Circles

Although the photo is cropped, I have not actually bound the edges yet. Today was a holiday and so I spent most of it working on this challenge. I had the idea for awhile and my sewing room was recently decluttered for its other use as a guest room over the holidays, so finding stuff and actually sewing was amazingly easy and quite satisfying!

The circles done by Kenneth Noland appealed to me and I did a lot of quilting on this even though his works seem quite flat because I needed some practice. I like the way the turquoise silk pops out. The edges of it are raw and already fraying so they are "softened." I didn't fuse everything down. I cut open rings to avoid having so much bulk to stitch through. I just used a few dots of glue to hold them until I quilted. The center circle is more greenish yellow that it appears on my monitor. I'm tired after a full day of sewing, but it was really fun to do something so different.


I look forward to your comments.
:Diane - yarngoddess

Amorphous by Cynthia Ann Morgan

Here's my Challenge 52 Color Field piece. I've been awed and inspired by the work of Clyfford Still ever since I saw an exhibit of his work at the Denver Art Museum a few years ago. I love his organically shaped color fields and I tried to use that feel when I free cut the color pieces and fused them to the blotchy hand dyed background. Lot of quilting to add texture, which isn't a color field concept since they emphasized the flat surface....but then again, they didn't have the glorious quilting stitch in their toolbox!

Comments and greetings welcome

Cynthia

Playing The Field

This will be around 8.5 X 11" when bound.
Seamed fabric creates a hard edge. One thing I did to mask this was to cut the edges free hand and slightly curved. The edges are still "hard" but not ruler straight. Another thing I did was to use matching colors. The yellow is there to create "vibration" between the two colors.
There were several things I considered experimenting with to give the illusion of painted edges.
Due to the time restraint I settled on painted fusible bond. There were actually two colors of yellow painted onto the glue but the lighter seems to have totally dominated the darker yellow.
The weather did not cooperate. I gave up on the paint drying before Spring, tacked the glue down with the iron and scanned it. For quilting I am thinking putting this over a deep, spongy bat and creating little dimples here and there. I am thinking that will add spots of light and shadow. What do you think?
This was a fun experiment.

Untitled by Pat f in Winnipeg

Or maybe I should call it "More trouble Than it was Worth". When I first saw the challenge and looked at the references, I thought that it either had to be layered transparent fabrics or paint. Since I had no transparent fabric, I chose paint. This is a gelatin mono-print on polyester satin. I was given the satin and it's not something I would normally use. I used Seta-color for the printing. It was then FMQ'd and satin stitched around the edge. I actually love the print, and think that the satin is an effective background. Putting it through my machine was another issue--one that involved a hurried trip to the repair shop on the other side of the city. Considering that this is a holiday weekend, and he had no parts in stock, he was nice enough to lend me the part off one of his floor models. Whe-e-ew! I had visions of not being able to use my machine for a week or more, as it was my throat plate mechanism that fell into pieces--yes pieces. Anyway, it's finished and before deadline. Now I have to try to get it into the album.

Color Fields

I responded to the paintings of Clyfford Still with his very irregular shapes. I used the back side of a hand painted fabric and some of my hand dyed fabrics. I ironed the background fabric to decobond to make a stiff surface-which I've decided is a pain to use because the bond does not hold well. A few lines of stitching were done on the background to make sure it stayed together. The shapes were cut without planning and moved around on the background fabric to make a composition. The thin purple strips in the large shapes were just left over strips of fabric that got tossed into the waste paper basket, fished out again, cut in narrow strips and glued on. A few lines of stitching were done on the shapes too. I haven't bound this and will probably not do anything more with it. I like the way the colors play with each other but I'm not 100% pleased with the composition. A good practice piece of something I will continue to pursue. The size is 18 1/2" by 19".

I liked the idea of cropping the piece via a photo so here is one result. Any thoughts on whether or not this is am improvement?

Fourth and Final Attempt

Thank you Betty, for a very, very, challenging challenge! Somewhere in the reading material I noticed a comment: Bad color fields are easy to do, good colorfields are hard to do. How true!

The piece measures 14" x 17". Three previous attempts, which in no way resemble this piece, have fallen by the wayside.

