Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Carolyn's Garden Contrast



My hobbies are quilting, gardening and playing the dulcimer. I was honored early this year when my niece asked if she could be married in our backyard.  The wedding took place this past June.  She had been a widow for many years, so it was a joyous occasion for the entire family.  I spent all Spring adding flowers of every color to our garden with the help of a gardening friend.  When the word "contrast" was announced, I immediately knew what I wanted to portray in my quilt.

In Dallas, there are two gardening seasons - Spring and Fall.

"Garden Contrast" highlights the beautiful color palette I can still see every day as I look out the window of my studio.  The vivid colors of red, yellow,  gold, purple, lavender, orange, white - and yes, even blue - gaze back at me as I work on my next quilting project.

I used a soft lime green Kaffe hot shot cotton for the background with a band of black and white 100% cotton fabric to simulate my window.  The flowers and leaves are batiks fused with Wonder Under.  I used 50 wt. Presencia thread on the flowers and a contrasting green 50 wt. Aurifil thread for the detail in the leaves.  The centers of the flowers were free-motion stitched using zigzag and circular designs.



15 comments:

  1. Carolyn This is just stunning! It made my day! It's so happy and I loved your commentary. The joy of gardening is also my joy so I can so relate to this. It's really quite a special piece!

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  2. I just love your choice of colors with the background and the flowers are so happy. What a wonderful quilt!

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  3. Lois and Tricia have nailed it--stunning, happy, wonderful choice of colors! I am so privileged that I have been able to see your fabulous garden in person!

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  4. Delightful piece! I love all of the colors and the black and white contrast it perfect - love how you depicted the view from your window!!

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  5. What happy flowers! Beautiful subject and I'm sure ti will bring happy memories every time you look at it.

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  6. What a lovely quilt ! Full of joy, and special memories of the lovely garden you shared with your family for your niece's wedding. I loved how you used free-motion zig-zag stitches for the centers of the flowers, and your contrasting fabrics for the leaves of the flowers. And using the subtle black and white for the window, made the colors in your flowers really "pop" ! I'm not familiar with Presencia and Aurofil threads... will have to check them out ! Beautiful, lovely work of art !

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  7. Very stylish, like it's maker! Beautiful quilt and garden.

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  8. Your quilted garden is a very happy place just as is the beautiful garden you created outside of your window, Great use of color and of course - contrast

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  9. Your quilt just jumped off the page and made me smile. I can see these colors and your quilt is so pretty. But I liked the story just as much. It is never too late to find love again. I'm sure the wedding was beautiful as is your quilt

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  10. My first thought was, "This is a Whimseyville garden!" It is so happy and then seeing the photo of your actual garden made me wistful. I always have this sort of vision in my head each spring as I am working in the flower beds, but it never happens. Beautiful!

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  11. What a "happy" quilt! The colors are wonderful and the 2 strips of black and white are perfect. I imagine that whenever you look at this quilt it will remind you of your 2014 garden and your nieces' wedding.

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  12. Your garden is beautiful and very inviting. I can see why your niece picked it for her wedding!. I love gardening, but I can never put in the time it requires. My quilts and fabrics have to satisfy my need for color.
    Your quilt is so happy and colorful. It takes me outside to see the wonder of nature.

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  13. As always your quilt is a beautiful piece of art. Color, composition, quilting and the black window frame is perfect. I enjoy the way you made the petals of the flowers sway and swish as if a gentle breeze is blowing them. That is a great photo of your lovely garden too. Thanks for sharing that. Are you going to the Kimbell art museum sometime to see the Impressionist exhibit they have coming in? They most probably with have a Monet or two. I think it opens next week.

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  14. Very beautiful piece! I love it! Cheers!

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  15. Wonderful piece of art! I love the colors they are so bright and vivid!

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