This weekend I did a little individual scrap challenge. I pulled a bunch of random scraps from my orange/green/brown scrap baskets. I grabbed a handful from each. I told myself I had to make something from what I pulled. The colors were earthy and I started thinking about land and how farm fields look from the window of a plane. I grabbed some natural osnaburg (it has that nubby earthy feeling too) and started piecing.
Most farmers would probably cringe at my planting style, it's sort of abstract and random. Very me...well, not really. It's how I would like to be. I constantly fight that urge to make things even...line things up, make everything symmetrical. (I alphabetize my spice rack...and compulsive stuff like that.)
This piece gave me another opportunity to play with the concept of negative space. I'm sort of into that lately.
I have 7 blocks done so far. I think I'm liking how this is coming together. I'm just about out of the scraps I pulled. I may grab a few more handfuls.
Sometimes that 'push' thing gets a bit out of control. I got a little 'rotary cutter happy' this weekend. I felt a bit like the villain in a slasher movie. I took the rotary cutter to this top. I kept looking at it and the framed scraps were so static and boring. I was getting ready to baste it and then decided it could be something so much better. Now it's a stack of different sized pieces. I started playing with those too.
May have been a mistake, but isn't that what push is all about, taking a risk and possibly experiencing failure? It's only fabric, right?
41 comments:
Oooh! Lovely!
Do you cut your scraps neatly before you put them away or did you do that afterwards?
I like the design wall that is displaying your awesome creation.. what and how did you build this wall, care to share???
I just absolutely love what you are doing with the farm quilt top! I too just love that view from the plane, especially since I live in the country. Love the colors and the geometic layout and 'pushing' is always good. It's what makes us who we are.
I am always taking photos from a plane when I get to fly. I love the look of the world from up above. I too have thought of making quilts with this in mind. I love your interpretation. I hope to do something one of these days.
I like the pink cut up too!!!
I love what you are doing with these two projects! I also enjoyed reading Cheryl's post. Thanks for the link.
I love what your doing with this quilt top. I think it is going to turn out wonderful!
I like your earthy work. The green with the tan is like early spring.
It's only fabric... and an excuse to buy more if we don't like it, right? ;)
Those are really interesting and really beautiful. Thank you for inspiring us in bloggy land with your creativity.
Interesting that you attacked that old top. As an outsider it shows me an evolution of your style. I've seen a lot more random (seemingly) layouts from you lately. That is, as opposed to the defined 3 by 3 of 12 inch blocks. It really does seem for you (and me) that process is almost as important as the final product.
I'm digging the farm fields... Love it!!!!!
Fabric is not static, the good thing is that you can work and re-work it to your heart's content.
I like how what you are doing is coming too. I am the same, being a former math teacher I have to force myself to be random. Is that an oxymoron? I like the orange and green with the brown and black.
This fall I took a picture of a field of pumpkins...the left overs after halloween. I passed the field on my daily walk...beautiful orange, green and brown just like your farm quilt that is taking shape. I had the idea at the time that it might be a great look for a quilt. Now I know it would be! Maybe I will e-mail you the picture! Great job, Jacquie.
ONLY FABRIC??? WHat are you saying?
In any case, you are doing lovely things with your fabric so I can calm down now.
ANdi ;o)
You are a constant inspiration. I love what you're doing with all of the negative space recently. So fresh and original!
Hehe I'd never have had the guts to cut up a top like that! Kudos to you! I've been getting into improv a lot more recently so I'm slowly letting go of the lining things up, symmetrical thing.
I love your works in progress. You are right, it's only fabric! To me quilting is more about the process than the finished project, and while I have not cut apart a finished top (yet), I have painted on several. It's very liberating:-)
Each time I ride a plane I "sketch" out the window at the landscape. Definitely looks like quilt blocks to me. Love the naturalness of the osnaburg with the earthy colors. Inspiring!
I love love love the farm quilt. You never stop amazing me. Have a fun week!
