The Eyes Have It - Lesley Brankin

'What Secrets?'

The starting point for my quilt was the saying "Eyes are the Windows to the Soul"

When we go away on holiday I take lots of photographs of architectural details and in particular windows and doors, the older and more decrepit the better. I often wonder just what stories these faded, crumbling relicts have 'seen' and could tell us about if they could communicate. 

By overlaying and manipulating photographs with a sketch of some eyes I created an interesting computer montage of a window. 

(Image Montage)

The image was then printed onto t-shirt transfer paper, the window cut out and applied to a commercial background quilting fabric, trapping strips of frayed muslin in the process. Finally I added washes of colour and stencilled 'peeling paint' shapes to give the impression of an aged door. Machine quilting and embroidery stitches add interest and definition.

(Detail of  'What Secrets?')

I had great fun making this piece - just allowing the creative juices to take over. Thank you for letting me join the group. I hope you like it!