Stars in a Time Warp

You might remember this sew-along on Barbara Brackman's Civil War blog a couple years ago.

I thought it sounded like fun, so I jumped right in and was amazed at how many of the various fabrics I was able to pull out of my own stash! I have to admit I did get stuck on a few, "faked" a couple, and was completely stymied on one. Ultimately I ended up with forty eight good blocks, enough for a small quilt.

This was definitely a process quilt. I had a lot of fun going through my stash and finding the particular styles of fabric Barbara was teaching us about. Btw this was an excellent way to refresh my memory and get reacquainted all the different fabrics I've been hoarding all these years! Anyway, I looked at the process (and the product) as a fabric study, as I learned so much going along.

I considered many ideas for my quilt. I auditioned several on my wall, proceeded with a couple,  sewed and un-sewed, and went back to square one several times.

Here's one idea that didn't make the cut.

bleah.

Here's another.

Too circus-y.

And then there was this.

I came really close to sewing this one up, but it was just... too much! My Time Warp Stars were totally lost. Kind of a mess, really, especially up close. Also, too big. I am glad I kept the picture though, which is kinda fun to look at.

As much as I wanted and tried to work with the green setting, I struggled to come up with anything that made me happy. Time to let go, and move in a different direction.

Fast forward a few months (a year?) I happened upon a picture Hartwell Stars, by Cynthia at Wabi Sabi Quilts. What a gorgeous quilt! Simple, yet stunning. I'm thinking, this idea might work. And it didn't hurt that I just so happened to have a stack of triangle squares in very similar fabrics, made for a previous (aborted) project. So with Cynthia's permission, I borrowed her layout idea and color scheme, and hit the road running.

See Cynthia's inspirational quilt here.

Mine is more of a mini version, and really quite different from hers, in spite of the similar fabrics, etc. My stars are only 4" and there are far fewer of them, hence a much smaller quilt. Then I added the border, which really changes the overall look.  I wanted an "old" look, so borrowed a border idea from antique quilts. I think it's perfect. Small enough to use as a fabric reference tool (I intend to install a legend on the back) and big enough to snuggle under on the couch.

Anyway, here's another view of my finished top, taken outdoors, which shows the colors a little better.

I love how the stars take center stage, almost hovering above the more muted colors in the background.

Speaking of hoarding, I've been hoarding the last yard of that deep blue print forever, waiting for "just the right quilt" to feature it in. I think this works. I even have a bit of a scrap left over. 😊



Love,
Sandy