Tuesday, April 12, 2011

First-Class Chartreuse

I've always loved postage stamp art, no matter if it was on an actual official stamp, a custom created stamp, or just postage-inspired art work.

Fused and machine piecing, free-motion quilting and embroidery, couched fibers, ink shading

The idea to create my quilt as a postage stamp came to me quickly when this color was presented to us. I envisioned what I wanted and sketched it to actual size.


The quilt I'm officially submitting is the second version I made (shown above). There were many things I wasn't happy with on my first version (shown below). The chartreuse background didn't turn out quite like I had pictured in my mind. Next, I wasn't happy with how I had quilted the background. And the outer edge had some areas that bothered me.


While I think the outer edge on the first version looks more postage-stamp like, the second version was easier and is a little more stable.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's truly lovely!

Gerrie said...

What a great idea!! I love this. The background collage of shades of chartreuse is very yummy.

Diane Perin said...

Such happy, fun energy! I see what you mean about the improvement in the second piece. (Those dark green triangle bits make the whole thing seem brighter and livelier -- who would have thought?) This conveys the bouncy happiness of early spring with such charm!

Kristin L said...

I had never thought of it before, but our small square format is perfectly stamp like! I'd happily post my letters with this cheerful stamp!

MarveLes Art Studios said...

Gorgeous interaction of the blues, oranges, purples with CHARTREUSE! LOVE it. Like the postage stamp style, too, Terri.

Karen said...

Very clever Terri, and so cheerful. I agree with Diane, the dark green triangles really make it pop

Vivien Zepf said...

Have fun is this! Love the idea of presenting in postage stamp form.

Vivika said...

Very nice... I like both!

kirsten said...

My absolute run-away winner for this round, Terri. I love everything about this quilt. And agree completely with you about the improvements on the first one (which is also pretty darn cool!). The sparkly, lively background is just why I love chartreuse so very much. What's not to love?!

Terry Grant said...

This feels very nostalgic to me--makes me think of Easter dresses and eyelet lace and fragrant springtime. Ahhhhhh! Beautiful.

Deborah Boschert said...

Those flowers almost look three dimensional. Are they? Or have you just shaded them beautifully? I love it. At first I wondered why you put the 2011 date and then made the stamp worth only 12 cents. (I don't even know how much stamps cost now, but way more than 12 cents.) Then I realized... duh?! Twelve, of course!

Unknown said...

I agree the second one is better -the coloured lines on the first one distract the eye. Now it is so fresh and appealing. In the UK for £15 you can apparently get Royal Mail to make your design into a stamp which is no good for postage but which is attached to a proper postage stamp. We could have our own 12 x 12 Royal Mail stamps with your design!

Createology said...

This is such fun. Great way to showcase chartreuse. I definitely see your signature colors added. Lovely quilt.

Françoise said...

Great! Definitely one of my favorites. And I must say that I also like the first one you made. I do not mind the little coloured lines in the background, on the contrary. Maybe the stems could have been a bit stronger like in the second one. Anyway, both quilts are really lovely.

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

Love this stamp! I like both of them!

Elizabeth said...

I love both versions Terri!! The orange in the first version really adds pop but I can see how you might not have been pleased with the edge. Fabulous idea!! Love how you did this quilt- it is so so HAPPY!!!!