I started with a piece of wet, white cotton. I painted/globbed lumeiere green and bronze paint in two bands across the middle of the fabric. I then smooshed it around and let it drip in two directions. It was intresting that the green paint separated into gold and green while it dripped. Once it was sort of dry I painted a wash of setacolor paint at the top and bottom.

Even though color fields are traditionally flat I decided to free-motion quilt it. After all, it IS a quilt!

"Marriage?"

Here is the finished version of this piece, at least as finished as it's going to get.   I tried to incorporate as many of the critique suggestions as I could, and I definitely think that cropping off the left side helped the composition.  All of the areas are quilted now, although the thread I used on the dark and light purplish areas does not show up well in the photo.  This won't be one of my all time favorites, but I am glad that I learned more about this art movement, and I enjoyed seeing the many different interpretations.   

Here is my piece called "Marriage?" I guess other than binding, it is done. I was fascinated to read about and learn about color field painting and the various artists that worked in the style. I enjoyed very spontaneously creating this piece by arriving at a general idea then cutting the pieces freehand. I liked the batik textures because they has some similarities to the depth and texture of paint on canvas. I frayed the edges of the fabric to make them less hard-edged.

All that said, I'm not thrilled with the end result. It was a fun and informative process, but I don't feel a lot of love for this finished quilt. I wonder if I should do more quilting on the color forms? It seems that the plain flat fabric is more in the color field style. The shape of the pink piece is annoying me, and I also would like to make the blue fabric in the middle darker, but don't know how to do that without making a big mess.

I forgot to mention, this is 23" x 20."

Comments and suggestions welcome - Sharon

Bloc de couleur

I took the challenge very literally and painted on fabric. I drew the design out first on paper and then transferred it onto multi-purpose fabric. I thought about stitching over the paint, but don't know if that will take from it or add to it. The dimensions are 11-1/2" X 16". I have posted two versions of this and as you can see it doesn't matter which version you look at, it will look like that is the right way, but the first one on the left is the way I see it should be.

R.E.M.

What category could this fit in if not colorblock?

This quilt was made for the Free Spirits Art Quilt Group challege for 2010. The theme was dream. The wavy edges and wavy stitches led to the name R.E.M.

Bucket died fabric cut with wavy rotary cutter. Back ground from Carol Bryer Fallert fabric.

I thought of adding large beads to the top of each strip but have not found any that I like yet, any suggestions?

Challenge 52: Lava

Lava was created from a single piece of my own hand-dyed fabric. I distorted the fabric by slicing is up, staggering the pieces and then sewing it back together. The black strip signifies "nothingness, deep in the earth; where the lava comes from". As usual it is heavily quilted, using 10 different threads to add to the color patterns. I used many metallic threads; gold, bronze red, garnet and black to signify the metals found in lava. I found this challenge exceptionally challenging; the more I studied Color Field Painting, the more I became confused. Hopefully this fits the the description; it was fun and I am happy with the piece. Just need to finish the edges and label it. It measures 22"x26"

Challenge 52: Passion/Heat

This is a small piece measuring only 5 1/2 X 10 1/2 inches. I began by layering different combinations and patterns of fabric dyes onto a variety of silk scraps to attempt to represent my understanding of color field (ie. I wanted smooth color transitions and a sense of glowing). Once I picked my favorite of the group, I wanted to continue the idea of smooth color transitions using thread painting over the dye base. However, to me, the dye transitions were more successful than the thread overlays, so I decided to leave the piece half thread and half dyes. Lastly, I decided to overlay the silk onto both a black and a white background fabric to try to further the idea of subtle color transitions. Thank you Betty. For me, this was a great challenge educationally and artistically. I appreciate your comments.

Sue in NC

Challenge 52 - Chasing Rainbows

I'm kind of at a loss for this one. I went ahead and attempted it, actually this is my second attempt. The last was just two colors and didn't really pop. It isn't an abstraction of an object. It is so named Chasing Rainbows because of the colors I used, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple. Final size 18 x 13 inches. I quilted in the six colors quilting each shape on the half. Made for an interesting plaid.

Lisa
In Rainy Seattle

Falling Colors

I almost didn't do this one. I had never heard of the color field concept and it just seemed so foreign to me even reading about it.

When I went back and read about it again it made more sense and I THINK I understand it now.

Anyway -- this is what I came up with.

