Friday, May 21

A "Turkish Delight" for Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Blogging offers us so many opportunities to share our creative endeavors and Amy is providing yet another one with her Blogger's Quilt Festival! This is her third year and I decided that this year, I would share one of my favorite quilts called.....

"Turkish Delight"

This is not a large quilt, just a small wallhanging that measures about 21" x 27". The label that I made for the back of the quilt says....
"Turkish Delight - 2000"
An original design based on patterns found
in Persian carpets. All stitching done by hand.
Made by Sandi Andersen
"Shop 'til you drop"
Millennium Challenge Contest - Twin Cities 1999-2000
The fabrics in the quilt are from Ginny Beyer's Millennium fabrics from the year 2000. Entrants had to purchase a fat quarter pack of the fabrics and use them in a quilt that represented the observance of the Millennium. All entries would be displayed at the Minnesota Quilter's Show that year and there was a prize of $500 for the winning quilt. As I worked on the quilt, my husband asked if I thought I could win. I said "oh, no, there will be other quilts that will be better than mine, but my quilt will be displayed at the Minnesota Quilter's Show and that is something I would love to see".
There was a special inspiration for making this quilt. In 1998, my husband had to make a business trip to Turkey and because it was the year of our 30th wedding anniversary, it was decided I would go along and we would add a week and enjoy a visit to southern Turkey. We stayed in the city of Antalya. It was a wonderful trip and I enjoyed visiting museums and shops and I loved the Turkish rugs. We even bought a small one to bring home as a remembrance of that trip. So with that inspiration, I designed my quilt.
Here is a close-up of the center design.......
I did needle-turn applique on the center medallion and then quilted with gold thread. I did an embroidery stitch around the medallion in a black and gold twist floss. The label on the back of the quilt is actually a pocket and inside the pocket is a note that I wrote on fabric that explains my thoughts in designing this piece......

When I saw the packets of Challenge fabrics, I was reminded of my wedding colors - 1968 - olive green and ice blue. Second thing I was reminded of was our 30th anniversary trip to Turkey. I was fascinated by the colors and the patterns in the rugs. I bought two books on the history of the rugs and their symbols and we also bought a rug for our living room. One day in January, I was looking at the rug after having read about some of it's symbols. I suddenly realized how similar the designs were to our quilt patterns and I wondered.......Did some of our designs we stitch today, come from women who drew inspiration from their carpets?
Some of the designs I incorporated (names found in the books I bought) were the "Wheel of Fortune" symbol , the blocks in all four corners......the "Rose" in the center, and above and below it, the "Clover".......and to each side, the "Hyacinth". There are four red "poppies" and in each corner, a "triangle of charm". There are five borders that symbolize "earth, sky, water, holiness, productivity and fertility". In the outer border are six "eye beads" to ward off evil. The colors of blue, green, meadow saffron and deep red are common to the Turkish carpets. The blue fabric especially reminded me of the ruins we visited (on our trip) in what was once "the Cradle of Civilization".

I remember that as we visited historic sites and ruins on that visit to Turkey thinking......."wow, I am standing in places that I read about as a young girl growing up in Iowa." I could not believe that I had been so fortunate as to visit such an exotic and lovely place that I had read about in books. I even rode a camel. I'll see if I can find my pictures and share that one with you.

That's my quilt and story for Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival. If you have a quilt to share, just go here and you'll find all the info you need to add your quilt and story. Thanks, Amy, for doing this!

Now I'm off to find that box of pictures so I can show you I really did ride a camel!

Sandi

Almost forgot to mention......I didn't win but my quilt was displayed at MN Quilter's Show along with 24 other quilts made from the challenge fabrics. The winning quilt was a "stunner" that incorporated applique work of Cleopatra, the asp, a pyramid and other symbols from that time. I got a nice note and a compliment from the judges for my "lovely use of the red in the quilt". I was very happy. :-)

25 comments:

Kristen said...

Beautiful quilt and story! I do like the applique!

Val said...

Wow. I love the quilt and I loved hearing how it came to be. You are very talented.

Lindah said...

