I chose the theme Cell since I started my life fascinated with life and was captivated by microorganisms. In junior high we had "slam" books where people responded to questions that probed into their likes and dislikes. I was probably the only 7th grader who claimed Louis Pasteur as an idol. My graduate research revolved around election micrography of cells on culture. My textbooks have gorgeous images and I have often thought of developing a series of cell related quilts. I was also hoping that the word had usage in enough other areas that we could have a good diversity of interpretations.
I had planned on a quilt that highlighted a mitochondrion. This summer I started an online design course with Katie Pasquini Masopust. One of our assignments was on edges and I decided I needed an amoeba crossing over the field of the quilt. I looked at many images of amoeba before I got started and saw that the amoeba has two areas of cytoplasm thus the 2 shades of gray. This cell is also drinking - you can see pinocytosis starting at the top where projections from the cell are creating a fluid filled vesicle. The green dots are vesicles filled with alga, the large yellow one is the contractile vacuole that maintains the fluid balance in the cell. The nucleus was constructed using scraps of thread covered with dyed cheese cloth and then held down with quilting. I intended to add seed beads for more texture but my husband talked me out of it.
I wish I could see this in person as the photo is not doing it justice I'm sure. Your explanation is great in describing the parts of your quilt and I think your quilting truly adds dimension and texture across the surface. Amoeba with beads... I like the idea. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the grey shadow effect. Like Judy I would like to see this up close as I am most intrigued by the stitching and cheese cloth, but when I click on the photo to enlarge, it does not. I think this theme has produced some incredible work with much diversity...thank you so much for the opportunity to "stretch"!
ReplyDeleteAs you now know, I LOVED the theme. Your quilt is lovely, a pleasure to look at!
ReplyDeleteSara, great great quilt and such a good theme. I confess I wasn't thrilled with it at first, but after finally deciding on my own quilt and especially after seeing all these others, I have revised my opinion: this was a super theme. Now back to your quilt! This is so very well done, and thanks for such a clear explanation of it. By the way, your image was so large that it infringed on the "side bars," so I took a little "executive privilege" and went into your post and made the image a bit smaller. If you preferred it infringing, then you can go back and click on Extra Large or Normal Size and it will once again be really big!
ReplyDeleteLove all the details of the amoeba and the info about them. The quilting does make it look as though it is moving across the quilt. Clearly, this topic meant a lot to you and your interpretation was great. I enjoyed the wealth of possibilites it presented and think the quilts are all just fabulous. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteWell Sara, I waited and waited for you to post! I really love your amoeba. It reminds me of my nursing classes and all the little "guys" we looked at through the telescope who were moving off the slide. I want to see it up close, so you need to bring it to IQF. Love the way the amoeba is dancing off the quilt! The colors are great, as is the machine quilting. Love it! This was a fun theme. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone - I do think fine structure of cells and tissues create beautiful imagery. I appreciate the image help Alice - I posted using my cell phone without much view of what I was doing as I sent the day in a quilt guild workshop and then meeting - was pleased to make it to bed before I completely fell asleep (as opposed to during the drive home or during the presentation). I quilted the inside in a zig zaggy pattern because my graduate work was studying the "cytoskeleton" of cell which my professor called a "microtrabecular lattice" that showed as a fine zig zaggy mesh in our high voltage electron microscope.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see there is more than one science 'nerd' in this group. Absolutely loved the theme!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBrings me back to my biology class in High School. Lovely interpretation
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