The name City Garden came to me when I was almost done with this quilt. As I looked at it, the gray colors reminded me of pavement, cement, and buildings and these colors/materials are very prominent in a city. The green rectangle seemed somewhat garden-like with its shape. While I've never lived in a large city, I have heard that there are coop or community gardens that people can take part in. It would seem to me to be a rather odd sight to see a patch of green plant-life in the midst of all the gray tones from the streets, sidewalks and buildings.
My quilt is made from both hand dyed and commercial fabrics. I have screen printed a fun, doodled square design onto the hand dyed fabrics. I bleached one of the hand dyed fabrics after it was screen printed and that resulted in the green fabric. It is free-motion machine quilted and hand stitched in the green rectangle area. The vertical hand stitching in the green fabric is meant to resemble rows of vegetables or flowers growing in the garden. White fabric applique shapes (that mimic the screened square design) are fused on the left side of the quilt and free-motion embroidered. I used a faced edge finish.
Terri! What a surprise to see this is yours, even after you gave a sneak peek at the fabric earlier. I really like how you've balanced the shapes and textures so well -- and that cool green is wonderful with the gray. It does suggest a strip of green park in a gray city. I love the use of that fabric with the writing on it -- just the perfect texture against those squares, too.
ReplyDeleteWow! You have pushed yourself out of your comfort zone, I think. I love it. All of the elements work so well together. I like the repetition of the shapes in all the different sizes and surfaces. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I was surprised by this departure from your usual style and I really love it! It has a really fresh, spontaneous energy that gives it a lot of life, despite the muted colors! The areas of blue in the background are beautiful and give it such a great sense of depth. Really, REALLY like this!
ReplyDeleteI could have sworn this was Karen's piece -- even after having seen the peek. Kudos to you for trying something completely abstract! Grey and squares definitely says "city," so you've hit the nail on the head there. And, like Gerrie said, the repetition and scale change of the shapes is very effective. :-)
ReplyDeleteTeri, this looks just like the view of a co-op city garden that I recently saw from the 23 floor balcony of a friend. Very spot on!
ReplyDeleteI think this is my favorite piece of yours, the colors complimenting the gray are perfect and I love the screenprinting.
ReplyDeleteLove this one, love the squares!
ReplyDeleteLike Gerrie, I am struck by the synchronicity arising in this round with you, Terry and Deborah incorporating B&W text and some similarities in the vertical elements of the layout of your work and that of Francoise and Helen. The repetition, the changes in scale, the hints of colour. Very effective.
ReplyDeleteAs Brenda said, I am struck by the similar compositions with you and Francoise and Helen. Such fun synchronicity!
ReplyDeleteAside from that... I just love this piece! You took a beautiful doodle and did so much with it. That green is a great color. I bet you were thrilled with the bleaching results -- which are usually completely unexpected.