When the Fairies Sing

This is where I started, a quilt from a pattern. I would like to give the designer credit but I am down south at the moment and do not know her name. (If you do, add it in the comments and I will post it here.) Her design was compelling enough for me to give it a go but I thought the value treatments on the pattern cover were not strong enough to see the design. And, I was determined to shape this quilt using blue and orange, my favorite colors but ones I have not worked with for awhile.  I did not think the pattern design ended at the best spot either. This first image shows the pattern as designed.

I carried on, continuing the white portion of the design to the edges and the coral portion is now a half diamond. I think this makes the pieces look more complete. When I added the final rows around the periphery, I had run out of the medium blue fabric. I found a solid blue of the same value and it works just fine. In fact I think it probably adds a bit of interest to the quilt.

My good friend Janet Fogg quilted this for me. Her work is stunning and makes this quilt.

Are you wondering how I named this quilt? When I was a child one of my favorite songs was "White Coral Bells". We would sing it in music class in four part harmony. The last line is "that will only happen when the fairies sing". It still makes me smile.

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

Shine On You Crazy Poppies

This quilt just makes me happy. It has a story but don't they all. It started as a challenge from friends. One chose the floral fabric we were all to use. I chose this bargello, of sorts, type of quilt and paired the floral fabric with green grass fabrics. I wanted to convey a sense of a field of flowers and grasses. The solid bars gave it some interest and some starts and stops. The original piece had an uneven lower edge but I never liked the shape of the finished quilt. It also never really felt finished to me. It lacked a focal point and was not compelling enough to make anyone stop and look for a bit.

I cut the bottom uneven-ness off a few years ago. Not sure where it was going, it sat for a bit. Last winter it hit me as I watched those crazy poppies shine on in my winter back yard. Once added, it has made all the difference. Everyone who sees this quilt says the same thing...it makes them happy too.
Enjoy!

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

LimeLight

The theme for the A4 Challenge is Fine Line. I wanted my fine lines to be thread of various textures and colors. Originally I stitched a painted canvas with varying thread densities. Some were very close and others were farther away. My original intention was to put the most dense thread work in the center and then ease into the less dense work as I approached the edges. perhaps a fine idea but A4 is to small a space for this to be visually pleasing. This is my result. I really like the play of changing thread colors against the changing canvas colors. My experiment was quite fun.

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

Oasis: North of South

 This piece was accepted into the Southern California and Nevada regional SAQA show. Each artist was invited to interpret the theme Oasis. in an 18 x 40" format.

I wrote: Along The Five, there is a place that always catches me by surprise. The highway, gradually rising, begins to reveal this hill and tree cluster. The change in terrain, reminds me that I am leaving behind the palms and ponds of my winter home for the hills and fir of my summer place. In either case, it's home, my oasis.

This is a close up of the pine forest beginnings.

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

Dazzle

The Oregon SAQA group is sponsoring a juried exhibit with the theme Blending Poetry and Cloth. We were to create a fiber work which interprets a poem of our choosing. I am pleased to have been selected for this exhibit. This is my piece which I named Dazzle. It was my interpretation of Emily Dickinson's poem Tell All the Truth but Tell It Slant

 Tell all the truth but tell it slant —

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind —

 

 

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

Micro Rhythm

The inspiration for this piece came from the markings on a large stone. I love the natural movement found in natural things. It was a joy to work on from creating the curves to selecting the cloth and colors. Enjoy! And if you can, leave a comment. I would love to hear form you.

Linking to Off the Wall Friday

Sticks and Stones

My A4 Challenge group theme for July is Sticks and Stones. When beginning each of these challenges, I make a bit list of things I would like to try. For Sticks and Stones, I knew I wanted to do a stone pile such as those I saw on the roads approaching Lake Pukaki in New Zealand. I wanted to try a different way to bring focus and additional interest to the subject. I am also working on loosening up my quilting stitches. This is the right size for practice.

Linking to Nina-Marie