Friday, August 1, 2008

Illumination Celebration



Sorry to be so late with my post--we spent the house shopping and I'm only now getting to the computer.

I have to confess, I had so many ideas for this challenge, but just didn't have the time to execute them. If you have stopped by my personal blog you will know that we have spent the last two months getting our house ready to sell and it needed a lot of work. Just imagine four small children, flat paint and white carpet. It is finally done and I have a little time to myself. I took the sewing machine and the kids to my parents' house and got to work. (As a little aside, we sold the house today! Now I have to find a new house and get ready to move.)


My Illumination Celebration inspiration was from photos of fireworks I took on the Fourth of July and a wonderful photo of the sun rising through the trees in my back yard.


I loved the light bursting out from behind the trees. I tried to print the photo on fabric, but the colors just weren't as amazing as real thing. As I tried to paint the scene, the image came to look much more like the fireworks, another source of illumination.

To create my quilt, I painted the background with Dyn-a-flow paints. For the light burst, I used metallic paints. I then added thread painting with metallic thread. The edges I finished with a fuzzy yarn.

14 comments:

Kristin L said...

Great fireworks! Although I read it as fireworks right away, I think the part I like the best is the way the fuzzy binding extends the idea of the exploding, falling light. It's one of those nice little touches that can make a piece.

Gerrie said...

You did a nice jov of creating the feeling of a burst of light in the night sky. I am in awe of you young moms doing this - I remember what it was like.

Deborah Boschert said...

I'm so glad you shared your photos with us. I can see the inspiration of both images in your finished piece. The quilting really adds to the movement of the piece!

Selling your house is certainly reason to celebrate!

Terry Grant said...

This is such a joyful piece. It makes me happy to look at it.

Françoise said...

It's lovely! A great idea, and a great way to interpret it. I like it.

Linda Robertus said...

What a gorgeous quilt! I love it!

Anonymous said...

I'm pleased to hear that unveiling of your illumination quilt was accompanied by a domestic celebration with the sale of your house. Capturing light is tricky (I tried!) but you have done so most effectively.

Terri Stegmiller said...

I definitely see the influence of both of your photos in your final piece. The burst of light gives off great energy.

Diane Perin said...

I agree with what everyone has said. You've captured the essence of both photos so well, and this conveys light with vibrance and joy. It's very pleasing.

Dale Anne Potter said...

Looks like a FABULOUS burst of fireworks!
GREAT JOB!!!

artfilstitch said...

A wonderful interpretation of fireworks. You certainly have made it bursting in the sky. Love the colors!

Karen said...

I saw this as fireworks right away. It really is illuminated! At first I thought you had discharged the blue fabric, I was surprised to see that it is painted, it looks amazing.

kirsten said...

I also saw fireworks immediately. You have captured the sudden rush of light and energy so very well. And I love the gentle variation in colour, too. For a quiet colour scheme, there is a real punch in this quilt!

kirsten said...

ps: congratulations on the house sale!! YAY!