What an interesting story! It's a beautiful little quilt. I'm glad the judges recognized that!
Interesting your thoughts regarding carpet design and quilt design. We have a beautiful oriental design Begium carpet that always is the basis for my home dec. When I am stumped on quilt colors/shapes/quilting designs, etc, I often sit down and study that carpet for inspiration. As you said, perhaps our quilting foremothers were onto something with their carpets.
Blessings!

Sandra said...

Thanks for sharing your story which I understand as almost all my quilts are challenge quilts. I think your new challenge should be a camel quilt.
Sandra Starley

Come see my latest challenge quilt & its 1890 cheddar star original
http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com

and my 1890 pink blazing star antique
http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com

AnnieO said...

What great memories you had from your trip and the inspiration you encountered. The quilt is just lovely. Thank you for sharing your quilt's story :)

Michelle said...

What a pretty wall hanging!

I like your family photo.

Pat said...

You related stories SO well, Sandi. You really should write a book featuring some of your quilts and the stories behind them.

AJ said...

Love your blog header!

Nihal said...

Oh Sandi,
One point is so true, not everyone is fortunate yet! I too believe that you had been fortunate to visit the country of Turkey! Said, exotic and lovely land, and you are one of best visitors to tell us and those unique Turkish elements which make Turkey!

Being an Istanbulian, and loving to take my summer vacations in the Miami of Turkey, that's Antalya, I am truly honored to read your memories, trip details and how turning out something lasting in a beautiful piece of art -like this quilt. Oh my, look how its named: Turkish Delight!

Thank you Sandi again and again. Every one from my country would feel the same I did. You are a great "Culture Ambassador".

Wish you could be here to share my cup of coffee and next would be a piece of delicious Turkish delight while sipping, you know both is our traditional way of drinking coffee:) Will be absolutely thinking of you right now:)

((Warm Hugs)) & My best wishes~

Nihal said...

Oh my, I am definitely happy, happy, yes very HAPPY to hear (+receive) your news about my win. I'm so looking forward to the book. May I ask Sandi, could you please sign the book for me before shipping? I know you will, so sending big hugs and kisses for your kindness and ... super wonderful news of today that brightens up my day despite the rain:)

Blessings & hearts~

Owl Lady said...

I enjoy hearing about your quilts and the inspiration for them. I love to travel but have never been outside the U.S. except briefly into Ontario.
The Turkish Delight is well named.

Vivian said...

Such a beautiful little quilt, Sandi. Special memories and lovely fabrics and details. Thanks for sharing its story.

SheilaC said...

Sandy, thank you for sharing this beautiful quilt!
I especially love the idea of documentation in a pocket/label!

What a great idea!

SheilaC

Lonci said...

This is a lovely quilt:)

SarahB said...

What a lovely quilt! I really like the idea of a label pocket with the special story of the quilt tucked inside!

Barb said...

Yummy!
thanks for sharing this lovely quilt

Nanette Merrill said...

Wow what an interesting quilt and design. Colors, too. Unique really. I thought carpet design too. Very nice.

Lynn Koeppen said...

Nice quilt! I remember you from Pat Sloan's Spring Fling tea towel exchange. That was my first exchange and it was so fun! I made a new quilting friend.

Karen said...

What a wonderful inspiration your holiday was.You now have a wonderful quilt to display.

prashant said...

I love the quilt
indian classified site

Sarah Vanderburgh said...

Thank you for sharing this quilt - and especially it's story. I love the colours. The pocket label is a great idea! Thank you for sharing your design notes with us. I look forward to seeing you on that camel, too!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work!

SewCalGal said...

Delightful quilt. Yummy colors, great design. You did a great job!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Dallas Designing-Diva said...

Love the quilt and your treasured family photo!

Randi
http://DivaBuzz.designing-diva.com

Eileen said...

fantastic quilt!! i love the applique and the colors and all of it. your story is just wonderful, too. what a sweet story and picture about your mom and dad. my dad promised mom a sewing machine if she had a girl--ME! thus started a line of women and girls who sew. i'd love to have a picture similar to yours--so great. thank for sharing

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
©SEA 2001-2018