I believe in the last five years I have read at least 12 methods for making an art quilt. For instance, Cynthia England fractures her scenes into very small pieces then machine stitches them with a 1/4 " seam allowance. Her work is art and its beautiful. I had a brief moment when I thought I might use the method but it was just a fleeting thought. I am not a quilter who wants to work hard, just insightfully. Mary PQ uses blown up photographs that are traced onto tracing paper then the pieces are cut out to make templates. Her landscape fracturing is a great technique. Then there is the raw edge applique where you trace your picture of contour line drawing made from a blown up digital image, make templates then cut out the fabric without seam allowances. This is my choice. I don't want to use a mini iron and starch and iron all those seam allowances down. When it comes to the process of making the quilt, I want the fastest method that does not sacrifice presentation. So when I read Susan Carlson's new book on mosaic pieces I was really inspired. You blow up a photo and trace its contour line drawing onto stabilizer using a window or light box to trace. You can pin it to a design wall and cut pieces of cloth and arrange and glue them to the stabilizer. When I mention pieces I mean very small pieces. The scissors becomes your main tool for free hand cutting of fabric pieces. After working several areas you become accustomed to the free form cutting without making pieces with straight edges. All are curve linear. My project was an endangered species of sea turtle an element oceanic element to my under water scene. It gave many options for cutting patterning for the shell. Unlike Susan, I draw paper thumbnail sketches of designs I might use and repeat with the four or five tones of dyed fabrics or batiks. I choose the best design from the group that I have brain stormed and that becomes my group of templates for cutting the fabric.I maintained the pattern through out the turtle's shell then thread painted between the grouping of pattern designed fabrics. There is no tracing involved. I use the template for reminder of the patten and do not cut out the separate shapes. After a few applications of the pattern, your ability to size up the pieces of the template without tracing becomes very accurate, When complete you have given you art work deep and texture and a beautiful arrangement of color. |
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Categoriesart coursesGoing to Asheville with a winning quilt Great Embellishment on line classes. instructions making a reference guide Posting for March 2012 Posting for May 2011 When is an art quilt art |
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