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Conversations, Part 2–starting the quilting

The last time I wrote, I shared the ideas and dyeing the cloth and assembling the top to Conversations.  In this post, I’ll share the quilting, or at least the first part of i
I guess you’ll have to believe me when I say that in the narrow channels on the table, where the wood goes down vertically, there is writing to create the “shadow”

The path to finished wasn’t exactly smooth.  I dyed the fabric…several times.  I was having a bit of a brain scramble, and not once but twice mixed up the proportions of red-yellow-blue.  At least I have some lovely browns, and fortunately I managed to make just enough of the creamy stone to make all three pieces!  The sky fabric is the first time I’ve tried a vat dye (versus low immersion) where you stir the fabric to get a smooth, even color.  But since the Los Angeles skies are screaming blue, I was so happy when this turned out just right, and on the first attempt (thanks to taking a few dyeing fabric workshops with Carol Soderlund).

For this piece, I decided to try something different…instead of fusing the entire top, shifting my piece of non-stick press sheet as I work (I LOVE my Goddess Sheets from MistyFuse!), I thought I’d fuse everything to water-soluble stabilizer, often used in embroidery or thread  sketching.  What I didn’t think through is that because the top is FUSED, the stabilizer wouldn’t disintegrate when wet.  In fact, it ended up looking like a crumpled paper bag.  Erg.

I used a small stipple on the paving stones to simulate the porous texture of the stone (usually I stay far away from a “regular” stipple!). As you can see from the unquilted part, the fused-to-stabilizer area looks hideous!
The slats on the chairs also just looked rumpled. I had wanted to leave them unquilted in the center so they would have more pop or loft to them, but they just looked icky. So when in doubt, quilt it to death! Here’s the in progress picture…

 

Some quilting done, but not all…yet.  Size will be 36 wide by about 40 tall….
And at the same stage, but the back. As you can tell, I haven’t begun work on the sky or the chairs/slats.  Why do I so often prefer the backs of my quilts?

 

Shadows quilted, sky quilted, squared up.  I don’t really like it.  (Don’t worry…I made it better…at least I think it is better….)
The back, with the quilting done.
Facings and hanging sleeve are on, and up on the design wall. Still not happy…the shadows aren’t bold enough. It was those striking lines and contrast that grabbed me, and that impact isn’t there.

In the next post on this series, I’ll share what I did to fix the quilt (well, I hope I fixed it and didn’t make it worse!) and the two smaller pieces.  More coming soon!

3 Responses to “Conversations, Part 2–starting the quilting”

  1. Sally Simmons Says:

    Sarah, thank you for sharing your process. It is wonderful seeing this quilt come to life.

  2. Maggie Szafranski Says:

    I love the backside also! And I am loving it as is in this picture. But, you know what you are looking for! Go for it!

  3. Ferne Watt Says:

    I am a first time visitor to your blog and I have to say this piece is amazing! Great work! You must have really enjoyed the artist journey this took you on.