Quilt by Patricia Belyea
48" x 64"
The lotus is revered in Japan for its ability to rise above the murky waters and become a divine flower with a delicate fragrance. Lotus viewers often visit lakes and ponds at dawn to watch the blossoms crack open in the early light of day.
Lotus is made completely from floral fabrics donated from my friends’ stashes, plus sherbet-colored solids from my own stash. Thank heavens for a petite piece of Lake Blossoms by Kaffe Fassett and a snippet of Floating Buds by Amy Butler that add just the right ambiance to this quilt. Evoking the delight of a tangled summer garden, I used big-stitch quilting to criss-cross the patterns and solids with upward-flowing lines.
Lotus was featured in Patricia’s book, East-Meets-West Quilts, as a project with instructions. Made with contemporary designer cottons plus contemporary solids. The fabric on the back is a heavyweight organic cotton twill.
The quilt, signed with Patricia’s applique´signature, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a custom linen bag. Shipping and insurance are free to a domestic US address.
Patricia founded Okan Arts—a family business that imports vintage Japanese textiles. Inspired by these found fabrics, Patricia incorporates hand-dyed yukata cottons into her quilt designs. An award-winning quilter, Patricia’s quilts have been exhibited at quilt museums across the country.