Must be something in the planetary alignment, because I've been hacking my blocks and tops to bits as well. Loving every minute of it! Almost lost a fingertip though, be careful.
I'm loving the brown, green, and orange in connection with the osnaburg! Have fun!
I think fields look like quilt blocks too when seen from a plane. Love it! I really like the oranges, greens, and browns together. I do love it when you get into the zen aspect of creating-all time just disappears, and you are working at the subconcious level. That is when you know you are in the groove!
Even your playing is amazing!! Love the farm quilt!
love those field blocks - they look great together. congrats on experiment and learning and pushing yourself!
I want one of those - a design wall, I know my room is very small but surely I can get something to work.
And those quilts - Jacqui they are FULL of promise and inspirition - you have nothing to worry about. More of us should embrace this 'push and flow' principle. Looking forward to seeing the finished results.
Need to get back to my blue top this week - the talk theme aound it has been accepted by members of the guild committee - I just hope I can do something that is of interest to them all.
Wow! I love it! These quilt blocks are so beautiful. What a brilliant idea cutting through the pink blocks, I really really like the way its coming along (and I love your pretty fabrics, you have such a great sense of color!)
Oh, how fascinating to be let in on your design process. You always give me courage to push. Thank you for sharing. But, pleeeeaase, no apologies for alphabetizing your spices. Why waste time you could be spending quilting looking instead for the allspice (which does NOT belong next to the turmeric!)
You are so funny. It is good to challenge ourselves. That is when we are the most creative.
I know your photo is finished blocks on a planning wall, but I actually like the white space rather than finishing it out with similar blocks. Makes me think of suburban sprawl pushing in on vital farm and natural lands, fragmenting them.
I took a class once a while back at Quilt University. The fabulous teacher taught us to ask, "What if....?"
I try to do that with all my pieces now. But I still have not slashed. Maybe that will be next!
glen: love your work
pretty blocks! I love the addition of the big khaki white space to your green/orange/brown blocks
You never cease to amaze me. I love the earthy feel of the oranges, greens, and browns. And I love how you come up with ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Your creativity always inspires and I really like this negative space work you've been exploring. Looking forward to seeing how it all keeps developing!
Had so much fun making a wonky star art piece over the weekend and thought of you as I created and put some of your inspiration in it. New style and I am hooked, thank you!
You’re so inspirational. Love to see those works in progress and the way you push yourself!
I hope to get there one day, to just plunge into the experiment and think ...it’s only fabric!
your vision and execution are phenomenal. and just when i think i've decided on a favorite you creat a new favorite. i really like the farm field symbology here too, along with those fabulous galvanized chairs!
well, okay, I can go with the first one....
but holy cow!! you did WHAT to a finished top?????
geeehosofat woman. you're braver than I!
Hiya, Jacquie!
I meant to email you earlier this week. The neighborhood quilt arrived this past weekend (we had a house full of family for my 1st baby shower and I did not even get to the weekend's mail until Wednesday). The 'fix' looks great. I love, love, love it! Maybe I should have bid on the green one as well as it would have looked great in the nursery! Hindsight!
Have a great weekend!!!!
Sara
It tickles me to hear you talk about negative space. I tried to get my art students to understand how important it can be. I too love working with negative space and many of the projects I designed for my students centered around the negative.
no joke Jacquie! I've been working on a block that is basically a pieced shelf with stacks of fabric on it for several days now and I can't seem to get the legs right for the shelf. I had to put it down and have been crocheting for a bit to try and clear my mind. I love what you're doing with the remake blocks!!
I like the woven look of the scraps on your wall -- it gives me an idea for something completely different than what you are doing (isn't inspiration wonderful that way?). I'm also loving your "negative space" thing going on. I'd love to explore some of that too, but I'd need to buy actual yardage first. All the fabrics in my stash are too small or too patterned to work as negative space.
I totally admire the way that you are creating this quilt. I am sure it is little scary, liberating, and exciting--all at the same time. I am starting to approach quilting in the same way. Sometimes my plan doesn't work and the project goes in a complete different direction!
Post a Comment