Interwoven. I knew that I would be weaving fabric, but how would I be able to convey my message by just weaving strips of fabric together? I wanted my piece to represent how our lives are touched by the things we encounter. Events, people, places, and humdrum chores are all the components that make us who we are.
I decided that a heart would be the best shape to tell that story. I drew a heart on a square of muslin and started weaving. With the pieces of fabric that I save in a punch bowl that was my grandmothers, I was able to find wonderful strips to play with. As I wove the strips together I thought how the bright colors represent the happy, exciting times and the dark ones show some tough times. Of course there are plenty of medium colored ones.
I was going to trim up the heart nice and neat before attaching it to a background. I even thought about turning the edges under. When I was done I just couldn’t trim things off because it made me think of how each event doesn’t start out the same way nor does it affect us the same way. I did cut the heart away from the muslin and put it on the soft yellow fabric to make it glow and quilted swirls all around. I bet we all have beautiful hearts!
Your take on this theme is the closest to what I originally tried to depict - all of the things that influence who we are and/or what we might create as quilt artists!! A heart is the perfect shape to portray this concept. Love the multicolors on the light background and the quilting just makes the piece sing!
ReplyDeleteJudy, I do love how you've interpreted the theme! And you and I thought along the same lines with the use of "ribbons." My interpretation was narrower than yours, though, and I love how you've broadened it! I am so glad you didn't trim off those fabric strip ends! I love how you found symbolism in leaving them uneven at the ends! This is really, really an eye-catching and lovely quilt! With fantastic symbolism, and of course I think th
ReplyDeleteGood decisions recorded hrere at every step in the making!
ReplyDeleteYour cheerful fabrics contrast beautifully with that perfect background color. I commend you for keeping fabric strips straight while weaving them, which is a fussy endeavor. My favorite choice is your leaving the ends untrimmed... to do otherwise would have been expected and less exciting. Nice!
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for posting my quilt. I'm under the weather today and Judy was nice enough to come over and post for me. The plus side is that I get to see the quilt and it is wonderful. I always get a sense of freedom from your quilts. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI love your interpretation of our challenge word. It is beautiful and perfect!
ReplyDeleteJudy, your description of your thoughts as you designed and executed this quilt brought tears to my eyes. Oh how our lives - the good, the bad and the mundane - interweave. The depiction of life's events through your color choices of fabric strips, as well as the choice of a heart design speak volumes to your theme. The light fabric background reminds me that there is always "light" at the end of the tunnel. I just ADORE this quilt!
ReplyDeleteI really like your description and the piece and your process pictures. Looking at the tiny pieces, I am intrigued by your punch bowl - the contents sound like it would be fun to play in
ReplyDeleteI'll take a picture of it when I get back to the studio. It is fun to play with all those beautiful pieces of fabric.
DeleteI love hearts, spirals, swirls & bright colors so I immediately fell in love with this quilt. I loved it more after reading about what you wanted to convey...and your decision not to trim was perfect.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy - AND.... this quilt is even better in person ! It was delightful to see it last week at the "Homespun Quilters" meeting in Waco and be able to take a closer look at all the techniques you described above. And I agree with the others.... so glad you didn't trim off all those strip pieces !
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