For my May mini I made a little quilt study of this colorful, quirky 1960's eight-pointed star quilt by Native American and North Carolinian Elizabeth Graham Lee Jacobs. Her quilt was part of a marvelous exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History last summer.
The exhibit book - Quilt Speak: Uncovering Women's Voices Through Quilts by Diana Bell-Kite is so special - I just love it. You can find it here at the museum shop.
Elizabeth used sewing scraps and printed feed sacks to create the quilt for her daughter's wedding. I have a limited stash here and did my best.
I was so taken with her borders and tried to replicate them.
She is quoted in the book - "I like them old-time quilts... old-time was what you knowed yourself. You didn't have no paper and book kind of stuff. You accumulate this with your own mind." Very in sync with wabi sabi concepts.
Finished quilt taped to the window for no real reason except I guess I wanted a "I Remember" shot from this COVID social distancing time. Let me out! Actually the state of emergency was just lifted across Japan. We are to still wear masks, avoid crowds, work from home, etc. but this does mean that shops and restaurants can open back up. Hurray! I'm trying to think.... when will I feel comfortable taking a train or trains... not yet.
Another quote from Elizabeth: "A quilt that's made and put together with many colors, seems like it's pretty to me. The littler the scrap, the prettier the quilt." After my own heart!
Wendy The Constant Quilter will link up lots of other minis on her blog here. She keeps us going and motivated to make our minis;).
xo
Cynthia
What a unique and charming little quilt! You did a great job "making do" with limited stash, paying homage to the original. I love the quiltmaker's attitude toward quilmaking ... think I need to check out at that book. Yes I just read restrictions have been lifted in Japan - it sounds like ths "Japan model" is working. You must be looking forward to a little bit of liberation. Your mini quilt looks like stained glass in the window ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous mini! I will have to find that book. Elizabeth sounds like a wise and wonderful woman! I love the shot of it taped to the window. It looks like stained glass. There are so many surreal things these days. Empty beaches and parks on Memorial Day really got to me. Thanks for another great mini! And don't worry about my post today on how many blocks I have received for the Community quilt. I am holding a place for you and Cecile and I know it may take forever for them to get here.
ReplyDeleteI think your interpretation of the original quilt is fabulous--love the quirkiness of the borders! I think it will be a while before I dine out, but I'm looking forward to some normalcy soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet quilt! You did very well working from your stash.:) I quite enjoyed some of her quotes. The pretentiousness of her quilt is very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI love it! From the slightly faded looking vintage blue sashing/borders to the wonderful stained glass effect hanging in your window. So very sweet! Good to hear that Japan is beginning to open up again. The wheels are grinding extremely slowly in that direction here, that churches are among the last to be allowed to open is extremely disheartening. Though we were allowed to have our first quilt ministry meeting since mid-March this morning. So good, though way too hot and humid to keep the masks on for 3 solid hours (we all cheated a bit). Just can't breathe when the humidity is 80-90 percent, feels like we're drowning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interpretation of the original quilt. For a limited stash you captured the essence and quirkiness. I'm feeling the same "Let Me Out" feeling. But not really complaining. Glad things are better and looser for you. Colorado is easing its way back too.
ReplyDeleteYour May mini certainly captured the essence of the original quilt. I enjoyed reading the maker's comments, too. Glad to hear some restrictions are being lifted in Japan. Moving forward, slowly :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested in your notebook and how you are documenting your quiltmaking... Any tips? I'm trying to get a notebook started.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet quilt, Cynthia. I love how you created your own version of her quilt. Elizabeth Graham Lee Jacobs seems like a woman after my own heart.
ReplyDeleteSo glad Japan is opening for you and others who live there. We are not required to wear masks here in Ohio. Some people do and others don't so it's a mixed bag, though stores can choose to require that people wear masks. We went to our favorite restaurant last week and I went to a doctor's appointment today and I have to say it is just not the same. Masks are a huge barrier (for me, at least). Having to wear one in stores is great incentive for me to stay home. Haha.
Oops. I forgot to say that I'm interested in your notebook, too. Is it letter paper size? Did you buy it in Japan or here in the States?
DeleteOh what a wonderful little quilt. I love the inspiration quilt and you did a beautiful job making it your own, while maintaining her vision.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing her quote. I always enjoy learning how other quilters think. It's something we don't always share.
Your photo on the window is a perfect way to remember the Covid stay home orders. I'm glad to learn they lifted it and hope everyone continues be safe.
Great post! Great Mini.
I love "make do" quilts! You did a great job interpreting your inspiration quilt, right down to the borders!
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling mini quilt- also in the Humble Quilt style.
ReplyDeleteWe are opening up a little at a time. It's nice.
What a cute mini quilt.
ReplyDeleteHow easy is it for you to acquire fabric for your stash? You did well with what you have in making your mini.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to pay tribute to replicating a special quilt! I enjoyed the quotes... sounds like a book I would like to read! Congrats on a terrific finish!
ReplyDeleteYou did an amazing job paying homage to Elizabeth's quilt. I think you nailed it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are getting a chance to go out, whether you choose to take it or not.
We have been a bit more opened up for a couple of weeks now, and we are just starting to see the results. Statewide we were getting under 150 new cases a day. Now we are over 200 a day. Our percentage of positive cases has jumped from under 5% of those tested, to over 7%. I think people got too smug, thinking we had been doing so well and as restrictions were lifted, those that remained in place were often ignored. :(
lovely post...true so true
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