I began preparing for the spice challenge by painting some fabrics. I painted two fat quarters and neither were particularly interesting, but I thought I could slice out a chunk and combine it with other fabrics for an interesting composition. That's where I began. The painted piece is the large orange/yellow rectangle just off center.In my notes for this challenge, I wrote about wanting to create something more spare and simple than my recent work. Also, I wanted to avoid familiar shapes. (No houses or leaves.)
This led to gathering a pile of fabric and stacking, composing, experimenting and editing. I am really pleased with these fabrics. There are only seven pieces and they include commercial prints, a batik, a home dec sample, a tiny bit of felt, and hand painted and stamped fabrics.
As my basic composition took shape, I knew I would add lots of detail with hand embroidery andembellishments. (Ignoring my earlier idea about spareness and simplicity.) I was delighted to find a small bit of metal that I made in a Dallas Area Fiber Artists workshop a few years ago. I think it adds a great bit of focus, but doesn't take away from the other details.
Whenever I sit and embellish a quilt with perle cotton, I think of you and wish I could channel your constraint and use of the stitch to create line and movement. I just love it. I love that rectangle with the orange and yellow - it just glows in this composition.
ReplyDeleteYou really do have a good eye for composing evocative collages, Deborah, and your details are, for me, what make the piece. I love how you have embellished this. When you compose your collage, do you envision the stitching you plan to do so you can leave room for them? Or are you just winging it, knowing you'll put SOMETHING in an empty space but you don't plan what? You balance your elements so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteAs I read through your reveal day blog I try to guess who the creator is before looking at the end of the post. I was correct in guessing this was done by you. It has the flavor of your previous creations, yet has a freshness without the customary leaves and houses. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I like the way the green compliments the spice colors. This is evocative of a lush forest with dew drops and sparkly sunlit patches. Your play of spareness and little details is what gives it interest.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I'm reading your comments about spareness and simplicity and looking at your quilt and thinking, not this time around! Then I see you agreed! I like the way you were able to combine so many different elements and make this work out so well.
ReplyDeleteI always love the way you compose all the pieces in your collage-y little quilts. So many disparate elements that you make sing together in perfect harmony, so no surprise to see this perfectly elegant composition, but what I really, REALLY love is how you put these colors together! That area of the little stitches just tumbling through that magical dyed piece of fabric is pure joy to behold.
ReplyDeleteThat glowing orange! and cool minty green! wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteYou are masterful with this style, Deborah. I would never tire of contemplating these quilts of yours.
You definitely have a style with your quilts Deborah, even when they don't include familiar shapes. I love your hand embroidery and envy your imaginative way of using it.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Deborah & lovely....composition & colors are right on.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an elegant piece to me. The elements all work together so well. I wish I had your talent for composition.
ReplyDelete