Sunday, September 15, 2013

Barbara's Green Quilt



Doing a mono print using different shades of green set me on my path to this challenge.  My favorite color is green so this was a joy for me to work on!  I seem to be drawn to more and more hand stitching these days.  There was one technique that I have admired in some art quilts and have wanted to try.  Our challenge, being small, was the place to try large running stitch parallel quilting with perle cotton thread.  I love the ridges that form in the fabric!

I decided not to name this piece even though my family came up with some great names.  I want the viewer to see whatever they see and not be swayed by the title.  My goal this time was mainly to focus on green and not a visual subject.

I have three photos.  The first, above, is the finished quilt.  Next is the mono printed fabric.  Last is the three tools that I used in the mono printing process to remove paint from the Gelli Plate.

 You can see each Gelli Plate print clearly in this photo


15 comments:

  1. Barbara, I love everything about your post! The quilt itself is lovely. Simple but so effective! And I love the fact that you showed us the fabric before the stitching was done, and also, that you showed us the tools you used. I am just going to have to invest in a Gelli Plate! Andrea has told me a lot about them and I toyed with the idea recently of ordering one. Now you inspire me to do so as well! I can so identify with you and how you are drawn to hand stitching! That is my great love as well. When I saw your quilts in person two years ago now, I noticed all the lovely embroidery stitching on them and stored that away in my memory to pull out to do myself! I wish I enjoyed machine quilting--so many in our group do and are such experts--but I just do not; whereas, I LOVE the hand stitching!

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  2. I really like the texture you've achieved with the printing and quilting in this piece. The stitching just brings it all to life!! It's so amazing how stitching can transform a piece. Great work!! Glad you liked the theme - green just happens to be my favorite color too:)

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  3. Love the mono prints, brings me back to my art school background. What a fun unique piece! And the stitching is unexpected and amazing.

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  4. Love the mono prints, brings me back to my art school background. What a fun unique piece! And the stitching is unexpected and amazing.

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  5. Love your mono prints - fun and an all around nice job.

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  6. What a beautiful job, Barbara! The colors are exquisite and I love the parallel running stitches you stitched by hand. This piece has a calming effect on me, and I'm guessing that it must have been a great deal of fun to make. Gorgeous!

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  7. This piece makes me think of the walks we would take in Virginia through the marshland. The walkway with the blues of the water mixing with the green of the plant life is what I see in your quilt. I'm glad you showed us the photo of the printed fabric. It demonstrates how effective your hand quilting is in the finished quilt.

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  8. I am amazed at how your hand stitching has transformed
    your monoprint! Thank you for showing the "before" photo.

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  9. You make me want to go pull out my unused Gelli plate. I have watched the videos over and over and plan to do it w the grandchildren, but what am I waiting for. Also, I want to try out that supportive glove because hand stitching is so beautiful as you have demonstrated here.

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  10. I love the texture your stitching created and I love the patterns you achieved in your printing - thank you for sharing the tools you used. I too want to go find that gelli plate I bought but haven't used.

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  11. I love the quilt. But I must be the only one that does not know what a gelli plate is. Can you explain it to this uninformed Maven?

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    1. Hi Rita, a Gelli Plate is the new tool that looks and acts like very thick Jello but doesn't deteriorate like Jello. It's about an inch thick. You brayer paint on the plate and then use tools to remove some paint. Rubber bands give a great image! Then put the fabric on the plate and use your hands or a dry brayer to print. Lift the fabric and voila! Sometimes you can make a ghost print from what is left on the plate. Mono prints can also be made on plexi glass or any hard surface.

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  12. Wow! What a lesson on fabric design and surface texture. Thank you for including all your homemade 'paint removing stamps'. I enjoy gel printing for its versatility. Your stitching, especially the use of red thread, makes this quilt pop. Lovely.

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  13. Your piece is really interesting. I have always wanted to try gell printing. Your piece has encouraged me to try it.

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  14. Hi, Barbara,
    As so many have said, a beautiful quilt and a great post showing your entire process.
    Hugs, Tina aka Wifey ;)

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