I’m still working on my Native California plant series. I completed the top for Black Oak which will finish about 26″ x 60″. I really enjoyed putting this one together using some of my ‘radiator series’ fabric created in Lonni Rossi’s surface design class at Asilomar, some rust fabric experiments and some sun prints. Once I pulled out a stack of likely-suspect fabrics to use, things just seemed to jump together for me — or did they? I loved the fabrics but something was wrong. Here’s where I pick up the camera and start taking pictures. It’s amazing what one sees on the computer that one cannot see on the wall. Click on image for a larger view.
The large piece of rusted fabric on the left jumped out way too much. And the background doesn’t show at all. I took everything down and went shopping for a new background fabric. When I had the new background up the answers became clear. Here’s the final top.
I’m thinking about how to quilt this piece.
While thinking about the series in general — there will be a minimum 3-5 large pieces — I decided to expand the series. I’ll be making a foot-square piece as a ‘partner’ to each of the larger pieces using this pillar format. I’ll be using the same fabrics in each pair of quilts but I’ll use different techniques in the smaller ones. I think that the two sizes hung together could be a very interesting exhibit and working out issues in the smaller piece can lead to decisions for the larger pieces.
I’ve constructed the top for the foot-square Black Oak II piece. I’m allowing myself to think about just one section at a time, quilt it, then move on to the next section. Some days I just can’t tackle deciding on the whole top at once. It’s surprising how this one decision has relaxed me, allowing me to focus and just have fun.
I should have this piece completed very soon so stay tuned.
I’ve promised myself to go back to finishing my Sunflower Scrap VI piece — not done, but not forgotten! — before I turn to quilting the large Black Oak piece.
This posting has been shared at Off the Wall Friday. Click on over and see what’s happening there.
Lovely design and fabric.
Thank you Gurli. You know the fun of actually using some of your own fabric, too!
Thanks for sharing the details of your process. The changes in background color really helped the first piece. The mustard color pieces are so strong, that you need colors and patterns equally as strong to keep the mustard from overwhelming everything else. I love all your incorporation of nature in your work, especially the black oak.
I like where this series is headed plus the contrast between the two sizes!
Thanks Tallgirl!
I love the direction you are going! Definitely admire your vision. I wish I could see them up close and personal someday.
Thank you Karen! I’m enjoying this series a lot. And who knows? They might be in a venue near you some day.
Franki, you are so right about the camera. It is amazing what you see in the camera that you don’t see without it. I do like the second version much better, the rust piece goes much better.
Thanks Angie. I keep my camera out all the time now. It is such a marvelous tool. Not much of that rust fabric left so I need to think about rusting again!