Arles placemats

My second commission (!) was for eight placemats in Provençal colors. I had all the fabrics on-hand from other projects, but I needed to purchase more turquoise and white dots for the binding.

Improvising the design for each mat is a heavenly task. I get into Zen mode and let the fabrics tell their story.

The tangerine linen comes off brighter in photos than it truly is.

The story on the backs is simpler.

mat backs

With fabrics as fun as this linen toile, stories are easy to imagine. It doesn't hurt that I lived in Istanbul. My sister Nancy gave me the linen toile with sultans and also the red toile with French scenes.

mat backs

Do you recognize the tangerine linen from Inge's dress? If so, thank you for paying attention. :)

Even the red and white dots were in Inge's dress, in the Hong Kong seams.

I machine quilted every 5/8".

See the little peek of plaid from Bootsie & Astrid's placemat backs?

The person who ordered these placemats did not want napkins. If you were to order napkins for this set, what fabric would you choose?

Etsy listing here.

Tuscan placemats & napkins

I had a delicious time sewing with these soft batiks, so lush.

This was a custom order for six placemats and napkins (my first!)

When I browsed batiks at the local quilt shop, I was overwhelmed with their beauty and uinqueness.

Combinations are endless. I especially love these warm earthy colors the customers requested. I free-motion machine quilted around the florals.

They would also be beautiful in blues, browns, golds, reds, purples, all available in batik.

Etsy listing here.