I was inspired by many of my own experiences in various communities -- as a military family, as a church member, as a PTA volunteer, as a home owner in a few different places, as a mother, daughter, sister, wife, as a member of other clubs, groups and organizations. Just because we might have one thing in common does not mean we have everything in common. We can be a community both because of an in spite of these qualities.
Then I began to think about how to put these ideas into the cloth. This is when I just had to let the materials and my own sense of style and design take priority rather than try to be too literal.
The sliced up nine patch is a bit representative of a neighborhood block. Do the circle represent connected-ness or evolution? Or do I just really like circles? All the embellishments are things you could use to attach one thing to another. I'm really pleased with how they look. I'm pleased with the binding too. I had a beautiful bit of yarn in my stash that coordinated perfectly. I just zipped it over the edge. Each of my 12x12 quilts have had a somewhat interesting border treatment. That's been a fun additional challenge for me.
Later in the week I'll post a bit more about my process and my many false starts. Gerrie will notice that in the end, I went to my comfort zone color palette -- ah, the green and the purple!
8 comments:
Wow Deborah! the embellishments really make this piece! They are the perfect fit. It's interesting to me that we all had the same struggles, I guess that is one thing everyone has in common.
Well, if you are creating a story about your community, then using your color palette is perfect. I want to be able to see this larger and up close. I love the embellishments. The contrast of your story and Francoise's is very interesting.
Love the quilt. I don't know if I have ever told you, but purple and green are my favorites also, even down to a purple kitchen and green living room in our first house. So of course, I love the colors.
The embellishments are great. We are attached in so many different ways.
I see the circles as our lives and thoughts floating around, intermingling. They are placed over a structure that holds us together.
Great Job!
I really like this too, Deborah. I think it symbolizes really well your feelings and the different ideas you were contemplating. Funny how we both did circles interacting with rectangular shapes, but in such different ways. I love how the embellishments work with this, too.
Yes, I like these little embellishments too. I'm looking forward to reading more about ypur process on your blog.
Argh again -- my comment has disappeared.
It's the embellishments that make this piece, as everyone is noting. You found something here none of the rest of us touched on. I think your "attachments" are inspired. And they are so you too. I love the batik background fabric as well -- it's just plain gorgeous.
I've noticed that I have done a lot of different bindings as well on these, and other, small pieces. I think the small format is perfect for trying out new, or more detailed/time consuming, things.
Well done, as always!
Before I went to bed last night, I had 11 out of 12 quilts for our community theme mosaic. I tried to imagine what you might have in store for us in the top left hand corner but I didn't come close! Your quilt fits in perfectly to make up our community collection. The centre grid repeats a design element used by others in the collection. The green coordinates with the binding on my quilt. And the embellishments add an entirely new angle. Well done! I've also been experimenting with different bindings and finishes. I've previously avoided small format quilts but I'm enjoying these 12x12 creations.
My favourite part of your quilt, Deborah, is the circles. I find the overlaying effect of them so appealing. But I also really like the concept of attachment - great thought!
I've been enjoying this small format, too and it is a great place to try different binding/edge treatments. Your yarn edging is perfect.
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