crafting a Still Point

Since I showed you my first block after facing down the y-seams, I've been working in earnest on this Still Point in a Turning World quilt.  But I had to start all over again, actually, because that first block didn't work out, color-wise.  It was beautiful, but busy.  Here it is again:

facing down Y-seams

Mixing so many different shades of blue and white, so many patterns and values obscures the patchwork possibilities somewhat.  To make this quilt all that I want it to be I need to restrain myself to a more controlled color scheme.

crafting a Still Point

Can you see the difference here?  It's a sharper dark against light.  And, actually, the farther away you get from the patchwork the more the design pops, twists and dances into so many different patterns. There are big, even stars and squished stars.  There's a pinwheel fan surrounded by shaded squares.

crafting a Still Point

To use all my pretty true blues without obscuring the patchwork pattern, I'm going to divide and conquer.  The pale aqua will make a very still point from which the different blues will radiate:  midnight above, cobalt at the sides and dusty blue below.

crafting a Still Point

On my design wall this minute I'm building out the diagonal where cobalt and midnight intersect.  Piecing these blocks is perfectly delightful!  My favorite part is trimming each one to an exacting 8.5" square.

crafting a Still Point

I think you'll have to take my word for it until I get this finished and can present it at a distance. I know from all the time I spend staring at it - instead of sewing it! - that there's a lot to see here.  (Can you spot the squished stars in the blocks that now appear "on point"?)

I'm looking forward to having a bigger work to show!