The size is 14-1/2" x 20"

Challenge 52 Orcas by Silvia Dell'Aere

Hi, when I read about this challenge an idea came immediately in my mind. I wanted to do an orca-related work. This first quilt is my "swimming orcas" but I think that it's just too much representational.

It is simply made by stips of hand-dyed cotton and silk (the black and wite), its size is 12"x12"

It isn't quilted yet because I don't know how to quilt it, and because  while finishing this I had another idea.

Here is my second idea, "orka closeup", an iper-abstract orca. I know it isn't coloured, but at least black and white are colours :)

This also isn't quilted, size 12"x12".

 

Now I'm working on a third piece.

My problem with this challenge is that a color field piece has to be iper-abstract, and this put me absolutely out of my comfort zone. I'm a "pictorial type".

Nevertheless I really love the second piece. It's absolutely simple but I don't know, it really speaks to me :)

Comments and advices are welcome!

Visions of Chaotic Butterflies

 I also don't know if I have the color field aspect right..or anything else for that matter!
For this I chose the colors I wanted to use, the 2 oranges and the blue and just cut and arranged until something spoke to me. When I thought it was done I spotted the lime green fabric and just knew I had to add it to that corner.
As usual it needs quilting, right now it is just fused together, quilting will more than likely be echo quilting in each shape and possibly a simple linear quilting for the background. I wanted to get this posted now though since I have a mystery quilt that needs to be cut out in the next 3 days.
After finishing this I was looking for a title so decided to see what each color meant.
Oddly they all represent aspects of ME...so this has become an abstracted self portrait, no wonder I had to use these colors!

After the Storm

I am not sure I have this right.... The 'Color field' aspect correct,
however I did study the links and the works presented therein. I have to say, that not having a totally clear idea of this challenge, I went with the images that formed in my mind as I looked, cogitated and drew conclusions.
I definitely look forward to your comments on this one.

This is a real departure for me.. not just the Color challenge, but this is done with newspaper on batting, then adhered to a 'texturized' canvas.

A question has been asked... did I consider not having the two strips across the top.... yes, I did, and in fact, left it for 2 days trying to decide. Yellow is very intense and hard to work with... something I have thought about.... maybe someone will comment on.. is should I make those two at the top paler... should I whiten them. Since this is an encaustic type of piece, it would be easy to do.

Fields of Tulips & Morning Sun

Well, I gave it a try. After perusing the net and looking at color field pictures and explanations I'm not sure this is a style for me. I do believe it would make a beautiful background for a composition though. Thanks for the challenge Betty, and it certainly was a challenge for me.

I tried two different pieces. The first I call Field of Tulips, tried to depict the colors of the field and the sky ( I think this would be much easier to do with paint than with fabric ). I am ok with this one, it does represent a field of tulips to me but, perhaps it is too 'landscapey'..  The second is Morning Sun, I tried to depict the sun coming through the window ( wouldn't a figure in a chair add more to it?) with a shadow on one wall?
I haven't done any quilting on these as to me they aren't finished.  I also noticed that a lot of the samples I looked at were color field and abstract together, which I think would be something that I could achieve. However, that being said I did give Color Field a go and enjoyed the process. I look forward to your comments, and am sure these two pieces will both change greatly in the next few days :-)

Challenge 52 - Color Field

Challenge #52 December 2010/ due January 1

Guest Hostess: Betty Warner, Simsbury, CT

Theme or Technique: Express something using Color Field concepts

Design Concept: Color Field

Color Field Description and information:

Color Field is a style of abstract painting that came in to prominence in the 1940’s and 1950’s and extended into the 1960’s. It was a departure from the recognized forms of abstract painting and was influenced by European modernism. However, it came into full bloom in New York City. It took Abstract Expressionism in a new direction. The colors and shapes became more important on their own. Many who observe the color field paintings will have the ‘Why I can do that’ or ‘My child can do that’ or ‘A monkey can do that’ sort of reaction. However, it is very difficult to accomplish. Below in the references is one that gives instruction on creating a color field painting.

I have always been drawn to abstract paintings. They make me think and wonder. Standing in front of one, I always find myself drawn in and mesmerized by its affect on me without always understanding why. The color field artists have reduced a painting to its essence. You can only take in the whole while finding it difficult to identify its parts. Even the canvas does not feel separate and distinct. Can you tell I find it fascinating? I hope that you will find it as interesting to explore as I do.

