The package I got in the mail was from
Wendy Tuma, and it was a vintage handkerchief, with a cute print of daisies arranged around the borders.
It sparked me to create a garden scene, blending pieced strips, fused applique, free-motion quilting, yo-yos, whitework, beads, and ribbons. Step through this trellis into a garden that never needs watering or weeding, and none of the critters eat the flowers!
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| "Pieceful Trellis". Wendy's daisies are at bottom left. |
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| Yo-yo morning glories. |
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| A butterfly cut from an old linen pillowcase. |
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| A caterpillar of beads. |
I wrote more about how I made this piece on my blog
Deep in the Heart of Textiles.
While I was working on the hand stitching, I was watching lots of videos from The Frick Collection, two series called
"Cocktails with a Curator," and
"Travels with a Curator." They are delightful videos, about 20 to 30 minutes each, explaining a work of art or offering a glimpse of a museum somewhere around the world. I felt like my little quilt was absorbing their air of leisure and culture, and those associations have added to my affection for this piece. I love it, not so much for what it looks like, as for the atmosphere it evokes for me. I am interested in it more for the process of hand-stitching and embellishing, than for finishing a product, and I would like to keep adding flowers, leaves, and insects to it.
I thought I had more handkerchiefs than anyone could ever need, but I can tell I will be hunting for more, to find "families" that are related in scale and style!
What a great piece Gwen and a brilliant inspiration. I love all the little touches that you have added to your trellis, especially the bead caterpillar :) I can see a whole series of vintage handkerchief inspired works ahead for you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I think you are right about a series. I have always wanted to make one of those handkerchief quilts where each block is a handkerchief, but now I like the idea of using them as appliques as well.
DeleteI completely understand what you say about working on something for the atmosphere it evokes. It must have been lovely and very meditative working on this in the current situation, thinking of more things to express, and add. It's a quilt where those details are most important but they've added up to a lovely 'whole' :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, and you have captured exactly what I was feeling!
DeleteOh, what fun to see how you've used the handkerchief! I love it, with all the details! I agree that the beaded caterpillar is so fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sending an inspiring piece! :)
DeleteLove the yo-yo's. The idea of the trellis, beads and embellishments is wonderful. Beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteGwen, isn't it interesting how we can be transported by words, art, quilts, shows, music, etc. to places of beauty and rest? I hate to admit it, but I am slightly addicted to the computer game Farmville 2. I imagine myself living amongst the perfect crops and animals where the songbirds tweet all day and it's always 70 degrees and sunny and I do my chores with perfect ease. Your pretty garden trellis would be right at home on my little Farmville farm. LOL! I love the colors and details and can absolutely see you adding to it any time you need a little trip to Gardenville, where, as it is in Lake Wobegone, "All the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." And no weeds grow in the garden!
ReplyDeleteI was obsessed with Farmville when we first moved here 11 years ago -- so much easier than working on a real farm. I play a different game now but it is still driven by the need to see a lot of color, and pretty buildings that just take care of themselves magically, a nice break from the real world! :)
DeleteGreat use of the handkerchief and I really like your butterfly. Lovely embellishments and I love the idea of a garden piece that brightens up the day no matter the weather or the critters eating the flowers! Makes me happier than looking out the window at the sorry state my garden is in!
ReplyDeleteMy real garden is always in a sorry state. Where we live in Texas the weeds grow waist high in no time at all. If I spent as much time working in it as I do working on quilts, maybe it would look better, but only for a week or two. :)
DeleteI love the idea of "a garden that never needs watering or weeding" and you've created a fabulous one. I love both the overall effect and all the details - especially the caterpillar. It sounds like it was an enjoyable piece to create whilst watching those videos. I will check them out :)
ReplyDeleteI think you had fun with this piece. Funny how it only takes one spark to set us on a creative path.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol