Nedra’s Travel – Paris
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen and one of my favorites. I’ve been lucky enough to visit it 3 times so I quickly decided it would be the topic for travel.
I wanted to represent 3 iconic sights, the Eiffel Tower, the glass pyramid of the Louvre, and a Metro station sign. I started with stabilizer onto which I traced an outline of the 3 shapes. Using gray organza and placing it on top of the outlines, I stitched along the lines with a narrow satin stitch, filling in the grids and details. I carefully cut out each form from the organza, snipping very close to the edges.
Silk screening would have helped achieve the background I wanted but I’m not skilled at that and don’t have the equipment. So I attempted to achieve those effects using fabric and printer. I purchased the pink background fabric, cut a piece 8 ½ x 11 and ironed to freezer paper of the same size. I then used a calligraphy font and typed out Monmarte, Notre Dame, Tour Eiffel, Champs Elysees, etc. and then printed onto the fabric. Wonder under was fused to the back of the printed fabric and I cut out each of the words and phrases. Lining these up very carefully on the background fabric, I pinned in place. The white writing and images were cut from a fabric with a map of Paris on it and handled in the same way. Using a stencil I created the black letters and applied fusing to those.
When happy with the layout of the images, letters, and words I fused them in place. I then cut warm and natural in the shapes of the Eiffel Tower, pyramid and metro and fused to the stitched organza shapes. I pinned to the background and then satin stitched these once again along the perimeter of each to secure. The added batting gives a bit of dimension to the shapes. I fused the edges and used a decorative stitch to secure. I chose not to machine quilt this piece.
I had originally tried to include photos(courtesy of Andrea) and emphemera from a trip (that she and I took to the European Patchwork Meeting in 2010) with all of these elements on the front, but it just didn’t work. Sooo, I decided to make a reversible piece and put those on the back.
I found a pleasing layout and covered all with tulle and machine stitched carefully around the edges of each to secure. I made the mistake of ironing next and the dark black spot on the upper right side is a receipt that burned!! Ooops. Guess you can’t iron those even though I used a cover piece. I finished each 12 x 12 and then fused them back to back to create the reversible piece.
I appreciate the three major objects you chose to emphasize... the Eiffel Tower, the glass pyramid of the Louvre, and a Metro station sign. The way you sewed them and padded will allow many to reminisce. I hope you enjoyed this trip to remember⁄
ReplyDeleteI envy you European travelers! Nedra, although I appreciate all you did on the front of the quilt, I reeeeeaaaallly like the backside! There's so much interest, a touch of whimsy and lots of visuals for the eye to take in. You've got a two-fer and its wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNedra, the amount of work that went into this little quilt is not only immediate apparent when you look at it, but then is confirmed by your excellent and clear narrative about how it was achieved. Thank you so much, not only for this lovely piece that captures Paris so beautifully, but by the clear and concise way you explain how it was brought about. And I love it that the quilt is two-sided!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome to be able to make a memory travel quilt of Paris!!! I love the pink background and how everything shows up on it. Thanks for the description of how you made the quilt from the individual places to the burnt receipt. It was interesting how you made it without quilting it. I agree that the quilting might take away from the individual sides. Love your 2 sided quilt.
ReplyDeleteLove how you constructed the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Pyramid and especially the art nouveau metro station entrance with organza, but I have to agree with Judy W that I really enjoy looking ( and lingering over ) at the backside more! So glad that you did make it a 2-sided piece.
ReplyDeleteLike you, Nedra, I made two travel quilts, and my other one featured postcards. I had a hard time deciding which one to use, but could think of no way to use both by making one of them the back. Fusing, of course! Why didn't I think of that? I might do that yet, and then add it to my original post. Meanwhile, if anyone is curious to see my other travel quilt, they can be seen at my personal art quilt blog, Art Quilter Aspirant, http://artquiltaspirant.blogspot.com/ AND I agree with Judy W. and Andrea that I prefer the back to the front of yours. On Facebook, I had followers "vote" on which of mine they liked the best. It ended up a draw, pretty much!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful depiction of Paris, Nedra! Thanks so much for the explanation of how you made your quilt. Thanks, too, for a two-sided quilt. I think I like both sides equally. A wonderful job!
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