Wednesday, February 21, 2007

WIP Wednesday



The last issue of Quilting Arts announced a challenge called "What's in a Name?" where you are supposed to make an art quilt interpreting one of the phrases they provide. One was "the devil is in the details" and to me that immediately suggested all the "great" ideas that don't get done because they don't work out somehow. I thought about how to express this, and came up with this result.

I never really thought I'd finish this, so I didn't take pictures in early stages and I'm sorry I didn't because the process was interesting and very unlike what I usually do. I usually have a plan, but this time I started with the idea of cutting up an orphan block and using that, then went to the four skewed nine patches and one perfect nine patch. That was boring, so after sticking it under the table for a couple of weeks, I tried what Libby Lehman calls "pot-luck applique". It's really reverse applique using a pieced fabric underneath, stitching the design on a top layer of fabric, and then cutting away, not really knowing what will show through. I was a bit hesitant to do this, but Nellie of Nellie's Needles had done something similar and encouraged me. That change made the background more interesting, but even after some thread embellishment it was drab because of all the dark colors, so I stuck it away again. Then last Sunday I got it out for one last look, intending to pitch it. Then I remembered the batik flower-garden patches I made two years ago, and when I put them on top, the thing came to life, IMHO. I glued them on, leaving the cardboard and the basting (not sure that was a good idea) and then put net on top and quilted around them. The silk and fleece flowers sort of jumped out of my ribbon and flower embellishment drawer and wanted to go on, and so did the pieced binding (but that doesn't show up much in the picture.) This was fun--totally no rules, and I like the result. I hope it suggests the way ideas pile on top of one another, unfinished and maybe poorly conceived, but sometimes turn into something interesting after all.

I'm calling it "The Devil is in the Details": a Quilter's UFO's". Even former academics love subtitles.

12 comments:

allie aller said...

What an interesting process! Makes for an unusual and compelling composition, too....
Now I would just be so tempted to go over all those little seams with a feather stitch...I know, I am incorrigible....I'm just saying this kind of process would lend itself so well to crazy quilting...
Nice, Kathy!!!

Debra Dixon said...

That certainly is an interesting piece! I could see you doing many more in that style. Very clever. very.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting interpretation--and execution! Your process made me think of making bread. All that putting it away to rest and then to rise and be punched down again. I sometimes think there is a reason for UFO's that has more to do with incubation than loss of interest. And it sounds like it was fun too.

McIrish Annie said...

Kay, another great project!! Reminds me of making soup. Start with your broth, open the fridge and start adding your odds and ends.

jenclair said...

I like what Jane Ann said about "incubation" -- this piece worked with you instead of being worked on.
I love it!

Nellie's Needles said...

WOW! Okay, what size/scale is this piece? I'm truly amazed at the number of different process/techniques that you've used to create this amazing and delightful piece.

I'm honored to have had an influence on you to play and to keep going with the piece until you liked it.

Shelina said...

This is a great piece. Thank you for sharing the process as well. I have a bunch of UFO blocks that would work with this kind of process.

Helen said...

Pot luck applique! I like the sound of that. It looks really effective.

Granny Fran said...

Absolutely fabulous! I know that the reason some of my pieces take so long is because of the required incubation periods. The incubation takes so much longer than the actual physical creation.

Deb Hardman said...

I'm glad you didn't throw it away! Goodness! Never throw anything away! There's always something that can be done to make it so you'll like it.

I think it's great, & A fun way to work. Good job!

Samantha said...

What a neat process from start to inish, and I love the outcome!

laura west kong said...

I love it!
maybe there's some hope for my UFOs after all ;-)