So when our current theme, Wishes, was announced, I felt like "I just did that, now what do I do?"
But an image quickly popped into my head, based on a childhood practice of blowing dandelion seeds up into the sky to make a wish.
This piece is definitely influenced by two of the other Endeavourers. First, Janine, with her magical story-telling pieces like Dream in Color, and second, Catherine, (especially her piece Cycles) because of the way she chooses illustrative elements -- to me she chooses elements that are essential, but never predictable or dull.
So in this piece I was going for more of a pared-down look, but one that evoked a story.
As I said, when we were young, we blew dandelion seeds up into the sky to make a wish. I am amazed the grown-ups never stopped us, because we must have been spreading dandelions all over their perfect lawns. Maybe they were just glad for a moment of peace.
I decided to make my own folklore to add to this childhood belief, to say that the wish seeds sail up to the moon and slowly fill it up. As we all make wishes and wait patiently, the moon fills up to overflowing, and then our wishes fall back to earth as beautiful, unique drops. If we reach out and capture them, our wishes come true, but maybe not in the sense we were expecting.
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| "Wish Drops" |
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| Detail of the dandelion heads and leaves. |
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| Detail of the full moon and the waning moon. |
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| Detail of the falling wish drops. |
Although I tried on new styles inspired by Janine and Catherine, I stuck with my usual vocabulary of materials -- silk, Lumiere paints, Lutradur, beads, and all kinds of shiny and sparkly threads. I also repeated some techniques I have used before, such as mixing realistic and abstract imagery, padding shapes for more 3-D effects, and placing shapes to expand the regular quilt rectangle.
I would like to add more beading, and more stitching to integrate the free-standing shapes with the background better. But I enjoyed working on this piece and I look forward to spending more time with it.
What a great interpretation of the theme Gwen, I like how you have taken the idea of blowing dandelion seeds and really made it your own.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved working on this piece and hope to keep going with it.
DeleteBeautiful stitching and great idea to fill the moon with dandelion seeds. Confession I still blow dandelion clocks and complain about having to weed them out!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Where I live, thankfully no one can see my yard and whether or not there are weeds, but I did enjoy creating the beaded seeds with no weeding worries. :)
DeleteThis is a beautiful quilt. I love all the different embroidery and beading techniques you have used. Most of all, though, I love your story. When I look at the moon, now, I will think of all all those dandelion wishes people have made and hope that at least some of them will drop back to come true one day :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! If that idea ever finds a place in one of the children's books I am always hoping that you write and publish, I would be honored for you to use it! :)
DeleteI think your enjoyment in making this piece has really come across! I've really loved looking at all the details - your beautiful stitching and beads and those lovely dandelions! Somehow you've managed to cast a magical moonlit glow on the whole scene.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think the white of the Lutradur under the Lumiere paints really helps achieve a glowing effect.
DeleteBeautiful. Love the stitching and beading.
ReplyDeleteWell, Gwen, another full-on Embrace of the Challenge here! I like the whole thing -especially since my first love in the world was, and has forever been, the moon. But the thing that keeps calling my eye is the dandelion leaves -their shape, their color. I have always loves stories of what things do at night when we're not watching. Well, now I know what dandelions do! (As I told Fiona, I'm not an adventurous quilter when it comes to technique, preferring to get the feel I want by color choice and placement. Nevertheless, I do try to rise to the Challenge part of the group a bit and I did a fusible appliqué quilt for the first time this time. I am much more adventurous with cooking.) Perhaps I will take a bit of Creative Courage from you and venture forth a bit more next time. I can only wish...
ReplyDeleteMaureen, you always leave such thoughtful and encouraging comments, thank you so much!
DeleteIf you decide to try something else new next time, you might like the Lutradur (that the leaves were made from)-- if you haven't come across it, it is like heavy interfacing. You can paint it or stitch through it -- it might be a nice addition to your pieced quilts, without being so out-of-the-box that it is stressful. But I like your current methods just fine, there's a lot to be said for having a recognizable voice.
There were a few of us going with the dandelion idea! I like your interpretation. Your stitching and beading are lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes, that dandelion idea was in the air. It will be interesting to see if any of us do the same scene from a book for the next challenge!
DeleteFantastic interpretation Gwen. the Beading and variety of stitches are so intricate and beautifully done. I love the idea of the folklore tale that the dandelion seed travel to the moon and the fall back as you wishes come true. It might be a childhood tale but it something so beautiful to keep us hopeful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I love working on the decorative stitching and beading. The Lutradur is easy to work through.
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