Fireflies 2

Still working on the fireflies images - dyed and over dyed the base fabric (cobalt and marine violet) before screen printing with discharge paste then over printing with a mix of bronze powder and ormaline. Used a weak solution of discharge paste to lighten central 'glow' area then used some treasure wax on top to  give the 'glow' effect. Stitched again with the holographic thread on the discharged areas - I really am trying to tame this thread! Both makes of  the holographic thread I have tried (Wonderfil and Madeira) have produced a very stretchy filament which is very fussy about the thread tension!) the metallic thread by contrast on the gold areas seemed a dream to work with!   I was keen to do a design that reflected the 'ball' shape of groups of these insects as they swarm around - but this was not easy with our current 10x20 format!

To bee or not to be

To bee or not to be......

Been experimenting with screen printing, using some screens bought at the Festival of Quilts this summer. The plants have been over printed three times starting with a light greyish paint and getting darker, to give an idea of depth and shadowing. The bees were printed with a mix of black, copper and gold paint. The background was pieced with hand dyed and commercial cotton. The bees are outline quilted to make them more puffy and the plants were loosely quilted over the top. Straight line quilting in viscose threads for their shine in three colours for flattening the background.

Off to Houston next week so hope to come back with new ideas and inspiration!

Voyage 5. Hole Cloth Quilt

I love to do hand quilting and have made several traditional style whole cloth quilts over the years. So far I have made all my voyage pieces by machine and I have realised that, to be complete, a hand quilted piece should be included. I didn't want it to be traditional. I have used a photo of a model of the structure of pollen I took on a walk in Kew Gardens as inspiration for the pattern. Then, with encouragement from Magie and her friend Isobel, during a recent visit to Yorkshire, I added holes! I have particularly enjoyed making this one. Thanks to Graham for the photos!
Alison

Fussen to Ripponden

At the beginning of September Mark and I cycled from Fussen (in Germany - close to the Austrian border). It was about 1400kms. We cycled first along the Romantic Road cycle route and then joined the Rhein Radweg. It was generally flat so we could cycle at least 100kms a day. I wanted to make a long thin quilt so made 2 quilts 5" x 20" and have joined them together. I drew it all out carefully choosing buildings, significant things we saw along the way. I made each quilt in white with dark brown stitching and then added the colour afterwards. I coloured the sky to match the weather. 

The Sands of Time - Kelly

It is actually 11:59 pm as I start writing this post. So I'm only 4 days late!  Whew....that was close!

Time is a recurring theme in my art.  Has been for quite some time. My first art quilt was a mixed media piece "It's About Time" which was shown at the Houston IQF a few years ago. Still have a list and some sketches of other pieces for this time series begun back then.  Perhaps they will get done someday as well!

I think it is a recurring theme because time is a constant challenge for me.  The lack of it, the arrangement of it, other people taking it up, and even on occasion...too much of it with no energy to do something productive with it. I try to manage it, redeem it, save it, spend it well. Some days are more successful than others. But it is still such a big part of my daily vocabulary that the whole concept of time is a very integral part of Who I Am.  That plus I LOVE clocks in art work!!

The Sands of Time



The final piece for this year has been started and hopefully I'll find TIME to do it on TIME!  (see what I mean?????)

Stopped at every turn!

I'm having a heck of a time with the next piece! I have the idea and I have most of the materials. The hold-up is:  I can't get just the right piece of fabric for a background. Not one that helps me accomplish what I see in my head.  Several tries....several failures. Haven't given up but it obviously won't be on time. 

Thankfully, I've already started on the final piece for 2012!