mystery quilter....

So to a quilting related mystery, this is an image of a painting, a print of which belongs to a friend of mine, she has not got any details about its painter or of whom the quilter is. 

This makes the image even more compelling to me. I find myself wondering about the fabric, the many colours presumably from previously used items, loved items? Did each fragment mean something to the quilter? 

How were the women related, mother and daughter or sisters, maybe friends? Who painted them, someone close to them or commissioned for the job? Where are they from?  Has the painter painted other textile related works? Is the painter a man or a woman?

The colours of the painting are so warm and even seem to show a warmth between its subjects. 

Who, what, where....?

and for a little bit of burlesque quilting fun....

Another week has flown by plenty of projects on going but here is one I've done for fun.
The North West Burlesque Society http://www.northwestburlesquesociety.com/ (they're also on Facebook and Twitter) requested donations of burlesque themed 12" squares (+half an inch allowance for stitching them together) for a charity quilt and I thought I would join in with a small contribution.

I decided to make a square based around the saucy lingerie that is so pivotal to burlesque.
As I love the 50's style I took my inspiration from the lingerie so beautifully made by
'What Katie Did ';   http://www.whatkatiedid.com/src/about_us.php

I have been advised that true Burlesque is a celebration of the female at her most tantilising and despite misconceptions and confusion with stripping never reveals all. Also that every good act is based on a planned out storyline, often with humour.

I also felt that every true Burlesque artiste is a star in their own right and so it seemed natural to use a star stitch as a decorative filler.

I drew the image and then replicated it by machine appliqued taffeta, silk and nylon stocking onto calico and sandwiched in some wadding with another layer of calico

the reverse of the the first piece of applique,
I don't know why but I'm always fascinated by the back of hand or machine stitched work

all done, I love red shoes but wanted the impact from the silk stocking tops so had to subdue the shoes, sorry shoes

I embroidered the stars which seemed to decide where they wanted to go all by themselves
and I decided to back it with a third layer of calico to protect the reverse of the stitching

the reverse of the stars, which have mysteriously developed a slightly Oriental allure