mysql - Joining multiple tables without common key -

hi have 3 tables listed below. there no common keys between tables

table 1->linkage_table

id item         material       color 1  keypouch     *              yellow 2  wallet       plastic        * 3  card-holder  leather        gold 

table 2->material_table

id name           1  plastic 2  wool 3  leather 

table 3->color_table

id color 1  yellow 2  green 3  orange 

i wish following result set

item         material    color  keypouch     plastic     yellow keypouch     wool        yellow keypouch     leather     yellow wallet       plastic     yellow wallet       plastic     green wallet       plastic     orange card-holder  leather     gold 

i write sql statement join tables together.

having * in linkage table mean retrieve values either material or color table.

i in need of solution now. been trying solve more 5hours. in advance help.

one possible approach:

select l.item, m.name, c.color       linkage_table l inner join material_table m         on l.material = '*'            or l.material = m.name inner join color_table c         on l.color = '*'            or l.color = c.color 

sql fiddle

explanation: query has built 'material' , 'color' tables joined either (cross-join), when '*' given in corresponding field, or equality of these fields. , that's got using 'on l.somefield = '*' or l.somefield = joined.somefield' clause.