"Awakening"

So, here is the start of my new large project for this year, the "Awakening". I came across this quilt, or rather a picture if it, when I was making "Gardenhurst". 

In the introduction to her book "Focus on Applique" Irene Blanck writes about her early starts of quilt designing, and about her quilt "Awakening", which has a special meaning to her. I loved it immediately, however the instructions for it are not included in the book, and I could not find anyone who stocks the pattern. So I contacted Irene directly and she very kindly copied the pattern for me.

As you can see it is all about angels.

My earliest encounter with an angel I can remember was when I was very, very small.

There is a Czech Tradition on 6th December (or the eve of, the start of the Christmas period) when you can see Mikulas (St Nicholas), often accompanied by Angel and Devil.

If you click on the link you can read all about it.

I have this very distant memory of someone knocking on our apartment door, and when my parents opened it, there was Mikulas, with beautiful Angel who was all in white. Devil was all in black and red, with big horns on his head and rattling his chains.  You can just imagine the picture, and the impression it makes on a small child. 

They ask children if they have been good, and of course they have and they get a present.
 (The alternative is getting a piece of coal from Devil or being put in his sack !) 

I remember the Angel being beautiful in the white dress, with large wings.

Much later I found out (of course) that they were my parent's friends, dressed in costumes from the local theatre. 😀

Of course Angels come in all shapes and sizes, in various disguises all through our life. 

You would think that for a non- believer like me this would be hard to square up, but I am OK with Angels (and Fairies for that matter), because I am sure they were around when I needed them.........

I have been collecting some fabrics fot this project for some time, but it is inevitable that more will have to be found in my stash as the quilt progresses.

There are many "Angel" quotes as part of the blocks, but at the moment I don't think I will include them in my quilt, and I might have to slightly re-design some of the blocks.

I am not following the order of the pattern. I prefer to start from the middle, so I have started with the "Central Guardian Angel".

I haven't yet joined all the pieces together, but this is how it will look.

My second large block is "Postie Angel", as not yet complete.

  I wish you good stitching week, where ever you are!

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