Kathmandu: Eight auspicious symbols

The quilting ladies made a total of 16 quilts, two each of different designs.  Each pattern was surrounded by a frame and four square corner patches.  Each quilt was made with double batting.  The top stitching varied for each quilt, some to echo the main design, such as smaller conch shells at corners.

My difficulty was trying to simplify as much as possible for the purpose of hand-stitching, the intricate patterns found in these symbols as they are depicted as wood carving and fabric embellishments in Buddhist temples.  Eight quilts were sold to a Buddhist retreat and meditation house just outside Kathmandu.  March/April 2012