From the beginning, I debated between two different puns, but
eventually I settled on the homonyms “pear, pair, and pare.” I pared a red and a green pair of pears,
arranged the pared pairs on a plate, and shot the photo outside on the back
porch against the brick wall.
I printed the photo, after doctoring it a bit on Photoshop,
using Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Sheets. Inktense Pencils in various shades of
greens and red and a bit of brown and yellow helped to brighten the colors; I
blended them with a brush dipped in water.
This was the most fun part of this quilt for me! (Thanks, Jane Hartfield!)
I have a brand new machine and was eager to try it out
on the quilting. I lost my nerve,
though, as far as free-motion quilting, so stitched a gentle curving vine and
leaves using the open-toe embroidery foot, feed dogs engaged. The quilting can hardly be seen, but it shows
up a bit better on the back!
Then I fused the photo onto the background, using Wonder
Under. After fusing it, I appliqued
around the photo using the buttonhole stitch to secure it. Finally, I bound the quilt with another red
batik.
PS: This is actually
a two-sided quilt! On the back is the other design I considered. This one is based on the pun first mentioned
by Carolyn: “Blessed are the
piece-makers,” [a pun on the Bible verse “Blessed are the peace-makers”] and it
depicts various ones of us Material Mavens “piecing.” Well, sewing on machines. Some of us claim never to piece! Not me!
Who makes this claim will remain nameless! I actually put together a composite, but I don't think I'll be taking over Randy's job!
I identify the "piecers" (sorry, quilt artists) in the caption. I've also posted the original composite, which of course is sharper and clearer than the photo I printed onto fabric!
 |
| Photos taken at either Quilting Adventures in 2013 (I think!) or in Nantucket (this past spring!) From the top, left to right: Jane at QA, Nedra in Nantucket, Carolyn and Sara at QA. Middle row: Andrea watching Lois sew in Nantucket; Alice at QA; Sara in Nantucket. Third row, Tricia in Nantucket; Jane, Gail, and Alice at QA.  |
This is great, Alice. I've never tried printing my pictures - yet, but it is in the back of my mind. I'm sure nothing anyone else does will Com-Pear!
ReplyDeleteCarol, thanks! I LOVE the pun in your comment!
DeleteVery clever, well done! I love that you pared your pears to photograph ( instead of constructing out of fabric ), with the brick background. Looks like you really enjoyed the entire process while creating this quilt.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pun! I love the photograph of pears and the bricks. So fun to use a new technique.
ReplyDeleteVery clever Alice! Love that you used your pared pears photograph with your brick background. So artistic!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful Alice!!!! Looks like a painting!! And the pun is the best!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your photo! Colors and composition are lovely! I enjoyed your narrative as well!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlice, this is really great. I love the photo and colors. You must be a painter as well as a quilter.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I will learn more about using the computer to tweak my photographs, make composites, and print onto fabric.
Alice .... Your quilt is BEAUTIFUL ! I can hardly wait to see it in person ! Your photograph and transition to fabric is gorgeous, and I think you win the prize for using the most puns in a narrative :-D Thanks for giving us such a great challenge !
ReplyDeleteIncom-pear-able Alice! I so envy your computer skills. Front and back are adorable. A great reminder of our great times. Only an English teacher would try to double pun us!!!!
ReplyDeleteGail love your fist sentence!!!!! I
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