I have read that the key characteristics of Color Field painting are:

· The bright colors are in specific shapes that can be either amorphous or geometic, but not very straight-edged.

· The work emphasizes the flatness of the canvas, because it is what a painting is about.

· The subject, and thus the excitement, of the work is the tension set up between the colors and shapes.

· The lines between figure and ground are blurred to the point there is almost no distinction.

· The works have usually been very large which allows the viewer to experience the color as a vast expanse – or a field of color.

Here is some useful information and history from Wikepedia. :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_Field

More to inform you (this article has wonderful links to specific artist information):

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-color-field-painting.htm

Here are some examples:

http://popartmachine.com/blog/color-field-painting-examples-and-colorfield-theory.html

Here is an interesting ‘how to’:

http://painting.about.com/od/abstractart/ss/color_field.htm

Among painters identified as Color Field painters are these:

Jackson Pollock, Adolph Gottlieb, Hans Hofmann, Barnett Newman, Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, Arshile Gorky (last works), Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, Morris Louis

Some more examples:

http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/definition.jsp?entryId=71

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/03/06/arts/0307-COLO_index.html

http://www.huliq.com/50865/smithsonian-museum-exhibits-color-field-painting

http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/color_field_10one.htm

Color Field and Art Quilters

It is my opinion that there are a number of quilt artists who exemplify the Color Field approach. I am not sure that they would describe themselves in that way. However, in my view, some of their works are evocative of ‘color field painting’.

Judith Plotner

http://www.judithplotner.com/zenphoto/landscape/afallday_50.5hx33w.jpg.php

Judith Larzelere

http://www.judithlarzelere.com/gallery.htm

Judith Content

http://www.lindagass.com/IntimateApparel/Artists/JudithContent.html

http://www.cnch.org/cnchnet/winter-2010/dye-for-judith/

http://www.kentuckyarts.org/landscapes/Judith%20Content.htm

http://www.saqa.com/gallery-detail.php?ID=295

Margaret Anderson

http://www.mandersonart.com/gallery/index.htm

Elizabeth Barton

http://elizabethbarton.blogspot.com/2009/08/craftsmanship-and-color-field.html

Dorothy Caldwell

http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/arts/bronfman/traeng11.shtml

http://dearada.typepad.com/dear_ada/2008/04/dorothy-caldwel.html

http://www.velvethighway.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=133&Itemid=92

Emily Richardson

http://www.grossmccleaf.com/artistpages/richardsonpage.htm

http://elizabethbarton.blogspot.com/2010/01/emily-richardson-work-is-where-head-is.html

Elizabeth Busch http://www.elizabethbusch.com/a_gallery.htm

Ann Brauer http://www.annbrauer.com/Ann_Brauer_Quilt_Studio/Most_recent_quilts.html

Bonnie J. Smith http://bonniesmith.vpweb.com/Gallery-of--Art.html

Fractured, Challenge 51

I am adding this here even though it is totally late, at least it will be on the blog with the rest of the Challenge entries. This is my take on Challenge 51, my choice of a repetitive unit was the triangle. Course my triangles are not the same, not the same size, nor actually the same shape. I did use the same fabric more then once to provide repetition within the design. This is a small quilt only 11.5 inches square. What took so long was the other things I needed to get finished before Christmas, then the hand stitching I was doing on the triangles, and finally the need to finish another project before I could finally finish this one. Fabrics used are all hand dyed, though not by me, I prefer to purchase my fabrics. The background was machine quilted, and all of the triangles hand quilted. For additional information on how I put this together you can visit my blog, and see in-process photographs.
Kathy Walker
http://katwalkdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/fractured-fffc-51.html

Challenge 51 rothequilter

I really got into this challenge. I already posted a quilt made of squares. My daughter suggested spheres for this challenge, and I decided to do a second one. I don't like fusing or machine applique very much, so I needle turned all the circles. I quilted with 2 strands of embroidery floss, all circles, except for the border. It seemed to need some straight lines mimicking the design in the fabric. I had beaded some disks and turquoise seed beds, but after I finished beading, I decided that the disks took away from the effect I wanted. I am posting one picture of the finished quilt, and a detail. ro the quilter

Rectangles

I apologize for these being so late, but I thought I had better get them up. I actually finished the bigger one at left (as far as the quilting and the stitching goes) in time...but I found myself playing that "what if" game. I seem to think that I am wonder woman and can do it all.

