More results from the "Emotions Challenge"

Though not Fiberexplorations members participated in last year's "Emotions Challenge," I did post the results of three members' projects in my Oct. 13, 2014 post.  Unfortunately, we didn't have adequate lighting for photography at that meeting, which was obvious in the detail photo I posted of Erika's piece, "Content with My Content."

To rectify that and to honor Erika's beautiful work, she's given me better photos to share on the blog:

"Content with My Content" by Erika Close

Note the intricate machine and hand stitches in these detail shots:

 

detail of focal point

detail 2

detail 3

Good lighting makes all the difference!

Emotions Challenge, Unveiled

I'd like to share some of the results from our Emotions Challenge.

One of the things that brings Deb joy are her grandchildren.  Here, in her very first portrait quilt, is her granddaughter Cora's first grade smile:

 "1st Grade Smile" by Deb

Isn't this incredible for her first portrait quilt?  I think it's amazing.  Of course, she had an amazing subject!

My piece for this challenge allowed me to plunge into my luscious stash of greens. As I explained in a previous post, the inspiration for this work was a spring evening, when the world outside my window was awash in shades of green, intersected by dark lines (reflecting tree trunks and branches), and bits of color scattered throughout (for wildflowers).

"Alive in the World" by Joanna

My improvisationally-pieced "Alive in the World" also reflects the emotion of joy, and the way  I feel in the spring, when everything comes alive again and all is green, green, green!

Detail, "Alive in the World"

Photos of other finished pieces will be added as they trickle in.  Before I can show you Erika's gorgeous piece in its entirety, I'll have to take more photos in better light.  The detail shot below doesn't do justice to the colors she used, but you can get an idea of what's to come:

Detail shot of Erika's piece

Stay tuned for more!

"Emotions" Challenge

Our group's latest venture is the Emotions Challenge, where we'll each design and create a quilt that evokes or expresses an emotion.

Personally, I've had so many highs and lows this year that choosing one emotion to express was difficult, but in the end I decided to focus on the positive.  My quilt (working title: Alive in the World) is about the feeling or emotion I get when spring has sprung, and everything is green and vibrant and alive.  I'm just not sure I can name the emotion associated with this feeling!

The inspiration for this project:  I was looking out the window from across the room and had a view of green, green, green, with some dark lines through it and small spots of color.  I need new glasses, but what I was actually seeing was green grass, cherry and apple trees (green leaves, flower blossoms and very dark trunks and branches), and wildflowers across the street.

Here's the progress I've made:

First audition putting the units together.  I'm not sure about the darkest green piece
in the lower left.  Also, the cruciform shape is too static, too centered, too bold; too much! 

So I tried a less-structured t-shape.  Better.

Elongated the lower part of the t-shape.  Still better.

Detail of the center, which will be pieced, making each bit even smaller, like little gems.

This project is on the back burner while I work on other projects:  prayer flags for a friend's public art project, and a couple other abstract pieces. As soon as I get to see other members' challenge pieces in process, I'll include photos of those.  

Next . . . a session of deconstructed screenprinting.

Three days till Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show!