Thursday, January 23, 2014

Decision Time Again

     I've chosen background fabrics for my next quilt. I pinned them up on my design wall, rearranged them over and over. After I finally chose their arrangement, I cut them to size and sewed them together. This process took me about a week and a half. The sewing only took about half a day. It's the decisions that take me awhile. The fabrics were all ones I had monoprinted on my gelatin plate. I love each one of them so to make a commitment to cut into them is a big decision. But it's getting easier as I do more of it. I figure, if I change my mind, I'll use the cut pieces for something else smaller later on. I'm collecting all the scraps of these fabrics and plan to make some small mini art quilts soon.
     This quilt is a result of a sketch that I did in about 10 minutes. It just popped into my head one day, and I loved the result. It has three rock cairns, a sun/moon, and some interesting earth layers on the bottom with rocks tucked in them. The composition is a good one, I think. What will make or break the quilt will be how I use fabrics, stitch, and other surface designs. Here's the background sewn together. It measures about 34 inches wide by 42 inches tall. It's a bit wonky because, it is only the quilt top and doesn't have any support. It does lay flat when I put it down on my table and it will lay flat when stitched down on the batting. The golden colored fabric near the center is still pinned on in this photo. That was a recent decision. I need to cut it to the correct size and sew it on to replace the fabric underneath it. All of the fabrics are my monoprinted ones except for the three golden-colored rectangles. Those are commercial. They are from the Stonehenge line of fabrics.
current background
     Now I have to put it on batting and quilt it. I'm going to use a light gray thread and free-motion a pattern in the "sky" panels to suggest upward motions. There are five layers in the bottom. I'll use a pebble pattern in at least one of the layers. Not sure what I'll do in the others yet. (This background sat up on the wall for about five days while I decided how to quilt it.)
     After that, I'll apply a pillow-case backing. Then I'll appliqué the rock cairns through the entire sandwich, appliqué the sun/moon similarly, and quilt some more through all the layers. Then I'll see what else it needs. That's the plan anyway. Subject to change. (Oh, I'll probably eliminate several inches off of the top before I apply the backing... it looks too tall to me. Lesson learned on the previous quilt.) I'm linking this to Off The Wall Friday where you can visit other art quilt blogs. Please make comments on their posts to let them know you stopped by.

18 comments:

  1. A lot of decisions! And a great result!

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    1. thanks. And each decision determines the next one... the butterfly effect.

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  2. This is very calming! Taking the time to make those decisions before you start cutting is so worth it! . . . I have not conquered the skill, I get so excited to start sewing haha

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    1. I always work slowly. It's just my nature. Maybe I need more coffee.

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  3. Don't chop the top yet, you may need the extra height when you get the rock cairns piled up. Your Gelli printing is soft and subtle, wonderful! Can't wait to see the rest

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    1. Well, last night I finished the quilting and pinned the rock cairns on and the sun/moon. I decided how much of the top to cut off and I did it. This morning I sewed the pillowcase back on so it is a done deal. Now I'm deciding the rock sizes and colors before I sew them on through the quilt sandwich.

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  4. This is going to be another fabulous quilt. It so you. Looking forward to seeing it progress

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    1. Thank you for saying that! It's been years for me to find my voice.

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  5. Nicely balanced colors, very calming. I'm sure it will be wonderful after the quilting stitches.

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    1. I finished quilting it last night. I quilted it much more intensely than I usually do and I really like it. I keep petting it. Nice quilt.... nice quilt.... something must be wrong with me. My poor husband. Now if I can just get the rocks the right sizes and colors. That's going to take days and days.

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  6. Lovely fabrics and colors--very subtle.
    best, nadia

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    1. Thanks, Nadia. I'm in love with gelatin monoprinting.

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  7. oh the decisions! They kill me. It's so hard to tell in a photo, since it just looks great to us. Sounds like you have made most of the decisions so it's just the work now. The thing is, it'll look good either way, and there is always the next lovely to do, and you actually USED your beautiful fabrics instead of storing them!
    That's major right there, R.
    LeeAnna Paylor
    lapaylor.blogspot.com

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    1. I actually made these fabrics with this quilt in mind so I'm happy they worked out well for the background. Now I'm struggling getting the rock cairns the right textures and colors. But if it all came easily, it would be boring, wouldn't it?

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  8. Lovely subtle colors, great background for the rocks.

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    1. My husband turned it sideways after I quilted it and said you should cut off the gray part. It would be great as a coral reef with fish on it. Not going to happen. :)

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  9. A great plan Regina. Lovely subtle colors. It will be fun to watch your progress!

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  10. The quilt is just about finished. I had it all about done when I was stepping into the shower and got an idea for a design change that involved adding an element I hadn't thought of before. It really changes the tone of the quilt and I love it. You never know where or when these inspirations will hit.

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