My choice of shapes was rectangles. I randomly cut them from quilter's lame and either layered them on top of or underneath florist's organdy ribbon in gold. I left the edges raw because I wanted to add in the texture of the fraying edges. I'm not convinced that that was a good idea and I might try to upload a photo tomorrow that shows that better.

The entire piece measures 29" (w) x 26 1/2" (h).

I wondered how beads would look in it...and I laid these rectangular pieces of imitation tiger's eye on top. I think I like it, but I'm not convinced.

I made this smaller version, 13" w x 12" tall to make sure that my tension and choice of quilting elements were what I wanted. I quilted it by coming down in two lines in the center of the rectangle then splitting out and outlining it....sort of like a paddle, and coming back in again at the bottom of the rectangle. I quilted it using Valdani hand dyed thread in a variegated color called "Volcano" which is cherry red, gold and a lighter shade of gold.

After quilting it, I wondered again about beads. I started beading around the edge of the smaller one to see how I liked it. I like it a lot on the small one, but I think it wouldn't look as well on the larger piece. The smaller beads work well on the smaller piece to give it extra interest and texture, but I think they would be distracting on the larger piece.

This is way out of the box for me as I usually do realistic images and I rarely bead. I took a class with Mary Stori and liked it, but I haven't done much with it.
Critques are always welcome. And next time, when I'm working with 100% silk, I'll zigzag the edges before I start working on it!

Lisa Broberg Quintana (Michigoose)

Savor Every Second

I painted and quilted circles to form a color vision test that emphasizes 86400, the number of seconds in a day.

Meena

With the Flow by Madalene Murphy

I am very late with this.  I shouldn't have read the challenge in the midst of preparing for a show and for the holidays, but I was intrigued and I hadn't entered a challenge for a while.  So I started working on it between all the other things that needed to be done.

I came up with a shape I wanted to play with, printed it in a variety of sizes, and then began laying them out in various configurations, trying to keep the final design abstract.   I machine appliqued the shapes, machine quilted the background, and used pearl cotton on the shapes themselves.  I may play more with the quilting and I need to finish the edges.  I'm not sure about the final result, which is about 32 x 20".

It's probably too late--and too near the holidays--to get many critiques, but am appreciative of anyone who takes the time to comment.

Triangles

My shape is a triangle. Design Size - 14 X 16 with the triangle edges. The lines are illusionary, because each triangle is double layered with the top layer a bit smaller than the bottom to allow the bottom layer to show through.

I added the edging triangles because the thing looked silly as a rectangle. I'll consider how to construct the edges when I finalize that part of the design. Right now my feeling is to keep the irregular edges but without a fabric background.

This is just the design created in Corel. One concern is balance, and whether the (illusionary) diagonal lines on the right side should point in toward the center lines , or whether, as an abstract design, it works as it is. Actually, it's a matter of the direction of the light triangles more than the lines.

I feel the darks & lights balance themselves, but other comments are appreciated.

My other concern is the lack of a focal point. I’ve just finished 2 Quilt University classes; Elizabeth Barton’s Inspired To Design, and Lyric Kinard’s Artist Toolbox, so focal point is very much on my mind. There definitely is no place for the eye to rest, but I have no idea what would constitute a focal point in this design, unless it would be the center of the crossed diagonal lines just above the center of the piece.

I really like the serendipity-ness of the secondary design formed by the light and dark lines, but they also create the problem - if that makes sense.

The color scheme is yellow-green and violet. I was trying for a split complementary scheme, but the yellow-orange just doesn’t seem to work too well. I also tried yellow-green and red-violet complements, and that’s sort of iffy but might work.

Using a grayscale as a reference for the values, the only other color scheme that highlights the secondary design seems to be the red/black with white. I have some tone on tone red prints that might be interesting, but the over-all look of the piece would lose its more delicate look. I’m not sure that would be a bad thing, it’s just an analytical statement.

This design is sooooo much fun to play with. There are too many new secondary designs formed by rotating the triangles that it’s hard to stop.
I would appreciate any comments concerning the issues I have mentioned, plus any that a fresh eye may see that I have missed.

