First Baby Quilt Finished

I say first as a second surprise quilt is in the works. Pretty much 1/2 of my friends are pregnant this year. Amazing. Here is my finished quilt. Yay.

For before pictures check out my blog entry on this project and the 8 point star motif symbolism and appearance in my work.

Geometry in Fabric, 8 Point Star Motif

I always enjoyed geometry class; one of my favorite subjects in math. I suspect it is a result of growing up around quilts. Grandma was nearly always quilting when we were at her house and her walk in closet filled with fabric was a source of intrigue and also a somewhat forbidden zone - it was color coded, sorted, folded: organized.

She did however let us watch her work. It's amazing what you learn without realizing you are being taught or learning at all! I have surprised myself a few times the last couple of years when commissioned to make custom quilts, with my general knowledge and quilting skills. Osmosis ;)

I saw a cute quilt design in a book at JoAnn Fabrics, but didn't want the whole book so I put the theme and variation on a 9-patch to memory, bought some fabric I liked, went home and got to work. I'm currently working on a baby crib quilt.

The 9-patch design I am working on creates an 8 point star; a motif I fell in love with in Spain, when I observed it woven into architectural details throughout the Andalusia region. I asked a friendly merchant about the symbol as I had seen it so many times I began to suspect it had some significance. He told me it was a Moroccan star and a symbol found in Islam. According to Wikipedia:

"The Rub el Hizb (Arabic: ربع الحزب‎) is a symbol, represented as two overlapping squares, which is found on a number of emblems and flags. In Arabic, Rubʻ means "one fourth, quarter", while Hizb means a group or party. Initially, it was used in the Quran, which is divided into 60 Hizb (60 groups of roughly equal length); the symbol determines every quarter of Hizb, while the Hizb is one half of a juz'. The main purpose of this dividing system is to facilitate recitation of the Qur'an. It is also used as a marker for the end of a chapter in Arabic calligraphy.

The Star of Lakshmi is an identical star figure which figures in Hinduism, where it represents Ashtalakshmi, the eight forms, or "kinds of wealth", of the goddess Lakshmi.

An eight-pointed star was used as a symbol of Tartessos, an ancient civilization based in Andalusia. As the region was ruled by Islamic dynasties for eight centuries, this may suggest a possible origin of the Rub el Hizb."

On a tour of some ancient ruins in Andalusia, I asked the guide about the symbol when I saw it framing an open window facing the sky at the top of a dome. He said it was a sort of God's eye symbol. I enjoy learning about symbols and what they represent in different cultures. The star made of two squares has fascinated me since I traveled to Spain all those years ago. I was delighted to see it represented in a 9-patch quilt square and am busy working on a quilt using this block.

Here are some progress pics:
All of the 300 or so squares cut and laid out. The design is a play on light versus dark squares. I used a mix of bought fabric, most of the darks, and fabric from my Grandma's legacy collection, all of the lights.
My progress as of writing this blog is that the top is a little over half way done.

Here is a little snap shot into my artistic obsession with this symbol over the years: A Mandala design I painted on the floor in my store on Artists' Row. With the help of fellow artist and friend, Sara Maurno! It is based on the 8 point star in the center.
Tile work outside of a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco featuring a rounded version of the 8 point star motif. I took this while traveling there during college.
A double play of the 8 point star motif: it is found in the tile work and also in the wooden window grates that are casting a shadow on the floor. Taken in Andalusia, Spain.
A quilt my Grandma helped me design and make based on a photo of an inlaid wood floor in Spain.

Mmm Special Fabric Gift!

I just spent the day in CT visiting some of my favorite people on the planet, Jim Bump, retired luthier/historic village reenactor/printer and active musician extraordinaire and Rachel Lewis, artist by profession and hobby and retired textile designer! Rachel gave me some wonderful vintage textiles from her collection and her mother's collection.

These pieces are really special as many are from the 1930's USA, others are from Rachel's mother's time in China (she was born there!) and are beautiful Asian textiles including a beautiful wall hanging, an antique Korean traditional gown, a large batik piece handmade in Indonesia in the 1960's, which is a work of art in itself as it is precise and there are no repeats in the design. Not to mention the silk from China from her mother's collection! I am honored to be the new guardian of such lovely pieces!(This is similar to the dress from Rachel's mother).

I had so much fun going through the textiles with Rachel because she shared the story attached to each piece. She also gave me some insight into her time designing the color palettes for textiles at Lowenstein's in NYC. The key when choosing colors is "spockle" (sparkle), i.e. a combo that pops when it meets your eye. They sold to the fashion industry so the goal was to catch the eye of designers.

