Saturday, January 03, 2009

"Trepidation" (20" x 38")

Challenge #28 yielded unexpected results. My first effort was to make a quilt depicting choppy water. Well, the curved piecing started looking more like mountains. So I decided mountains and layers of earth complete with fault lines would be the ticket. The fabric strips and embroidery stitches in orange are offered as the zinger. I'm interested in improving this piece, so I look forward to your suggestions.

13 comments:

  1. Hi, Della...... what an effective piece. As far as 'zingers' and the challenge... you did that! In spades! It adds such interest to an already interesting piece. As far as improving it, I, personally, don't see how, but other eyes may. So, I too, will watch the comments here. A lovely landscape piece.
    What is the size of it?

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  2. Della... I also think this piece is right on. Regarding your request for suggestions for improvement. Am not sure I would call it an improvement, but what if you made each strip equally long rather than the step down at the bottom of the piece. A nice piece.

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  3. Carole, the size of the quilt is 20 inches by 38 inches. Elizabeth, your suggestion for equal strips is good. One of the things that bothered me was the very light value in the bottom strip of the center panel. I think this just draws attention to the pesky irregular lengths. I should have shaded that strip b4 hand stitching over it! Thank you both for taking the time to comment.

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  4. WOW! I really like it a lot. I especially like the irregular lengths. To me that adds a lot of interest. Those orange squiggles going horizontally add more interest and zing. I can't sew curves or straight seams, so I do admire your competance. The only thing I am not crazy about is the over horizontal lines. Not sure if they are better in person [many things are], but on my screen they just take away. Maybe go over them with a dark blue or black or something that says 'I should be here'.

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  5. Great fabric choices; fabulous orange zingers.
    i like the irregular lengths but perhaps a darker blue as the lowest stripe on the middle bottom piece would be more effectice. if it bother you you could paint over that bit in a darker blue.
    great work

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  6. Hi Della,
    This is a wonderful vibrant piece, and the zingers work really well. I especially like the strata of the "earth". I wonder it if might have even more impact if the vertical sashing between the strata was thinner? Very eye-catching work. Joni

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  7. I agree with Joni...wonderful and vibrant. I'm not sure any improvements are needed, but what about having the bottom border irregular to mimic the uneven strips?

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  8. Oh, so many good suggestions. I'm going to have to play with my photo editing software to try several of these on for size, before making changes. I'll post the final result. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your ideas.

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  9. Ooh another thought along the lines of Janice's suggestion to celebrate the uneven lengths with an uneven bottom. Maybe I should slice apart the 5 individual compositions, vary the lengths, pillowcase them individually, rehang them on a common header, then watch them blow in the breeze. Too much fun.

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  10. WOnderful vibrant colours. I really like the irregularity. Great balance.

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  11. I read all the suggestions, for me the piece sings! I love it.
    Your orange zingers are perfect.

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  12. Hi Della - I absolutely love this, just exactly as it is. I think the uneven pieces across the bottom are very appealing. Another nice touch is the size of the bottom border being wider than the sides and top borders. It grounds the piece nicely.

    I often think a work would be better with no border but yours hits me just right.

    Super work !

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  13. I am so late with everything this month.......Della, I love, love, love the colours you have chosen. The orange really does zing against all the blues/blue greens. Good choices, I think.

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