Batik quilt and especially love the beading work you did! Can't imagine the hours of love that went into this piece of art but think the vinyl was a brilliant way of choosing how/where to stitch! This is a quilt you will love forever!

Deborah said...

Exquisite!

Krista said...

Like everyone else, I think this quilt is amazing! The curves remind of cathedral windows and how they're sewn down. That beading? Incredible. Obviously you put so much into making this, and it shows!

Lisa said...

So striking! I agree batiks give a richer color and depth it the right design. Great quilt!

Marit said...

This is a beauty! Love your embellishment and quilting - a very deserving ribbon!

Angie said...

Wonderful detail and way to incorporate the beads.

Carol said...

A real stunner. I would love to learn how to make that one.
So far it is my favorite in the show and tell :)

Anonymous said...

Amazing! The award was well deserved! I love the 3Dimensional quality to the design. It is stunning!

~ Meagan

Katie said...

Those judges knew what they were doing when they handed out awards! This quilt is goergous! I've seen the pattern, but seeing your quilt makes me want to go make my own...complete with beads, of course. Thanks for sharing such an inspiring quilt.

Karen said...

Your quilt is beautiful. You have really shown that batiks can shine through! Love the colours and the beautiful beadwork!

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

That is my kinda quilt! Oh I love love the pretty quilting and the beads! Super gorgeous!!
Best ever. Great job.
~Monika in Saskatoon

Nina Marie said...

wow - really like the folded bias technique - it lends a lot of texture to the class!!! The beading and the watercolor background really enhance the quilt - great job!!!

Karen said...

Krista this quilt is absolutely gorgeous! Batiks really are perfect for this quilt. I love all of the hand stitching and beads. I would love to see this quilt in person! You definitely deserved an award for this beauty!

quiltmom anna said...

Krista - this is one stunning quilt- I love batiks and the rich color combinations- Your addition of beads was brilliant. I can certainly see why it was an award winner.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful piece.
Hope you have had some time to stop and view some of the quilts in the festival. There are some real beauties - I especially loved yours.
Regards,
Anna

Mary said...

Love the beading you did on your Mystic Star. The colors just sing. And I'm not a fan of Batik fabric.

Eileen said...

oh, my goodness!! how totally fantastic. just love your quilt and all the embellishment adds to what is a lovely, lovely quilt. thanks so much for sharing and have a great day