Chinoiserie - Where East Meets West

Chinoiserie Collection by Anna Griffin
CONTEST IS OVER. Congratulations to Deborah B of Michigan.

A new fabric collection by Anna Griffin has a name I can't pronounce, but I am captivated by its beauty and elegance. Chinoiserie just takes my breath away. But, as I always say: Words mean things. And what does this mysterious word mean? Let Wikipedia help you (as they helped me).

Chinoiserie, a French term, signifying "Chinese-esque", and pronounced [ʃinwazʁi]) refers to a recurring theme in European artistic styles since the seventeenth century, which reflect Chinese artistic influences. It is characterized by the use of fanciful imagery of an imaginary China, by asymmetry in format and whimsical contrasts of scale, and by the attempts to imitate Chinese porcelain and the use of lacquerlike materials and decoration.

A stack of books covered in Chinoserie and a pillow bolster. And the quilt in the background . . .
Enough of words! What did I do with it? Do you remember my blog post in late October with the Halloween quilt created with 8 squares cut with the motifs in the exact spot on each one? It's my "go-to" pattern I call Spinning Pinwheels, and if you go peek at the steps, I'll wait right here for you.

I cut 8 squares 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" with the print in the exact location on each one
 You can't agonize about where to place the ruler (I used a 9-1/2" square). Just find points of reference so you can cut them all the same.
All 8 squares have the same motif placement
Stack them so all the raw edges are aligned. Then cut the stack vertically, horizontally and along both diagonals. Put a new blade in your cutter so you don't risk slipping and making a bad cut.

Eight stacks of eight triangles each (from the Blossom print)
OK, OK. I know you're asking: how much yardage does this take? There is no definitive answer. A lot depends on the repeat of the design, but because I only used a 9-1/2" square ruler, I was able to achieve my matching squares from 3/4 yards of fabric. You can't fail with 1-1/2 to 2 yards of fabric and use any remainder for other things.

One stack of matching triangles, each turned 45 degrees to its neighbor
I next cut 4 squares (not 8) of the wonderful teal and white print (Pavillion Turquoise), and then cut those into 8 triangles.


I also cut 2-1/8" x 6-1/2" strips of the Pavillion  Turquoise and then placed them in the "empty" spaces next to the triangles.
Spinning Pinwheels Block. Finished size approximately 11-1/4"
This is NOT a quick project but it is very exciting as you discover each new block is SO different from the previous ones. Remember, all 8 of these blocks were cut from a single print repeat! This is NOT Stack 'n Whack (though it does have some similar looks). This is SO EASY once the squares are cut.

The marvelous Peacock print for setting triangles
Here is my quilt center so far and then closeups of the various blocks. Don't you just love, love this fabric and this technique? I have borders planned, of course!

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Block 7

Block 8

OK. What else did I make and what is the prize?

Used a fancy gift bag as a pattern (Prosperity Pink on the outside)
Gift bag from the side (Bamboo Green used for lining)




Comments

  1. What pretty fabrics! I love all the blocks, but if I have to pick just one it would be #3.

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  2. This is a tough one! They're all so interesting. #3 spoke to me, too.

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  3. The red center and tips really caught my eye although they are all gorgeous.

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  4. Hi!!! Beautiful blocks!!!! My fave is 5!!! Thanks for the fun!!!

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  5. They are beautiful. I would have to say block #2 - it is less fussy than the rest but they are all stunning.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Thanks for showing us that awesome technique! Gorgeous blocks! I love number 4! Thanks for offering the giveaway!

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  7. Thanks for sharing this technique. I especially love block 6, and these fabrics are fantasticQ

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  8. Block #5. All of them are very pretty.

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  9. Block 3 is my favorite; I was going to say Block 6, but I think Block 3 has even better contrast between the background and the center. They are especially nice when all grouped together.

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  10. Oh the fabric is just gorgeous,,,but I think I like number 6 the best.

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  11. Beautiful! I like block 3 the best!
    hulseybg at gmail dot com

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  12. I like all of your blocks!
    #3 is my favorite. Thanks for
    the chance to win!

    wigglypup2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. I loved this fabric the moment I saw it. Block 5 is my favourite but they all look fantastic.

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  14. My favourite would be block 7 :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  15. All of the blocks are beautiful, I will pick block 5. You do amazing work.

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  16. Block 6 is my favourite - although they are all gorgeous. I love the way the flowers are in the spinning corners in Block 6.

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  17. Block #5 is my favorite. Thanks for sharing & thanks for the chance to win.

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  18. All the blocks are gorgeous and I love the variety, but number 5 is my very favorite.

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  19. Block 5, but they are all gorgeous. That fabric is very eloquent...love it!

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  20. Since I love Asian fabrics and that is the biggest part of my stash by far, I love this line and want a bit of each print for my very own. Thanks for the chance to win. I like all the blocks too so picking just one is tough but if I must, I'll pick #5.