Also interesting is that each graphic design was offered it at least three palettes: a pink/red/orange scheme, a blue/green/purple scheme and a "smot" (smart) scheme which featured neutrals like beige, black, white and navy.

What a fascinating afternoon! Thank you Rachel!

New YazBerry Design Studio

Favorite excuse for chaos: I'm not messy, I'm creative.

Here is a photographic tour of my new design studio in Salem, MA.

Overall view. I have a lot of floor space however the table is set up so I can quickly rotate from my machine to my cutting table. Also, I still need to find 'more organized' homes for some of the stuff in the floor. All and all, mostly functional at this point shortly after the move :)

My sewing table. I acquired a new machine for free at a yard sale. It is a work horse and great for straight seam sewing. I was surprised it worked upon plugging it in (the orange flowered cover in the corner gives you an idea of its age).

Organized chaos. I know where everything is.

I have a room with a view. I'm on top of a hill and can see the sunset from here!

My fabric stash. Sorted in color order. I think better that way.

The coolest part of this room is all of the storage. It is in the top floor of the house and I have huge finished closets in each of the eaves as well as a walk in closet for my own clothes!

The YazBerry warehouse! All vintage and handmade lovelies live here until you adopt them into your home! (Considering an adoption? visit yazberryfashion.etsy.com!)

I even have a built in cedar closet to protect all of the delicate fibers like silks and wools!

Awesome space to store purses.

The collection as viewed from...the other end!


BONUS FEATURE!
Here is a quick peek at my personal closet...not finished organizing it yet...but have lots of shelves and hanger rods on both sides to do so. I've always wanted to know what some of my favorite designers have in their closets. As you can see my color palate runs from my closet into my store. That is indeed consistent!

Enjoy!

<3 Virginia

The Depiction of Fabric in Paintings

I have come to realize that most of my all time favorite paintings in the whole world (that I have laid my eyes upon thus far)...brilliantly depict fabric in the clothing of the subjects. One such painting I discovered a couple of years ago at the Worcester Art Museum. It is in their permanent collection and quite wonderful. I have never seen such an effective portrayal of transparent lace before this picture. It looks like real lace and you can see through it as you could if you were there. Not to mention the great detail in her dressing table accessories. Woman at Her Toilette by Francois Clouet

At some point in high school I believe, I stumbled across Flaming June, as large as life on an out of the way wall in a museum whose name and location slip my mind. I don't know if it was an original or a print as I cannot seem to find any mention of whether this painting and I could possibly have been in the same museum at the same time in the last 5-10 years. Does anyone know how to look up the record of where paintings have been shown?

I love Flaming June because the artist captures the clingy, gauzy semi-transparent nature of her gown. He also expertly shows the natural drape of the fabric, how it pulls some at her right knee, and how it falls vertically from her extended left foot. Genius!
Flaming June by Frederick Lord Leighton

And finally I leave you with Julia, Lady Peel who I met at The Frick Collection in New York City (NYC) about a year ago while at the United Nations. The Frick Collection is a private collection in the exquisitely decorated home of the late Henry Clay Frick, a steel magnate, right next to Central Park. This collection houses numerous examples of my favorite paintings that are my favorites simply because of how the fabric is depicted. I highly suggest you visit The Frick Collection next time you are in NYC.

I have limited myself to sharing with you only Julia, Lady Peel as she is one of the finest examples of the amazing collection of paintings in The Frick Collection, and this way I won't go on for days about paintings I love. Maybe I will revisit this topic in the future with a different collection of paintings; small doses makes it easier to digest.

The color combinations in this painting are so eye catching (just had to put that out there). The artist really has made it easy for the viewer to distinguish one texture from another. You clearly see that the crimson plumes coming off the hat are light and feathery. You see that the white fur stole is just that, fur. And you see that her sleeves are sleek satin. Not to mention the detail in her jewelry! Love it!

Julia, Lady Peel by Sir Thomas Lawrence

I'm not Messy, I'm Creative: An Insider's YazBerry Studio Tour!

Now that Designer, Virginia E. Berry has moved to a new studio, eager eyes and ears have been hinting at an insider's YazBerry Studio Tour...

As you enter you are pleasantly greeted by Virginia's works in progress...100% authentic YazBerry just after the hatching stage!

Continue towards the back of the room and you can have a pre-buyer's peek at some of the YazBerry Vintage inventory. This closet holds many items yet to be listed, in fact it holds more vintage items to be listed than are currently listed on www.yazberry.com or
yazberryfashion.etsy.com Stay tuned as those 14 extra hours per week allow the YazBerry vintage offering to bloom.

Along the opposite wall you can see a large selection of fabrics and ideas! This is the source, the mother load for materials for many YazBerry creations. A close up of the Grandma's Legacy Fabric (well it is mixed in nicely, but a close up of the fabrics none the less) is included for your viewing pleasure.





