“Reach” was a challenging challenge word for me! I considered “reaching a goal” and also that wonderful
song by Diana Ross, “Reach Out and Touch.”
But somehow images inspired by those didn’t translate into a quilt for
me.
During the recent eclipse of the sun by our moon, I started to pay special
attention to that amazing moon. And the
recent harvest moons have been breathtakingly beautiful! Then I remembered something someone once told
me. If, when the moon is full, you go outside,
close one eye, and position your hands just so, you can reach up and “hold the moon in your hands.”
That notion inspired my quilt. I found an excellent free clip-art image of
cupped hands. After printing it, I traced it onto flesh-colored fabric. Then I cut my moon out of mottled gold batik.
I couldn’t find a dark blue, night-sky-looking fabric in my
stash, so I decided to paint some PDF fabric for the background. Once the fabric dried, I sandwiched it with batting and, for
the backing, a wonderful commercial print of planets. The cupped hands and the
moon are fused and appliquéd by machine onto the background. I added some gently curving lines of
quilting. This 12”x12” quilt was bound
conventionally with more of the background fabric. The
planet-fabric backing is pictured below.
I love this Alice - it is simple and striking and executed so beautifully
ReplyDeleteHow fun to hold the moon in your hands! The painted background is perfect to showcase the moon and hands. Soothing and serene.
ReplyDeleteWow...I didn't even think of the eclipse or harvest moon. Your hands are perfect. When you don't have the perfect sky...paint one! I've done that. Simple but very expressive!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific! I always tried to reach the moon when I was a little girl. I thought of the book - 'Goodnight Moon'. I love that you painted the sky. Thank you for bringing those memories back to me.
ReplyDeleteSimple but oh so nice Alice! Love the painted background fabric. I have never tried reaching out to hold the moon in my hands, but love this unique interpretation. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect. Love your image.
ReplyDeleteVery nice composition. It is graphic and realistic while depicting a fantasy. Well done!
ReplyDeleteAlice ... I LOVE this quilt ! As others have commented, your hands are perfect ! And the moon looks exactly like some of the beautiful Harvest Moons we've loved looking at recently. That you painted your background fabric - Super ! And your planetary backing fabric.... perfectly wonderful :-D Don't you just love it when you have EXACTLY the PERFECT piece of fabric exactly when you need it ! ! ! Great job !
ReplyDeleteThank heavens for celestial inspiration! (pun intended). Super clever idea and you did a great interpretation. that subtle background painting was spot on. I loved this.
ReplyDeleteEven though you were more "challenged" than you wanted to be with this theme, I think you came up with a unique solution and executed it quite wonderfully.
ReplyDelete