Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Old Souls


Old Souls measures 12"x12". The background is a hand dyed by me fabric, overlaid with cottons and organzas to suggest reefs. I added various fibers and a lot of thread painting for corals and seaweeds and the tiniest seed beads I have ever seen on the white coral on the left. A real exercise in patience! I finished this part of the quilt using the 'escape hatch' method a la Melody Johnson. Next I made the turtles, individual parts fused to fusible fleece and thread painted. I actually made 3 pairs of turtles before I got the look I was after. (anyone need some turtles...LOL)

The last step was to assemble the turtles as I appliqued them in place using white silk satin stitch.


Thanks Pam for a really fun challenge!

All comments gratefully received :-)

Cherie

8 comments:

FoulkeArt said...

This is a wonderful piece.

I especially like the way the turtles extend beyond the boundaries of the background.

Jan said...

This is a great little piece! The turtles seem to be floating across the quilt. Your organza pieces help create movement in the water as do the various plants. Having the turtles begin and end off edge creates a unique quilt. Love it!

Pam Harris said...

I, too,like the turtles extending beyond the borders. They are very graceful. The variety of fabrics and thread makes a great composition. Well done!!

Julia in NZ said...

The turtles are a triumph, so it was worth all the trial pieces! Lots of interest in the seascape, and paradoxically the turtles don't take you eye out of the picture, like you might imagine. Altogether a lovely piece with atmosphere.

Betty Warner said...

What a lot of detail in a 12x12" piece. Very interesting detail. I like the movement suggested by the shapes and placement of the turtles.

For me, there is something about the specific blue color and value of the turtles against the background which draws your eyes and keeps them there like a magnet.

Wonderful!

LAQuilts said...

Very cool turtles - the remind me of my trip to the Galapagos Islands. The hand dyed background is to dye for!

Michele/TextileTraveler said...

I agree with others that the turtles breaking the frame is a particularly nice touch!

Betty Donahue said...

I agree with all the others.
Great piece
Betty