Sunday, March 23, 2008

TIF Challenge March


"Grass" 12" x 7" Hand dyed fabrics, machine applique and quilting

For the theme " the little things", I've depicted grass. Grass is definitely a ubiquitous little thing. Sometimes, like at the end of the summer, I'm pretty tired of it, but without it the landscape is certainly drab, as it is here now. For some reason, several quotations about grass, mostly morbid, came floating up from the subconscious. There's the Biblical one: "All flesh is grass," and Carl Sandburg's "Shovel them under and let me work--I am the grass; I cover all." But on a lighter note (I guess) there's Gertrude Stein: "Pigeons on the grass; alas."

I made this by fusible applique. It went together fast; it took longer to pick out the quilting stitches of a bad thread choice than to do all the rest combined. I like it; it gave me a chance to use some of the run of fabric dyed at a guild workshop a year ago and some of Laura Wasilowski's wonderful ArtFabrik thread. The only thing that bothers me is the nagging certainty that I've seen this somewhere, not just in the little grass seed advertisement, so I think I'm borrowing someone else's idea. If so, it was a good one, and I hope I'm forgiven.

16 comments:

Deb Geyer said...

Very nice, Kay. I like it.

Everything has been done before and will be done again!

Debbi Baker said...

I'm with the other Deb - it is lovely and even if it has been done before yours won't be the same I'm sure! Beautifully neat too and such precise stitching - wish I could achieve that!

Leah said...

what a beautiful artquilt, such pretty greens. and its cool you shared your sketch - i believe you about seeing the seed packet afterwards. that happens a lot - its like a creative wave - you think of things and then you are aware of other things that are floating around out there.

Anonymous said...

I like this too, I'm very fond of green, plant based themes.

jenclair said...

What could be simpler or more fundamental than grass? Or more lovely? Great job, Kay!

I love Sandburg's poem, and it reminded me of another favorite poem (Millay's Renascence) that contain my favorite "grass" lines:

"God, I can push the grass apart
And lay my finger on Thy heart!"

I'm so glad you brought this to my mind because the poem is the perfect poem for the Easter season, and I love those lines.

Vicki W said...

I love it!

McIrish Annie said...

you did a lovely job. I really like the quilting.

Rian said...

I like it a bunch. Our grass is very green this time of year but it won't be long before the hillsides are a lovely dung color again. Maybe that's why I like green so much.

Liz in Kansas said...

Good job, Kay. Perfect for March and spring - which will come some day!

allie aller said...

Clean, bold, and graphic...this has a modern feel to it that I like very much.

Rhonda said...

Green is my favorite color....at least I think it is. It's the color that I buy the most when shopping for fabric.

Kim said...

Lovely piece. I like the size and the quilting.

"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of stars." - Walt Whitman

Helen said...

i like this quilt work Kay.

MaryjoO said...

this is really lovely, esp. for this time of year. Believe me, when you live in a winter climate, the FIRST grass is very important to your mental health! So this means even more, for the month!

Meg in Tennessee said...

looks like a little spring fever! Spring is here for me and none to soon, I can tell you. Great idea to use grass.

Kyra said...

It's interesting to see how you took the advertising or photo of the grass to make this quilted wallhanging study. One can almost imagine a ladybug walking between the blades!

Best, Kyra
www.BlackThreads.blogspot.com