kaleidoscopes

Catherine Wheel Kaleidoscopes.... a year of obsession!
This time last year I borrowed Bethany Reynold's book on stack and whack. I was determined to make a kaleidoscope quilt in 2006. To my great disgrace, the book remained as bedside reading for a few months more than it should have but finally I had to give it back to the Canberra Quilter's library. (I had made a few grovelling apologies to Susan Blood over those months...)
I loved the look of the blocks she was making in the book but I needed something easier. Something where I didn't need to cut filler shapes to complete the block.

Then I had a "moment". I don't know why I thought of it but I wondered if I could make a pointy Dresden plate in a stack and whack kinda way.
Eureka!
So began the obsession.
First I bought a very small amount of nice fabric and gave it a go... it worked! I got 8 plates out of that and a cute small quilt.
Next I bought a very cheap, ugly fabric. The fabric was in nice colours but as a border print, it was quite horrible. Once it was turned into plates, the fabric was completely transformed. I had no idea what was going to happen and did not plan the plates but just let it happen serendipitously. It was fabulous.

It was so much fun, and such a success. By now I was starting to have a few more clues about what I was doing but still let chance play its hand. I bought wicked flaming fabric and a whole bunch of screaming reds and oranges. This quilt looks dazzlingly bright and not very "me".
Next? A Japanese print I teamed up with lime and purple. It's pictured at the top. It is now on my DD(10)'s bed.
I made tiny ones to use as flowers in a huge scrappy quilt with an appliqued vase and vine.
After that was another Japanese print. It was intended for DD(8) but it isn't fun enough for an 8yo so I will give it to some one else.
I have just started another for DD2.
Here is the sample of fabric I am starting with.....

I haven't decided on a setting yet for the plates it is yielding. I think the setting is pivotal. Otherwise I doubt I would have stayed interested this long. Maybe an Irish Chain?
The plates I have made from the fabric have been scattered through this blog entry.

I have been teaching the technique now for about 9 months. Everyone seems to get just as hooked as me. At first I can see that they don't trust me and they worry that they don't know how the blocks will look when made. I assure them that they don't need to and that all will be well. And it always is! It is such a great fun class. There is instant gratification in a big way. How gorgeous is this block?