Trangles Blowing in the Wind

I am late!! Charter my server's new modem had problems and kept crashing my computer...between a computer tech and charter repair... I was finally back on line on the due date for this challenge.

I found this small block all triangles and since I was late... decided to use it for the one shape

challenge. a little box of "dog-ears" (tiny triangles) saved for a future use :) A piece of misty-fuse..sprinkled with the "dog-ears"...covered with sparkled net and ironed down and quilted with triangle embroidery stitches. The edge finish I used the one I use for my fabric post cards ...yarn held next to the edge and stitched with embroidery stitches. The post cards have a stiff interfacing and the finish also worked well with the softer edges. Light and dark windmills on the piece... I added some beads and sequins in the center of the windmills. I'm thinking I didn't need them..they are not triangles!

Convergence

21" x 21"

I knew that I did not want a traditional shape for this one; I used Photoshop to create a rounded star shape out of ovals, and then printed it in a wide range of sizes.  Initially I had thought of overlapping the shape to get a vortex shading from bright red to yellow, but did not like the low contrast between contiguous shapes.  I then went to alternate contrasting colors, added a black/white/gray series and a brown series.  This just reminded me of what I called my mother-in-law's "world's worst quilt" which was a random overlapping of flowers made from circles of all sorts of fabric types and colors.  However, with raw edge satin stitching, I managed to get more delineation between the shapes.

I then added black stitching to tie the five series of shapes together, added another stitching with a different stitch, and it still needed more.  Finally I hit on using the black rick-rack, which echoes the shape, and that pulled it all together.

I welcome your comments on this piece.

Challenge 51: "In and Out" by Sue from NC

Using a square as my shape, I wanted to explore color perception for this challenge.

I used an acrylic painting by Frank Stella "Double Scramble: Value Scales, Yellow & Spectrum" reproduced and discussed in the book "Color in Contemporary Painting" by Charles Le Clair as my starting point.

My original design using mid to dark value purple squares to complete the larger square seemed to diminish the optical illusion of spatial depth. (see photo below).

My revised design (top) uses implied squares to maximize the color effect. There are no quilting lines through any of the blocks. The apparent "lines" are optical illusions.

Great challenge.

Comments welcome.

Proportional Harmony - by Sharon Robinson

I knew as soon as I saw the challenge that I wanted to do something with a “golden section” rectangle. Our company’s logo is based on this proportion and was designed by our senior partner, who founded the firm 50 years ago. He passed away earlier this month. He was a strong advocate for “proportional harmony” so this piece is dedicated to him. I’m not sure he would have liked it much, he was also a a big advocate of simple elegance, something I have yet to master.

I’ve always been fascinated with geometric patterns and the various ways they can repeat, so I took a “golden section” rectangle and started arranging it in different patterns. I claim it still meets the intent of the challenge because the red squares are really just negative spaces left between the rectangles. Sorry that it’s unfinished as usual, but I wanted to share while everyone is still looking.

I wanted to piece instead of fusing this time because I'm interested in exploring that overlap of "art" vs "traditional" piecing with blocks. The repeating block for this piece is simply a gray plus a black rectangle.

My intent is to quilt the rectangular construction lines in black, and couch a bright red cord over the spiral, but I've never couched anything, so I need to see if my technical skill is sufficient for that before I ruin the piece. I already learned one new technique on this piece - using my ink jet printer on fabric. The faint construction lines for the quilting were printed on the gray fabric before I cut it out.

I'd be happy to hear thoughts or suggestions for quilting and finishing.

Squares Squared

Using squares seemed popular in this challenge, but I had a bag of silk sample squares that I had been sent when I was a Bernina Fashion Show designer in 2003 and this challenge seemed a great time to use some of them. I spray basted the black background fabric to a piece of timtex and drew lines on the timtex to form a grid. I then stitched the lines with metallic thread in the bobbin so it showed on the black fabric. All the silk squares were fused inside the lines, then a second layer was fused on over the intersections, and a third layer over the intersections of the second layer. Even the square beads, a wonderful find at Joann's, were glued on. I stitched a straight line with metallic thread around the silk squares and may do another straight line after I add a felt back to the piece.I enjoyed seeing the interactions between the colors of the fabrics as I layered them. Photographing the piece was a challenge with all the different values and shine of the silk. Best place turned out to be the porch floor on the north side of the house!

