My week, actually closer to two for this project hasn't gone well. Just when I thought my vision issues were a thing of the past, I've had a relapse. Hopefully it's temporary but it's so annoying to cope with these limitations.
I envisioned a sketch of a tree as the focal point. There was no intention to echo the look of a traditional window, rather I was thinking more along the lines of a piece of stained glass.
My drawing skills are almost nil, but determination, a pencil and eraser yielded the image that fit nicely into the piece.
I'm still struggling to achieve acceptable machine quilting, especially when using this programed serpentine stitch. Although I promised not to complain about my new machine.....surely you could hear me hollering no matter where you live due to all the distortion that developed. Yes, it started square and flat, basted within an inch of its life. I used Janome's pale imitation of the Pfaff's dual feed feature......called Accufeed. Enuff said.....I'm not sure whether you can see the horrible distortion above. After blocking it more than once I had to decide if it could be rescued or considered a failure.
After considering all possibilities, I cut it apart, eliminating a small section to get rid of the puckering. My original intention was to deep six the bottom section, bind the top, then go back and add more detail at the bottom of the piece. BUT....as a lark, I added binding to the bottom to see how it would look if it was displayed as two pieces. While working, an idea emerged to possibly attach the two by joining the roots from the bottom to the top. Or??? I'm still considering whether to use just the top or both pieces as shown here or somehow connecting the two. What do you think??
Follow these links to see what successes others have had this week: Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday.
21 comments:
Without the bottom it looks like the view from a high window, or the view of a short person. With the bottom, it's an intriguing look at above and below ground. My opinion is to keep the pieces together, maybe with a thread lace trunk piece and strings of crystal beads holding the pieces together. Lovely!
what a great idea for "fixing" it. It is really great
I am a huge fan of anything tree so I do love this piece. I don't know if it's the lighting or not but the roots seem to show up better in the 2nd photo being detached. I love how you think out of the box. When something doesn't go your way, you figure out a way to make it work. I think it might detract if you put something in between to hold the pieces together. I like it as is. If hung correctly it will be better than the original.
All that beautiful work to wind up unhappy with the results! Aggravating at the very least. But it's a beautiful piece, and a two-part display is novel. I'd love to see a full piece also because the design is so pretty and you made such good use of your indigo fabrics. But, like you and others, don't really see how to unify them back into one. Though Kathy's suggestion is an interesting thought. I'm so sorry to hear that you are having recurring vision problems. Very frustrating.
I like the idea of joining the two together.
Beautiful! I like the quilt as 2 separate pieces. You could connect the 2 parts with embroidery thread as roots -- "exposed" roots. Thanks for sharing.
I really like this piece, but I can feel your pain about the distortion, having dealt with it very recently. I definitely think you should use the bottom piece by attaching it with invisible thread.
Beautiful! I like the quilt as 2 separate pieces. You could connect the 2 parts with embroidery thread as roots -- "exposed" roots. Thanks for sharing.
What struck me first was the brilliant placement of the shibori fabric. It does a fabulous job of drawing the eye into the central motif, while also branching out with the trees. No question - hang the quilt as a diptych. It adds both tension and finish to the piece.
I like the bottom added to it for sure! This is a great piece!!!! Love that tree...you could even keep the bottom as a separate piece and attach with some heavy threads/yarn to mimic the roots..any way you go with this it's going to be GREAT!!!
It's Mary here.....thank you everyone for your input.....having "new eyes' (or eyes that actually have good vision...grinning) is always so helpful. Though I was disappointed with the initial results.....more so because I still struggle with this machine......believing it requires adjustments but the dealer is holding firm that there's nothing wrong....guess my 40+ years of sewing experience means nothing!!) Anyway, it's such a trite statement....but making lemonade from lemons is humbling and certainly provides the opportunity to grow as an artist.
I really like the "exposed roots" idea.
I LOVE it! I saw the photos and thought wow what an eye catching piece......then I read the text and am even more impressed with how you have rescued it.....I like it....I really really like it!
The layout and the shibori fabrics are so beautiful that it just has to be rescued. Personally, I would connect the two pieces with the narrow black strips at the edges and the between the central and side panels (just connect the black to the black, and also play with the exposed roots.
Hi stranger!
I love this piece as it is....call me crazy..
I like the piece even better with the roots separated from the trunk! I think it adds a lot more interest. Great way to make that lemonade! Maybe to see if you want to join the two with black binding as someone suggested or embroidered roots, you could lay it on a solid coloured surface and use thread and/or fabric to simulate the joining. Taking photos would allow you to evaluate what you like.
It's Mary here......thank you all for taking the time to use 'new eyes' to view this piece and passing along your ideas. My instinct was to somehow join the two pieces......carefully as to avoid 'tacky'!! I've been auditioning ideas and will post the results as I move to the final decision. Currently I'm trying to thread paint the lower trunk of the tree and hopefully connect some root sections onto water soluble stabilizer. AND....joining the top and bottom sections with narrow black strips to meet the two vertical sashing. Stay tuned.
Oh...this is a tease....if you think cutting this project apart took nerve what till you see the next 'oops' I've been struggling with.....I'm almost ready to unveil....
Love this piece, keep the bottom. I like the idea of the two narrow black strips joining them.
This is a wonderful, innovative piece! Very striking.
On the puckering: I've found that walking foot/evenfeed quilting can pucker terribly depending on the grain of the backing fabric. If the direction of quilting is along the cross grain (from selvage to selvage) it tends to stay much more smooth and even. Parallel to the straight grain and I get puckers. Anything on the bias is fine, and if the backing is pieced in all different directions then it tends to be fine, too. Anybody else have this experience?
Interesting to me, it doesn't seem to matter what direction the grain of the front piece is, maybe because fronts are almost always pieced?
To be cut off from one's roots yet still flourish. This is a powerful piece and, IMHO, should have both pieces.
WOW Deb, what a poetic statement......thank you...that might have to be the title!!
You appear to be a 'no-reply'blogger.....so I couldn't respond directly to you....hope this finds its way......
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