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  21. I changed my mind a few times but finally decided on number 5. What a great pattern.

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  22. Thanks for showing us how to make these beautiful blocks. #5

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  23. I love block 6. the blues in the middle coordinate so well with the background fabric.
    I'm going to print out your instructions and try this. it looks so interesting.
    Joan in GA

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  24. I like all of them, but if I have to pick one, I'll pick #5. Thanks for the tutorial and the giveaway!

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  25. What beautiful fabrics! I don't even know how to choose, but I'll pick #6 just to be a team player, lol.

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  26. Thank you for showing us how you made these blocks. They are all so pretty. But I will choose #7. I am already a follower. Thanks for a chance to win such a fabulous give a way.

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  27. How neat , I love how the blocks turned out and my favorite is block #6. Thanks for sharing !

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  28. Block 5 is my favorite. It got more red in it and somehow that drew my eye. Oh my gosh!! They sure are beautiful. I don't know if this wastes fabric I might have an aversion to it. I just can't really afford to let fabric slip thru my fingers but gee this is beautiful!

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  29. Wow very pretty. I like block # 5 the best. it has a pretty center. then don't they all. thanks for sharing this and I checked out the tutorial too. I have been wanting to try this method my self but have been hesitant to cut into my large prints.

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  30. Block 5 is my favorite! Beautiful blocks! And, I follow you via email subscription.

    Deborah
    pinkscissorsdesign @gmail .com

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  31. I could look at these blocks all day! I like block #7!...actually all of the blocks, but you said to choose 1. :)

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  32. It's a close race because they're all pretty, but I choose #6 as the best! Very, very pretty quilt with this fabric!

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  33. Oh, What beautiful fabric! I love this! This is a difficult one--but, I think I will choose block 5. They are all really beautiful! I want to try this technique but haven't had time. (I need to stop doing all of these blog hops! lol)

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  34. I LOVE Block 5. I really like this technique because I've always enjoyed kaleidoscopes!

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  35. I liked block number 5 the best but it certainly took me awhile to pick one over the others. They all looked great.

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  36. I love block six, it's got that wonderful, feathery look in the center! pbstrand@msn.com

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  37. They are all wonderful. I like block #5.

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  38. I just learned about this block in a class last month. Awesome. I like block number four the best. It looks like it is spinning.

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  39. OMG! LOVE them all! I think I like 4 the best.. Going to go back and really check out the first few steps. Thank you for showing it step by step :) That fabric is amazing!

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  40. Block number 3 is my favorite. I love this technique. I did a quilt using your instructions last time with some Xmas fabric and it turned out beautiful. It was a lot of fun.

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  41. Oh Debby, you make it look sooooo easy! I love the fabric and this technique makes it sing! My favorite block is #3, I love the blue ring of flowers. Now I just have to build up my confidence to try it :)

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  42. block 5 - thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. what beautiful fabric...too bad I am on a no buy this year...but i can win fabric. I think #2 is the one i choose, but they all are my favorites

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  44. I have changed my mind 400 thousand times and have finally decided on block #4 as my favorite. This is one of my favorite quilt patterns too Debby. I love the excitement of what "may be" at the end. Thanks

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  45. I like block 5.
    I also love making this type of block as you get to chose which one you like better when you put the pieces back together. Surprise!!!!

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  46. picking a favorite was realy difficult wiht this one -- but I would say 5. This fabric is amazing and I will be adding it to my list of things to keep an eye on. Great project.

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  47. I is fun to read the comments to see everyone's favorites. I narrowed mine down to blocks 1 and 4 and finally chose block 1. Couldn't really tell you why, they are all very nice.

    I could see myself making one of these. There aren't many patterns for larger scale prints that appeal to me, but this one is great.

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  48. Block 4 is my favorite with the blue in the middle

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  49. I like block #3. The blue flowers reminds me of the the little springflower Hepatica (Blåsippa).
    Gun, Sweden
    gun@lapp.se

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  50. This is very difficult to answer - but I guess it would be #3!

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  51. Love all the blocks, but #6 is my favorite! Thank you for sharing. jbechosend at sbcglobal dot net

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  52. Great tutorial! I like Block #2. It turned out beautiful!

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  53. Great tutorial! I like Block #2. It turned out beautiful!

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  54. Block 6, this is so pretty.. Wow
    lisamcgriff (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  55. Fabulous technique. Just love Block #4. Thanks very much.

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  56. WOW! This quilt is awesome! I love the colors of this fabric.And I love block #5. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  57. Beautiful fabric and what a fun technique. Hard to choose a favorite but I'll go with #2 because of the feathery swag effect of the red design. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  58. thanks for thr tutorial pictures of each step. i love the whole thing but #4 is my favorite.

