Leaves # 1

Leaves # 1

Nature was and still is an interesting subject for me. The seasonal charges in colors and shapes are great inspiration for my creations. I decided to focus on leaves this year, and am going to use different techniques and materials.

In the first quilt I used both commercial and hand dyed cotton fabrics fused and then free hand cut the leave shapes.

Shoshi

Musa's Circles. 
I've been buying these Kola and Indigo dyed fabrics from Musa Jaiteh (from The Gambia) for over ten years now - I never tire of them!  There is a simple beauty in the combination of colours and the simple tie-ing techniques he uses.This is not my first quilt using this fabric and I'm sure it won't be my last!  I think you'll all agree that this is quite different from Alison's circles.  It will be interesting to see the different ideas that we come up with. 

Musa's Circles

Detail 1

Detail 2

This is my first piece for 2013. My theme is “art using natural elements found in nature”.

This one is based on sand drawings that we often see on the beach while going for a walk!  Kids and adults love to draw messages and pictures in the sand. Its lots of fun and we often see some very interesting art works. This one is very simplistic.

Being in touch with nature is also very good for the body and the soul. It helps reduce stress, makes you happy, helps makes you more creative, improves your memory and in general makes you a better person.

I have quilted some of these words in the heart!  I have also tried to do a slightly different quilting design in each square to try and improve my creativity and LOVED making this piece!

Portrait #1

Here is my first quilt for the 2013 series. I said that I would have "seeds and pods" as my theme for this year, but this has changed and my chosen subject has become "me". I had done an on-line screen printing workshop and worked with photo's from my childhood. I was so pleased with the way the prints turned out and I have so many ideas of how to continue, that I decided to use this for my series as well.

Detail:

I used a background fabric which I had prepared with fabric paint, silk paper and newspaper. I then printed the image with a flour paste screen. I added a photo using gel medium, some hand-made paper and then added some lettering and machine stitching.

Circles Number One.

My quilts for 2013 will all be to to with circles. Using fabrics and embelishments already in my stash. For the first piece I started by cutting a circle of fabric the biggest that would fit inside the finished size we have agreed for this year. I cut it, opened it up and 'unpacked' the circles inside. Just following where the fabrics and more circles led till I achieved something that I found pleasing. Then I apliqued and quilted by machine and by hand to put it all together.

Alison

Bamboo No. 1

Here is the first of my "Bamboo" series for 2013.  I am basing my series on the bamboo plant in my living room window.  This first piece was assembled using fused applique.  I did some layering with organza strips in the background and on the yellow leaf in the foreground.  I particularly enjoy the green leaf and transitions to brown and yellow at the tip since my poor plant looks like this during the summer when it is hot and dry outside and the air conditioning makes it hard to keep the plants watered inside.

Frances

Ancient Cactus

As I have stated...my theme for 2013 is Up Close and Personal. I am using 6 of the most favorite macro shots I've taken and making them into art quilts. I'll be posting the completed art along with the original inspirational photograph.

And here is the first. The photo was taken on a trip to Texas. We were walking along and saw this scarred and beaten very old cactus. I got a very close up shot of a few of the leaves. I've always loved this photo and the resiliance portrayed. An old cactus, well worn over time, yet still growing. An inspiration worthy of an art quilt I think.

ANCIENT  CACTUS

original photograph

I used simple quilting so as not to detract from the scars on the leaves. All the scars are reverse appliqued.On the largest scar, I pleated the light gray fabric before doing the reverse applique on the black for the deeper cut (see below).  I even let the fabric pucker as I stitched it because I felt it enhanced the age of the cactus.  The "thorns" are hand embroidered. All the fabrics are my own hand dyed cottons.

Ancient Cactus - detail