challenge 22 and 23 by Priscilla

Challenge 23 is a split rail fence block that was created with velvet, velour and batiks; cut without a ruler and randomly sewn together ---altered quilt block
Challenge 22 is a texture created from hand dyes and batiks. The focal point is a piece of hand dyed fabric pleated and fringed then swen to the quilt.

Challenge 23 Less is More 12.5'x42.5"

I've been thinking a lot lately about creating "simpler" pieces (thus the idea for the challenge). I really like the idea of a large background, but have not seen many quilting examples other than wholecloth quilts. I found that creating this piece was actually quite difficult, as I ended up agonizing over every detail (and redoing several things). Now you know why I am 9 or 10 days late finishing it!

The background fabrics are arashi shibori dyed silks (something I've been playing with a bit this year). I had already done the purple one, and ended up making the charcoal one last week to go with this. The little rectangle is a piece of dupioni silk. It is quilted with rayon threads.

I like the final result, but I have had some technical difficulties working with the silks. Under the charcoal piece I used a non-woven stabilizer, and it is showing some creasing. Hopefully I can fix that somehow. There are also a couple of areas where the fusible got on the surface, so any ideas how to get it off would also be greatly appreciated.

I would appreciate any comments, and thank you all for coming up with such great results!

Brenda Jennings

CMY

So after completing the Printer Blues I decided to do a less is less - actually 3 - Cyan Magenta and Yellow each measures the same as the Printer Blues 8 1/2 x 8 1/2.

Lisa
In Rainy then Sunny Seattle

Completed Sea Glass Quilts

Sea Glass I & II
9 x 12½
I decided on white thread for the Sea Glass quilts, and then couldn’t do any quilting when I realized I was out of white thread. After I finally got out shopping and came home with white thread, I changed my mind and outlined each piece loosely with variegated light blue which I already had.

The background is densely quilted in white. I added a heavy interfacing behind the batting to prevent puckers in the “glass” area. The interfacing seems to have done it’s job, and was not difficult to machine quilt through.

Sea Glass – What Do I Do Now?

Sea glass I and II are arranged and fused onto white fabric. I need to decide what to do about quilting. My original thought was to outline the shapes loosely with dark thread. My thoughts now are that dark thread could overpower the softer colors. The first on especially needs something to add interest, but I am afraid of adding too much.

Oatmeal

The size is 10" x 15". This one was difficult for me. I chose to try for a piece without a focal point, and this is what resulted. I asked my husband to find the focal point, and he couldn't and when I said there isn't supposed to be one, he said he had been thinking it was just kind of blah. So, where is the difference between blah and unfocused? I know it's low on contrast, but that doesn't guarantee no focal point. I have a lot of studying to do to understand these principles of art. Critiques are SO welcome!

The one on the left!

Another piece on dupioni silk.
Size: 12.75 x 19.00
I have been seeing this piece in my minds eye for some time
and thought it would work here.
It is very simple, just free motion everything and I would like your comments please.
Particularly with regard the red square in the 'focal' circle. I only stitched once through it, thought I would do it a few more times, however, one second thought, it is not visible from a few steps back, yet a closer look adds that 'element of surprise'.
Thoughts?

Paint drip on old wall by Cynthia Ann Morgan

My piece for Challenge 23 is called “Paint drip on old wall”, size is 10 x 14” and constructed using fused appliqué with hand dyed and commercial print cottons. It was inspired by the works of Clyfford Still an American abstract expressionist, like Mark Rothko, who did alot of color field work in the 40s and 50s.

Turkey In The Straw by Penny Irwin

8.5 " X 12"
I used the rhythm and repetition imposed by a grid in an attempt to lead the eye; hopefully to the small red rectangle. I also restricted the field to a neutral off white.
I kept thinking of a Japanese flag but was trying to be a bit more subtle.

Flight Line

This was interesting! My quilts are usually filled with many fabrics. This one has two!!! It WAS a challenge for me to work like this.

The quilt is 11" x 12 1/4". The background is a slightly mottled grey. The "things" on the flight path are from a very reflective liquid lamé which was attached with WonderUnder. As I turn my head to look at it from different angles, the colors change from gold, to blue, to green, and things in between. The quilting was done with a variegated (black to light grey) Sulky. It is not free-motion quilted---rather just a plain straight stitch.

I originally planned to have this turned a quarter but somehow didn't like the large item at the bottom. For me, the small one at the bottom seems to make the pattern come toward me, a rising up.

Comments are welcome.

Sally Field

In My Secret Garden

I have posted my more is more...no focal... in the album as well as here. I used the darned quilt technique taught by Dena Crain. It is most certainly a perfect candidate for MORE is more...LOL.

There are fabric inserts, overlays of sheers, many different threads and braids, several decorative stitches, beads...etc, etc.

This was a really fun quilt for an equally fun challenge...thanks Brenda!

