Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Obsessed or Infatuated?

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Obsessed or Infatuated?

I've been on a mission to find out as much as I can find out about the different names of my current Vintage Rose Star project.

That led me to looking up the Oxford Union Old Library (built in 1857 by architect Benjamin Woodward.) This library is a masterwork of Victorian Gothic architecture, originally built as the society's debating chamber before becoming a library.

Why don't we have libraries like this?!
The murals are stunning, and yes, I can see the inspiration for a patchwork design from the kites that form a hexagon shape in the center of the rose windows.

Another view -

I could curl up in here for weeks!

Photo from the outside of the building.

That's it. I need to go to Oxford. I'm adding it to my bucket list.

Through my digging I found that he Oxford Rose star quilt block is also known by several other alternative names:

Rose Star / Rose Star One Patch

Colonial Garden
Tumbling Hexagons / Tumbling Hexagon
Morris Hexagon #13
Collinsville Rose Star
Vintage Rose Star

For more background, visit Barbara Brackman's post HERE.

I haven't found the Collinsville connection yet - I'm interested in knowing where and why so I'll keep digging.

And isn't it crazy how a quilt design can pass you by for years....and then all at once you have to dive in with both feet and everything you've got?

I wouldn't say I necessarily OBSESSED....but Infatuated? Oh, yes.

This is the pile I pulled from a neutral string bin to cut down as background pieces.

I am leaving the blocks in half-hexagons to avoid more y-seaming other than the first small triangles.

All of my colored pieces are coming from my scrap squares drawer. There are some REAL oldies in here and I'm happy to see them find a place to shine.

This is maybe 2 days of piecing.

And I've done little to nothing else.

I can't help myself...I keep pushing forward even though we have mystery season kicking off in about 2 weeks (Don't worry, I'll be ready!) and I've got all of my Tulip Swirl Leader & Ender blocks to put together - just need to decide on a layout. That may wait until my winter break when retreats are done.

I plan to get these block halves arranged and sewn into a row...

For those asking about a template, this is one I had from an EPP set that has been in my stash for YEARS. I went to find the source, it is discontinued.

I am seeing if the company that makes my seam guides will make these templates for me in this size.

I even looked that the Creative Grids kite ruler, but it doesn't seem to be made anymore. It's not on the Checker website at all. Not by title, or even product code.

I've been working on this for only a couple of weeks and folks already want to jump in, but please hold your horses until I get more info.

If you are too eager and can't wait - google will find you other similar sources, likely ion a different size with a different piecing method/layout.

There are paper shapes available at Paper Pieces and you can EPP this.

For the fall archives!

My favorite tree on my drive from the cabin to the QPO is starting to lose its gorgeous leaves more and more each day. It's been a delight to watch it change colors.

Has fall put on a show where you are?

The Brown Bird Bee ladies will be arriving this afternoon and I'm ready to welcome them -

Today? We are supposed to be 81 f degrees?!?!? Happy that nice weather is still hanging on a bit longer.

What do you have planned for your own Wednesday?