The size is 24" x 12".

Comments welcome-great to see so much variety in this challenge.

Nancy Schlegel

One shape...

Wanting to do something other than a 'normal' shape... I decided on a tessellation of some kind. It reminds me of a waterfall... tears.. or? I haven't quite finished it, I am using some black floss in hand quilting the outer area. The design itself is one piece, layered with batting, then placed on the black fabric. I was going to cut again around the shape leaving a quarter inch border, but I think the weight of the design needs the extra 3 layers to support it... what do you think? I love the sheen of rayon thread so all the threadwork is rayon.

Any comments or.. yes... greetings are appreciated.

Stones by Cynthia Ann Morgan

Here's my one shape piece. I used the shape of a rock in various sizes and colors. I was dying to add some round shapes in there too...might do that later.

Comments and greetings welcome!

Cynthia

Fair Ribbons Quilt

This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile and when I read the rules that all pieces had to be the same shape I figured this is the time to do it. It is much larger than my usual Fast Fridays.

It took the first two days to sort the ribbons. I started sewing the day after Thanksgiving. I still have to tack down the tops.

The ribbons are from 1990 thru 1993. One of the fairs had a 50th anniversary in 1992 and all their ribbons that year were gold.

I used a piece of quilted fabric for the backing and attached the ribbons with a serpentine stitch and also considered that to be the quilting.

My husband thought I should use all red, white, and blue or just do the 1st and 2nd prizes. I like the variety of colors.

I don't like the white streak going through the picture but I guess it must be the way the light hits it.

Shake it up! - Life in the Snowglobe

My challenge was working with hexagons. I started off abstract and thinking about piecing them, but they just didn't want to go that direction. The tree is made up of about 300 hexagons cut out of the scrap pieces in my stash and then layered on top of each other. The snow and snowmen are also made completely of hexagons, together with the ornaments and all their accessories.

When I began quilting, my intention was to use layered and repeated hexagons throughout the piece, as I did in the foreground, but it didn't look right in the sky or on the tree. So for the sky I settled on snow lines coming down with hexagons for the flakes. The tree received a garland.

Finally, I used an edge finish that I had not tried before and bound the edge with a zigzag stitch and a specialty yarn to give the illusion of more snow.

This was a really interesting challenge and I enjoyed working with the one shape.

Ticia Wicks

Waves

My shape is a wave shape. I used it horizontally and vertically to give it an abstract landscape scene. The quilt is approximately 19" X 27-1/2". The quilt is mostly monochromatic (black/white), but used a gray piece of fabric to give the illusion of trees or bushes. I used beads along the furrows and the moon is from the underside of a yogurt top. There are some hot crystals for the stars, but I think they are hard to see.

Moon Bouquet

One of my personal challenges for FFC is to use what I have (cuz I have a lot of stash!) As I was cleaning out bins this fall, I found a set of circles from another project and that really was the starting point for the whole challenge. I literally threw them on the design wall and got an idea....
I started by cleaning them up (cranky edges and whatnot), then spray basted them to a piece of stabilizer, re-arranging until I had circles going in a spiral design. Did some trimming and then sewed them to the stablizer. The back is a random piece of fabric from the discard pile and this really is the shape... its hanging on my white design wall. The edges are overcast in matching colors (the one I don't like is the brown on the cream colored circle at the top, but maybe that sort of contains it!). Machine quilts with lots of different threads. I'm thinking it might be a nice table topper for my dining table.
Great fun... and ladies, you have done a fabulous job on this challenge! I'm really happy with the results!
And now to go finish holiday gifts!

Challenge 51 - Hip to be Square

My piece Hip to be Square measures 18 x 18 inches. It has the rainbow dancing squares on a black and white checkerboard. Not too much to say about but it is squares within squares within a square.

Lisa in Sunny Cool Seattle

a square deal challenge 51

My quilt Square Deal was made for a class I am taking with Jude Hill. Tyhe quilt is woven, and 2 areas have smaller squares woven into the base. I'm probably fudging a bit, as some of my squares are rectangles, but--isn't a square a rectangle? Rosemary in St Louis