Several months ago I met with friends to do some botanical printing and dye work and I shared results of that day here. I chose three of the eucalyptus silk prints to use with some cotton eco printed fabric that I purchased from Rita Summers to create a small art quilt. Both the cotton and the silk fabrics were loose enough that I chose to stabilize them. Click on an image for a larger view.
The silk prints are roughly 5″ x 3″. I quilted the top using a neutral-color cotton thread and simple straight lines.
The spacing of the quilting was done quite randomly, first tightly together, and then wider spacing. Starting and stopping at the edge of each eucalyptus leaf was a bit tedious but worth the trouble. I like the way the background becomes subservient to the leaf design.
Next I outlined the leaf images and then began some hand embroidery. Detail image here.
Just how much hand work I would do on this piece was a work in progress. I had many ideas and kept debating about whether they would be too much for the small scale of the piece and the delicate marks on the cotton fabric. After all, my goal was to enhance the beauty of the prints and the warm eco-dyed cotton, not overpower them.
In the end, I hope I have struck a good balance.
Detail:
And another detail:
They turned out fabulous with just the right amount of stitching! Good job.
Thanks Carol. I sure did fuss over it.
Lovely work, Franki. The combination of machine and hand stitches is so pleasing; I especially love the “blue railroad track.”
Thank you Martha. So funny that you would mention a track — we live across the street from the Portland Union Station! A bit of subliminal design work???
I love the quilting and the embroidery on your piece! And the soft colors.
Thank you Aileyn. I really enjoyed adding the embroidery — it seemed to need it.
great piece!!!!
Thanks Toni!
so pretty!
Thank you Suzanne!