A Feeling for Snow by Brenda Gael Smith
I chose this piece because its Scandinavian vibe best captured the fresh palette that Francoise presented us with in this challenge but I made two other pieces. 
Ice Crystals (or as my husband calls it, Rabbit Proof Fence in the Moonlight) is hand stitched shibori. And Once in a Blue Moon is the first, somewhat indistinct itajame shibori piece that I made using some new clamps. It demonstrates that I occasionally depart from abstract piecing to make more representational pieces. Apparently, there have been three "blue moons" in and around this challenge period. After this month, the next occurence of two full moons in one month is not until August 2012.
It's often hard to select which piece to declare as my "official" contribution to the Twelve by Twelve project. I'd be interested to know which piece calls to you.
I like the one you selected because it is quite different from all the others. I always love the grid and who doesn't love snowflakes and the patterns they make. I like the other two, but the shibori is what we often see you do and the moon - well, that would look like I did it! LOL Of course mine would not have all that lovely tree stitching.
ReplyDeleteLike the snowflakes. Wait till you see my right foot at Easter ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the crisp, spiky look of your snowflakes. This is a bit uncharacteristic of your work. The single black snowflake is inspired! I also love the quilting. Altogether such a clean, graphic approach.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, crisp snowflakes, Brenda -- this piece is so clean and fresh! Of course, it brings to mind the Winter Olympics. I like your other pieces very much as well, but like that this feels like the biggest departure from the other 12x12 pieces.
ReplyDeleteI like your snowflake also, they are different than your usual work which I think is part of what we twelves are all about. Trying new things and learning from each other.
ReplyDeleteThe moon is what I'd choose, but I like all of them.
ReplyDeleteActually - I like the moon best of all three but they are all great
ReplyDeleteDeveloping a personal style that is recognizable really has it's pros and cons, doesn't it? I agree that Ice Crystals fits best into your body of work, but I think A Feeling for Snow is lovely! Great job. I'm glad you branched out. Was it a challenge for you to decide which of your nine snowflakes would be black? I love the circular quilting too!
ReplyDeleteThey are all lovely, but I am drawn to the graphic grid and super simplified snowflakes of the one you chose. We got a card at Christmas with snowflakes being mean to each other and it was called something like "A Nasty Snow Storm." I wonder if your black snowflake has nefarious ideas. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like the moon best. The lines of the tree work really well.
ReplyDeleteI like the one you chose. It is simple and fresh. The blue you used is great. And I like this black snowflake for the little touch of black.
ReplyDeleteThese are all gorgeous Brenda. While the snow quilt has a sense of whimsy to it, I have to admit my favorite of the three is the blue moon piece. I love how the blue is wanting to creep into the moon shape, just like clouds starting to drift in and obscure the moon.
ReplyDeleteI love the snowflakes. The different patterns and rebellious black flake are very fun. The piece reminds me a little of your community piece with the figures on the white background.
ReplyDeletethe first one is wonderful, i love the quilting that looks like snow mounds to me. but the one that really speaks to me is Once in a Blue Moon. it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love them all but I'm very drawn to the blue moon. I'm sitting here in very muggy Brisbane but this one evokes a feeling of cold nights.
ReplyDeleteThe moon is my favorite because of the sharp contrast between the crispness of the tree and the softness of the moon. The tree brings dimensionality to the work. Nice job on all three.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the kind comments on the moon piece. Maybe I won't leave it so long before trying this kind of thing again. Quilting the tree was fun and this project is all about play and exploration.
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