SWALLOWS
I did not follow the instructions for this challenge:
I did not follow the instructions for this challenge:
1. There is no song with a special meaning in my life which depicts a bird.
2. I did not work in a style, medium or color palette I don't normally use.
I used "artistic license" to reinterpret the challenge in my own way
Swallows may not be the bird you think of when you think of "song" birds, but it is a song I grew up with, and a welcome harbinger of spring. We rejoiced when we heard them. I grew up with many nests under the eves of our house right outside my bedroom window, facing the rising sun.
I reinterpreted the second part of the challenge as: "use a new or different technique" from what you normally do.
I knew right away I wanted to use block print of the swallows I had done in Jaipur, India during my home stay in a house where block printing was taught, because that would show off a new technique I had learned. The swallow block had been carved specifically for a "student" with a home design business in Ireland who figured that articles with swallows on it would sell in her store.
I experimented with the shadow printing for the table cloth I was making, using both blue and grey paint. The printer told me he had never considered shadow printing with two colors with that particular block. My practice block prints for the table cloth I made and the table cloth itself are in pictures below.
This was to be my "song bird and my new technique". But I took the technique challenge further.
1. The background material is painted shibori style (loosely wrapping fabric around a PVC pipe, then diagonally wrapping a cord from top to bottom, squishing it together and applying the silver paint);
2. The bird block print practice block is hand appliquéd instead of my usual machine appliqué, and;
3. The nest has been made by using a new to me material called Fabric Magic (Pellon). I layered my grey fabric over batting over the Fabric Magic, quilted it as a swallow nest, and with steam from my iron, it magically bubbled up.
The silvery background material is supposed to evoke the feeling of being at the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, where a legend of annually returning swallows has been restored. Just look at the photos of the old buildings at dusk when swallows are so active.
The back of the quilt is a swallow in sunlight, a remnant I found in September in a Dutch quilting store which held a mostly Kaffe Fasset remnant sale. The poor swallow was mutilated by the quilting of the opening of the nest on the front, but ... c'est la vie.
This challenge was great fun as it brought together many strands of my life: growing up in the Netherlands, a textile study trip to India and a trip to the Missions in California where I learned about the swallow legend. I hate mosquitos as they love me, so swallows are truly magical birds for me.
And there is a song about it:
Glad you enjoyed the challenge. Your quilt is beautiful
ReplyDeleteJacomina you nailed this challenge, using new techniques, and finding a song to represent with your bird.win - win!
ReplyDeleteTo avoid the quilting from the front 'ruining' you backing fabric, just quilt through the front and wadding (no backing) and add a backing fabric after the quilting is done then bind or face.
Great job since this was a difficult challenge.
ReplyDeleteGreat job making this challenge truly your own!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the details about your process, I learned a lot.
I think you did follow the challenge instructions to a certain extent - and don't we all do that - it is what make this group so interesting. A very multi-national piece too with the input from so many places. Well done.
ReplyDelete