I enjoyed this challenge a lot! I find that usually I try to do too much detail and don't finish the project. This time I decided to go for it and to try to do something simpler. I chose the topic of "fire" and found this wonderful hand-dyed fabric. I chose the section that to me reflected the colours one sees when staring into the depths of the fire in the fireplace, or out in the open, at a camp site. This is the first time I have tried anything whole cloth and I like the final result. I quilted the bottom area to resemble the burning coals and the top part to represent the flames leaping up. I used a variegated rayon thread (red, yellow, orange and green) for the quilting. I finished the edge with a narrow facing and added some beads at the bottom to reflect the light.
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6 comments:
Camp fire! that's fun!
I wonder what would happen if you painted the coal area a bit with a black fabric paint...perhaps thinned or a tiny bit of black mixed with orange or something. perhaps it would give just a bit more depth, and yet still look simple. what do you think?
Have you seen the book Painted Quilts? The Kemshalls often paint areas that need a bit more oomph after they have quilted it.
Sandy in the UK
Hi Valerie - You chose a great fabric to commmunicate fire. The quilting lines following some of the dyed areas are nice and pointy and reminiscent of flames. Like Sandy I think you might want to add some fabric paint to enrich the piece a bit. Of course I'm in a stage where I want to add paint to everything I do!
Roberta
I can really see the movement of the fire. It almost looks like you used a 'sparkley' fabric or thread in the yellow.
Hi Valerie, It looks like you had fun with your wonderful fire fabric...good job...I like the quilting lines and subtle beading you did. I've done a few of these wholecloth hand dyed pieces, too and just love working with fabric and letting it tell me what to do. Sometimes, though, there's not much of a focal point to create interest from afar. I think a few flames added with fused fabric or paint like someone else mentioned above, could really make this piece dramatic.
I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Cynthia
Nice.........
A camp fire is what I see, perhaps a little depth on the bottom.. there is a perfect spot for the darkened hearth the burned bits and ashes make.
Just a thought.
I like that you used one piece.. that is on my to-do list.
Carole
Hi Valerie,
Great job with the quilting and the beading; LOVE the fabric. I agree it needs a little something more, but I'm not sure what that would be. Nice work.
Brenda
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