Several years ago I took a class with Jane Davila at Quilting Adventures. She had us limit our palette and choose one theme and size to work with for a week in order to develop a series. I was amazingly productive and made a series of tree inspired 8 by 10 inch little quilts using colors that were not part of my usual quilting palette (mostly pale yellow and browns). I was really excited at how far restrictions could take me. I was showing someone my output and she commented "sometimes you just have to get out of your box!". That person totally missed the point - I need to corral myself into a box to produce something - without parameters and boundaries my work becomes thoughts and dreams not actually anything real. This quilt is a tribute to setting creative boundaries and I call it "Boxes". It actually is a square 12 by 12 inches which is distorted in this image (I will try another picture later).
As a bonus, while I was working on this I realized that I had another piece started on this theme. It does not fit our challenge boundaries in size (nor have I completely stitched down the facings) but I thought I would quilt the piece and post it:
Love this!! So dramatic with the sharp contrast and another great interpretation! I am glad you included the other project you are working on. I like it too!! I think that it is very effective with the different colors and quilting stitches. I hope to see it when yo are done!
ReplyDeleteBoth pieces are wonderful. It is so important to know what motivates your work.
ReplyDeleteI think that setting boundaries for ourselves (use only red and black, for example) is freeing rather than restricting! Limiting our choices mean that we concentrate on the design. Sometimes all the fabric I have just creates in me a feeling of chaos. A simple but very effective quilt is yours this time. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI like the free formed lines! Both pieces very dramatic, one for it's simplicity and the other for all that is going on!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and literally seeing how being boxed in while limiting the control of one area, it can push you to explore and expand others. I like this.
ReplyDeleteVery effective interpretation of the theme. I think you and Gail were channelling! I love both of your quilts.
ReplyDeleteBoth quilts fit the theme so well. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI really like this quilt. It shows boundaries, but at the same time freedom. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteEven without the story I love this quilt! The simplicity, composition, and colors make it dramatic and I am drawn into it. You created the perfect quilt for boundaries and I hope to see it in Houston this year!
ReplyDeleteOk Sara, are we on the same wavelength or what??? This is the 2nd time this year we've gone off on the same theme. Great minds think alike! I agree with you, it's liberating to follow rules!
ReplyDeleteYour black and red piece speaks to me Sara. It's simple yet dramatic! I think the free-form piecing makes it so special. Thanks, too, for sharing the smaller version. Nice interpretation of boundaries.
ReplyDeleteReading your story of boundaries being freeing rather than restrictive is being brought home to me as I am initially struggling to wrap my mind around QUOTE. There are way tooooo many! Your boundaries quilt is probably one of my favorites that you have done. Love it, Sara!
ReplyDeleteRita - I thought about that too! Of course I didn't elaborate the theme because I did not want to channel thinking about it. It could even relate to typography, grammar, the act of quoting ... . My inspiration was a challenge a friend was in called "She Said".
DeleteHi Sara .... What a great quilt ! And I enjoyed it even more after reading your story. A thought that came to my mind is something Ceasar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) frequently talks about and uses when training dogs: "Rules, Boundaries, and Limitations." Using those three techniques doesn't impose upon or harm the dogs being trained; rather it allows the dogs to grow within those (for lack of a better word...) boundaries.
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt, and great execution of it ! ! !
Oh wonderful! I'm so glad to have helped a little with your journey. I always find that my self-imposed "rules" help keep me focused and more productive. It's the "rules" that come from without that I have trouble with! Lol. You go!! Can't wait to see what you do next. :)
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