I'm keeping you busy this week, aren't I? VBG Because of the uncertainty about Mum and because I have been getting behind for other reasons I've spent yesterday and today concentrating on my Journal Quilts for the Contemporary Quilt Group. I have now caught up with February and March. Phew!
This is the quilt for February, entitled "Low Tide" and measures 7" x 10". I digitally altered a photograph I had taken in St Ives last year and printed it onto one of those specially prepared computer fabrics you can buy. I then took various pieces of scrim, organza, sheers, lutradur and something I've forgotten the name of (!) and bondawebbed them to the photo-fabric. Backing and wadding were added and it was quilted with hand and machine stitching.
This quilt has taught me several things already. While I'm happy with the hand of the fabric after it has been printed with the photo I don't particularly like the strength that I've printed the image at. It feels a bit like cheating to achieve this realistic image. I am already thinking of other ways I could have used this piece of fabric including cutting it up and using parts of the image with other fabrics. I think I shall investigate this further. If I hadn't been so pressed for time I would probably have cut this up and experimented but I was beginning to panic so I just ploughed on. Some may argue that this is simply a piece of embroidery and not a quilt but it is 3 layers held together by stitch!
This is my March Journal Quilt and is titled St Ives Stroll. I have used my own hand dyed fabrics plus one commercial fabric to make 2 blocks to an identical design, one of which has then been flipped. Photo images were printed onto Extravorganza and bonded to the blocks and then machine quilted. My one regret is that the square with the numbers, (symbols stencilled onto a railway bridge), now looks a little top-heavy and draws the eye. I am currently working on a 9 block quilt based on this idea of rotated blocks, as I blogged about a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't got any further with it yet.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and good wishes for my mum. She has been told today that they are going to fit a pacemaker later in the week so we just have to wait for them to decide her blood is right after they gave her warferin! She is going to be even more lonely and bored as the ward has been closed to visitors because of Norovirus. Grrrr!
12 comments:
Your Mum is not having much luck is she... poor thing! Lovely quilts. I like the photographic one!
I absolutely love both pieces and no I don't think it's cheating at all to work on a realistic photo image of St. Ives. I love the second quilt for it'subtle variegated changing tones and the lettering. It's a wowie!
I posted more piccies of St. Ives today on "textiles". I managed to find some breathing space and put my little world to rights. I'm feeling a little better now I have a "cunning plan" ;o)
Hope Mum continues to improve xoxoxo
Nice journal quilts Julie. You are obviously finding them a good learning experience which is why making the small pieces such an advantage. Hope they manage to sort out your mother soon.
Your poor mum !
I knew as soon as I saw your first quilt I knew it was St. Ives, Lots of textile artists use photo transfers on fabric, so I dont think it's cheating either
Wow, Julie - these are wonderful! I especially like the March one.
Your Mum be glad to get her pacemaker. Love both the quilts - they are so different from eachother and your dyed fabrics are beautiful.
these are lovely!
Amelia.x
I love, love your quilts! Can see some great developments here!Love to your mum. x
Oh Julie I have just sat and read all your latest blogs - you have been a busy lady. The dog definitely looks as though it has Meerkat tendancies! I do hope your Mum is soon back on the road to being her normal lively self. I seem to have ignored my computer for about four days so am playing catch up now. I just love your seascape quilt it is sooo good.
i don't think it is cheating. Perhaps next time you could manipulate the image digitally before getting it printed to make it look less realistic if you are not keen on that look? bleach the colours out or something similar??? Anyhow I like it nevertheless!!!! are you based in St Ives? If so I am MUCHO jealous! Love it down there.
I think both quilts are super, Julie, and i love the idea of the numbers and symbols, very contemporary.
Sorry to hear about your Mum , hope she feels better soon.
I agree with Carolyn!! No way are you cheating!! You took the picture for heavens sake!! this is the perfect opportunity to explore different ways of working with the photo in series!! It would be stunning to have several of these beauties framed side by side on a wall!!
Lovely work and your Mum is in my prayers!!
hugs!
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