Comments welcomed (and appreciated :-))

Cherie

Manipura I and II

I really loved Erin Wilson's quilts that were referenced in the challenge info (thanks, Brenda)... and as I started to sew, I found myself wanting to emulate her work... but I didn't. Her work is really stunning!
Both of my pieces were inspired by a leftover piece of Caryl Bryer Fallert's old fabric line, Glacier Bay (which is truly one of my fav places on the planet)... the hues of earthy tones were just amazing to stare at for awhile.
Manipura I: I tore random strips lengthwise and just sewed them back together... not a great idea, cuz the stitching doesn't really show but it helped shift the colorations a bit. The gold pieces were inserted into randomly cut slices and measure 1/4".
Manipura II: Fused applique on a solid background....Manipura is the 3rd chakra in energic healing (and show my yoga background). It's the solar plexus of the body, usually portrayed in gold/yellow and with the Sanskrit character for "ram," a seed sound in Sanskrit which is used in mantras and often refers to fire.The "ram" was freehand embroidered over the fused applique. The 10 lotus petals each represent a syllable in Sanskrit often used in chanting.
They measure about 15 x 20" each. Machine quilted with King Tut thread (gotta love it).
I have another one in my head, hope to get it done at the end of the week....thanks, Brenda, for a fun challenge. Comments, of course, are welcome!

Joanna Strohn's Southwestern Focus

25" x 28" - commercial cotton fabrics

I almost forgot about this month's challenge as my focus was on the quilting retreat I was going to be attending. Fortunately I remembered as I was about to dash out the door. I'd grabbed my stash of southwestern fabrics, planning to do other projects.

I had no idea what to do for this challenge. My inspiration came from June Davila and Elin Waterson's Art Quilt Workbook. I selected five fat quarters I thought would work well together, put the fabric with the horses on top of the pile, then began to slice and dice. Then came the fun of arranging them and pulling other fabrics to join the segments. I didn't finish anything at the retreat. Instead I stopped at the quilt shop on the way home to buy more fabric, including the great border fabric from Ricky Tims. I'd used black to join some of the segments. Decided it didn't work well so did some unsewing. I only had a little bit of the turquoise fabric but my roommate came to the rescue. She had her husband bring her southwestern fabrics and there was just enough for my needs. Serendipity!

The fun comes now in quilting this. I think I'll add some hand embroidery and maybe some beading or crystals for the gecko eyes.

I like this because it reflects a style I am evolving: pieces that draw a viewer in. The closer one gets to my work the more one sees in it. I think that's from having had eye problems and always wanting to look closely at art.

The best thing: I have four more pieces to complete! While similar, each is different and delightful.

Thanks so much for this wonderful challenge! As always, comments are most welcome.

A Naughty Little Puppy

A Naughty Little Puppy

I must have gone through a dozen ideas for this challenge before I decided to do this entry. I liked the idea of one focal point, but struggled with the concept of a large background. After scanning through a multitude of pictures of our dog Ginger, this pitiful expression caught my attention and so was chosen for this piece. She is often a naughty little dog, even now that she is grown up, and is certainly the “alpha” of this household. At least she is somewhat repentant in this photo.
This composition was achieved by printing the photo onto fabric, then fusing it to the bright pink fabric, a striped border was added to set it all apart from the background. Thinking the quilting would look like naughty vibes coming from Ginger, concentric increasing diamonds were used. I’m calling this a work in progress, since it doesn’t seem to look finished to me. The resemblance to a place mat is much too strong. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

ren's challenge #23

This challenge came at an opportune moment: I wanted to experiment with some weaving and shading and was concerned that the result would be boring. Here is the thing. It fits into the "lack of focus" part of the challenge. I want to continue with the piece by adding a focal point, but it's not ready yet and won't be for a while, so I figured I would just post this version.

Challeng #23 Rhoda Forbes

I really enjoyed this challenge and certainly have other ideas swimming around in my head.
I was drawn to the Andy Warhol picture of Marilyn. So I choose to do a focal point with large background, like his.

Last winter I fooled around with the Tsukineko inks and did some fabric portraits. For this challenge I used the portrait of my grandaughter, dressed in old fashioned clothing. It was done with one color, and was a challenge too.
I framed her picture in black and appliqued it to the background. I did do some vertical quilting, which does not show up in the picture. I felt that the vertical lines well suited this type of art, rather than an all over quilting pattern.
Thanks for the challenge Brenda, I will be doing more of this.

The Printer Blues

First piece - response from DH - is this an ugly fabric challenge

Second Piece - a little better - let's take it one more step.

Final Piece - The Printer Blues
After being asked if this was an ugly fabric challenge - I reworked the piece twice. I took all the bits and pieces of a quilt I am working on - then I covered it with a tulle and quilted the fabric. After that I picked a blue/green - fabric to make a grid - that didn't work so well - I then re-cut and used a black fabric to make a grid - a little better but not much - I then sliced all the color square into little four patches - tossed half of them and added more black. It reminded me of printer ink. The final size is 8 1/2 x 8 1/2. It is more is more - not creating any focal point. It is named Printer Blues.

Lisa
Sunny Seattle

Mixed Emotions

12" x 15.5" I just used strips, and snippets of fabric as an artist would use his brush, a stroke here, a spatter there, big brush here, tiny one there . I don't see any focus area here, but maybe somebody else does?

Midnight Ride

I was playing in Photo Shop liquifying a wall hanging of a basket of flowers and to my surprise it looks like a person riding on an animal through the sky.

Moonlit Orca

I have had this piece of fabric for awhile, waiting for the right project. When I saw it in the store it brought to mind a moonlit sky and ocean. When I saw what this challenge was I knew I had to use this, and the Orca fit perfectly. It is a simple fused appliqué piece, I made the *splash* with a shiny, transparent fabric that resembles fish scales.
BTW, I have 4 more along the same idea with different subjects waiting to be finished. While looking for the Orca I just kept finding other things that would work!