Face Value #2 - A Difference of Opinion

"Face Value #2:  A Difference of Opinion"

In an earlier entry I posted a picture of a 12" x 12" art quilt based upon the theme, "Face Value". for a Serendipity Art Quilt group exchange.   When I started developing my idea for this theme, my first attempt looked like this:

First attempt
(with images rendered in paint and water color pencil)

The bust silhouettes were hand painted with fabric paints.  I didn't like it.  The images were too flat, not spaced well and so I started over to create this piece for submission:

"Face Value #1:  It's Not a Black and White World"
(with appliqued silhouette images)

For several weeks the original attempt sat on my work table.  Even though I didn't like it, I didn't relegate it to the trash can.  Just a couple of days ago I revisited the first attempt to see if I might be able to salvage it in some manner.

#1- I stitched spikey lines around the silhouettes with dark red, heavy thread...

#2 - I machine embroidered the leaves with bright green and highlighted the scroll shapes with red Sharpie "Stained"...

#3- I densely quilted the background with circles...

#4 - I dry brushed the entire background with red Setacolor transparent fabric paint. and, finally, twisted deep red, cotton yarn into cording that I couched to the edge to finish the piece.

 Here, again, is the finished piece:

When all was said and done, I am glad that I did not toss the first attempt into the trash, but instead experimented with further surface design elements.

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Wildfire - A Tribute to All Wildland Firefighters

As summer heats up in Southern California, the threat of wildfires looms large. A very short time ago wildfires seemed as though they were going to burn Southern California to the ground. This quilt is a tribute to the brave wildland firefighters throughout our nation who put their lives on the line to protect our land and our populations. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

This quilt was made entirely from hand dyed cotton and cotton blend batting. An earlier blog entry shows the dyed batting hanging to dry.

Back of quilt.

Closeup of thread painting, beading, couching and embroidery work.

Closeup of quilting and thread painting.