Quilt by Patricia Belyea
48" x 56"
When autumn breezes begin the blow, the Japanese search for the changing colors of Fall. The annual maple-hunting guide reports on the best viewing sites, moving from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south over a fifty-five-day period.
I made big blocks of color for this quilt design. Each block features a patterned yukata cotton matched with a contemporary solid. Most are subdued combos with the red popping like a flaming maple on a mountainside. I styled the hand-stitching pattern after the abstracted morning glories on the back. When one row of stitching didn’t show up, I added more—until there were two to three rows of hand-stitching defining the oversized stitch pattern.
Autumn Breeze was featured in Patricia’s book, East-Meets-West Quilts, as a project with instructions. Made with vintage yukata cottons, sourced in Japan by Patricia, plus contemporary solids.
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.