Friday 1 February 2019

Texture Challenge

This is my second Endeavourers challenge. I really look forward each time to pushing myself out of my comfort zone with improv quilting. The wallhanging size works very well for me.I decided to emphasize texture by avoiding color contrast and prints which would compete for attention.
Then for inspiration I went first to Pinterest. There were many examples of shadowboxes, book covers, prayer flags and wallhangings embellished with a vast variety of fabric collages. Many contain other elements such as paper, postage stamps, photos, medals and embroidery.
I have many pieces of old lace, crochet, and other fabric with texture. After searching through all the nooks and crannies, I collected quite a few samples that would be useful. Most of them are off white so that’s the color that I worked with.
The fabric I chose for the front and the back was a reproduction of old handwriting. I fused both front and back to the batting then did straight line quilting in a grid. Then I pressed a very very long strip of machine crocheted open work. This was stitched down to make a nice frame for the piece.
At that point I decided to add pink accents to give a little color and liveliness. This was my first rough placement of the pieces.
Once I had the edge pieces stitched down, I picked out a fragile hankie with some holes in it. I gathered it at the center, tied it with a piece of pink lace and stitched it down to the top border. The rest of the pieces were laid out in a gentle curve.
I decided to fill in the remainder of the circle with buttons chosen from my old Mason jar. Most of them are mother of pearl and a few pink ones. I like the way the pearly ones add a little glimmer.
Here is my texture challenge.
Thanks, Janine, for coordinating the challenge. I can’t wait to the other entries.

6 comments:

  1. I absolutely love it! So delicate! What a good way to call special attention to those bits and bobs we have all collected, thinking that someday we will do something great with them. I love the pink and raspberry highlights too.

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  2. I like your art quilt. The lace frame and the buttons! The soft colors give it such a danty appearance. I have such a collection, just don't know quite how to arrange things like you did. But your explanation makes me want to try.

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  3. The thing I like about all our quilts, is that I just itch to run my fingertips over them! :-) I really like this, there's something very nostalgic and wistful about it.

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  4. I love the way you've combined these vintage pieces in your quilt. Your colour scheme is lovely and the way you have arranged the different textures showcases each item beautifully :)

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  5. The lace beautifully frames this delicate piece. It makes me think of victorian crazy quilting but with more subtle colouring - the pink highlights are perfect

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  6. Love the bits and bobs you have in your collection. There is something so lovely about lace, not sure it it is the intricacy or the nostalgia but it makes your piece very appealing to me and gives such a nice tactility to it.

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