It is hard to stop drawing and designing quilts using Mexican tiles. I have been researching vintage Malibu Tiles, a tile manufacturer that is actually still around. The style of Spanish revival tiles from the early 1920's have a bit of a modern art deco feel to them, and then some are just off the map. I am finding my way to developing a color palate which used the glaze colors which were typical for this style of southern California art tiles. I admit I can't stop. There are just too many possibilities.
Here are a few I came up with tonight. The problem I see with them is that they are lot of applique, and who would want to take on that kind of work? Yet how can I pare them down to greater simplicity and still maintain the style? I am working on that. I found a quilt book by a wonderful designer who used Talavera (a Mexican style of pottery and tile) designs to create very modern looking quilt designs. They are lovely and much simpler than what I have created, but they lack the traditional feel that I love about these designs.
What do you think?
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| California (9" blocks) |
This quilt is called California and mixes that sunny feel of the Southwest with a stained glass look drawn from the black-outlined circles. I remember the Spanish Missions in California when I visited as a child and they had this look and feel. It is made of 2 alternating blocks with a slim black sashing between them.
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| Circles |
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| Orange Blossom |
This one is brighter, more "fiesta-ish" with the primary colors and happy summer feeling. I named it Chicken Soup because I couldn't think of anything else at the time. Odd how names come to me based on impressions I get at the moment. Haha
The blocks 8" squares in a 5 x 5 setting, but any odd number of rows would work out with this pattern. I really like these blocks and found that I could make dozens of combinations with them. Alter the colorway and they really created all kinds of moods.
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| Desert Pansy |
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| Song Bird |
I get such a kick out of designing those twining border blocks. I know I have earned several years in purgatory for that, but they just intrigue me, and seem to go with the tile designs. This has been so much fun. I almost hate to admit I have designed more than 100. . . er, ok. . .200 designs with the more than 60. . . er, ok. . . 100 tile designs I have drawn.
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