And finally we arrive at the engines that drive this operation known as YazBerry. On the right we have, the Huskystar C10 by Husqvarna Viking sewing machine who not only seams together many items but decorates them too with beautiful embroidery stitches.
On the left, her partner in crime, is our finishing expert Janome MyLock 644D who both finishes raw edges professionally and ensures YazBerry items are built to last.





Now eyes and ears, you have experienced the inner workings of a fashion design studio, the YazBerry Fashion Design Studio. This colorful, organized chaos is a real life rendition of Designer, Virginia E. Berry's brain and creative functionality. All of these elements plus Virginia's brain, mix together to create the wonderful items you see at yazberryfashion.etsy.com and www.yazberry.com. Happy shopping!

Obi-Wan Kimono or 100 pounds of fabric

*Gulp* I just hauled two 50 pound suitcases filled to the brim with fabric all the way from Minnesota to Massachusetts! I almost killed someone in the airport when the precariously stacked suitcases tipped over exiting the airport and I blocked the exit a bit and everyone just walked around me and didn't bother stopping to help me pick it up (kind folk these days hunh). Finally after being totally and completely unable to lift the suitcase I yelled at a man standing at the curb "Could you please help me!?!??!" After he helped me it occurred to me that I had been a bit rude and compensated for this by thanking him excessively, from the bottom of my travel weary heart.

Why on earth was I schlepping two 50 pound suitcases half way across the USA anyway? Simple: I went treasure hunting and discovered a fantastic source for vintage OBIS! (What are obis!?!??! I know you are asking. They are the beautiful embroidered silk or brocade belts the Japanese use with their Kimonos, in the singular, Obi). Stay tuned to www.yazberry.com/fashion.html for exquisite handbags and accessories made from re-purposed Japanese Obis. Also, I expect the Obis to sneak up as table linens and home decor items as well, so make sure you tune in to www.yazberry.com/decor.html in the coming weeks as well.

Next question: what on earth was I doing in Minnesota? First of all, Minnesota is one of my favorite places ever, and I have lived in several states and traveled to several countries. The myths about the unsupportable winters and summers filled with mosquitoes are...true...but I love the winters and I love the summers...drenched in bug repellent. Minneapolis is such a growing arts city; I dare you to check it out!

Anyway, I digress. Why did I go to Minnesota for vacation? Well I grew up there and have lots of family there (my grandparents were very productive, I have eight aunts and uncles on my father's side and they are all married and have 2.5 kids and a dog!) and I have many friends there that know how cool Minneapolis and St. Paul are and are sticking around because it rocks! My friends are very fun, some of them, Ms. Karen Wallin and Ms. Andrea Nelson, have joined a bowling league and invited Ms. Megan Pratola and myself to bowl with them and I found it quite entertaining...maybe I am a closet bowler and never knew it! I have to brag that I bowled my best game ever in the history of Virginia and bowling, 106!


I bowled and dined with a few friends who enjoyed robust steak and other savory dishes and tropical cocktails. Can I please state for the record that Leinenkugel's beer is brewed in Chippewa Falls WI, it is not an import. Anyway, I digress again. Ms. Andrea Nelson is a journalist and has interviewed me on YazBerry. I'll share the interview with you when it is published, don't you worry.

Now, let me explain to you the remaining 75 pounds of fabric. They say that the quilter that dies with the most fabric wins. My grandmother is an excellent quilter, a master of applique and French snots (her rendition of French knots). Grandma always, always, always has had shelves full of fabric. She has fabric in every color imaginable and neatly sorts it and stores it folded in color order (I think I inherited the color order trait; see my sock drawer and crayon box for reference). I thought the day would never come when Grandma allowed me free rein to thumb through her fabric collection.

Not only was I able to thumb through five floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with fabric, but I was requested to take home as much of this fabric as I could! I think my Grandparents wanted me to take home all of it...but even the garbage bag full I did take was nearly over my allowed weight limit for my flight home. I remind you to check back often as some fantastic vintage fabric dating as far back to the 1940's will be appearing in numerous configurations in YazBerry creations. Don't worry, when I write up the fiber content I will be sure to list it as vintage fabric from Grandma's collection, so you are aware of the legacy you are about to buy into!

While I am typically quite light hearted, bordering on humorous on this blog, I do want to take a moment to be serious. My Grandma is nearing her mid 80's, she is still mostly healthy, but the years are sneaking up on her. What does it mean when a quilter, who's goal is to die with the most fabric, begins giving away her treasured collection? I like to think she has no intention of moving on, so by downsizing she is telling the years that "I have no intention of winning the quilters competition, I will be here forever." I love my Grandma so much!