Thursday, May 31, 2007

A good month!

May has come to an end and the world around me is green, my sewing room is a mess and I have two ongoing projects in sight and at least two put away in the cupboard to think about later. As of yesterday, I reached my May goals so I'd say May was a good month!

After a Bible study and some good conversation this morning I spent a couple of hours quilting the Wonky Word quilt. Hmm. Since it is all freehand quilting there is a big variation in the pattern from one day to the next. I noticed yesterdays' fans were big and wide while some days' fans have been compact and narrow. I wonder if it has something to do with the mood the quilter is in on a certain day. I'll try to be a bit more uniform in the future, but this is a very forgiving quilt and it seems that no matter what I do to it, it comes out Wonky and therefore anything is ok.

My friend Kaoru-san commented the other day on my Baptist fan quilting and how in Japan the same pattern is called Seikaiha. I didn't know the name of the pattern but I have seen it as a type of sashiko so I asked Kaoru-san if she'd explain about it to you.

"Hi, Tanya-san,
The wave pattern that we were talking about is called "Seikaiha" and sometimes "Seigaiha". It literally means "blue ocean waves". It was introduced to Japan from China more than 1000 years ago. The pattern depicts the waves on a calm sea and it expresses the peacefulness of the waves on the inland sea. The waves there ripple gently and endlessly and so people express their hope for eternal peace when they use this pattern."

Don't you think it interesting that a pattern has developed in two different cultures with different names and different meanings but is essentially the same?

For the rest of the afternoon I was machine quilting on the applique border and I only have to attach it to the piano cover I'm trying to make. This is a "make-as-you-go" project and I started with a large applique block that certainly wouldn't fit the piano, added two basket blocks, still too small. Added two star blocks, STILL too small and left with an odd space, added two applique bird blocks which got it the right length. Decided it was too blah so added two dark borders and now if I add borders on the sides it is going to be too long for the piano. I need to take a class in planning... The machine quilting looks nice though!

Oh! And another bit of excitment for me was that Nancy picked my name for her Laurel Burch fabrics that she was finished using! You can't believe how that put a smile on my face! I'm going to have to make something wonderful with them! Thank you again Nancy!

13 comments:

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I have a graduate degree in "making as I go" with no pre-planning. ;) The quilting does look great. Fascinating info. on the Baptist Fan quilting from tow different cultures, I love the Asian version myself!

keslyn said...

Well done on acheiving your goals for May, and the quilting looks great, I myself work much better with no real plan, I am actually not very good at following patterns, I always have to alter them, so why not start with no pattern and just build on it.
Look forward to seeing the finish produce.
Happy sewing
Kerry

anne bebbington said...

The quilting looks fabulous not just ok - very interesting about the baptist fan pattern

May Britt said...

Your quilting is wonderful. And I look forward to see the piano cover.

Laurie Ann said...

I like the Japanese version the best!

Rose Marie said...

Now, I understand why I love the fan so much. Thanks to your friend for sharing the story.

Connie said...

Tanya, You never fail to amuse and educate and interest me! You are making a wonderful piano cover! And I'm so glad you were selected for the LB fabrics!!!

meggie said...

A very interesting post, & I love your quilting! Pretty colours too.

Tonya R said...

Ooh, I love that description of the Seikaiha quilting. That's wonderful. I certainly feel calm when I'm quilting this pattern, so it makes sense to me. I love the fact that my fans can be spaced close together in one part of the quilt and farther apart in another. some are flat and some are more rounded... it all makes it more interesting. your quilting continues to be excellent.

atet said...

The meaning behind the Seikaiha quilting is so beautiful. I hadn't even thought about the fact that I've seen that design time and time again in asian designs -- and loved it. No wonder.

Love your "design as you go" piece -- the best way to work sometimes!

cher said...

I love the wonkiness of the fan quilting-looks wonderful

Clare said...

My fans look like that. They are truly wonky, though your sewing is a lot less wonkier than mine. I'm getting close to doing some more fans so looking forward to a peaceful few days quilting.

Judy said...

The quilting looks wonderful! Job well done!