Hidden Among the Stars

I know I've been quiet all week, but I have been working on a few projects, the MAQ among them.  This semester, in addition to my full time job, I'm also teaching a college history course, and the first week back was a bit rougher than I had anticipated.  As for the art quilt....

While looking for inspiration, I found some great bead frames in my jewelry stash.  Dark grey-black star shaped shells, with a hole in the center for another bead.  I knew they would have to be worked into Melissa's quilt and decided that I would use them to form the constellation Leo, with a light pink crystal in the center of each one.  I decided to then "hide" the constellation among other beads, so you would have to search for them in the quilt.   

One of my inspiration images.

After getting the front together, and knowing what I wanted to do with the beadwork, I tried to figure out what to do with the borders.  I considered borders on just two sides, either opposite or adjacent, but couldn't seem to make a decision.  So I did what I always do in that moment and asked my husband for artistic advice.  When I explained that my inspiration was the night sky and how I was going to bead in the constellation, he asked if I had something grey, that would look like stone.  His idea was to make the borders appear to be the walls in an astronomical observatory, as if you were standing inside it looking out.  I clearly married a brilliant man. 

I wanted to post some more progress shots, but find I only have one to share.  I must have been too wrapped up in quilting to take more last weekend! 

Quilted & bound.

I did manage to get the constellation beaded in this week, along with some more stars beaded into the top quarter.  I'm hoping to finish all the beading this afternoon.  Wish me luck!