Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Spring Suggestion

I've been inspired by bare branches lately. I've been working on three quilts over the last several weeks and they all include these wavy, linear, forked tree trunks.
Spring Suggestion

In fact, when I first began this quilt, I intended to simply have the navy background and the three trunks. I would add some free motion quilting and hand embroidery and let the trees stand on their own.

But, then I changed my mind and piled up a bunch more stuff on top. How could I resist using the hand painted brown fabric with the watery bits of green and blue?

This is another continuation of the shrine/altar composition that I use regularly and the house and plant symbols that are also familiar in my work. The brown felt leaf is a three-dimensional.

It really suggests winter turning into spring, don't you think?

I hadn't even considered the idea of green buds on brown tree branches against a blue sky when I first picked the palette. (Of course, I manipulated those ideas about color placement for this quilt, but it's the same concept.) The creative process is wonderfully unpredictable.

10 comments:

Cate Rose said...

This is wonderful, Deborah!

Gerrie said...

Another beautiful Deborah piece. I like the use of the denim in this. The trees are almost ghostly, but I love their shapes.

Terri Stegmiller said...

I love your wavy tree trunks. Especially with the added stamped circle details. I'm glad you piled on more stuff because I think it looks great.

Kristin L said...

There's something about all these Spring themed pieces -- are you guys cold out there in the more northerly latitudes?!

I like this cozy cabin in the woods. I can imagine sitting on the porch at night stargazing. Maybe those are the Northern Lights dancing in the sky? The stamping on the trees adds a nice dimension without getting too realistic.

Karen said...

That blue jean material is so great, and I love the way you brought the tree trunks into the border wih handstitching

kirsten said...

I'm with Karen - continuing the trunks down onto the binding/border is a wonderful touch. I just adore the little handstitched sprouts across the bottom. They are so hopeful.

Diane Perin said...

I really admire how you can create a sense of peace and energy at the same time in your pieces. Your composition has stability in it but there's lots of movement in the wavy trees and the arcing lines and the stitched sprouts. I too love the use of denim here. You are solidly in your zone in this one!

Nikki said...

I love the layers and how the hem of the jeans pokes up. The circle shadows on the trees are wonderful and the arching stitching in the sky gives a wonderful sense of place. The hand stitched sprouts and little beads are the perfect addition of hope. I just love it all!

Terry Grant said...

I just have to tell you this is probably my favorite of all your 12 x 12 pieces! Those trees are perfect in every way! The magical arrangement of three elements works exactly as it should. The color, the shape, the negative space shapes they create are beautiful. The deep blue sky adds a sense of mystery and deep space that pulls me right into the scene. Great value study.

Vicki Miller said...

I am so inspired by the different textures you created with your fabrics sing the brown printing and the embroidery. Beautiful