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  59. My favorite is block #3! This block, and the directions to make it -- astonishing and gorgeous! Thanks for the photos!

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  60. I really like Block 5 because of the repeat of the color, I think. These are absolutely beautiful fabrics.

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  61. I really like Block 5 because of the repeat of the color, I think. These are absolutely beautiful fabrics.

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  62. Not sure if the first e-mail went through but I would vote for Block 5, but like them all. Thanks for the ray of sunshine today.

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  63. I just love block 7 with its tiny green tips and the pink signal in the center. I love this color combo and would love to see more of it. will do that right now. sewpatsy1

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  64. Block 3 - these are so 'simple' but oh so effective!! I am an email follower of your lovely blog! !

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  65. I love this and have cut some fabric just now, following your instructions. My favourite is block 6

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  66. I choose blk 7 it reminds me of a bowl of raspberries

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  67. Number 5 had my number. When I saw these i thought they are absolutely gorgeous!! just a minute while i wipe drool off my phone.lol it is so hard to pick just one. Does the quilt go with the fat quarter too? Lol

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  68. I so love this technique. My favorite block is #3. It looks like it is pretty popular. Thanks for the chance to win some fabric. Hugs

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  69. lovely fabrics block 8 was my favourite

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  70. lovely fabrics block 8 was my favourite

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  71. I like block #1. I like how it looks in the quilt (or one much like it)

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  72. I'd pick Block 5. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  73. I like the layout. My favorite is block 6

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  74. My favorite is Block 6. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  75. They are all beautiful but I think I like #6 the best, thanks for showing us this technique!

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  76. I love this technique. My favorite block is #2.

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  77. Love all the blocks but I think the best one is # 6.

    thelady(at)hotmail.com

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  78. Wow, you know what a hard choice that is? I have gone back and forth and picked every single one, then thought about it and picked a different one. I guess I'm going to go with 4. =)

    dezertsuz at gmail

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  79. Block 1 one for me , whish we had the names. I would love to mix up with some funky, linen, and black and whites, got any scrapes you want to sale....

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  80. WoW! Gorgeous fabric and that means gorgeous blocks! I'm hard press to pick just one favorite, all of them are amazing! Hmm ok #5 is my pick, #3 is also pretty but then also...hehe.

    Thank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

    Usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  81. I love the fabrics you chose but I really like that you showed how easy it is to make a Kaleidascope quilt. Finally, I understand it.
    Thanks

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  82. I love the fabrics you chose but I really like that you showed how easy it is to make a Kaleidascope quilt. Finally, I understand it.
    Thanks

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  83. I love block number 3. The tiny blue flowers remind me of the "Forget Me Nots" that I have planted in the yard. This fabric line is cheerful! Thank You

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  84. I like block 3. That seems to show all of the colors, but the effect is very interesting.

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  85. First it was block 5, then it was block 4, now I think it's block 8. Why oh why do you make me choose? LOL! I love the fabric!

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  86. These are all so beautiful, it's hard to pick one. I will pick Block 3, what a lovely quilt this will make. Thanks!

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  87. I absolutely love the blocks you have made, my favorite one is block #4. You do amazing work, thank you for a chance at your giveaway. I love following your blog.

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  88. The blocks are gorgeous! I like them all but #3 is my favorite.

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  89. I am a follower. :)
    Choosing a favorite was REALLY hard but I finally decided #5 though 6, 7, and 8 were also gorgeous! I love the total look of this quilt.

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  90. It was a close pick, but block 4 won . I LOVE this fabric it is gorgous! thanks for the chance and Love your blocks they look so cool, will def. try this. vickise at gmail dot com

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  91. Tough decision with them all being so pretty. I think I'd have to say I like Block 2 best.

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  92. I would have to say that block 3 is my favorite. It is so delicate with the blue flowers and the red in the center. I just love it. Ramona from Maine

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  93. I love this technique and all the blocks, but if I have to pick one it would be #5...Thanks for the giveaway and a chance to win these beautiful fabrics...

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  94. Block number 8!! Looks like an oriental fan to me. But, all of them are gorgeous! That bag you made is really pretty too.

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  95. I LOVE block #4. It is so delicate. Block #3 has more of my favorite turquoise in it but 4? Wonderful. What a great quilt!

    Daphne in Orange

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  96. All the blocks are great. I think #7 is my favorite though.

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  97. Block 7 is my favorite. Love the look you created!

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  99. They are all gorgeous, but #6 is the winner for me. It is more defined than the other ones. Thanks for the chance, Dianne

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  100. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial! I have some fabric waiting on something, and I think this may be the project! It's a toss up between 6 and 7 for me, but, I think I will have to go with 6!

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Thanks for stopping by Debby Kratovil Quilts! If you had a question and don't get an answer from me, please feel free to email me at: kratovil@his.com