This is based on a scene in Innsbruck, Austria, that I photographed last spring. I love the candy-like colors of the houses and their charming shapes against the blue sky, and tried to capture it here. The river was originally much lighter, and I added paint to darken it. The paint caused its own problems, but the effect is still better than the lighter fabric.
Here's one of my scanned flower images. I originally made a postcard from the image, but this time made it larger for a mini-quilt. I like the added texture of the French knot centers on this version.
And finally, another scrap lap quilt for the guild's service project collection. This is from the collection of Mary Ellen Hopkins scrap blocks that I work on from time to time. It's fun to see the number of patterns than can be made from what's essentially a block with a dark triangle and a light triangle. This quilt was the largest piece I've free motion quilted using the Supreme Slider, and I continue to love that little gadget. The quilt is only 36 x 48 because we have required sizes, but I plan to work up to something a bit bigger now and see how it goes.
Anyway, there doesn't seem to be any continuity here. I just like to go from flower to flower, I guess.
As for a recognizable style, I don't think your name would be the first thing that would come to mind if I saw these in a show. However, after knowing they're yours, I wouldn't be surprised that you had created them. Just keep on doing what you're doing and how you do it. It's much more fun to "play".
ReplyDeleteThe added paint to the river worked wonderfully well. It "grounds" the row of houses and it looks like a moving river.
Do you HAVE to have a style? Sometimes I think we ramble around for a while until our style develops. I don't think we can force it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're an eclectic quilter, like I am. I move from one type to another, sometimes after one quilt, sometimes after half a dozen.
ReplyDeleteI'll gorge myself on scrap quilts, and then I can't have enough Civil War reproduction fabrics. Then the brights appeal to me, and later I'll move on to the charm of 1930s fabrics.
I'm encouraged by and interested in everything I see, and I'm comfortable doing some but not others.
I think a style of quilting shows most easily if we only stick to one type of quilt. But when we love it all and make a little of each, any style we have is hidden. That's OK by me.
Thanks for such an intriguing topic!
The quilting is adorable and the piecing is inspiring on that last quilt. The first two pieces reflect your Artistic talent. I do think you have to have any sort of style when your talents range so widely.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say "I DON'T think you have to have any sort of style when your talents range so widely."
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I love to try lots of different things. I particularly like the flower one.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with trying every technique in the book if that's what you want to do. Having said that, though, I think eventually one begins to find a particular technique she likes to do more than others and sticks with it. I think your strength is in your scrap quilts.
ReplyDeleteGoing from flower to flower is a personal style in and of itself. Go and [cross]pollinate, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThese are only three things you've created (three nice pieces, by the way). But if a person were to see a larger body of your work, I think a style would emerge and be evident. I think even if we don't aim for a certain style, our likes and dislikes and choices end up coming through.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't mean a person can't be diverse in their tastes, though! Variety is the spice of life!
What could I possibly add to that discussion? I do agree with Debra about your scrap quilts-they are rather wonderful and controlled, just like I like them to be. I like all of your experiments too. Keeping people guessing, "Did Kay do that?" is kind of fun I think and a style unto itself.
ReplyDeleteBesides, what if you didn't like someone's style so much and that was the only thing they ever did? Variety is the spice of life after all...:)
Like many of us. Besides I find it to be more exciting to see all kinds of stuff rather than a spin on the same old thing. (I am thinking about those gals who only work with 30's for example.)
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with having multiple styles?...or none at all?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vivianne--eclectic! Also curious, adventuresome, and innovative as you try so many approaches, techniques, and styles.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of going from flower to flower. The world needs pollinators, you know!
ReplyDeleteThese are three lovely quilts. I do notice that you like a muted color palette, and calm, harmonious themes, but maybe personal style is something you can identify only over a long period of time.
ReplyDelete